Fixtures were sparse for the festive period and the sudden heavy snowfall depleted turnouts to only the most dedicated, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Northallerton & District AC's Open attracted 45 competitors to a swollen Swale 18" up on the Scruton to Far Farholme match length.

Darlington's Rob Stubbs drew the noted peg 72 on Crow Tree Corner at Tweddles Farm. Working the feeder with bread and wasp grub in the nearside slack his first chub slipped the hook but another four ensured victory recording 15.2.0.

A surprise barbel of 7.8.0 steered Barry Stephenson also Darlington into second place. Fishing Barkers corner deeps bomb and lobworm tempted the specimen adding a couple of chub on bread for 14.7.0. at the scales.

Others: Rob Turner (Darlington) 7.2.0 Matty Prudhoe (RSPS) 6.6.0 Gerry Bowes (Durham) 4.15.0.

Small silver fish showed during Tadcaster's Open on the Wharfe around Smaws Ings.

Hirst Tackle's Dave Pollitt on peg 55 edged the stickfloat and maggot down his peg picking up roach and dace for a winning 5.11.8.

Further upstream on peg 18 Anglers World star Chris Burton collected 15 tiny dace to waggler and maggot tactics for 3.10.0 from Alistair Wilks (Tadcaster) 3.3.0 & Trevor Batley (Armley) 2.7.8.

The weather took its toll on the prolific Woodlands Fishery at Carlton Miniott as temperatures dropped the 'thinking anglers' stopped feeding and just fished for bites.

Goole's John Kenning pulled out the form peg 8 on Skylark, scene of three victories in recent weeks, and pulverised the opposition taking a stunning haul of 55.2.0 during the midweeker. John never fed a single maggot but concentrated on hitting all his bites as bomb and double maggot brought all carp up to 2.8.0.

Nigel Johnson now under the Cleveland Angling Centre replied with 39.12.0 of carp to the feeder and maggot off Partridge 13.

Best of the rest: Paul Clarke (Normark) 29.10.0 Gareth Smith (Northallerton) 24.2.0 & Bill Blythe (Newman Scott) 18.5.0.

Competitors in Saturday's Woodland's event struggled through snow blizzards and weights continued to decline.

Wakefield visitor Tony Hammond required only 15.8.0 to beat the 50 contestants off Kestrel's peg 30. Bomb and a single maggot on fine tackle encouraged the fish to feed and included small carp barbel chub tench and ide in a mixed net.

It was feeder and maggot for Leeds Dave Geldart who weighed in all carp for 12.10.0 hotly pursued by Map Elton regular John McGarrell on 11.4.0.

Sunday's open attracted 57 hardy rods who braved the elements.

Split between Kestrel, Dragonfly, Swallow and Mallard Lakes York Tackle's Barry Richardson gained the verdict off Dragonfly 1.

A small maggot feeder and plenty of patience delivered a winning pair of carp for 8.2.0.

Seven carp but of a small stamp secured next best in the frame for Neil Machin of Sensas Garbolino whose 7.1.0 fell to the long pole and single maggot off Swallow Lake's peg 12 from John Chapman (Keenets North West) 6.14.0 & Ian Grimshaw (Elton Tackle) 6.9.0.

Fixtures - Tomorrow: *Woodland Lake's Open - Tickets from Alan Gregory tel: 01845 526110.

Sunday: *Yarm AA T.E Lealman Trophy on the Lower Tees. *Knaresborough Piscatorials Open River Nidd Scotton to Goldsborough - Tickets on 01423 880262. *Darlington & District Open Pairs Match on the middle Tees at Over Dinsdale - Tickets on 01325 262082. *Tadcaster APA Open (60 pegs) on the River Wharfe at Smaws Ings - Tickets on 01937 832972. *York WL (2) River Ouse Fulford and Middlethorpe. *Woodland Lakes Open. *Oaks Open Sessay.