THIS weekend will be the last in the present coarse fishing season for river fishing in Yorkshire which closes at midnight on March 14 and re-opens on June 16.

Most still waters and canals no longer have a close season and are therefore open for angling all the year round.

The few waters that still retain a close season follow the same dates as for rivers.

Since January, the Environment Agency have been consulting on the coarse fish close season and if you would like to put your views forward there is just enough time to complete the survey online this weekend with the last day being Monday.

Type in “Coarse fish close season on English Rivers – Environment Agency” and click on the tab at the foot of the first page entitled respond online.

With the weather becoming more seasonally normal following Storm Freya last weekend, the level of the River Aire only rose a small amount and should be in a decent condition for the last few days of the season.

Plenty of anglers have taken advantage of the recent mild spell although not many coarse fish have been caught.

Chub have continued to remain elusive and grayling have not been caught in any quantity.

A few pike have been landed from the Snaygill deep water stretches on dead bait whilst the number and quality of the brown trout caught in the Skipton length augers well for the new season which commences on March 25.

Fishing on Embsay Reservoir ended on a rather quiet note with the unseasonal weather failing to bring about an improvement.

The reservoir is now closed to fishing and will be restocked with rainbows and blue trout before opening day on March 25.

Whinnygill Reservoir and the local length of the canal did finally respond to the milder weather and produced reasonable sport for roach, perch and skimmers.

Both waters are unaffected by the coarse fish close season.

Skipton Angling Association members are reminded that subscriptions are now due and no fishing may take place until they have been renewed.

The fees are the same as last year and the membership secretary wishes to remind members to ensure that they enclose a self-addressed envelope with their subscription payment.