THE arrival this week of colder weather could lead to a tricky and chilling angling contest this weekend.

All waters below York are booked for the popluar annual Fur and Feather contest.

Last weekend saw the odd bream and skimmers make the prize list look respectable for the opening leg of York Winter League.

The recent frosty nights, however, could well see roach and perch more likely to provide a route to the festive fayre on offer.

Pegs at the bottom of the Palace Ings have fished well in club matches in recent weeks, with plenty of small fish showing in the area.

The pumper has also featured well in club contests in the last month, with a pleasing number of perch seemingly making a long overdue comeback.

On the opposite bank a number of pleasure anglers have been catching well from the rowing club steps and a far side feeder attack along the Middlethorpe section could reap rewards.

The Foss Basin fished well in the week, with lots of small fish providing a bite a chuck to pole and maggot or pinkie. Roach, perch, skimmers, dace and bleak were all noted in catches on Wednesday, with a number of pike anglers in their usual spot on the wall reporting several fish into low double figures. Dead baits were the pikes favourite dish.

Further downstream an angler tackling the confluence of the Ouse and Foss at Blue Bridge netted three bream to pole and worm, with his best fish looking to be at least six pounds. Plenty of quality perch were also gracing his net.

Now that river levels are stabilising, the York stretch of the Wharfe at Healaugh will be worth a visit, with dace showing well in last weekend's Tadcaster open match on the opposite bank.

The recent cold snap should ensure that all of the roach and dace that spend the summer in the shallow streams around Wetherby and Boston Spa are now secure in their deeper, warmer winter quarters.

Therre is very little to report from the stillwater circuit this week, although I did hear talk of a near 3lb roach being taken from Burn Road pond. Skimmers are showing well from the smaller of the two ponds at Claxton.

Weekend Bookings

Tomorrow: Tadcaster - Local

Sunday: All below York - Christmas Cheer, Howsham Hall - Huntington

Updated: 10:25 Friday, December 06, 2002