WEEKEND match prospects in the York area hang in the balance at the time of writing.

The Ouse, which is scheduled to host the fourth round of the Acomb Tackle York Winter League on Sunday, has been running bank high for most of the week and significant rainfall in the next 24 hours could see the hopes of the 115 strong field washed away.

If the match takes place below York as planned then it will undoubtedly be bream that are to the fore. Pegs in the Pumper at Fulford, the Palace Bend and both banks below the by-pass bridge have shown the most consistent skimmer form in recent weeks and will be heavily fancied.

The only other contest booked on York waters is tomorrow when Local AC visit Fulford.

If the main event is lost to the floods there should be plenty of other contests on hand with many smaller opens on the vast array of local stillwaters.

Carpvale provided a few surprises last week with plenty of silver fish showing for those who neglected the carp and scaled down their tackle. A softly, softly approach with loose fed casters should soon have the roach queuing up.

There are also plenty of roach and skimmers to be had at Raker Lakes, Wheldrake, where pole and caster over chopped worm will bring nets of 20lb plus on the right pegs. Fourteen and fifteen seem to be as good as any at the moment.

Current hot spot is the Aire and Cader at Pollington which York book holders may fish. Another remarkable contest last weekend saw the 24 anglers fishing a Wetherby club match bank over 230lb of roach with the top three all plundering in excess of 20lb.

If you are lucky enough to get a peg try caster at 10 metres over groundbait or plenty of hemp.

Updated: 12:04 Friday, February 01, 2002