ANGLING

Set for Saturday, February 15 this annual event will be staged on the Middle Swale from Morton Bridge downstream to Baldersby St James.

Each of the 12 members of the winning team will receive a super new Trabucco World Class Supremacy 13ft match rod.

The 2003 Individual Champion along with a bumper pay day will also collect a top of the range Trabucco rod and reel with a rod for the runner up and third place a reel.

In order to ensure the smooth running of the match could last year's competing teams please confirm their participation and forward £120 entry money (per 12 man team) to Jim Taylor RSPS Treasurer at Glendene, Commondale, Whitby, N Yorks YO21 2HG (Tel: 01287 / 660288) before the end of January as outside teams have shown a keen interest.

River levels remained high and the third round of the York Winter League on the Ouse at Fulford was cancelled.

Elsewhere on the Ouse matches went ahead and Hirst Tackle's Martin Highe notched up a remarkable double.

First off competitors were greeted by several feet of floodwater during the Bob Co Series at Thorpe Underwood on Saturday and the 40 die-hards deserved a medal for staying the course.

Martin below the top bend on peg ten had the luxury of slacker water inside and winkled out ten roach on the bomb and lobworm for 2.6.8 followed by teammate Dave Pollitt off peg two who went all out for bleak on the whip and maggot totalling 1.14.0.

Then come Sunday, the Ouse had dropped three foot overnight but a severe frost prevented any improvement in sport during the Marsh Tackle Winter League at Hunters Lodge and Linton.

Bomb and lobworm was obviously Martin's choice, and it worked again resulting in eight roach for 2.3.8 from peg 187, below the Willowgarth at Hunters Lodge, ahead of Wibsey's Craig Turbitt on peg 284 who pulled out three roach and an eel for 1.15.0.

Midweek high levels on the Ure dropped dramatically and Ripon's New Year Open saw anglers pegged on the streams below Hutton Beck to Hewick.

Carrying just 15 inches extra, the flow was just too much for any big weights but nevertheless every fish counted as weights were tightly packed on the scoresheet.

RSPS Tek Neek Trabucco's Steve Hodson winner of many Ripon Opens struck again producing a respectable 11.3.0 on the day.

Pegged upstream of the North Bridge on 207 Steve used the cage feeder down the edge picking up four chub, three to red maggot the other to bread supplemented by three grayling.

Stuart Holt of Guiseley AC opposite Myers Hole on 137 swapped between feeder and bread and the stickfloat and maggot locating chub and grayling for 10.12.0.

Others: Ray Gilby (Ripon) 10.6.0; 2 Dave Owen (Knaresborough) 9.15.0; 3 Steve Evans (Bentley AC) 9.12.0.

Carp Scene

Corner pegs dominated during Thursday's 2003 opener at the Woodland Lakes with the top trio locked in a three cornered fight.

Elton Tackle's Kevin Adcock emerged victorious returning 36.6.0. Waggler and maggot cast to the aerator off Swallow Lake's peg 15 tempted small carp at intervals.

Next Map Elton's Simon Wood sat on Mallard Lake 1. Opting for bomb and maggot casting into the gap between the islands a patient approach paid off producing another small carp net of 30.12.0 from Gary Moore's 27.6.0 off Mallard 19.

For Saturday's match Map Elton's Ray Singh left the big New Year turnout well adrift when he put together an impressive all carp haul of 40.14.0.

Ray on Dragonfly's peg two, netted samples up to 3.0.0 utilising the long pole and sweetcorn at 17 metres across to the island and this latest win bumped his Kamasan points to 20 and automatic entry into the National Final for this Ripon rod.

Swallow Lake produced for Elton Tackle's Shaun Cameron who fished the corn at 13 metres attracting small carp off corner peg eight nudging second place by 4ozs when he weighed in 24.14.0.

Woodland Lakes (Sunday), Partridge Skylark and Kestrel Lakes (64 rods): 1 J Hill (Diawa Goldthorpe) 6.6.0; 2 S Walker (Quaker Tackle) 5.10.0; 3 R Williams (Fishermans Tackle) 4.6.0.

A bonus carp of 8.0.0 sealed the verdict for Shadwell's John Clark during a frost affected Oaks Open at Sessay.

Drawing peg 62A on Maple Lake, John pole fished corn at 13 metres down the boards picking up small carp before the big common clinched the outcome to finish with 11.9.0.

Meanwhile John Kenning had a lot more fish but with his best going only 2.0.0 fell agonisingly short as pole and maggot tactics delivered 10.12.0 off peg 35.

Jubilee Lakes, Redworth, Darlington: Despite very cold weather some big fish caught - the best a specimen of 15.10.0 grassed by Weardale visitor Andrew Scott on a white tadpole from Seaham's John Parkinson who lifted a 13.12.0 rainbow to a Dawson's olive.

If doubtful about freezing conditions, anglers are advised to phone the fishery before setting out (owners available to take calls from 7.30am onwards). Tel: 01388 / 772611.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on 01845 526110.

Sunday: *NYSD Federation Darlington Angling Centre Trophy Middle Tees at Over Dinsdale. Tickets on 01325 / 264213. *Thornaby AA Robert Buttery Memorial River Tees Croft to Hurworth. *Yorkshire WL Round 6 River Ouse Linton and Hunters Lodge. *Bradford No1 AA Open River Nidd Cowthorpe. Tickets on 01274 / 571175. *Tadcaster APA Open River Wharfe at Smaws Ings. Tickets on 01937 / 832972. *Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake. *Woodland Lakes Open