The region's rivers were once again carrying far too much water for good sport and subsequently attendances suffered, writes JEFF HERBERT. Idle & Thackley's Open due for Sunday on the Swale at Swainby was called off on Friday with the river 6 foot up but all the other fixtures went ahead as planned.

The Ripon reaches of the Ure carrying extra water on Sunday for Ripon Piscatorial's last open of the season ruled out any chances of a bonanza finish.

Bentley Angling Centre's Steve Evans ended an easy winner putting 21.10.0 onto the scales. Drawing 2 below Hutton Beckmouth on peg 218 feeder and wasp grub into mid river accounted for 6 chub adding another to worm presented on the bomb.

There was a tie for second place. Turners Tackle's Graham Skirrey on peg 207 netted all chub to the feeder with grub and caster for 13.14.0 while Mick Tiffany of Leeds had 4 chub to bomb and worm before a switch to stickfloat and maggot brought 4 grayling on the feed off peg 136 above Myers Hole. Yarm AA's Open Vernouillet Fundraiser saw just 24 competitors turn out on the Tees, the lowest entry I can ever remember for a Yarm Open, yet the river is offering plenty of silver fish sport. Newman Scott's Dave Smiddy claimed another Tees victory weighing in the day's only double figured bag of 11.9.0. Fishing 3 swims above the

Levenmouth feeder with worm and bread combination encouraged mainly small chub backed by odd dace and roach. Sharing runner up spot Stockton's Craig Devlin on the next peg downstream used identical tactics producing 9.8.0 and for Bill Blythe of Newman Scott on peg 176 highlight proved a super Tees bream of 6.13.0 in his catch. Knaresborough Piscatorial's Open on the Sawmills Section of the Nidd saw local rod Martin Dodsworth beat the rest with 10.1.0. Feeder and meat tempted a barbel of 5.0.0 and a chub of 3.0.0 from the farside then stickfloat and maggot down the inside located grayling 6 in all. Swapping between bomb and bread and stickfloat and maggot Darlington's Martin Chapman finished with a trio of chub worth 6.4.0 from Stuart Proctor of Knaresborough 5.12.0.

Tadcaster APA Open River Wharfe at Smaws Ings 1 Paul Brown (Boston Spa) 1.9.8 6 roach to bomb and maggot 2 Martin Craig (Big Waters) 1.8.8 3 Dennis Geldard (Boston Spa) 1.3.0.

CARP SCENE

Flat calm conditions greeted rods for Round 3 of the Preston Innovations

Teams of 3 Championships on Woodland Lakes and a stunning match resulted in the top 6 all bagging in excess of 40lbs.

Dave Pimlott of Keenets Elton held the rest in check recording 48.14.0 off Partridge's end peg 15. Dave opted for bomb and corn concentrating on hitting his bites without feeding a single grain taking carp at regular

intervals. A last cast mirror carp of 10.0.0 sealed runner up spot for Keenets North West regular John Chapman. Pushing the pole out to 16 metres to the corner off Dragonfly 10 he totalled 46.13.0 of carp.

Map Elton were top team on the day but Keenets Elton are 7 points ahead of them overall.

Teams on the Day: 1 Map Elton 14 pts; 2 Quaker Tackle 15; 3 Keenets North West 18 League to date: 1 Keenets Elton 9 pts; 2 Map Elton 16; 3 Elton Tackle Gold 21.

Woodland Lakes (Saturday) Open - Curlew Kestrel Partridge Skylark & Wagtail (57 rods); 1 S Raper (Hirst Tackle) 45.14.0. Skylark peg 6 small carp to small; groundbait feeder and corn; 2 D Smith (VDE Goole) 44.5.0; 3 I Grimshaw (Elton Tackle) 41.10.0; Woodlands midweeker (48 rods); 1 S Bell (CAC) 33.10.0 Kestrel 28 carp to feeder and maggot; 2 B Havelock (Yarm AA) 24.12.0; 3 R Newton (Yarm AA) 23.3.0

Red hot peg 1 on Maple Lake delivered the goods. Kevin Woods of Team Oaks returned 41.13.0 to grab the honours during Sunday's 51 entry Oaks Open at Sessay. On the pole and corn at 11 metres he collected all carp his best a mirror of 7.0.0. Trailing by a mere 9ozs came West Park's Phil Sharp off peg 2 when maggot accounted for an abundance of small carp for 41.4.0 to 13 metre pole from Dean Smith VDE Goole 21.2.0.

Oak's Thursday Open Maple Lake

1 M Calvert (CAC) 23.13.0 Form peg 62A carp up to 6.0.0 on pole and corn 2 D Brookes (Tommo's Tackle) 19.9.0 3 N Johnson (CAC) 17.2.0. Wilton AC (Saturday) Woodland Complex - Dragonfly Mallard & Swallow 1 Ricky Brittain (Wilton) 18.15.0; 2 Dave Jones (Wilton) 16.10.0 3 Terry Smart (Head Wrightsons) 8.6.0.

TROUT NEWS

Alan Corps of Wingate Co Durham grassed the best of 5 double figured rainbows as Redworth's Jubilee Lakes big trout reputation continues. Presenting a cats whisker Alan slipped the landing net under a perfect conditioned 15.12.0 specimen following a tense tussle. Lures fished deep and slow most successful in current weather conditions. Best patterns black zonkers, white zonkers, cats whiskers, hares ear & pheasant tails. Rod average 3.4.

FIXTURES: Saturday 2 March - AT Team Championships Northern Semi Final (1) River Weaver Northwich; Cheshire - representing the North East Newman Scott Blue. River Swale Preservation Society Mike Winney Memorial Trophy - Middle Swale on the Gatenby to Baldersby reaches. 200 pegs - for tickets tel: 01642 899288. Woodland Lakes Open. Sunday 3 March Bradford No1 AA Open River Nidd Cowthorpe. Tickets on 01274 571175. Knaresborough Piscatorials Open River Nidd - Tickets on 01423 880262. Richmond AS End of Season Trophy Upper Swale Broken Brea. Northallerton & District Condor Cup River Swale - Scruton to Far Fairholme - 100 pegs Tickets 01609 778031. Thornaby AA Jack Aston Open Trophy River Tees - Croft to Hurworth. York & District AA Tadcaster Tower Rosebowl River Ouse below York (90 pegs) - Tickets on 01904 629126. Boroughbridge & District AA Open River Ure - 100 pegs - Tickets £10 on 01423 323603. Woodland Lakes Open. Carpvale Pool Open. Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake.