Local rivers have been in good form this week and, with continued freshening rains forecast, prospects for the weekend look.

Bream are now spreading out on the Ouse system with reasonable nets of five or six slabs reported from several venues as dispersed as Poppleton, Clifton Ings, Donkey Woods and Acaster.

With no real pattern to captures dropping on a shoal may require some luck but an evening stroll along the river, when the fish may give away their presence by rolling, might pay dividends.

Perch are providing the mainstay of sport from the City Centre downstream to the tidal limit with nets of six to eight lb being taken on pole fished over the marginal weed, where present, or a small maggot feeder fished further out into the flow.

Roach are showing best upstream of York with reasonable nets of some quality fish to 12oz taken on waggler and caster over hemp from Poppleton and Redhouse. Try some of the shallower pegs around the white gate or above the rough field for the best chance of success.

Tench are feeding well on the Foss with catches of four and five in an evening session not uncommon. The stretch along Huntington Road is favoured although pegs at the rear of Walkers builders merchants is also worth a look where bream have also shown a liking for the same pole and caster approach.

A similar tale is repeated on the multitude of stillwater fisheries available in the area, both commercial and natural, with some cracking bags reported.

At Carpvale big tench have been taking worm in the match lake while on the front pond carp to 5lb are taking cat meat fished on the bottom or a variety of floating baits off the surface. Floater fishing is also working well at Poole Bridge Farm where mixers fished over floating pellets is the top tactic.

Kingfisher Lake at Raker has produced several carp in excess of 20lb this week with a best of 26lb. Halibut pellets or fishmeal boilies fished in conjunction with PVA bags of pellets and other particles is well worth a try. Casting to likely looking holding areas, of which there are plenty, or targeting fish that are moving both prove effective.

The popular Woodlands complex at Carlton Minniott, near Thirsk, is to start running Monday matches for the over 50's. Draw is at the on-site caf at 10am.

While we are on the commercial match scene anglers will be pleased to know that after the recent fish health scares Cedar Lake at the Oaks complex near Sessay is now open for business as usual with Sunday opens every week. It is worth noting that none of the other lakes were affected and continue to fish well throughout.

Weekend bookings

Saturday

York CIU - Laybourne Lakes (Marley)

York GPO - Howsham Bridge

Sunday

Acomb WMC - Laybourne Lakes (Marley)

Bishopthorpe and Acaster - Beningbrough Village

BRS - Park View

Buster - Beningbrough Park

Clifton Hotel - Red House Middle

Coach and Horses - Donkey Woods

Pudsey Royal - Skip Bridge

Updated: 10:48 Friday, July 16, 2004