THE Ouse takes centre stage this weekend with the re-arranged Ouse Championship being held upstream of York and the York Amalgamation Tower Trophy being contested on waters below the city.

It is a shame that the confusion over the date of the former fixture has led to this unfortunate clash that will undoubtedly impact upon the attendance at both fixtures.

The river has been above normal level for most of the week but is now falling back to a fishable condition.

With colour lingering and temperatures still well above normal for the time of year I would favour the York match to produce the pick of the sport.

In recent club and open contests the large cluster of fish around the Donkey Woods sand bed has proved decisive with several roach nets exceeding ten pounds.

Whether the fish have been moved on by the big flood that caused the cancellation of the original Ouse Championship two weeks ago remains to be seen.

Bream and skimmers have not featured heavily in match weights on the Ouse below York so far this autumn but I suspect that may be set to alter on Sunday.

Prospects for the Ouse Championship will depend not only on river conditions but which sections of water are pegged.

If the Beningbrough Park section is included then barbel may feature. If all anglers are accommodated between Redhouse and Poppleton then bream certainly make the frame.

Several anglers reported nice catches of roach from the Poppleton section around the big tree and the wires and also further upstream in the big willows opposite Church Farm.

Young anglers have been in the limelight at the Willows for most of the season with the Team Gem lads doing well on a regular basis.

Teenager Joe Carrass finally got the big pay day he has missed out on several times this season.

After drawing the golden peg on three previous occasions at the Willows, the last of which saw him finish second by two ounces, he finally got it right when he topped the latest Saturday open from peg 40 on Goldrush. His 68lb 10oz net of carp to 4lb fell to pole and pellet and was worth £500.

Weekend Bookings

Sunday: All water below York - YDA of A Tower Trophy, Red House (Middle & Lagoon) - Coach & Horses AC.

Updated: 10:26 Friday, November 05, 2004