In a relatively quiet weekend of match action York Amalgamation's Animals Hospitals Cup takes centre stage.

All water below the city has been reserved for the fixture which may draw a reasonable crowd in the absence of any Winter Leagues to disperse the area's anglers.

The Ouse is approaching a more normal level following high levels at the end of October but is still hanging on to plenty of colour. Bream must surely be the target species in Sunday's event in such conditions.

The end of British Summer Time heralds the beginning of the annual general meeting season.

York and District Winter League who hold their event at St Clements Club on Thursday, November 7, 8pm start.

Following an earlier meeting this season's series will be slimmed down to 18 teams of six which should allow sympathetic pegging. I can also confirm that the rumoured unavailability of the Bridge Field at Bishopthorpe is just that and the popular section will once again be included.

Nomads have their annual get-together a week tonight on November 9 at the Railway Institute, also at 8pm.

One of York's most popular and competitive clubs saw Steve Hodson grasp the individual points trophy this year in a grim finale on the Selby Canal. Long time leader Grant Walker had a disappointing blank on the cut at Brayton.

After trophy distribution the allocation of unclaimed golden peg prize money is also up for discussion with another charabanc to Drayton a likely outcome.

The York Amalgamation AGM is on November 13, at St Clements WMC. After recent events concerning the sale of the City Arms Club the evening could be eventful.

Tickets for next weekend's Hammond Trophy are now on sale at the usual outlets. The match will be run from the Junction on Leeman Road.

On the stillwater scene Carpvale continues to fish well with some of the larger carp in the main pond feeding well to pack on a few pounds for the winter.

Plenty of doubles have come to the bank in recent days with a best fish of 17lb falling to York's Peter Davies on meat and method feeder from peg 11. I predict the first 20-pounder next season so get those 'laggies' tightened up.

Kevin Whincup also advises that a recent consignment of roach into the front pond should see catches continuing through winter .

I know the glorious Indian summer has come to an end but don't put your rods away yet. There is some brilliant fishing to be had at Paradise Fishery, Melbourne.

It isn't the consistent big bags of summer but sport is still good and catch it on the right day and it goes barmy. So before you consign the rods to the garage for winter go fishing in Paradise, you could be pleasantly surprised.

The fish are mooching around and are feeding intently at the moment in Pond One. Rudd and Simmers are one a chuck to maggot fished over loose fed maggot, while meat is sorting out a few of the bigger carp. Sport is a little more sporadic in Pond Two due to the huge influx of rainwater.

The fish though are feeding well at around 7-9 metres about half way down the shelf. Worm laid on by about one inch seems to be taking the better catches.

Good news for anglers who favour the Nidd. After one 'false start' Skip Bridge and Tockwith are now open again. Access to Tockwith must be by the authorised route only, with great care being taken when turning into the rough lane from the metalled road.

* Post Office Working Men's Club's (angling section) annual meeting is at the PO Club in Marygate on November 12, 8.30pm.

Weekend Bookings

Saturday: Fulford - Transco.

Sunday: Redhouse Middle - New Earswick; Below York - Animals Hospitals Cup; Acaster - Pudsey; Howsham Hall - Royal Oak.

Updated: 12:44 Friday, November 02, 2001