MORE waters around the region are opening after the foot and mouth closures.

The River Wharfe at Smaws Ings is now open to Tadcaster members with a series of Sunday open contests also planned.

Although not a noted summer venue there should be plenty of perch and eels around with bream showing in some pegs and barbel and chub in the shallower pegs at the top end of the stretch.

The matches start on July 15 with further events on July 29 and August 5, 12, 19 and 26. Places are limited to 70 pegs so ring organiser Ian Walker on 01937 530177 before 9pm to book.

York CIU are having a number of matches cancelled or rearranged. The first seven-a-side event has already been lost and the three-man team Saturday League has now been switched to Park View.

The first contest will be held at the picturesque lake next Saturday with another round the following week.

There is some cracking sport to be had on local stillwaters with the pick of the bunch being the Willows. Both Ridge Pool and Goldrush offer superb sport and the latter is recommended.

The 80-year-old pond is set amid mature trees and stuffed with a myriad of species.

Pellet is the top bait with a steady trickle of loose fed pellets soon having the fish within pole to hand range. Top pegs are 41 to 43 and 47 to 57.

On Ridge Pool the carp are taking surface baits on an evening with fish well over double figures.

Quality ide and orfe will fall to chopped worm and caster fished up in the water and there is always the chance of a monster catfish.

There has been plenty of small fish action at Carpvale in the front pond with Black Horse enjoying a good match last weekend.

The top four all had over 20lb, headed by Doug Dalton on 25lb 10z from Brian Pallister (24lb 14oz), Mick Dodd (23lb 6oz) and Chris Evans (21lb 8oz).

The main lake is best tackled on an early or late basis.

Rudd and tench are making up the main stay of catches on pond one at Paradise fishery. As the day warms up the rudd are cruising the surface in enormous shoals. Waggler fished maggot on the drop is producing a fish each chuck.

Over on Pond two margin fishing is the name of the game. The best catches are being taken within three feet of the edge.

Maggot fished in two to three foot of water with a constant trickle of loose feed is accounting for some nice mixed bags of fish. Carp and skimmers are the mainstay. Meat fished close in on pole waggler, or feeder, is accounting for larger carp to 12lbs.

The trout fishing at Maran Lakes has warmed up. So far 80 anglers have winkled out 130 fish in somewhat difficult conditions, the changable weather making the fish go up and down the layers seeking food and cooler water.

Weekend Bookings

Saturday

Poppleton-Local AC; Tockwith- Buster AC.

Sunday

Park View-Black Horse; Redhouse Lagoon-White Rose; Redhouse Middle-New Earswick; Poppleton-Cygnet; Acaster-City Arms; Tockwith-Acomb; Howsham Hall-Pudsey.

Tuesday

Park View - Ryedale Juniors.

Updated: 11:43 Friday, July 06, 2001