THE opening encounter in what promises to be a long and arduous Yorkshire Winter League campaign starts on Sunday.

The 100 or so competitors in the first contest will be hoping for some light relief to see them through the rest of the series.

The Calder around Mirfield has been in brilliant form of late and with running line float tactics to the fore prospects are good.

Stick or waggler will both prove effective depending on the depth and flow.

The fish have been shoaled in the shallower, faster, water downstream of the numerous weirs that bear testament to the river's industrial heritage. Maggot will score but minnows can be a nuisance and I would pin my faith on caster for the roach and dace.

Anglers World are the champions and went on to progress to the national final held on the River Nene at Peterborough.

Rivals Hirst Tackle have a few new signings among their ranks and I expect a close encounter this season.

Armley Angling and Marsh Tackle will also be in the shake-up at the end of the series.

Match action also returns to the Ouse above the City with the Hospital Cup fished between Redhouse and Poppleton. With few club matches along the length since the opening of the season it is difficult to call this one.

Pleasure anglers have been taking some nice nets of roach at Poppleton and with the river very low and clear at present after a virtually dry September, bream should be hard to tempt.

It will be a brave man that targets the silver fish in preference to the slabs but the rewards could be there.

Bream were certainly conspicuous only by their absence in last Sunday's Acomb WMC Fur and Feather contest fished on the Ouse below York at Fulford.

Ricky and Derek East led the way. Young Derek beat dad Ricky into second with an all-perch net of 4lb 7oz.

The elder statesman had another perch bag of 3-13 as did third-placed man Adrian Goodwin who scaled 2-4oz.

Rawcliffe Lake continues to fish well and a recent lunchtime stroll revealed a number of anglers bagging on a variety of methods. A feeder angler was taking some nice tench and crucians on corn. However, please remember not to use groundbait.

Someone else was pole fishing with hemp in the corner by the school and not surprisingly was taking a roach a chuck. Some of the fish were up to nearly a pound.

To complete the variety of methods a couple of young lads were fishing waggler and maggot and despite their lack of tackle and experience were still managing to attract the attentions of plenty of small perch and roach.

Weekend bookings

Tomorrow

Donkeywoods - York RI, Fulford - Shepherds, Skipbridge - GPO

Sunday

Redhouse to Poppleton - Hospital Cup, Donkeywoods - Poppleton, Palace Ings - New Earswick, Tockwith - Clifton, Tadcaster - YAA, Howsham Hall - Cygnet, Stamford Below - Pudsey, Sutton - Royal Oak, Paradise Farm - Huntington.

Updated: 10:51 Friday, October 04, 2002