AT the moment there is a bit of a lull for Yorkshire anglers due to the overlapping of the trout and coarse fish seasons for river fishing although those desperate to wet a line can still do so for coarse fish on most canals and still waters.

The Yorkshire brown trout season commences on Sunday, March 25 so now is the time to make sure your paperwork is in order with your local club and the Environment Agency.

Rod licences which now cover the use of two rods where club rules permit can be obtained at main post offices and on line without much trouble.

If you renew before your old licence expires, the unused number of days will be added on to the new licence’s expiry period.

Both the Skipton Angling Association and the Bradford City Angling Association have a simple to use website for renewals or even for new membership.

Just visit www.freewebstore.org/skipton-angling-association or www.freewebstore.org/Bradford-City-Angling-Association membership may also be renewed via postal applications but Skipton AA applicants will need to phone the new membership secretary on 07868473141 first.

All members of both clubs should note that no fishing can take place on any of the club’s waters until subscriptions have been renewed.

The Skipton AA has already restocked Embsay Reservoir with rainbow trout in preparation for opening day.

The brown trout population has remained numerous and there is evidence of recruitment through successful spawning judging from the small fish that often turn up in catches.

The club’s water on the river Aire contains some good trout fishing with plenty of fish in the 1,000g to 2,750g range and of course the fishing is now catch and return.

Whinnygill Reservoir still contains a decent head of brown trout around the 1,000g to 2,000g mark and last season saw the very long standing 1946 record fall twice in the space of a month. It seems highly likely that the current record brownie may be beaten this year as a fish of just under 6 kg has been caught recently and will soon be putting on weight once the water begins to warm up.