Fish Tales

Fished on the Gatenby to Skipton Bridge stretch of the Swale, the Boroughbridge Musketeer rod pulled out a peg on the Middlesbrough AC Waters at Holme and immediately got amongst the fish taking nine chub in his first nine casts to waggler and bronze maggot tactics.

The chub kept on feeding despite very low clear conditions and in another hectic spell towards the end Kevin finished with a total of 30 fish in the keepnet, well clear of the other 9 double figured returns.

For the runner up Johnny Bath of Kippax Leeds he just fell short of the old record. Stickfloating caster on the Gatenby section brought a dozen chub and two grayling for 40.10.0.

The match raised £160 towards future restocking on the Swale.

Others to frame: Steve Evans (Brotherton) 28.10.0; Dave Gwatkin (Derbyshire Angling Federation) 26.7.0; Jeff Herbert (RSPS Tek Neek Trabucco) 23.10.0.

Low clear conditions also prevailed on the Ouse and it was hardgoing for the 122 hopefuls during this year's Yorkshire Ouse Championship staged along the Hunters Lodge, Linton, Beningbrough, Red House and Poppleton reaches.

A good draw was essential and it was no surprise that the famous bungalow swim, number 220 at Hunters Lodge, produced the winner for the third successive week on the Ouse.

Angler to cash in Yorkshire Post's Mick Tiffeney lifted the coveted trophy.

On the groundbait feeder and caster with worm on the hook an early bream was soon into the net but in a final burst he added 4 more pushing the score to 22.11.0.

On the peg below sat Waterline Wibsey's Paul Bennett who adopted the same approach landing a trio of bream totalling 18.0.0 for next best.

Weights then dropped and Roger Ellis of Armley led the best of three 7lb+net when he recorded 7.14.0.

The third round of the North-East Winter League on the Lower Tees around Yarm saw Newman Scott dominate on their local patch not only winning on the day but filling the top two individual places.

The talented Alan Lepatourel upstream of Nellies Beck gave a brilliant performance putting together 17.3.0.

Opting for a long pole and feeding a little groundbait encouraged small roach throughout switching between maggot and squatt.

Downstream of Scarfoothill Wood teamate Brian Percival pole fished maggot and caster at 11 metres tempting a mixture of roach dace perch and chublets for 12.4.0.

Top three teams on the day: 1 Newman Scott 96 pts; 2 Diawa Cleveland 79; 3 Shimano Quaker 75.

League to date: 1 Newman Scott 6 pts; 2 Shimano Quaker 7; 3 Diawa Cleveland 9; jt 4 Shotton Match Group & Billingham Tackle Box 15; 6 Dick Clegg Metro 18.

From a 60 strong field only 23 weighed-in during the final round of the North Central League on the Swale but the match will stick in competitors minds as the top two anglers weighed in perch, a species not normally associated with the Swale, and for them to show in such numbers and size was a complete surprise to all.

Wetherby's Stuart Turner pegged at Salmon Hall waggler fished maggot into mid river and netted 23 perch backed by 2 chublets for 14.9.0.

Other perch net went to fellow Wetherby rod Kevin Bell who caught his fish downstream of Baldersby Gutter landing 5 quality perch - best one a real heavyweight of 3.8.0 - on pole and chopped worm for 10.6.8.

Powerful Harrogate proved a force to be reckoned with giving another solid display on the day winning with 29 points but overall were untouchable taking the title by a massive 75 points.

Top three teams on the day: 1 Harrogate 76 pts; 2 Ripon 47; 3 Thirsk 46.

Final table: 1 Harrogate 462; 2 Ripon 387; 3 Wetherby 363; 4 Boroughbridge 353; 5 Thirsk 326; 6 Knaresborough 275.

A surprise influx raised the Upper Swale a foot and weights suffered as a result during the Jim Batty Memorial on the Richmond to Great Langton lengths.

Thanks to an impressive barbel of 9.10.0 Darlington's Glen Franklin romped home leaving the other 58 competitors behind.

Opposite the scar at Ellerton the crucial specimen readily accepted legered lobworm early on then Glen changed to float and waspgrub taming three chub for 19.10.0 at the scales.

Stickfloat and caster approach delivered 3 barbel for 12.13.0 for Middlesbrough's Dave Alderson pegged below Skeeby beck followed by Paul Stainsby of Flynns Tackle 11.10.0.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Woodland Lakes Open - 71 pegs.

Sunday: Idle & Thackley Open River Swale - Swainby. Tickets on 01274 / 618569.

Yarm AA RAFA Open Lower Tees.

Ripon Pisc. Open R Ure - Hutton to Hewick (80 pegs). Tickets on 01765 / 605467.

Northallerton & DAC Grayling Cup River Swale - Scruton.

Thornaby AA Festival Cup River Tees - Croft to Hurworth.

Albert Hill visit the Tees - Over Dinsdale.

Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake.

York & DAA Tower Trophy River Ouse - Fulford.