The opening round of the North-East Winter League got underway on Sunday and 120 rods lined the banks of the Wear from Shincliffe to Chester Moor, writes JEFF HERBERT.

The venue was carrying a touch of colour fished well with only 4 blanks as chub and eels decided the outcome.

First out in front Darlington Angling Centre set the pace establishing an eight point lead over Dick Clegg Metro spearheaded by individual winner Peter Close.

Peter legering a combination of grub meat and worms picked up 12 chub totalling 12.13.0 off peg 27.

Jez Byrne of Yarm Flynn's snatched runner up spot from a trailing pack all weighing in 8lbs plus. Drawing peg 86 Jez utilised meat and caster pulling out 17 eels backed by two chub for 8.12.0.

Team placings: 1. Darlington Angling Centre 95 points; 2. Dick Clegg Team Metro 87; 3. Cleveland Angling Centre 82; 4. Newman Scott Blue 66; Tying in 5th place: Billingham Tackle Box Yarm Flynns and Yarm AA on 63 points.

A perfect looking Tees failed to deliver the anticipated numbers of silver fish during the Thornaby AA October Open on the Croft to Hurworth reaches.

The top two weights made the scoresheet look respectable as Darlington rods dominated the proceedings.

Dave Boynes finished out in front of the strong competition with a dozen chub for 16.6.0. Staked above the plantation fence on peg 42 bomb over to the far bank on meat brought the fish on the feed.

Next Maurice Mudd's net consisted mostly of chub to stickfloat caster and meat while maggot picked up odd grayling and dace for 11.6.0 at the whistle.

Others: B Stephenson Darlington 8.0.0; B Blenkinsop Darlington 6.10.0; D Firth Darlington 5.10.0.

Four foot of extra water the day before the Ure dropped two overnight and was running off throughout the Ripon Piscatorials Webster Trophy on the deeps.

Ray Gilby of Ripon proved the only rod to crack double figures recording 12.8.0. Starting out on the long pole and then no sign switching to stickfloat and white maggot paid off. A mixed net of three chub - best 3.8.0 2 eels a roach and a good perch of 1.8.0 resulted from peg 18 below the Nab end.

Weights then dropped dramatically and Denis Wood of Leeds feeder fished red maggot at peg 66 for 5.9.0 of small fish for second place.

Foot-and-mouth restrictions dictated a change of venue for the 2001 RAFA Annual Charity Open and thanks to sponsors Northallerton Angling Centre competitors fished the Parklands Carp Fishery.

Though attendances weren't as high as expected a sterling effort by all raised £850 for the North Yorkshire St John Ambulance highlighted by a single contribution of £200 handed over by Mike Rampling of Boroughbridge Musketeers.

Big carp were the order of the day and Kevin Adock of Boroughbridge Musketeers B weighed in 30.8.0.

Fishing pole and worm at 11 metres with chopped worm on the hook three big carp figured best a sample of 10.0.0.

A similar approach and a trio of carp put consistent Tri-Cast Highfield rod Adam Jaffier in the frame with 28.14.8.

In the midweeker at Woodland Lakes there were some impressive net.

Dragonfly produced the best two bags.

Daryl Taylor and Pete Noble fought an exciting duel for supremacy with every ounce crucial.

Daryl of Map Elton worked the long pole and sweetcorn off peg 19 taking carp steadily throughout for 52.12.0. Meanwhile Pete of Stoke on peg six adopted identical tactics carping his way to 52.11.0 only to find his hopes of victory shattered when he fell a disastrous 1ozs adrift.

Saturday's Open Woodlands on Skylark and Partridge (58 rods): 1. L Roberts (Map Elton) 42.5.0 Skylark 22 Pole & cat meat to 11 metres - all small carp; 2. D. Cooper (Darlington Angling Centre) 39.13.0; 3. P Nixon (Newman Scott) 39.1.0.

York's Dave Maddison is fast emerging as the man to beat after making it two Wednesday wins on the trot at Carpvale Pool Moor Monkton.

Dave pulverised the opposition amassing a stunning 69.1.0 from peg 47. 16 metre pole and punched meat over to reeds tempted 18 carp a collection of commons, mirrors and ghosties up to 8.0.0.

Other results

Tadcaster Open River Wharfe at Smaws Ings: 1. Tom Poole (Glen) 13.5.0 2 bream 5.0.0 apiece on legered worm and 1 chub to waspgrub; 2. Mick Wood (Tadcaster) 12.3.0; 3. B Smith (Pontifract) 10.4.0.

Oaks Open Sessay (Sunday) Maple Lake (60 rods): 1. Jack Ferguson (Stainforth) 31.11.0 All carp to pole and corn; 2. Rab Ogilivy (Oaks) 25.1.0; 3. Wayne Nolan (Leeds Jnr) 23.0.0.

Trout News

Anglers enjoyed a bonanza week at Redworth's Jubilee Lakes - the weather was awful but the fish loved it.

Paul Hull from Evenwood Bishop Auckland broke the fishery record for three fish with a weight of 36.9.0. Over the day he took five rainbows for 44.11.0.

Cactus cluster deadly with his historic trio weighing in at 14.2.0 12.2.0 and 10.5.0.

There were five more doubles during a hectic week which saw bloodworm black zonkers along with cactus cluster the best patterns with a 4.5 fish rod average.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open. *Yarm AA Williams Cup Lower Tees. *Darlington BT Allan Charlesworth Cup R. Tees Coniscliffe to Croft. *Bradford No 1 AA Spenborough Guardian Trophy R. Wharfe at Boston Spa. *Thornaby AA Croft Cup (helpers match) River Tees. *York & Dist. AA Tower Trophy River Ouse. Ring Terry Pinder on 01904 629126. *Durham City AC Open 60 pegs R. Wear Durham. Ring 0191 3784050. *Tadcaster APA Open R. Wharfe at Smaws Ings. *Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake