THE new season on the rivers got off to a fine start this week with anglers across the York area enjoying some great sport.

Chub and barbel are an eagerly sought-after target, and the area's venues did not disappoint. Early successes were reported from a number of places with anglers taking advantage of the hot, sunny conditions.

Shallow streamy waters are always a favoured haunt at the onset of a new campaign and fish are responding well in the York area.

On the Nidd, some brisk action was reported from stretches around Skip Bridge where chub and dace were falling freely to stick float and caster tactics. The same approach saw several nets of chub over 50lbs from the Tadcaster controlled stretches of the Wharfe downstream of the weir.

The same scenario prevailed on the Derwent below the rapids created by the weir at Stamford Bridge.

Closer to home, match anglers' attentions focussed on the Ouse above York for the annual opening weekend York Amalgamation match where a healthy field of 100 plus anglers will be hoping to pin the down the elusive bream shoals in order to secure an early season pay-day.

Several anglers reported large accumulations of fish showing around the city centre with fish rolling in the vicinity of Butcher Terrace and along Marygate. These fish will be the target of the younger anglers of the town tonight as the annual Junior Match is fished on New Walk Terrace.

Encouraging signs upstream for Sunday's big open were provided by an unconfirmed report of a three-figure bag of slabs to 7lb taken yesterday from Clifton Ings opposite the British Sugar factory.

Despite the rivers being fair game, match activity on some of the commercial carp orientated venues continues unabated.

The mid-week open at Langwith Lakes provided Heworth-based former Matchman of the Year Dean Smith with the opportunity to demonstrate he has lost none of his silky skills despite relinquishing the ultimate accolade in match angling.

After drawing form corner peg 26 Smith was always in the driving seat however an unscheduled trip home to recover his spectacles meant the rest of the 27-field had a half hour head start in the three-hour evening sprint.

Despite the time handicap he still finished well ahead of the rest of the admiring field with a classily constructed net of small carp scaling 48lb taken on pole and pellet fished at the bottom of the far ledge.

Runner-up was Roger Holmes with 39lb followed by Norman Beckwith on 32lb 6oz and Jason Suter with 29lb, Rita Bell with 26lb 8oz and Norman Dixon on 24lb 4oz

Fisheries enforcement staff from the Environment Agency will be out in force this weekend collating catch return statistics and checking rod licence compliance. Make sure you have yours to avoid a costly and embarrassing start to what promises to be a great season.

Club secretaries who wish to publicise the results can contact me on 01904 785592 or at darren.starkey@ntlworld.com.

Weekend Bookings

Saturday

Acomb - Fulford and Palace Ings, Local - Beningbrough Village, Shepherds - Redhouse below, York GPO - Park View, York RI - Laybourne Lakes (Browns)

Sunday

All Redhouse and Beningbrough - York open, BRS - Paradise Farm, Burton Stone - Laybourne Lakes, Clifton Hotel - Howsham Bridge, Huntington - Palace Ings and Fulford, Pudsey Royal - Healaugh, Sea Horse - Laybourne Lake, White Rose - Donkey Woods, York AA - Acaster.

Updated: 08:30 Friday, June 18, 2004