York Amalgamation of Anglers' committee have been working hard to get stretches of the River Derwent reopened.

The stretches around Howsham are now available again to anglers and this Sunday the Burton Stone and Ben Johnson clubs are holding matches on the Howsham Hall and Paradise Farm sections.

Both lengths, along with the Barnfield fishery, are free tomorrow. I would target the streamier water downstream of Howsham Bridge, where there are big barbel and some good chub.

Another water reopened this week is Tockwith, which makes it one of the few stretches of the River Nidd available to anglers.

The venue suffered from its 'trim' last season and it will be interesting to see if the barbel, chub and dace return once the bankside growth re-establishes or if they have gone for good to pastures new.

Encouraging reports are filtering through from the Ouse, where anglers are reaping the rewards of early starts.

The amount of boat traffic observed on the Ouse last Sunday reached 'armada' proportions, but early birds are bagging the bream at breakfast time.

Graham Wood from Poppleton took a dozen slabs from the Ouse above his home village during the week from a peg near the big tree. Caster feeder and worm did the trick, with slabs to over 6lb gracing his net.

He also reported that there were "lots" of fish rolling, suggesting a big shoal is patrolling the area.

The venue is tackled by GPO tomorrow and BRS on Sunday, but there should still be plenty of room for pleasure anglers.

Bream are still showing around the Millennium bridge area on the Ouse below York, which bodes well for tonight's York Junior match to be fished along the New Walk.

I wouldn't bet against Charlotte Darling completing the double after her winning the CIU Junior crown from the same venue last week.

Roach are starting to feature in catches through the city centre. I would advise a late rather than early start. A number of anglers recently caught on hemp seed during evening sessions.

Marygate and the stretch below Clifton Bridge are both worth a visit if targeting red fins.

There was a close contest at Carpvale on Wednesday, barely a pound separating the top four anglers.

Gary Watson won with 31lb 8oz of carp and tench from peg 16.

Close behind were John Clarke with 30lb 10oz and Mick Laverack on 30lb 1oz.

The front pond is reported to be in great form, with a best catch estimated at 160lb landed by Steve Laverack fishing from peg two.

Fishing pole to the island he fed pellets and fished meat and corn over the top for a mixed bag that included three double figure fish.

Paste over pellet is currently scoring best.

Over at Maran Lakes things are hotting up as the warm weather continues and fish move freely through the layers, going deeper only when the sun is high.

There are plenty of fish topping in the warm, overcast cloud so don't be afraid to try the dry fly.

The bailiffs at Maran have been scrabbling for creepy crawlies in the lakes and have a tank in the office depicting the range of water life in the ponds. It is worth a look when you go fishing.

Nine-year-old Micheal Stewart, from Ossett, came fishing for the first time with his father and promptly showed Mr Stewart senior how to do it by hanging on to a 5lb 6oz rainbow.

Other venues booked for matches this weekend are:

Tomorrow: Park View - York RI, Donkeywoods - Acomb, Fulford - Shepherds, Palace Ings - Local AC.

Sunday: Park View - Clifton, Donkeywoods - Royal Oak, Fulford - Huntington, Palace Ings - Poppleton, Tockwith - Black Horse.

Updated: 12:35 Friday, June 29, 2001