Fishing reports and prospects

After the drought river levels of the summer the Wharfe has looked much more healthy these last few weeks. Regular spates have seen the river bed well cleaned up and fly hatches have been excellent with lots of rising fish. Grayling dry fly fishing is likely to continue until late-November with nymph fishing being worthwhile all winter long. Bait anglers have struggled in the recent mild weather but catches of grayling to small worms and maggots are likely to improve significantly in the coming weeks.

The ponds have been at an all-time low water level all summer long. This, combined with hot temperatures in July and murky water in the Members Lagoon, have led to poor fish catches. A few perch and rudd were caught over the last few weeks with the highlight being a 5lb 10oz bream caught by club membership secretary Peter Connor. It might well be worth a go in the Roadside Lagoon for pike over the coming weeks.

AGM date – Monday 5th December at 7.30 Make a note in your diary if you’d like to attend. The venue, as usual, is the Ilkley Bowling Club. One item on the agenda will be a discussion about the future of our ponds fisheries. Another will be our brand new website which is targeted to go live early in the New Year. Please email me any good fish pictures that you have (caught on an IAA water) that you would be happy to go onto the website.

Angling (and others) book sale – Clarke Foley Centre 12th November 11-4  IAA member Roland Froebel is somewhat of a book trader. He does it not-for-profit, being a trustee of the Robinson Library Timble charity. There will be thousands of new and pre-loved books to choose from, including Yorkshire / local history, maps, history, sports, gardening, cookery, art, best sellers, military, a special children’s section AND lots of angling books. AND all profits go to the upkeep costs of the Timble library. Angling author Dave Tipping (from Harrogate) will also be there to sell signed copies of his most recent books ‘The Ilkley Connection’ and ‘Sticklebacks to Skate’.

Barker Cup match 2022 We plan to run a three hour match on the river, possibly on Saturday 10th December, to fish for the coveted Barker Cup. Please email me if you might want to fish the match. Please get in touch with your news, comments and ideas for the running of the club.

May I wish you all ‘tight lines’ over the coming weeks.

Dave Martin, Secretary