FURTHER spells of heavy rain and strong winds have once again restricted fishing to still waters and even here, few anglers have been in action.

Even relatively small amounts of rain can soon raise the level of the River Aire on account of the totally saturated ground and about 25mm (one inch) results in a bank topper or worst.

Recent efforts on the river have seen catches consist of the odd trout or grayling falling to the worm, maggot or fly.

Nothing special has been landed but at least some fish are now known to be present. With the jet stream flowing bang over the British Isles there is apparently no end in sight to the foul weather.

On the canal the centre of Skipton appears to be the place to fish with roach, perch and skimmers all making an appearance.

Most of the fish are only average size although perch can run to over the 450g (1:0:0) mark. A big lobworm seems to be the best bait for attracting the bigger perch.

Very few anglers have been interested in Whinnygill Reservoir of late due to the inclement weather at this rather exposed water. One or two have wet a line during the occasional lull in the storms but have only caught a few small brown trout.

The national angling press have been reporting the capture of a potentially record-breaking common carp weighing 30.87 kg (68:1:0) from a water down south. The fish is 255g (0:9:0) heavier than the existing record holder but there is an anxious wait until the British (Rod Caught) Fish Committee meet and verify that the scales were weighing accurately.

When I started fishing over 60 years ago, a chap called Dick Walker (of Hitchin) had just landed a 19.95 kg (44:0:0) carp which was considered a monster at the time and he became a national angling celebrity overnight.

Soon he was feted throughout Britain and his name was used to promote a wide variety of angling equipment, the most famous being his Richard Walker Mk 1V carp rod. Books also flowed from his pen and he was at the centre of a group of fanatical carp anglers called the Carp Catchers Club who promoted carp fishing in a big way.

I cannot remember when his record finally fell but it was certainly not until the 1980s when carp angling had become nationally very popular. In fact, Dick may even have passed away still holding the record but he certainly left behind a fascination in carp fishing that is even stronger today.