LEEDS ASA AT long last, the seal, which has been at liberty in the River Swale, has been captured and returned to the sea. However, the long-term effect on fish stocks remains an unknown quantity.

The match on the River Wharfe at Ulleskelf was won with a barbel catch of 35lb 10oz, and there were three other weights of over 20lb. Result of the Saturday open match at Kippax Park (Lapwing): 1 P Cromie 135lb 6oz, 2 B Rymer 88lb, 3 M Shorter 87lb 10oz, 4 A Rymer 87lb 9oz. Result of the Sunday match at Moor Monkton Pools (front pool and match pool): 1 O Hewitt 115lb 5oz, 2 M Dodsworth 108lb 11oz, 3 A Warren 91lb 2oz, 4 L Myers 78lb 70z. Result of the Tuesday match at Kippax Park: 1 P Carter 166lb 2oz, 2 A Rymer 124lb 2oz, 3 P Cromie 121lb 8oz. Result of the match at Moor Monkton Pools: 1 A Warren 120lb 1oz, 2 D Wright 117lb 9oz, 3 M Gallagher 110lb 9oz.

Any angler finding a tube containing quiver tips is asked to return it to the general secretary as per rule.

BRADFORD CITY AA The August weather now seems to have returned to normal. Temperatures have dropped to cooler levels and regular rain is starting to put right the depredations of the past four months. River anglers report that levels are too high and the water dirty brown, and are trying to time their visits to coincide with fishable conditions, but the best news this week is of the capture of the seal at Topcliffe, where it has been predating fish since early April.

Still-water anglers have found the refreshing rain to benefit fishing on the lakes too. We’ve had no reports from Shipton or Oakworth this week, but plenty from Staveley. John Moore enjoyed a “cracking day” on the small lake, fishing on a guest permit with a club member, saying “that pond is stuffed with fish”. Adrian Bunn reported a common from the small lake too, weighing 10lb – these fish were stocked at pastie size just three years ago.

Steve Rhodes and Francis Dine continued their quest to catch a fish from every one of BCAA’s fisheries in 2018. Their excursion to Staveley returned good nets of roach from the large lake, and rudd, roach, barbel, bream, perch, tench and carp from the small lake, taken on punched bread and maggot fished under floats and on feeder. ‘Bongy’ Bromfield also saw a good number of smaller carp to his net, plus some tench, perch and roach taken on sweetcorn.

Anglers on the rivers have also been in the fish, with the Swale at Topcliffe starting to see visits again now that the seal has gone. Stuart Brookes took a while to find the fish but managed a couple of barbel in low water before the rain – although they took some time to recover, they swam away strongly.

On the Aire, Phil Bailey and Harry Parr found few insects on the wing on the Funkirk beat but had a good number of fish, including two of nearly 3lb, and on the Wharfe at Buckden, Mark Abbott had a good day too, with several fish to the net.

The match section fished the members’ only Bob Escott Memorial Match last weekend at Staveley small lake. Result: 1 Steve Fox 15lb 11oz, 2 Barry Newby 14lb 2oz, 3 Sam Braithwaite 12lb 10oz. The next is the Boroughbridge Gala match, at Lower Dunsforth on the River Ure on Saturday, August 25. If you’d like to fish it, call John Stark on 07793 558227.

Low water levels are again affecting river fishing although the present weather forecast appears to offer more hope of sustained rain which may eventually increase the flow and generally improve angling.

SKIPTON AA Most of the length of fishing between Skipton and Gargrave has been only suitable for fly fishing but, apart from the odd angler, most have heeded the warning of club officials and kept away from the water to avoid unduly stressing captured fish on their release into warm and reduced oxygenated water.

One water that has been a useful standby for our members is Embsay Reservoir, where the level has been maintained by Yorkshire Water at just under the full mark. Warm water has not been a problem due to its depth, altitude and the very good compensating flow into the reservoir from the Yorkshire Water grid.

