The Angling scene has almost come to a standstill as anglers, farmers, country lovers and conservationists join forces to prevent the spread of foot and mouth, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Most angling clubs have cancelled remaining match fixtures and closed waters for pleasure fishing as the river season finishes on Wednesday March 14.

A few fisheries in public areas well away from live stock could still be open, but anglers are advised to phone their club official to double check.

Matches on the Tees at Yarm and Over Dinsdale along with the Knaresborough fixture on the Nidd were wisely cancelled last weekend and those that went ahead generally proved hard going following the cold snap.

A severe frost greeted competitors for round four of the York Winter League staged between Fulford and Middlethorpe.

Conditions on the Ouse were low, clear and very cold which dictated that bites would be at a premium. Not surprisingly, the deeper swims produced the best results.

Mark Collier of Acomb Tackle topped the field recording a creditable 9.0.0.

Drawn three above the bridge at Bishopthorpe, groundbait feeder and double red maggot tempted 12 skimmer bream.

On the next peg Bogeymen's Keith Ellerby adopted identical tactics landing six skimmers and shared second place alongside Tony Marshall of Wibsey Angling who found both skimmers and roach for 5.6.0.

Acomb Tackle finished leaders on the day weighing in 11.4.8 but overall, Bar Six hold a healthy 14 point advantage over Wibsey.

Teams: 1st Acomb Tackle 11.4.8; 2nd Wibsey Angling 10.3.0; 3rd Mitre 9.1.0.

League: 1st Bar Six 70 points, 2nd Wibsey Angling 56; 3rd Mitre 54; 4th Barlby Village Stores 52; 5th Railway Institute 50.

There was an amazing result in Wheldrake's Raker Lakes Open as Rick Johnson couldn't believe his luck when he hauled out a sensational 110.8.0 of carp to smash the previous five hour best which stood at 94.0.0.

Tackling peg 21, Rick fished the bottom shelf on 14 metre pole loose feeding maggot and extracted 30 specimens best up to 5.0.0.

At the Woodlands complex, Leeds, Phil Smith made it a weekend winning double for Partridge Lake's red hot peg five, taking Sunday's open with a level 19.0.0.

Opting for the trusted maggot feeder, it was all carp to 4.0.0 but victory came thanks to an action packed finale producing seven specimens.

Darlington Angling Centre's Mick Lovelass followed off Skylark 32 with another maggot feeder carp bag of 17.10.0.

Saturday's Open - Partridge & Skylark Lakes: 1st J. Allerton Tri Cast Elton 24.8.0 small carp return off Partridge 5 swapping between feeder bomb & waggler with maggot; 2nd L. Martin Castleford 16.5.0; 3rd T. Hammond Wakefield 14.6.0.

Midweek on Partridge and Skylark Lakes: 1st L. Roberts Map Elton 27.10.0 including carp of a bigger stamp to 7.0.0. off Partridge 28; 2nd D. Taylor Rotherham 20.14.0; 3rd D. Thompson Ripon 19.2.0.

Other results - Idle & Thackley AA River Swale at Swainby: 1st S. Evans Bentley AC 12.10.0. Chub on bomb and wasp grub; 2nd T. Walsh Phoenix 6.0.0; 3rd A. Evans Dewsbury 5.8.0.

Tadcaster APA Open River Wharfe around Smaws Ings: 1st G. Dewitt Tadcaster 6.1.0. A single pike of 6.1.0 on legered maggot; 2nd N. Ripley Big Waters 4.4.8; 3rd M. Wheelhouse Tadcaster 2.1.8.

Thirsk AC Open Cod Beck: 1st P. Wilkin Thirsk 8.5.0. Grayling to stickfloat and maggot; 2nd S. Adams Thirsk 5.6.0; 3rd P. Adams Northallerton 5.4.0.

Trout News

Jubilee Lakes Redworth Darlington (tel: 01388 772611). Fishing well with plenty of rainbows in the 4-7 bracket and a string of double figured specimens 13.6.8, 13.1.0 & 12.2.0.

Bloodworm, black lures on warm afternoons - hares ear and gold head daddies fished subsurface also proving most successful.

Fixtures

Sunday: *Helperby & Brafferton Open River Swale Fawdington. Telephone Stuart Tate on 01347 821831; *Bradford No. 1 AA Charity Sweepstake River Nidd Cowthorpe Telephone Simon Foster 01274 - 571175; *York WL Round 5 on the Ouse below York at Fulford & Middlethorpe Telephone Terry Pinder 01904 629126.

l Please note that all were correct at the time of going to press, please check in case of cancellation.