Fish Tales

Fished on the Upper Swale between Richmond and Great Langton Bridge this long awaited barbel revival could have a lot to do with the River Swale Preservation Society's restocking programme during the last decade when 21,000 fish were introduced into the river following a decline of the species in the mid 1970s.

RSPS Tek Neek Trabucco's Ray King holder of the Upper Swale Championship Record heaved his spectacular net onto the scales in this four-hour event.

Drawn below Skeeby Beck at Brompton, Ray fed a pint of casters at the off over to a far bank slack. Utilising bomb and 4.0.0 line with a long tail to a 14 hook and triple caster Ray couldn't believe his luck when he hooked a barbel first cast and went on to land 18 in all ranging from 10ozs to a heavyweight of 7.10.0.

Teammate Kenny Close was shell shocked to find himself second despite weighing in a chub bag of 40.3.0. Pegged on the pipe at Gibson's Farm Ellerton Kenny floatfished down nearside willows alternating caster grub and meat to net 11 fish.

Others: Steve Hoggins (Newcastle) 26.2.0; Barry Stephenson (Darlington) 14.15.0.

Saturday's RSPS Lower Swale Championship returned to its rightful place on the match calendar after a break of 2 years but it was a disappointing turn out of just 28 competing for their name on this prestigious trophy in memory of NFA & Leeds stalwart Alan Howe York's Chris Jackson ended a runaway champion weighing in an outstanding 36.12.0 from a very low and clear river at Skipton to Baldersby.

Fishing upstream of the cow drink at Skipton far side willows held chub and Chris feeder fished wasp grub to extract 11 specimens.

Northallerton & District Sheldon Cup River Swale Scruton: 1 Kevin Warburton (RSPS Tek Neek Trabucco) 20.14.0 - 9 chub on the bomb with caster & maggot; 2 Pat Adams (RSPS Tek Neek Trabucco) 19.14.0; 3 Steve Taylor (RSPS Tek Neek Trabucco) 14.12.0.

A clash of events kept attendances down for the Durham County Individual Championships on the middle Tees at Over Dinsdale and surprisingly just three double figured weights were recorded from a venue, which has shown some excellent form this season.

Haughton's John Leybourne pulling out peg 64 opposite Middleton one Row grabbed the honours 5ozs ahead of the next best.

On the stickfloat and caster John picked up small roach dace and chublets at intervals for 11.12.0.

Talk of the match runner up Mark McDonald of Harrogate who landed a super perch of 4.3.0 believed to be a record for the river.

Fishing three pegs downstream opposite the filter beds legered lobworm also tempted chub and eels to make up 11.7.0 from Dave Graham Dunelm 10.13.0.

Bradford City AA Cinderella Trophy River Ure Brampton: 1 Barry Wilkinson (Bradford) 6.10.0 - all roach on the pole and hemp; 2 Peter Gibson (Bradford) 4.15.0.

Carp Scene

The final round of the Drennan Super League Northern Division switched over to Woodland Lakes and it was a fierce battle for the 88 rods spread around Kestrel Partridge and Skylark Lakes.

A tremendous performance by Diawa Cleveland toppled the mighty Newman Scott's clawing back a ten-point deficit in the final round of the league which reigning champions Newman Scott had dominated from day one.

Shimano Quaker A's Eddie Bridon topped an impressive scoresheet with an individual net of 75.1.0.

Sat on Kestrel 15, Eddie tamed two huge carp of 12.0.0 apiece, which effectively won him the match as lots of small carp fell to pellet and corn hookbaits presented on the pole at 11 metres.

Victorious Diawa Cleveland was led by Dave Harris who is enjoying some good results on this venue chipped in with 71.12.0 off Partridge 6.

Overall individual champion Shimano Quaker A's Captain Peter Close notched up an unbelievable 60 points from a possible 66 during the series from Geoff Douglas (Diawa Cleveland) 57 and Ronnie Wilkinson (Newman Scot) 56.

Top three teams on the day: 1 Diawa Cleveland 78 pts; 2 Shimano Quaker A 72; 3 Newman Scott 66.

Top six overall: 1 Diawa Cleveland 400 pts; 2 Newman Scott 398; 3 Shimano Quaker A 396; 4 Shotton & District MG, 306; 5 Big Waters, 294; 6 Shimano Quaker B 276.

Near perfect conditions and plenty of action turned Woodland's midweeker into a terrific match for the 78 anglers on this 'must fish' complex.

It was also a day of records and improving on personal 'bests' when three out of the top four registered their biggest weights at the fishery.

Top of the list Newman Scott's Ronnie Wilkinson produced the best bag off Wagtail Lake since it opened, a stunning 124.3.0.

Fishing off peg 20, luncheon meat towards the boards kept the carp coming as Ronnie tamed quality specimens up to 10.0.0 on his way to an unforgettable victory.

Then over on Partridge 21 Elton Tackle's Alan Sharman must have thought he'd cracked it when he put together his best match weight of 121.5.0.

This time meat fished on the deck at 13 metres resulted in Alan pulling out lots of small carp only to find he'd slipped into runner up spot at the conclusion.

Woodland Lakes Saturday Partridge & Skylark (71 pegs): 1 Mark Coyne (Map Elton) 82.8.0; 2 J McGarrell (Map Elton) 81.8.0; 3 I Thompson (Elton Tackle) 66.9.0;

Oaks Sessay Thursday Maple Lake: 1 Dean Smith (Tek Neek Trabucco Elton) 59.12.0; 2 Ray Singh (Map Elton) 51.4.0; 3 Dave Topping (Waterline Wibsey) 51.1.0.

Match organiser Mick Herrington saw off the rest of the regulars at the Oaks Sessay on Sunday winning with 53.8.0. Sat on peg 62A, Mick found all his fish into the corner as the pole and caster ruled delivering mostly carp to 2.0.0 plus small barbel.

Trout News

Big news of the week came from Leighton Reservoir when 15-year-old Borrowby youngster Sam Harrison netted a super rainbow of 10.0.0 to a Dawson's olive. 135 visitors 328 trout.

Tunstall: Rod average 2. Consett's Graham Smith enjoyed a super session landing 15 rainbows with the best one 2.8.0. Appetisers, cat's whiskers and daddies most effective. The reservoir remains open until the end of October and the bag limits been increased to 12 fish. Tickets £15.

Jubilee Lakes: Rod average 3.2. Daddy longlegs, bloodworm and black buzzers taking majority of fish in a week of three doubles headed by a rainbow of 13.10.0 falling to Rotherham visitor Tony Mullins on a cat's whisker.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Northallerton & DAC Open River Swale Scruton to Morton - tel: 01609 / 779073.

Thornaby AA David McGibbon / McCulloch Memorial Junior Match at Ascott Pond - meet 9am.

Woodland Lakes Open.

World Angling Championships 13+14 September - Madunice / Slovakia.

Sunday: Yarm AA Alan Wells Memorial Lower Tees.

Bradford No1 AA Hirst Cup River Swale Maunby.

Ripon Pisc River Ure Champs Hutton to Bishop Monkton - 200 pegs. Tickets on (01765) 605467.

Thornaby AA September Cup River Tees Croft.

Oaks Sessay Maple Lake.