Despite drawing its lowest entry in living memory, the 125-peg Yorkshire Ouse Championship was still the county's biggest match by a long stretch though a sad indictment on the state of match fishing in the area.

The Ouse had fallen significantly after midweek flood warnings but was still carrying a yard of chocolate-brown water.

Not surprisingly, it was big fish that made the running and when it's a case of tempting a lump or two they don't come any better at it than Terry Morgan.

The Marsh Tackle-based river ace was pegged four pegs below the Nidd Mouth on the Leeds bank and opted for strong arm tactics in the known barbel area. Fishing a 2oz lead to combat the flows and 10lb line straight, he tempted three whiskered torpedoes, two on meat and one on worm, for 20lb 7oz.

Team-mate Kevin Moore made sure Marsh Tackle secured the four-man team event with 36lb by adding his second placed 14lb 7oz. Pegged above the Pipe Hole at Poppleton, he legered lobbies close in for a brace of slabs, plus six eels.

It was bream that took the rest of the main prizes with Martin Thorpe (Glen) bagging two from two pegs above Killingbeck for his 9lb 6oz. Don McAllister (Bentley AC) was on the beck end and also had two bream for 8lb 9oz.

Others: Craig Turbitt (Bradford Wibsey) 7-8-0; Mark Weebley (Leeds Police) 6-7-0; John Cyrowski (Armley Angling) 6-6-0; Alan Baker (York) 5-15-0; Ray Stock (East End Park) 5-14-0; Roger Ellis (Marsh Tackle) 5-11-0.

Most of the cash went back over the hills to Lancashire after another belter on Maple Lake at the North Yorkshire Oaks complex, where 20lb was needed to win every section in the 66-peg open.

John Bradshaw (Sensas Garbolino) led the Red Rose raiders and extended his squad's lead in the Kamasan Team Title. He pole fished maggot at 11 metres from peg 46, where he found lots of small carp lurking at the bottom of the far ledge. After a hectic five hours he had bagged himself 57-11-0 of pasties to a pound for a clear win.

John McGarill (MAP Elton) restored some Yorkshire pride with his 43-5-0 net from peg 12. Pole and maggot again did the damage.

Others: Mark Lucas (Ted Carter Preston) 42-11-0; John Chapman (Keenets NW) 36-14-0; John Jowett (Sensas Garbolino) 36-12-0; John Allerton (Tricast Whizzo) 34-4-0.

Andy Sparling (Armley Angling) got among the specimens in Wednesday's open at Carpvale weighing in 71lb 8oz with just 12 carp.

Fishing pole and meat tight to the right hand island on peg 16 his winning net included four fish into double figures.

Others: Dave Wright (Armley Angling) 34-4-0; Bernard Guy (East End Park) 30-0-0; Dave Spence (York) 24-4-0.

Nigel Thompson (Newton) helped his club to victory in the three rivers' challenge between Newton (Ouse) Helperby (Swale) and Knaresborough (Ure).

Fished on the latter's home water he bagged three chub for a straight 16lb fishing a caster feeder from peg 55 opposite Ellenthorpe Hall.

Others: John Bird (Newton) 7-8-0; John Kaye (Newton) 6-13-0; Pete Riley (Boroughbridge) 6-11-0. Teams; Newton 84; Boroughbridge 75; Helperby 65.

Leeds Juniors' Wayne Nolan, aged 16, made it back-to-back wins at Raker Lakes after drawing the same peg again.

Fishing pole and corn at 16 metres tight over on peg 21 he bagged small carp to 2lb for his winning net of 59lb 12oz.

Others: Paul Connelly (Hull Works) 24-2-0; Dave Geldard (Boston Spa) 21-5-0; Steve Haw (Acomb Tackle) 20-13-0.

Paul Thompson (Derwent Valley) had 6-4-0 of small roach and perch to pole and squatt at 12 metres from peg 23 to win Saturday's open on the Selby Canal at Brayton.

The locals scored well in the clear conditions with Keith Heptinstall (Selby DAA) second on a level 4lb and organiser Kelvin Weatherall and Neil Stanisforth, both of Selby DAA, tying for third on 3lb 6oz.

Updated: 12:34 Wednesday, October 31, 2001