Contrary to popular belief there are still plenty of fish in our local rivers, and that's official.

A number of match reports received this week indicate the quality of sport that can still be enjoyed on both the Ouse and the Derwent.

The down-side is that this excellent fishing is being enjoyed by a small and ever dwindling band of die-hards as match anglers head for the convenience fishing afforded by the commercial fisheries.

Check out this weekend's match bookings at the end of this article if you don't believe me.

John Sturdy dropped me a line from Shepherds Angling Club this week.

He topped their recent outing to Redhouse below with a fine eight bream haul weighing 39lb 2oz taken on worm and caster from a peg above the rough field.

The rest of the field had plenty of small roach, perch, chub and gudgeon taken on pole or stick float with maggot.

One of their small number of regulars, Matthew Chappell, had taken a double figure net of quality roach from the same venue a few days earlier.

The same club also had the pleasure of some brisk float fishing sport in the picturesque surroundings of Kirkham Abbey.

The Derwent seems to thrive on neglect and despite struggling to clear swims the Shepherds lad had plenty of roach, dace small chub and gudgeon with Matthew Chappell winning with a lovely bag of dace weighing 8lb.

Attendances continue to fall, in common with many clubs, and John advises that any prospective new members need not be Shepherds' employees and can contact him on 01904 766075.

The club fish mainly on Saturdays with a focus on river venues. Variety was provided last season by trips to Mallory Park, Hayfield, the Oaks and Laybourne Lakes.

Roger Baker reports that the juniors from Bishopthorpe and Acaster are taking lots of perch in their Friday evening contests on the Bridge Field water.

The old stripeys seem to be making a bit of a comeback this season with good numbers reported within the city limits and also at Clifton Bridge.

Christine Lewis is a force to be reckoned with at the moment having won both of the last two matches.

Using pole and maggot, her 2lb 15oz and 3lb 12oz nets of perch have proved too good for the rest of the youngsters.

Small skimmers are also a feature of catches according to Roger affording further grounds for optimism.

If you really cannot tear yourself away from the commercials this weekend, then how about have a change from the usual carp bashing.

Many local stillwaters contain good numbers of silver fish with ide and orfe easily tempted from Goldrush at the Willows, lots of bream and skimmers to be found in the coarse lake at Poole Bridge Farm and a fine 26lb net of roach, chub and skimmers taken in just three hours from Kevin's Lake at Langwith Lakes on Monday evening.

Weekend Bookings

Sunday

Buton Stone - Healaugh

Cygnet - Laybourne Lakes (Marley 37 to 53)

New Earswick - Laybourne Lakes (Marley 1 to 20)

Sea Horse - Park View

White Rose - Claxton

York & District Amalgamation of Anglers forthcoming weekend match bookings

Saturday, July 17

York CIU Angling Section, Laybourne Lakes (Marley); York GPO AC, Howsham Bridge.

Sunday, July 18

Acomb WMC AC, Laybourne Lakes (Marley); Bishopthorpe & Acaster AC, Beningbrough (Village); BRS AC, Park View Lake; Buster AC, Beningbrough (Park); Clifton Hotel AC, Red House (Middle); Coach & Horses AC, Donkey Woods; Pudsey Royal AC, Skip Bridge.

Top young sturgeon in York

What would you do if you landed a sturgeon from a York pond?

If you're anything like Alec Fennell and his friend Craig, you would get a bit of a shock.

This 18-inch long fish was caught on Sunday at Chapman's Pond off Moor Lane, Woodthorpe by Fennell's young acquaintance, who was fishing for the first time since he was 13.

Fennell, 67, said: "At first I thought it was a rubber crocodile thing that children get and then I touched it and it made me jump.

"I've fished there for many years and have never seen anything like it before so we took it round the pond and the four other fishermen didn't know what it was either. One said he thought it had flown out of space."

Some research later and Fennell believes what they actually caught was a young sturgeon - one of the rarest fish in the country.

Looking only a dorsal fin short of the extinct ichthyosaur species, the long snout and distinctive white markings suggest it is actually a sterlet, which is a breed of sturgeon.

Fennell added: "I spoke to another fisherman this week and he said he had seen a couple of these in the last few years, one which was about 15 or 16 inches and the other about 2ft long."

Can you identify this fish? And do you know how it got into Chapman's Pond? Please let us know.

:: Sturgeon facts

The beluga sturgeon - the biggest species - has been known to grow up to five metres in length and weigh as much as a ton.

Sturgeon were declared a 'royal' fish by King Edward II.

All sturgeon are deemed to belong to the Treasury and must be offered to the Queen if caught.

And while it is okay to keep a sturgeon if the Queen approves, it is illegal to sell or attempt to sell them, with fines of up to £5,000 or six months in prison for those caught.

lThey are protected species and very rare - an average of six a year are caught in the UK.

The eggs of sturgeon are eaten as caviar.

Sterlet are a breed of sturgeon.

Updated: 10:45 Friday, July 09, 2004