WITH the Ouse carrying extra colour following the recent thaw, it was bream and skimmers that dominated the penultimate leg of the 70-peg Yorkshire Winter League on the river below York, writes Darren Stakey.

Anglers World look to have the title sewn up with one match to go, having secured another second placing and opening up a four-point gap over their nearest rivals.

Phil Austin (Armley Angling) led from the stump peg on the Palace Bend. Fishing a groundbait and caster feeder he baited with dendrabena worms for six skimmers and 12lb 12oz.

Team-mate Mick Doyle (Armley Angling) was in the next section downstream where he took a brace of slabs on feeder for 9lb 15oz from opposite the Archbishop's bedroom window.

Paul Burton (Anglers World) got off to a flier netting four skimmers in his first four chucks from the middle of the paddock at Fulford. His action ended there though leaving him on 8lb 6oz.

Others: Ken Barley (Hirst Tackle B) 7-7-0; Graham Austin (Castleford) 4-14-0; John Haw (Hirst Tackle B) 4-5-0.

Teams: Armley Angling 49; Anglers World 43; Wibsey Angling 41; Hirst Tackle A 40; Hirst Tackle B 39 Castleford 38; Marsh Tackle 24

League: Anglers World 9; Hirst Tackle A 13; Wibsey Angling 14; Armley Angling 16

The Ouse at Thorpe Underwoods was in cracking form for Saturday's 56-peg Armley Angling Open with roach feeding well in the warming waters.

Steve Smith (Marsh Tackle) led from peg ten with 12lb 12oz.

After getting a head start with a brace of 3lb chub taken fishing over on grub he topped up with roach on the long rod and maggot.

Jim Jordan (Union) was on peg five and used a slider with maggot for more than 100 roach and 10lb 4oz

Others: Andy Dargue (Darlington Angling Centre) 8-12-0; Terry Morgan (Marsh Tackle) 8-4-0; Andy Hampson (Hirst Tackle) 8-3-0; Bill Collier (Union) 7-14-0.

Even cracking the ice didn't move the fish at the Oaks with the usual pegs coming up trumps in the first match of the year.

Stef Armitage (Team Glum) topped the 54 entry from peg 62a, a peg that is still hot even when frozen. Fishing single maggot at 12 metres he eeked out 27lb 14oz of carp to 4lb without the need to feed.

At the next peg York-based Dean Smith (Van den Eynde Goole) continued his good run with a similar net of 11lb

Others: Simon Mitchell (Swinton) and Richard Holmes (MAP Elton) both 7-10-0; Kev Armitage (Team Glum) 7-9-0; Paul Taylor (MAP Elton) 6-11-0.

The Wharfe at Smaws Ings was running low and clear for Sunday's 57-entry Tadcaster Open making for another tricky contest.

Dennis Geldard (Boston Spa) led from peg 65 below the arm chair. Working mid river with a big stick and bronze maggot he netted a bonus 1lb chub, several perch and some roach for his winning 6lb 9oz.

Mick Hughes (Tadcaster) continued his revival with second from end peg 85 by the viaduct. Waggler and maggot fished past the middle accounted for 20 dace scaling a flat 5lb.

Others: Andy Smith (Leeds) 4-8-0; Graham Skirrey (Turners Tackle) 4-0-8; Alan Wilkes (Tadcaster) and Ian Walker (Lower Wharfe Angling) both 3-8-0.

Updated: 12:10 Wednesday, January 16, 2002