A book titled 'Mr. Crabtree Goes Fishing' by Bernard Venables is one of the best selling, best loved angling books of all time, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Now through a unique initiative put together by the publishers of a 50th anniversary celebration edition of the book a £3.33 donation will go into training schemes for youngsters run by the National Federation of Anglers and the Salmon and Trout Association.

For further details telephone 0207 5262328.

While on the theme of books, 'Call yourself an Angler' has just hit the tackle shops. This is the North-East's answer to football fanzine magazines and the brainchild of 'Boro's Fly me to the Moon' contributor Dave North.

Featuring coarse game and sea fishing from around the region its for local anglers to voice their opinions. Selling at just £1 all profits go to the Anglers Conservation Assocation (ACA) to help keep our waters pollution free.

In the third round of the North-East Winter League the Swale was up by 18" and very cold. A total of 120 competitors lined the banks and in some sections it was hard going.

Those pegged at Gatenby found the best bags. Dave Nicholson of Cleveland Angling Centre caught both chub and grayling to finish comfortably ahead.

Floatfishing with an assortment of baits off the far bank glide on peg 20 resulted in 13.14.0. A chub net of 12.4.0 elevated Northallerton's Paul Bosomsworth into second place. Stickfloat & maggot opposite the willows at Rush farm secured five specimens.

Middlesbrough Newman Scott finished leaders on the day and presently top the league. They now hold a 16 point advantage over nearest contenders Yarm Flynns.

Teams: 1 MNS 94 points, 2 CAC 77, 3 Tying Darlington AC & Yarm Flynns 78.

League: 1 MNS 268, 2 Yarm Flynns 252, 3 CAC 251, 4 Darlington AC 245, 5 Dunelm 184, 6 Team Metro 169.

There was plenty of sport on the Over Dinsdale Stretch of the Tees during the Durham Co. Team Championships and six broke double figures. Individual honours went to Darlington's Eric Willians who recorded a level 20.0.0. Working the float and red maggot brought a steady succession of roach and dace adding three good chub from peg 73.

Haughton A's Alan Hird faired well off peg 57. Not normally a noted area the peg produced as the level rose during the match. Waggler & corn encouraged mainly chub for creditable 18.13.0.

Others backing weights: John Leybourne Haughton A 15.6.0 Steve Brennan Albert Hill 15.0.0.

Team results: Haughton A and Haughton C tied on 43 points but Haughton A won on weight count of 43.7.0. 3. Darlington WMC.

The consistent Kestrel Lake dominated Saturday's sell out open on the Woodlands Complex. Dave Harris of Cleveland Angling Centre led another excellent score sheet recording 56.11.0.

Fishing peg 12 Dave kept alternating short and long poles to keep his swim alive finishing with mainly carp up to 7.0.0. backed by chub and barbel on sweetcorn and maggot.

All eyes were on the scales when it came to the runner-up. Regular Map Elton's Keith Kotchie made it by one ounce. On the opposite bank off peg 25 maggot and corn also proved effective. Working two lines a fine carp haul totalled 48.9.0. from John Chapman Keenets.

Wednesday's result at Woodlands - Alan Scotthorne Triple World Champion and travelling companion Andy Oldham of Maver Barnsley Blacks shared top spot recording 64.8.0 each.

D. Collier of Elton Tackle followed on 57.6.0.

Idle & Thackley Open Swale Swainby: 1 Brian Higgins Idle 9.15.0. 4 chub legered wasp grub, 2 John Millican Yarm 9.4.0, 3 Ken Close RSPS 8.2.0.

Trout Scene: The eighth and final round of the Ferryhill Quali-tie Bankmaster fished on West Tanfield Lake saw Kevin Dinning of Newcastle register 47.3.0 from Craig Roper Sedgefield 44.6.0 and Jeff Darwin Haswell Plough 15.14.0.

The 2000 Final of the Theakston Trophy on North Yorkshire's Leighton Reservoir delivered some huge rainbows. The 30 who qualified for this premier flying fishing competion certainly enjoyed rod bending action.

Brian Butters of Harrogate landed the heaviest of 15.4.0 and also lifted the trophy taking a bag total of 28.0.0.

Ripon's Ray Hill had a 12.0.0. specimen in his second place haul of 21.4.0. from Albert Wilson of Brotton 16.12.0 including a fish of 14.0.0. Jubilee Lakes - gold heads, black buzzers, and bloodworm accounting for lots of rainbow in the 5 to 10.0.0. bracket. Fish of the week 10.8.0. went to Shildon's Graham Caygill.

Scaling Dam: 124 rods, 348 rainbows - 12 limit bags - best specimen 6.0.0; Derwent: 296 visitors, 641 rainbows - 49 limit bags - fish up to 4.0.0; Fontburn: 186 rods, 395 rainbows - 18 limit bags - top rainbow 15.10.0 on worm; Grassholme: 140 anglers, 266 rainbows - 8 limit bags - fish over 6.0.0; Hury: 137 rods, 293 rainbows - 9 limit bags - best 9.0.0; Blackton: 66 rods, 59 rainbows - 2 limit bags fish nudging 4.0.0.

Fixtures: Saturday, October 28: River Swale Preservation Society Les Winder Memorial Middle Swale Championships - Gatenby to Baldersby - tickets on 01642-899288.

Woodland Lakes Open 71 pegs Partridge and Skylark - Tickets £15 on 01845 526110.

Sunday, October 29: Black Ox Ac Bedale Beck. Yarm AA Williams Cup Lower Tees.

Yorkshire Ouse Championships above York (250 pegs). Wetherby DAC Open R.

Wharfe 60 pegs. Tickets 01937 581733