THE traditional coarse fishing season opened today on all waters in England and Wales but in practice this usually means rivers since most canals and still waters no longer implement a coarse fishing close season.

Unfortunately, the local River Aire was hit by fish kill last week that was at first thought to have been caused by an influx of raw sewage as storm water overflows operated following an hour long thunder storm on Tuesday evening.

Most of the dead fish were at Cononley where probably many thousands of minnows, stone loach, bullheads and gudgeon were to be seen in the shallow water above and below the road bridge. Some larger fish such as pike were also killed and a few trout, grayling and chub appeared to have succumbed but were difficult to identify in the murky deeper water.

The Environment Agency was quick to respond and surveyed the river from Skipton to Kildwick the following morning. Luckily, it appeared that mainly small fish had died with the worst fatalities between Bradley and Cononley. No pollution was identified and the cause was put down to atmospheric conditions following the thundery weather.

Anglers fishing the first of the four matches for the Skipton Angling Association’s new Peter Hart Memorial Trophy, also blamed the atmospheric conditions for the lack of sport at the venue, Whinnygill Reservoir.

Fishing conditions were good with cloudy skies, a light wind and plenty of fish rising all over the water before the all-in sounded. However, once the match got underway, the fish proved very difficult to locate and only nine were brought to the scales after the allotted three hours.

Wayne Eason was an easy winner with five of the fish (one trout, three perch and one skimmer) to weigh-in 1,330g (2:15:0). John Preston was second with 100g (0:3:8) – two perch and Bill Davenport third with 50g (0:1:12) – two gudgeon. None of the remaining competitors recorded as much as a single bite between them.

Skipton members wishing to contribute towards the new trophy in memory of the former treasurer who passed away at the beginning of May, may do so by visiting the association’s web store (www.skiptonangling.co.uk) where a dedicated link has been added. Alternatively, donations may be posted to the treasurer, Peter Smith, 2, East View, Carleton-in-Craven, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 3HB.