By John W Preston

WITH the brown trout season now closed on rivers, the first air frost of the season recorded and the prospect of continually falling leaves and possible higher water levels, anglers will have to turn their attention to the coarse fish that local waters contain.

The main species in the River Aire for the past few years has been the grayling but lately, the chub has been making something of a comeback with fish to over the 1800g mark turning up in catches along with smaller fish.

Pike have also started to fight back from their present stronghold in the Snaygill Deeps and some very small fish have been recorded recently on Heslaker Lane.

Perch are no doubt present here and there but roach and bream have not been seen for years.

Gudgeon, once present in reasonably large shoals with fish touching the 50g mark, have been turning up occasionally but are still rather on the small side, judging from the large numbers of dead fish seen in last year’s pollution between Bradley and Cononley.

Dace, like perch can be found in the odd hole up and down the Skipton length but are rarely caught.

Hopefully, conditions this winter will allow anglers to try their luck for these coarse fish species and also provide an insight into just what the upper Aire presently contains.

The Salmon and Trout Conservation have reported 50 per cent of all insects now contain plastic and since they are consumed in great quantities by fish, no doubt fish will gradually become contaminated.

Another substance now finding its way into rivers and streams is rubber dust which of course comes from vehicle tyres. Nothing has been said of what happens to brake shoe and pad dust maybe because in the past it has been associated with deadly diseases.

The Skipton Winter League will be fishing its third match in this season’s series this Sunday on the Long Ing length of the canal at Barnoldswick. On the following Sunday, (October 21) the Skipton AA will hold an open match at Whinnygill Reservoir.