RECENT catches on the canal have been rather disappointing to say the least with several pleasure and match anglers having dry nets at the end of two or three hours of fishing.

No particular length has been worse than any other although there has been an indication that the basin at Skipton may well be showing some signs of improvement.

One angler fishing there last week landed a few good fish including roach, bream and perch, all taken on the tail end of a lobworm after red and natural maggots failed to attract anything.

In years gone by the basin has produced some excellent perch fishing over Christmas but only when the temperature has been above the average for the time of year.

Skipton Winter League competitors will be fishing the last match in this season’s seven-match series on the Long Ing length at Barnoldswick this Sunday and initial signs are that it may be yet another gruelling three hours judging from anglers fishing the length last weekend.

However, the forecast is for a big increase in the temperature to around the 12c mark towards the end of the week and this may trigger a feeding frenzy.

Dave Fenn has already secured the individual championship and is in a good position, together with his father partner, Bob, to win the pairs championship.

David may also add the individual knockout trophy to his tally, fishing against Danny Bolland in the final. The pairs league table published last week contained some errors due to the best six results rule and the true positions will be made known before the start on Sunday.

The Whinnygill reservoir has now received the final batch of fish to conclude this year’s restocking program at the water. Last week 230 good quality roach measuring 20 to 25cm (8 to 10ins) in length were introduced to join the rudd, tench, crucian carp, bream and gudgeon stocked a couple of weeks earlier.

Whinnygill bailiff Simon Chenier could not wait to sample the new fish but his efforts were in vain and only brown trout could be attracted. Fishing the pole, Simon landed four fish estimated to weigh between 1,360g to 1,800g (3 to 4lbs) each.