AFTER the rather poor start to the brown trout season due to the wet and windy weather, conditions have improved tremendously with above seasonal temperatures, much less wind and falling water levels.

Far more anglers have been in action and the River Aire has seen its fair share on the length between Skipton and Gargrave where the sport has been quite reasonable although nothing outstanding has so far been brought to the net.

Most trout have been up to around the 450g (1:0:0) mark and have mainly fallen to the dry fly or worm. Grayling are also readily taking baits intended for trout and should be handled carefully and speedily returned to the water to continue their spawning activities.

Rainbow trout up to around 900g (2:0:0) are providing plenty of sport at Embsay Reservoir where the worm and fly have been most successful. Conditions are much better once the early morning mist has cleared. Brown trout are not showing quite so well in catches but should appear more and more as the water warms up.

The water level on Whinnygill Reservoir has taken a sharp fall but should help to improve the fishing for both trout and coarse fish as it will provide shelter and help speed up the water temperature. Recent catches of brown trout have been mainly small fish with the occasional fish to around 450g (1:0:0).

Coarse fish are coming to the net and have included a roach to around 900g (2:0:0) plus a few of the recently introduced fish. A surprise catch was that of a chub by Simon Chenior who tempted the fish with maggot whilst fishing deep on a slider float set up.

The fish is now the official record chub for the reservoir having weighed in at 850g (1:14:0). The Skipton AA record chub is a River Aire fish of 2,700g (5:15:4) caught in the year 2000 by Geoff Heath from the middle length above the stone bridge during an open match.

Prospects for all waters should remain good with the weather remaining settled for some time. There may be some rain just before weekend but nothing to upset water levels too much.