THE new brown trout season had rather a quiet start on the River Aire due to mainly to the wet and windy weather that seemed to keep anglers away from the waterside, especially on the Skipton AA length.

On the Bradford City AA length upstream of Inghey Bridge, the first couple of days saw two or three cars parked near the bridge but nowhere near the number normally associated with a new season and decent weather.

New rules have been introduced on this fly fishing only length and members no longer have to apply for the additional permit before they may fish. If 20 anglers are already fishing then someone just arriving must fish elsewhere but judging from the likely number of cars in the parking area on a good day, the maximum limit is unlikely to occur.

Before the wind and rain last weekend and the ensuing high-water level, some reasonable fishing was experienced on both the Skipton and Inghey Bridge lengths with both the fly and worm accounting for trout up to around the 450g (1:0:0) mark. Plenty of smaller fish augmented catches along with a few out-of-season grayling.

Embsay and Whinnygill Reservoirs attracted some anglers and some decent sport was there to be enjoyed. Embsay provided some good rainbows whilst Whinnygill produced multiple catches of undersized brownies.

All waters will need some warm, settled weather before there is a real improvement in sport but at the moment it looks like anglers will have to contend with quite a bit more wind, rain and high water levels over the Easter holiday period.

Last Sunday’s Skipton AA promoted clean up on the River Aire and adjacent area was well supported by 15 people who volunteered their services in rather wet conditions. Plastic bottles, bags, tins, tyres and a solitary chair that had been taking up various positions between the cemetery and the by-pass bridge for the past six months were collected up. Craven District Council did their bit by speedily removing the bags on Monday morning.

The next Skipton AA. event will the Taster Day for anyone wishing to try their hand at angling on Sunday, April 26 at Whinnygill Reservoir, Skipton from 10am until 4pm. Whilst the event is aimed at young persons aged 16 and under, the occasional adult will not be turned away.