A LARGE variety of weather in the past week or so has once again affected angling in the locality making it something of a hit and miss affair.

Not all trips out have been blank days and one or two anglers have even had a memorable days fishing.

A Bradford No 1 AA member fishing their length of the River Aire on Heslaker Lane, Carleton-in-Craven, managed to get among a good shoal of grayling and landed 15 fish varying in size from 100g to approximately 900g.

A few smallish brown trout were also caught and all the fish were taken in a backwater when the river was running about half a metre above normal.

Maggot proved to be the successful bait accompanied by plenty of loose feeding. It is just 12 months since the Skipton AA length below the Carleton Stone Bridge produced a splendid chub weighing 2,445g which came close to the association’s record fish of 2,700g.

Plenty of smallish fish have been caught in the last year together with a few bigger fish in the 1,350g to 1,800g range, but nothing anywhere near to the record fish.

With the resurgence of the chub in the Skipton waters there should now be sufficient fish about for them to be caught in any deepish swim or pool.

Previous hot spots have included the top field on Heslaker Lane, the Armchair down to Carla Beck end and below the Stone Bridge with the section above and below the railway bridge in particular.

Two months remain of the present coarse fishing season to get a specimen so try your luck when river conditions appear to be right.

Chub are well known for eating every conceivable bait ranging from a big lump of bread, a bunch of lobworms, sweetcorn, luncheon meat and even sprats intended for pike have attracted some big fish.

Sport on the canal has been quiet of late following a spate of record-breaking perch from the basin at Skipton.

Besides the perch, this bit of the canal holds some decent roach, bream and pike and just has the edge on other lengths at this time of the year as the water will be very slightly warmer due to being situated in the centre of town.

The Skipton AA will be holding its agm this Thursday at the RAF Club, Shortbank Road, Skipton, commencing at 7.30pm prompt. All members should make every effort to attend this important annual meeting.