The heavy rains of the last week have left York-area rivers running high for the time of year and carrying lots of extra colour - ideal summer conditions for the enigmatic king of the river, the barbel.

While Yorkshire may not be blessed with some of the monsters that grace the angling weeklies, a number of local rivers hold good heads of fish and this weekend could be just the occasion to get out and bag a whiskered torpedo.

York Amalgamation year book-holders have access to a number of waters that hold barbel, the pick of which is probably the Beningbrough Park section of the Ouse.

I have had some success here this season using trout and halibut pellets which make a convenient and cheap alternative to maggots and casters. Most pegs have produced barbel at one time or another but noted favourites include the roots above the Nidd mouth and the eponymous 'barbel hole' above the stones at the downstream end of the section.

Evening sessions are often best on the Ouse when fish will frequently give away their presence by rolling on the surface.

This is not a barbel behaviour I have witnessed on any other river but in the murky depths of the Ouse is much appreciated as fish observation by more conventional methods is a non-starter.

Another venue worth a look is the Tockwith section of the River Nidd. The tree cover has now re-established itself following the devastation at the hands of the flood defence engineers several years ago and the fish are back in residence.

The willows upstream of the rookery bend are the places to target. I have also heard reports of some catches of big roach being taken from the pegs on the rookery. So if the big boys don't play ball all is not lost.

Day-ticket anglers could do worse than target the Ripon waters on the Ure, where plenty of barbel have featured in recent match results, although predictably more fish are lost than landed.

Finesse is not required for barbel and they are either having or they aren't. Hook-lengths of less than 8lb breaking strain have no place in barbel fishing.

My current favourite is the new Drennan Sinkbraid in 12lb.The beat areas at Ripon are upstream of North Bridge or at the other end of the fishery in the streamy water below Hewick Bridge.

Possibly the best day ticket fishing is on the Wharfe at Boston Spa where a double is a genuine prospect.

The Yorkshire record came from this section last week at over 13lb, so competition for pegs is likely to be fierce. There are also many good day ticket stretches on the Swale.

Weekend Bookings

Tomorrow: Beningbrough (Park) - Local AC, Donkey Woods - Star AC, Laybourne Lakes (Marley) - York CIU Saturday League

Sunday: Acaster - Cygnet AC, Beningbrough (Above) - Burton stone Lane WMC AC, Claxton Pond - New Earswick AC, Laybourne Lakes (Marley) - Acomb WMCAC, Park View Lake - Sea Horse AC, Tockwith - BRSAC.

Updated: 11:11 Friday, August 20, 2004