WHINNYGILL Reservoir at Skipton and other waters in the Craven area are fishing very well at the moment.

At Whinnygill, this is due to the higher temperatures and most of the species in the water are now being caught, including the first tench of the year.

After a virtually perch free spell until recently, they are now feeding ravenously and feature in every catch, although they are not very big.

Roach, ide and bream are also feeding well and some decent size fish are being brought to the net.

There have been no reports of trout and with no stocking for years, the only fish in the reservoir may be the 3.47kg record holder.

Embsay Reservoir has also responded well to the warm weather with both fly and bait fishermen doing equally well.

Most of the fish landed have been good rainbows to about 1kg but a few tigers and brownies have also turned up.

Perch are also becoming very numerous but most are quite small.

The River Aire seems to be missing out when it comes to receiving some meaningful extra water.

One day last week it managed to rise about 150mm whereas on two trips past the Wharfe at Bolton Abbey, the river was running at least a metre above normal level.

Even so, sport has been quite good for the fly fisherman with plenty of brown trout rising including the occasional fish approaching the 1.5kg mark.

Skipton members will be able to enjoy the first match of the season this Sunday when Whinnygill will be the venue for the first of four matches for the Peter Hart Memorial Trophy.

Hopefully, the sport will remain as good as it has been lately and some good weights will be brought to the scales.

The draw will be at 8am with fishing from 9am.

John W Preston