THE recent spells of rain have revitalised the River Aire which has been running about 30 centimetre (12 inches) above normal for a few days now and with the forecast of even more rain, this level is likely to be maintained.

Bait fishermen have been getting among the brown trout with the worm and some good fish have been landed, the best being just above the 910g (2:0:0) mark.

Grayling have also been caught with the best fish similar to the brown trout although the majority of have been much smaller. One or two decent chub have been sighted in the middle length but none have as yet been caught.

The Skipton Angling Association’s new length of the canal at Skipton has been getting the attention it deserves and some quite good catches of coarse fish have been recorded.

Decent roach, perch and skimmers have all come to the net along with plenty of smaller fish and the best baits have been pinkies, maggot, bread and small worms.

Members wishing to fish the stretch should note that it commences at the swing bridge leading to Niffany Farm and extends to bridge number 178 just to the south of the basin at Skipton town centre. A further short length is to be found on the Springs Branch from the basin to Stanforth’s bridge.

Numerous boats can be a nuisance on this length and around the basin but some very good fish are lurking there waiting to be caught, including bream to 1,830g, pike to 4,545g, perch to 1,360g and possibly roach to 910g.

Craven Summer League competitors passed the halfway stage in this season’s series last Sunday when they fished the fifth match on the gas works length of the canal at Silsden.

Conditions were reasonable and the weights were roughly average apart from the winner who stood out from the rest thanks to a large bream.

All weights would have been higher had the numerous signal crayfish that were caught been eligible to weigh-in.

The results were: 1 Danny Bolland 2430g (5:5:4), 2 Andrew Thomas 670g (1:7:8), 3 Terry Bolland 630g ( 1:5:12), 4 Andy Wharton 470g (1:1:0), 5 Jason Aldis 380g (0:13:0) 6 Simon Chenior 350g (0:12:4).

Leading positions: 1 Russell Heaton 90pts; 2 Jason Aldis 86, 3 Terry Bolland 84, 4 Richard Thornton 83, 5 Kenny Wright 80.

The next match will be fished on the coal bunkers length at West Marton on the revised date of Sunday, July 17.