THIS year it took just over nine months for the rainfall at Carleton-in-Craven to creep over the 635 mm (25 inch) mark and yet since then the total rainfall has more than doubled to stand at 1,273.3 mm (50.13 inch) last Sunday.

The rain last Friday and Saturday was particularly heavy and in 27 hours, some 108 mm (4.25 inch) fell creating some of the worst flooding the Aire Valley has experienced since 2007. Surprisingly, most of the floods had dispersed within 48 hours but the damaged caused will take much longer to recover.

With six major floods on the Aire since October, the river is bound to have lost quite a number of fish to the fields and brown trout usually spawn around the beginning of December.

With the spawning becks in full spate so often it will be very fortunate indeed if any of the eggs have survived this year. Only the passage of time will reveal just how badly the Aire has been affected by the floods of 2015.

With river fishing being out of the question for some weeks, a group of Skipton AA members fished an impromptu match on Whinnygill reservoir last Monday morning. Conditions were reasonable and of course the reservoir was full to the top but the anglers were surprised at the number and quality of the fish caught.

All the fish weighed in at the end of the three hours were roach with the biggest fish taking the scales down to the 450g (1:0:0) mark. Average sizes were in the region of 170g (0:6:0) and the fish fell to the caster or maggot or a combination of both. A good number of brown trout up to 900g (2:0:0) were also landed but were not eligible to be weighed in.

Andrew Leatt drew the most fancied peg in the quarry corner and landed fish from the all-in to easily win with 2600g (5:11:8). Brother John took second place with 440g (0:15:8) and Simon Chenior was third with 180g (0:6:8).

Prospects for this weekend will depend upon just how much rain has fallen but if conditions remain mild, then both the canal and Whinnygill should be worth trying. Even the river Aire may produce fish but the water level will need to continue falling.