Angling

Matches on the Ouse, Ure, Wharfe, Swale and Wear and Tees at Over Dinsdale were all cancelled leaving just Knaresborough and Yarm's event.

Surprisingly the river Nidd, one of the region's smaller rivers, which is quite narrow in places, was carrying only two foot extra at the start of the Knaresborough Piscatorials Open. Although it rose throughout the match 12 competitors managed to tempt a single chub.

Marsh Tackle's Peter Miller tamed the heaviest of 4.9.0 as legered maggot off peg 117 at Chapman's Bottom ensured victory.

Second place Tony Baxby of Knaresborough relied on a specimen of 3.15.0. to lobworm -six pegs upstream of the winner.

An influx of snow water lifted the Tees three feet, offering little hope for the 34 rods who decided to stay the course during the Yarm Adams Cup.

The match was still there to be won and Middlesbrough Newman Scott's Barry Smith did just that managing 1.14.0.

Protected by the big tree on peg 191 at the Golfcourse, Barry winkled out a mixture of small roach, dace and chublets in the slack on the mini maggot feeder.

Up and coming Yarm junior Chris Routledge legered lobworm for a chub of a pound from Fisheries bend and would certainly have been a popular winner if a second big fish hadn't slipped the hook.

Conditions are looking good on the Swale with the river fining off nicely for this Saturday's River Swale Preservation Society Masters, the North's biggest river match with 23 teams of 12 anglers booked in.

Just to show how prestigious this event has become distance is no problem - Derbyshire Angling Federation are fielding a team and will be making the long trip north up the A1 to try their luck against the area's best.

Many match anglers headed for still water venues as the rise in temperature offered the chance of good sport now the ponds and lakes had finally thawed.

At Moor Monkton's Carpvale Pool Armley's Andy Gallent enjoyed a carp bonanza as fish fed in numbers.

Working the pole at 16 metres tight to the island off peg 45 maggot accounted for seven hard fighting specimens up to 12.8.0 putting a super haul of 45.12.0 on to the scales followed by the ever consistent Dave Wright on 20.4.0.

Attendances were back up for Sunday's Woodland Lakes Open on Partridge and Skylark Lakes following weeks of ice, rain and strong winds.

A cracking net of 32.8.0 elevated Geoff Leyton of North Ormesby Institute well ahead of the competition. Pulling out peg three on Partridge Lake Geoff opted for a small maggot feeder approach and picked up small carp at steady intervals on single and double maggot hookbaits.

Sheffield visitor Alan Barker sat on Skylark 32 and fished the same method to finish with a level 16.0.0.

Results - Saturday's Open Woodland Lakes: 1st T. Neesam (Ripon) 19.1.0 All carp - best up to 4.0.0. off Partridge Lake Peg 8; 2nd P. Jones (Map Elton) 18.14.0; 3rd S. Bell (Diawa Cleveland) 17.15.0.

Raker Lakes Open Wheldrake: 1st Paul Connelly (Hull Sports) 15.0.0; 2nd carp, roach and skimmers to pole and maggot tactics; 2nd Richard Cavell (Leeds Juniors) 14.10.0; 3rd Stuart Falconingham (Leeds) 13.3.0.

Thornaby Angling Association has lost one of its most treasured members Lol Bulmer who sadly passed away this week at the young age of 54.

Lol, a club stalwart for over 40 years, served on the committee and held the position of secretary during the last three years for one of the region's biggest clubs. Lol epitomised the ideal club angler, well respected, well liked, very loyal to his local river the Tees and in his time winner of many matches and will certainly be missed.

Jubilee Lakes Redworth - Tel: 01388 772611.

Horrendous conditions early part of the week but no problem with ice. As week progressed fishing picked up and lots of specimens in the 3.0.0 to 7.0.0 bracket. The best a rainbow of 10.13.0. came to visitor James Durrell of Lanark on an appetiser.

Other successful patterns include black buzzers, bloodworm and sunken daddies.

Fixtures - Tomorrow: *RSPS Masters Open (300 pegs), *Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets from Alan on 01845 - 526110, *Ferryhill and District Grayling Match River Swale at Catterick.

Sunday: *Yarm AA Baillie Cup, Lower Tees, *Ripon Piscatorials St. Wilfrids Cup R. Ure (80 pegs) - Tickets from Julian Thompson on 01765 605467, *Darlington & BT Combined Cup R. Tees - Coniscliffe to Croft, *Woodland Lakes Open, *York & District AA Tadcaster Tower Rosebowl - River Ouse Fulford & Middlethorpe. - Tickets from Terry Pinder on 01904 629126, *Wilton Ac Stoneylane Pond.