The reservoir was the venue last Sunday for the penultimate match in the series of four for the Peter Hart Memorial Trophy. To avoid retaining trout in a keep-net, any trout caught was given a nominal weight of 454g regardless of the actual size of the fish. The trout was witnessed by an adjacent competitor and then released back into the reservoir.

At the end of the three-hour match, most catches consisted of one or more trout, plus a few smallish perch. Result: 1 Simon Chenier 2273g, 2 Jason Aldis 1620g, 3 Graeme Waterfall 1563g, 4 Russell Heaton 1023g, 5 Michael Mara 587g.

With just one match remaining to be fished on Sunday, September 9 at Whinnygill Reservoir, the main contenders are: 1 Russell Heaton 48pts, 2 Simon Chenier 36, 3 Jason Aldis 34, 4 Graeme Waterfall, 5 Mark Bradley 20.

Our other reservoir, Whinnygill, to the east side of the town, is also providing some good sport for members, although the emphasis is mainly on coarse fish, with roach, rudd, bream, perch, ide, tench, carp and gudgeon all likely to turn up in a day's fishing.

The Association also has a good length of the canal from the basin at Skipton to Niffany Farm Swing Bridge, plus the short remaining stub of the Springs Canal Branch. The fishing is up to normal canal standards with the chance of catching good bream and perch depending on the time of the year.

BRADFORD No 1 AA Round four of the Calder League produced probably one of the best team event results in the country on Sunday as outstanding catches came from all sections. Most catches were made up of roach and dace. The roach stocks in the river are certainly booming this year, and at stretches much higher up. Overall the match produced 26 double-figure weights and an average weight of 11lb, with some anglers returning catches of over 15lb and not picking up a penny in prize-money. Result: 1 Dave Armitage (Punky’s 8) 24lb 2oz (roach net from below Cooper Bridge), 2 Dennis White (Drennan Barnsley) 22lb 6oz (on pole from same stretch), 3 Eric Wright (Willy Worms) 21lb 13oz, 4 Paul Bennett (Calder 8) 20lb 15oz, 5-8 18lb-plus nets. Every section prize was won with at least 11lb 6oz. Team: 1 Calder 8 41pts, 2= Bradford No 1 AA, Mirfield 37, 4= Punky’s 8, Willy Worms 34½, 6 Drennan Barnsley 32. Overall team standings (with two matches left): 1= Calder 8, Mirfield 21½ pts, 3 Punky’s 8 19½, 4 Drennan Barnsley 18, 5 Bradford No 1 AA 17½.

On Sunday we will be holding the annual Lower Aire Championship, along with Leeds DASA, at Beal and Chapel Haddlesey. Another big turn-out is expected and tickets are still available from Simon on 01274 571175.

Yearbooks have now been collected from tackle shops for audit but membership can still be purchased online or from the ticket and licence secretary.

LISTERHILLS AA Result of the afternoon match at Rodley: 1 E Harrison 2lb 1oz, 2 R Thorne 2lb. Result of Sunday’s annual Canal Open Championship: 1 B Lowthian 3lb 5oz (including tench from end peg), 2 M Moss 2lb 14oz (including trench from other end peg), 3 B Mason 2lb 8oz. Section winners: R Thorne 2lb 7oz, E Harrison 2lb 3oz. Next members’ match is on Wednesday, August 22, to book on contact secretary on 07518-721051. Fron now until the end of the year, a junior members’ book costs £1.

CENTRAL AC Result of last Sunday’s match at McCallums: 1 S Worley 84lb 8oz, 2 A Simpson 83lb 12oz, 3 C Davey 82lb 8oz, 4 R Wharfe 73lb. Our next match is at Woodhouse Grange on Sunday, August 26, meet at venue 8am, fishing 9am-3pm, meat baits banned at this venue, all nets to be dipped before fishing.

BINGLEY AC Sunday’s match is at Sunnydale, draw 8am, contact Adi on 07783 332705 to book on. Barbel to 6lb have been caught on the River Aire in Bingley. These are probably from the Environment Agency stocking programme started in 2009.