THIS week it was the turn of the River Aire to produce a specimen brown trout with the capture of a 2.1kg, 56cm long fish from just below Inghey Bridge on float fished worm.

The trout was in excellent condition for so early in the new season and put up quite a fight on light tackle before coming to the net.

Besides the big trout, the captor went on to catch two more large fish on the lobworm.

These turned out to be a couple of pike weighing about 4.5kg each and were hooked in quick succession from under the near banking whilst the river was carrying some extra water.

On this occasion, both pike managed to bite through the line as they were being brought in to be ready for landing.

Another large fish believed to be a chub, was also seen moving upstream in shallow water and creating a big bow wave.

Generally speaking, the trout fishing on the Aire has not been very good so far this season and most of the fish caught have been less than 450g in weight.

No method of angling has offered any advantage and the long dry spell and several cold nights since the season opened are probably to blame.

A spell of mild, settled weather with maybe some extra water should bring about an improvement.

The Skipton Summer League competitors were probably hoping for some good sport when they fished the first of this year’s matches on the Stickups length of the canal at Barnoldswick last Sunday.

Unfortunately, the temperature fell to near freezing during Saturday night and whilst the weather was reasonable on Sunday, catches were very poor.

Robert Thornton won the match with 270g and John Heaton was second with 180g.

Jason Aldis was third with 150g and Andrew Thomas fourth with 80g.

Three other competitors had 10g each and two more were fishless.

The next match will be fished on the canal at Keighley Road, Skipton, on Sunday, May 12, and will be the last match where new competitors may register.

Hopefully, the fish will be more obliging on this occasion.