Sunday Open heralds start of new season

9:57am Friday 15th June 2007

The new season is upon us and anglers across the area will no doubt be planning their first foray tonight.

River levels are fairly low for the time of year, which may not help those eager to fill their nets. Most species of fish appear to have spawned so should be hungry and eager to provide us with some much-needed river action.

The feature event of the weekend is the annual York Amalgamation First Sunday Open.

All pegs on the Ouse above York are allocated for the event and a good turnout is anticipated. The sections from Redhouse to Poppleton and Beningbrough Park are likely to be pressed into action where bream will be the target species.

An evening stroll between Poppleton and Redhouse proved enlightening as good numbers of bream were observed rolling in several areas. The pegs above Poppleton opposite Church Farm held good numbers of fish, as did the area just below Killingbeck. Anglers not drawn in these areas should not despair as fish were evident throughout the section which bodes well for the big match.

Pleasure anglers should head for some faster flowing water to seek out the best action.

There is no shortage of excellent options within striking distance of York to have that taste of flowing water action.

The Nidd looks to be in good shape and pegs around Skip Bridge and at Nun Monkton would be well worth a visit, as would the Goldsborough fishery.

On the Derwent, the areas downstream of the many weirs are the places to head. Stamford Bridge is always a safe bet in the first few weeks of the season where chub and barbel should be present in the streamy pegs upstream of the bridge.

Further downstream, the section at Sutton-on-Derwent is much underfished and could reward those with a sense of adventure.

There are plenty of other options such as the smaller rivers such as the Rye and the Seven, where dace and grayling should provide a good day's stick-float action.

The York Amalgamation Junior match takes place on the Ouse at New Walk Terrace next Friday. Tickets are available at all the usual outlets. Parents and adult helpers are welcome to attend and offer support and advice.

Club secretaries and fishery owners are reminded I can be contacted on email at darren.starkey@dsl.pipex.com or by phone on 01757 289116. Match results and catch news welcome any time.

ANGLING BOOKINGS

Saturday

Beningbrough (Village) - Local AC; Donkey Woods - Acomb WMC AC; Red House (bottom) - Shepherds AC.

Sunday

Beningbrough (Park/Village), Poppleton, Red House (middle and bottom) - York and District Amalgamation of Anglers First Sunday Open; Acaster - Pudsey Royal AC; Howsham Bridge (above and below) - Clifton Hotel AC; Laybourne (Marley, pegs 1-10, 37-53) - York CIU teams.

Wednesday, June 30

Laybourne Lakes (Marley, pegs 37-53) - Poppleton Rovers AC.