WITH strong north-westerly winds bringing the temperature down by about four degrees (seven degrees Fahrenheit) below the normal average for this time of the year, it is not surprising to find that few anglers are keen to wet a line on the banks of the local waters.

Luckily, the rain has been confined to small showers and water levels have fallen back to normal after the flood conditions of only a week ago.

Those who have braved the cold on the River Aire have enjoyed some reasonable sport, with brown trout to over the 450g (1lb) mark and plenty of smallish grayling, which are, of course, still out of season.

The dry fly has been very successful but worm anglers have accounted for some large catches of mainly small brown trout together with a few grayling.

Judging from the lack of cars at Inghey Bridge, the Bradford City AA fly-only length upstream to Gargrave has not been fished much of late.

Skipton’s Whinnygill Reservoir is fishing quite well and anglers are sheltered by the banking on three sides due to the reduction in the water level caused by a possible leak. Roach, perch and brown trout are being caught in decent numbers on worm, maggot and bread.

Most fish are on the small side but a 920g (2lb) and a 1380g (3lb) roach are recent highlights. The smaller roach appear to be those that were recently introduced.

Ide, bream and carp have yet to show themselves and an angler recently caught what looked to be a small rudd.

Embsay Reservoir will certainly have been a cold place to fish in the last week or so, although reports suggest that some decent rainbows are still coming to the net. Brown trout and perch catches are not very encouraging at the moment but should improve with the weather.

To give anglers some extra incentive, the next restocking of rainbow trout will include a few big fish to 2275g-plus (5lb). It is hoped that at least one of these fish will be large enough to beat the present record rainbow of 2890g (6lb 6oz) landed in 1991 by Tommy Fryer of Earby.

Future match dates for your diary are: May 31 – Craven Summer League, Swine Lane, Riddlesden, draw 7am; June 2 and 16 – Whinnygill open evening matches, draw 6.30pm; June 14 – Whinnygill, Skipton AA members' only match, draw 8.15 am.