North-East legend Ian Worton topped an amazing Yarm AA Fur and Feather on the Lower Tees recording 21.13.0 to lead 16 double figured weights on a day when not a single skimmer showed for the 63 anglers, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Drawing peg 136 on hotspot Fisheries Bend Ian suffered a 'pike nightmare' for the opening two hours as the hungry snappers snatched everything he hooked.

Thankfully after heavy feeding inside with groundbait they disappeared and Ian then excelled on the pole and maggot pulling in mainly chublets and a sprinkling of dace and roach.

Ounces were critical and Kenny Ovendon of Newman Scott slipped into runner up spot on 20.15.0 Fishing 5 swims upstream and swapping between groundbait feeder and pole with maggot all chublets responded.

Others: P Arnold (Newman Scott) 20.13.8 l; McGuiness (Cleveland Angling Centre) 20.2.0; J Messor (Dunelm) 19.4.0.

A clear and frost effected Ure killed small fish sport and after the top five weights took a nosedive during the Ripon Piscatorials Bramley Xmas Trophy staged between Barn Island to Bishop Monkton.

Steve Evans of Bentley Angling Centre in the bridging site field at Bishop Monkton thought he'd blown his chances after losing a big chub in the first ten minutes. He sat for 90 minutes motionless until it all changed bringing in three chub in three chucks as cage feeder and wasp grub encouraged two more the best 5.2.0 for an impressive 21.10.0.

Local Ray Gilby was shocked to finish second on such a hard day after putting 20.10.0 onto the scales. Staked two above the diving board nearside willows held the chub as bomb grub and caster extracted 5 followed by Martin Henstock (Ripon) 15.8.0.

On the Ouse bright conditions coupled with an uninviting low clear river tested competitors to the limit during round 4 of the Yorkshire Winter League at Fulford and Middlethorpe.

Armley's Stan Jeffries took full advantage after drawing the noted end peg on the Palace Ings. Small roach and perch to 6ozs fed steadily on the stickfloat and maggot for a winning 4.10.0 from Wibsey's Mick Scott above the bridge in Donkey Wood who tempted a pound skimmer and roach to groundbait feeder and caster tactics for 3.14.0.

Anglers World won on the day and remain on course for the title again two points ahead of Hirst Tackle A.

Top three teams on the day: 1 Anglers Word 58 pts; 2 Hirst Tackle A 50; 3 Wibsey 46.

League: 1 Anglers World 7 pts; 2 Hirst Tackle A 9; 3 Wibsey 11; 4 Armley 15; 5 Hirst Tackle B 18; 6 Marsh Tackle 22.

Freezing competitors struggled for bites on the Wear during the penultimate Chester-le-Street WL match and scores of cormorants up and down the river decimating fish stocks added insult to the dedicated North East rods.

As in the previous round the pegs below Lumley weir offered the only action.

Robin Witherspoon of Turners Tackle Red feederfished chopped worm from peg eight securing two small chub and a lone flounder for 2.6.8 and victory.

Half an ounce behind Dave Watson of Turners Tackle Blue and Micky Doyle Dick Clegg Metro were inseparable taking 2.6.0 of flounders.

Dick Clegg Metro won on the day and with a 30 point overall lead are unlikely to flounder in the last fixture.

Top three teams on the day: 1 Dick Clegg Metro 44 pts; 2 Turners Tackle Red 30; 3 Washington 30.

Leaders: 1 Dick Clegg Metro 176 pts; 2 Turners Tackle Red 146; 3 Washington 135; 4 EMH Angling 114; 5 Team Reel Sport 111; 6 ROF 102.

Other results

Armley Angling Centre River Ouse at Thorpe Underwood: 1 B Ramshaw (Armley) 11.3.0 80 roach stickfloat & maggot in conjunction with the long rod off peg eight; 2 M Highe & T Hewitt (both Hirst Tackle) 5.7.0.

Tadcaster APA Open River Wharfe at Smaws Ings: 1 C Evans (Idle) 9.3.8 - 8.0.0 pike backed by small dace and roach on stickfloat and maggot; 2 D Geldard (Boston Spa) 5.5.0; 3 C Stokes (Selby) 4.7.8.

Northallerton & District members must note all the club's Swale waters are now open along with Carthorpe Pond.

Carp scene

Woodlands owner Robin Fletcher delivered the annual razamataz for the 120 Fur & Feather competitors split between Curlew Kestrel Partridge Skylark and Wagtail Lakes on Sunday.

Father Christmas alias on site tackle dealer Alan Gregory with scantily clad ladies in tow visited blushing competitors with the festive spirit.

Dave Pimlott of Keenets Elton managed to stay focused and toppled the huge turnout bagging all carp totalling 43.2.0.

Woodlands Open (Saturday) - all 8 match lakes (78 rods): 1 P Nixon (Newman Scott) 48.8.0 Dragonfly 10 all carp to pole & maggot at 15 metres; 2 N Bower (Wibsey AC) 30.10.0; 3 A Moors (Sensas Garbolino) 27.8.0.

Woodlands midweeker: Curlew Kestrel Partridge Skylark and Wagtail (41 rods): 1 B Havelock (Yarm) 46.4.0 all carp - best a mirror of 4.0.0 off Skylark eight to maggot & small blockend feeder; 2 D Hayes (Castleford) 8.8.0.

Oaks Sessay Thursday Open Maple Lake: 1 J Allerton (Tri Cast Whizzo 23.12.0; 2 D Wright (Armley) 23.0.0; 3 K Wetherall (Selby & District AA) 22.2.0. Jubilee Lakes Redworth - Tel: 01388 772611.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on 01845 526110. *Northallerton & District AC Open River Swale at Scruton (60 pegs). Tickets from Kevin Weighell 01609 778031.

Sunday: *Woodland Lakes Open; *Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake; *Tadcaster APA Xmas Match River Wharfe Smaws Ings (70 pegs) Tickets on 01937 530177.

Boxing Day: *Yarm AA Peter Nicholson Trophy on Lower Tees. *Thornaby AA Boxing Day Cup River Tees - Croft to Hurworth. *Woodland Lakes Open.