Most local rivers have been off limits for anglers after another week of torrential rain.

The main casualty was the Acomb Tackle York and District Winter League, which suffered its second cancellation in succession.

Prospects for this weekend appear little better with heavy rain in midweek likely to see floodbanks across the area straining under the pressure.

Fortunately, there are no matches booked on York waters this weekend, so further cancellations can at least be avoided.

The only matches of any consequence took place on local stillwater venues and, once again, it was Langwith Lakes that pulled in the biggest crowd with all four lakes pressed into service for the latest open.

Venue regular Pete Uttley returned to winning ways with a cracking 84lb, as carp to 2lb mopped up his corn and pellet offerings at peg 25 on Bethany's Lake, where the 13 metre line was the most productive.

Hull angler George Barby more than covered his petrol expenses by claiming second place with 79lb 2oz. Barby had similar fish finding them at 9m and 12m, with pellet on the hook.

Result: 1 Pete Uttley, Langwith Lakes, 84-0-0; 2 George Barby, Angler's Corner, 79-2-0; 3 Simon Beswick, Tri-Cast Rochdale, 60-14-0; 4 Dave Cheetham, United Bait, 34-10-0; 5 Kevin Armitage, Team Glum, 31-8-0; 6 Andy Simpson, Angel of the North, 31-4-0.

Despite the Ouse having fallen five feet overnight, making the Leeds Winter Series the only river match in Yorkshire, conditions were still hard for the 69-strong entry. After a winter of absence, the bream were back in residence on the bungalows section at Hunters Lodge.

The extra colour proved to the liking of the slabs and John Cyrowski (Barlby Village Stores) set about peg 221 with a chopped worm feeder. Fish to 6lb responded for a winning bag of 24lb.

The same tactics worked at peg 190 below the willow garth for John Mills (Hirst Tackle), where a mid-match purple patch saw him slip the net under three fish scaling 15lb 10oz.

Result: 1 John Cyrowski, Barlby Village Stores, 24-0-0; 2 John Mills, Hirst Tackle, 15-10-0; 3 Ian Bates, Hirst Tackle, 7-3-0; 4 Dave Topham, Sensas Wibsey, 7-1-0; 5 Noel Speight, Leeds, 5-14-0; 6 Denis White, Maver Barnsley, 5-8-0.


It's Bretter late than never for Dave

After a third with 6lb on Saturday, Dave Brettell had the same weight again on the Selby Canal at Brayton on Sunday, but found it enough to register the win.

Drawn at peg 19, the York-based Daiwa Dons man used pinkie in conjunction with 13m of carbon to take about 100 roach.

Cheshire Angling's Mark Griffiths alternated pinkie and chopped worm and did just enough to grab second with a 4lb 11oz mix of perch and roach.

Result: 1 Dave Brettell, Daiwa Dons, 6-0-0; 2 Mark Griffiths, Cheshire Angling, 4-11-0; 3 Dave Brooks snr, Hull DAA, 4-8-0; 4 Dave Geldart, Wetherby, 4-5-0; 5 Barry Howgate, Hull DAA, 4-1-0; 6 Graham Tock, Mosella Selby, 3-14-0.

Other Results

Bob Co Winter Series (The Willows, Goldrush Pool, 26 pegs): 1 S Raper, Hirst Tackle, 50-8-0; 2 P Gallagher, The Willows, 30-4-0; 3 T Hewson, Leeds Angling, 26-8-0.

Mosella Teams Of Three (Selby Canal, Brayton, 27 pegs): 1 H Dagnall, Tri-Cast Scunthorpe, 6-14-0; 2 A Barker, Woodside Tackle, 6-5-0; 3 D Brettell, Daiwa Dons, 6-0-0.

* York Amalgamation year books are now available to buy from all the usual angling outlets.