THE highlight of this weekend's angling match action sees the finale of the closely contested Yorkshire Winter League, which moves to the Ouse above York between Hunters Lodge and Linton and Ouse and from Thorpe Underwood to Widdington.

The largely York-based Anglers' World hold a slender advantage after a series of consistent performances this winter.

They will be fancying their chances of hanging on to the lead in order to secure a semi-final place at the Woodlands complex, near Carlton Minniot.

Waterline Wibsey and Hirst Tackle are both more than capable of upsetting the best laid plans and are poised just a few points adrift should the leaders slip up

Last weekend's York and District Winter League match showed that there are still plenty of bream and skimmers in the Ouse willing to feed given the right conditions. The heavy rain in mid-week should ensure that the river is heavily coloured, if not in full raging flood.

Pegs below the bungalows at Hunters Lodge between 218 and 226 are almost certain to produce the individual winner if bream decide the contest, but the battle for the team title is likely to be won by targeting less illustrious quarry.

A team with all ten anglers catching will not go far wrong and, I suspect, are likely to win on the day.

This could mean drowning a lob worm to attract an eel, thrashing the surface layers for a bleak or two or even dabbling in the grassy margins with half a pinkie to tempt a tiny roach.

The only other match booked on York-area waters is on the Derwent opposite the Hall at Howsham, where Star AC are the visitors. There is plenty of scope for pleasure anglers.

There have been few reports about how waters have fared over the holiday period.

The old winter favourites such as the Foss Basin or the Ouse below could be worth a look, as could the many local stillwater venues where catches continue to hold up in the absence of any significant frosts.

One venue that is definitely in good form is the Aire and Calder canal around Pollington, where the deep-water section opposite the boats is solid with roach at present. Better get there early to secure a peg, though.

Updated: 11:12 Friday, January 07, 2005