The only match bookings for York waters this pre-Christmas weekend are both at Fulford, which host the Local Angling Club tomorrow and Pudsey on Sunday.

There is plenty of the Ouse to go at, but I would head to Poppleton if you are seeking roach action.

There have been plenty of fish to be caught in the past week, with a long walk to the Little Sand Bed field rewarding.

The pegs in the big trees opposite Church Farm are also worth a try. Slider or pole with maggot or bread punch will score. If the water is cold a switch to the straight lead might produce good results.

On the Derwent the stretch among the boats above Sutton on Derwent weir is good for roach and dace, with odd chub also showing here and at Wheldrake.

Try bread to sort out the better fish. Bread in its punch form is also working well on the Foss within the City, with good bags of roach from Huntington Road.

In the absence of river competition, try pleasure angling now that the rivers are all back in action.

The Wharfe at Smaws Ings hit top form last weekend. York Amalgamation have the water opposite at Healaugh Grange.

The first severe frosts of the winter are normally the kiss of death for most venues, but frosts are the making of the Wharfe above Tadcaster weir.

The dace and roach that have enjoyed the rich pickings to be had in the streams at Wetherby and Boston Spa drop downstream into deeper areas at this time of year and can often be found tightly shoaled.

Pegs below the gauging station, around the wires and either side of the 'armchair' should guarantee bites, with the traditional stick and maggot the method. Does anybody still own a stick float?

There is plenty of choice for pnd fishing. At Carpvale the carp have started to move again in the main pond, but it is the smaller front pond that anglers in search of bites should head to.

Club matches have been won with nearly 20lb of small fish including carp, tench, skimmers , perch and orfe. A simple pole and maggot approach will work well with waggler also scoring.

At Raker Lakes the introduction of a number of small chub seems to have inspired the other residents with lots of double figure roach and skimmer catches.

Caster over chopped worm seems to be the most successful attack but maggot and pinkie will also score. Try to fish the deeper water at between 8 and 13 metres.

Match anglers still have plenty of scope to avoid the Christmas shopping with a number of contests on commercial fisheries around the region.

Woodlands offers the best, if slightly peggy, sport with weights in excess of 30lb normally needed for victory.

The maggot feeder approach will continue to be the method until water temperatures start to rise.

Other venues hosting contests include the Oaks, Raker Lakes and Carpvale.

Of the York Amalgamation ponds Burn Road has proved the most popular in recent weeks with some nice roach falling to waggler and caster.

Claxton is also worth a try where bread will work for the skimmers in the deeper pegs.

Plenty of small fish were evident in the Foss Basin earlier this week where pike anglers were also reporting plenty of runs from fish into low doubles. No monsters yet, but brisk action nevertheless.

Updated: 12:22 Friday, December 21, 2001