ANGLERS have had to cope with some pretty raw weather during much of January although the rainfall has been below average in the Skipton area at less than 50 mm (two inches) and the easterly winds have been light and manageable.

Perhaps the best local fishery has been Whinnygill Reservoir where some 1,600 coarse fish covering six species were introduced mainly in the latter part of 2016.

While the main restocking benefit will most likely be seen as the water temperature starts to warm up from April onwards, the hardy Skipton AA members who have been fishing the water of late have been managing to get among the fish.

Roach have been caught in small numbers and one member had about eight of the new rudd plus a roach or two in one short session on a frosty morning.

There does not appear to be any guarantee of catching anything and several members have reported a blank day. Other popular fish such as perch, bream and the out-of-season brown trout have not been showing at all.

After an encouraging start, the Skipton club’s length of canal down Broughton Road has been rather poor during the cold spell and many dry nets have been the order of the day.

In fact, nobody seems to be fishing this length at the moment and the same can be said for the basin in Skipton which normally produces some good perch at this time of year.

Grayling have been providing some sport on the local length of the River Aire at the upper end of Heslaker Lane for both the fly and bait angler.

The fish have been on the small side with one or two up to 450g (1:0:0). Hardly anyone has been fishing the river even though the water level has been just about right for some time now.

Maybe things are about to change with a forecast of milder but windier weather with some heavy rain which no doubt will raise the level of the river and make fishing difficult or not even possible.

However, the canal and Whinnygill Reservoir will benefit from milder conditions so may be worth trying this weekend.