The Carpvale Winter League Series got off to a brilliant start with conditions, and sport, more akin to high summer.

In a stunning contest half of the 30-strong field weighed 50lb or more with the front pond in particular in superb form.

John Haw set the standard in the hectic opener from peg 72 on the front pond. Working with pole and corn across to the island, he tempted carp to 5lb throughout a bust day to finish on a level 95lb.

Not far behind was Mr Carpvale' himself, Mick Addinall. Also on the prolific front pond, he found carp still willing to take surface baits despite the advanced season.

Fishing floating bread tight to the far-side features on peg 62, he finished with an all-carp net of 89lb 8oz.

Top weight on Cyprio Lake was recorded by Roy Worsnip, who used pole and cat food at peg eight for a carp net of 88lb 8oz.

With temperatures finally beginning to approach a more seasonal norm, sport can be expected to slow a little on local ponds and lakes.

A switch from the summer baits' such as meat and paste to maggot and chopped worm should keep the bites coming thick and fast though.

On the rivers there have been plenty of roach and perch showing on the Ouse both up and downstream of York with the Sellars water at Poppleton and the City Centre stretches worth a visit.

Away from the Ouse a couple of specimen anglers have reported good catches in the last week.

Elvington's Tom Bridges has had some good reward at last for a long summer in search of a big Derwent chub. After many blank sessions on his chosen stretch at Kexby, he finally hit the jackpot during a short evening jaunt after work.

Braving the cold and dark, he got the prize his endeavours deserved when a superb brace of chub scaling 5lb 13oz and 5lb 11oz fell to his legered bread crust.

Further downstream at Wheldrake, Steve Jackman, who is based in the village, has been getting to grips with his local Derwent pike.

Adopting the classic roving approach, he has been using a range of plugs and lures to great effect. His best haul so far came last Sunday and featured fish of 16lb, 12lb and ten others in single figures.

WEEKEND BOOKINGS

Tomorrow
Acaster - Local AC; Fulford - Star AC.

Sunday
Donkey Woods - Shepherds AC; Howsham (opposite Hall) - New Earswick AC; Kexby (above) - York Angling Association; Laybourne Lakes (Marley, 1-9 & 37-53) - Huntington WMC AC; Laybourne Lakes (Brown's) - Sea Horse AC.;