WITH the opening of the new coarse fishing season on June 16, anglers can now try their luck on Yorkshire rivers using any legal method and using any legal bait.

Scott Verity, a Skipton Angling Association member, decided to try a bit of early-season piking on the River Aire and was rewarded with three fish, the best taking the scales down to 5,485g (12:1:0). All the pike took a sprat dead bait and were caught at Snaygill.

Scott reported that towards the end of the close season he had been fishing for trout on the top end of the Skipton water and had observed several small pike going through the motions of spawning.

This length has been virtually pike free for a few years so it seems that they have finally made a return. Small chub, grayling and trout should watch out.

Last week’s open evening match on Whinnygill reservoir was fished in reasonable conditions and catches were made up mainly of smallish perch.

Michael Ickringill enjoyed a relatively easy win with 1,160g (2:9:0) which included a decent carp and three perch. Alan Wade was runner-up with seven perch for 560g (1:3:12) whilst Simon Chenior was third with 360g (0:12:12).

In fourth place, Andrew Leatt, could manage just three perch for 150g (0:5:4) yet only two days earlier in the Sunday morning club match he caught about 40 roach and perch for over 4,090g (9:0:0).

There will be another evening open match next Tuesday at the same venue for those wishing to try their luck on this improving water. The draw will be held at 6.30pm with fishing from 7 pm to about 9.30pm or later depending on the weather conditions. Full details can be obtained from Malcolm Mawson on 01756 794022.

The Craven Summer League will hoping to break their current cycle of poor weights when they fish the fifth match in the series of eight on the canal at Barnoldswick this Sunday. The match length will be the Long Ing stretch and the draw will be held at 7am with three hours of fishing from 8am.

Long Ing is a particularly good length of fishing so surely the competitors will at last take some good weights to the scales and leave the bad memories of Swine Lane (twice) and Church Pool behind them.