DAVE Rushton, the fisheries liaison officer of the Leeds and District ASA, has reported that their Kippax Park Fishery and Lapwing Lake, in particular, has been hit by the deadly KHV (Koiherpesvirus) carp disease which has resulted in the whole complex being closed down for the foreseeable future.

The outbreak has been confirmed by CEFAS (Centre for Environmental, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science), who are working with the Leeds Association to manage the consequences of the disease which can result in large scale mortalities of up to 100 per cent among all common carp and all varieties. There is no treatment and any fish that survive become carriers of the disease in future years.

The warm summer will have certainly been a factor as the disease may break out when the water temperature exceeds 16C. Signs of affected carp are sunken eyes; gill damage of rotten or pale coloured flesh; mucus on skin that appears to flake off and a general lethargy of the fish that seem to hang in the water and do not spook off when disturbed.

Carp fishery owners need to be vigilant as it is obvious that an outbreak will have a serious financial impact on revenue.

Anglers will generally find that a number of disinfectant measures will be in place in an attempt to restrict the spread of the disease.

The fact that lower temperatures are in the not too distant future will be a help.

The Skipton AA will be holding a members fly-only match on Embsay Reservoir this Sunday morning with the draw at 8am and fishing from 8.30am until 11.30am.

The match will be initially pegged before competitors begin to rove upon a given signal and the winner will be decided by the number of fish landed irrespective of size. Entry is £5 and the competition is also open to members of the River Aire & Whinnygill Section.

The River Aire is producing some good fishing at the moment with only eleven days of the brown trout season remaining before the close on Monday, October 1. The best fish of late has been a 1,800g cock fish that took a fly offered by bailiff Dave Martin.