Angling Clubs celebrated the festive season with a series of Fur & Feather Christmas matches and in the Yarm AA bash extra water encouraged the Tees elusive bream shoals to feed on the lower reaches.

The match was decided on adjoining pegs just upstream of Eaglescliffe golfcourse when Brian Percival edged the verdict netting 16.3.0 off peg 190.

Working the groundbait feeder using both worm and red maggot five fish responded including a terrific specimen of 6.0.0.

Downstream, Stockton's Tony Thorpe fishing the same tactics tempted seven smaller samples putting 13.14.0 onto the scales.

Still on the Tees, between Croft to Hurworth Thornaby's event attracted 67 rods but with a river 18 inches above normal winter level competitors struggled for odd chub.

Cyril Close of Shildon won the match within the first 30 minutes.

Drawing peg two below Croft roadbridge, Cyril legered bread over to the island side and quickly netted three chub for 5.4.0.

In reverse Darlington's Martin Chapman caught two chub in a late match burst to seal runner up spot.

Bomb and bread again proved the method as Martin took his crucial second fish on the very last cast from peg seven at Hurworth to return 3.3.0.

Higher levels were a feature on most of the local rivers and the Ouse was up but dropping for the York and District AA Fur & Feather at Fulford.

A massive 86 anglers turned out in support and fortunately a few skimmers showed to make the scoresheet look respectable.

Colin Hardy of Waterline Wibsey was the only one to crack double figures 10.10.0.

Staked five pegs from the end of the Palace Ings stretch, Colin took three skimmers and a 'proper' bream of 5.0.0 on the groundbait feeder and worm in the closing stages.

Selby's Richard Darling followed on 9.15.0.

In the middle of the bridge field at Bishopthorpe the groundbait feeder with a combination of worm and caster delivered four quality skimmers.

Sunday's Big Ripon Piscatorials Bramley Trophy on the Barn Island to Bishop Monkton match lengths was won with just 4.6.0 as the day before club officials were shocked to find the Ure 6ft in flood.

Nevertheless there was everything to fish for with over £700 worth of prizes up for grabs.

The winner Haxby's Peter Ljudevitch recorded the best of 40 weights from a field of 86 when he enticed a single chub in the final hour legering bread, one peg upstream of the yacht club.

Local man Nigel Robson secured next best taking four fish for 3.14.0.

Adopting a blockend feeder approach and putting red maggots on the hook Nigel located two roach plus a chub and gudgeon.

Bradford No1 AA Daily Mirror Cup River Nidd at Cowthorpe: 1 T McArdle (Brotherton) 17.12.0 - 5 chub on feeder fished wasp grub; 2 P Vickerman (Bradford No1) 7.5.0 3 D Booth (Bingley) 5.15.0.

Carp Scene

Seventy anglers escaped Christmas shopping to line Woodland match lakes for Saturday's Open and weights rose with the temperature.

Dave Armitage put a brilliant winter bag of 72.5.0 onto the scales off Skylark Lake's peg 7 when he weighed in all carp - up to 6.0.0 - alternating between the feeder and bomb with maggot.

Meanwhile Map Elton's Alan Sharman stuck to the feeder and maggot throughout off Wagtail 16 and enjoyed plenty of action from small carp 54.1.0.

Wednesday - Woodland Lakes (59 rods): 1 L Roberts (Map Elton) 27.13.0. 2 A Gregory (Elton Tackle) 24.12.0; 3 K Armstrong (Merlin Baits) 21.12.0.

Sunday - (70 rods): 1 A Sharman (Map Elton) 57.14.0; 2 D Pimlott (Drennan Elton) 49.11.0; 3 P Noble (Stokesley) 48.10.0.

In form West Park's Mick Sykes emerged the winner at the Oaks on Sunday recording 30.9.0 off Cedar Lake.

Mick found a close in approach at five metres the key to success off peg 47.

Offering maggots over chopped worm a steady flow of small carp succumbed.

A long pole and maggot attack at 13 metres was required to get amongst the carp for Map Elton's Steve Rothery who totalled 26.12.0 off peg 71 from Steve Armitage Team Glum 22.2.0.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Northallerton & DAC Open River Swale Scruton to Morton - 01609 / 779073.

Woodland Lakes Christmas Open - 01845 / 526110.

Sunday: Billingham SAC visit the Tees at Over Dinsdale.

Oaks Sessay 100 peg Xmas Open - Cedar and Maple Lakes.

Yorkshire WL 5 River Ouse - Hunters Lodge.

Woodland Lakes Open.