THE ultra-competitive Yorkshire Winter League returns to the banks on Sunday.

The two local-based sides, Anglers World York and Selby, will be hoping for an upturn in fortunes after conceding an early lead to rivals Hirst Tackle.

The Aire and Calder Canal at Pollington plays host to a field of 80 anglers looking to bag the venue's roach and perch.

The relatively mild conditions for the time of year have meant that the fish are not as tightly shoaled as they often are for this match. Nevertheless the pegs on the wides, opposite the boats, will be strongly fancied as usual.

Recent club matches on this section below Pollington Lock have produced catches in excess of double figures with both roach and perch showing well.

A two-line attack will keep options open with venue regulars targeting the perch with chopped worm at around seven metres and the roach and odd skimmers at 11 to 13 metres with maggot, caster, or if the going is tough, squatt.

A little nearer to home, the Ouse below York plays host to the Animal Hospital Cup where the entry is likely to suffer as a result of the clash of fixtures.

My guess is that the field will be capable of being housed on the Fulford bank, however this could be a mistake.

Pegs in the first field at Middlethorpe have fished well in recent weeks with plenty of roach to far-bank feeder tactics while, a little lower downstream, big perch are in residence in the area around the gas main.

Another canal venue worth a second look is the Pocklington Canal.

Despite the unfortunate fish kill earlier in the year at Canal Head, the lower sections around Melbourne still hold good stocks and the marina is starting to produce its best winter form.

A traditional winter holding spot for roach, bream and the odd unseasonal tench, bread punch is often a killer bait here.

A different venue, but in the same area, the Derwent at Sutton is in great form at present. The steady pegs above the weir are stuffed with roach and dace at the moment.

Pegs upstream of the road bridge, opposite the boats can be tackled with a long rod, slider or pole with caster over small helpings of groundbait accounting for catches to double figures.

On the subject of roach I cannot let last Sunday's Hammond Trophy pass without further mention.

The sheer numbers of quality roach in evidence in the area immediately downstream of Killingbeck must make the long, long hike a feat worth enduring.

The water in this area is relatively shallow so I suspect that if the weather turns colder the roach could drop downstream into deeper pegs around the little sand beds.

Weekend Bookings

Saturday

Palace Ings - Local AC

Sunday

All Below York - Animals Hospitals Cup, Kirkham Abbey - York AA, Healaugh Manor - Pudsey Royal

Updated: 10:55 Friday, November 14, 2003