Local anglers had a tough time of it over the Christmas period with festive cheer hard to come by.

With no contests on York water anglers had to venture further afield. But with many stillwaters frozen and rivers running cold ice, the journey was often a fruitless one.

An influx of cold snow-water killed sport for the 66-pegger on the Wharfe at Smaws Ings.

Dave Pollitt (Hirst Tackle) won from peg 55 in the wood above the gauging weir. Fishing a stick float and maggot down the edge he netted 5lb 12oz of small dace and roach.

Chris Burton (Anglers World) was second from peg 84 above the viaduct, where he worked hard swapping between stick, waggler and bomb with maggots for 15 dace scaling 3lb 10oz.

Others: Alistair Wilkes (Tadcaster) 3-3-0; Trevor Bailey (Armley Angling) 2-7-8; Terry Morgan (Marsh Tackle) 2-3-0; Gerry Eastwood (Castleford) 1-14-0.

Rob Morris (Acomb Tackle) won a tricky contest at Raker Lakes with just 8lb 1oz from Horseshoe Lake. Fishing pole and maggot through holes in the ice he netted a brace of Eskimo style carp from peg 13.

Others: Charlie Chadwick (Hull) 5-9-0; John Cosgrove (Anglers Corner) 5-0-0.

With the corners at Woodlands starting to ice over it was a dire 57-pegger with just the odd carp willing to feed in the chilled water.

Barry Richardson (York) led from peg one on Dragonfly with only 8lb 2oz. Fishing a maggot feeder with double bronze maggot he bagged just a brace of carp for his winning net.

Neil Machin (Sensas Garbolino) was kept a little busier at Swallow 12, where he fished long pole and single maggot for 7 small carp and 7lb 1oz.

Others: John Chapman (Keenets NW) 6-14-0; Ian Grimshaw (Elton Tackle) 6-9-0; Jack Ferguson (Stainforth Preston Innovations) 6-8-0; Alan Moors (Sensas Garbolino) 5-5-0.

The previous day's 50 entry enjoyed marginally better sport as winter began to take its grip on the North Yorkshire complex.

Tony Hammond (Wakefield) led from peg 30 on Kestrel. Fishing a straight bomb and single maggot cast to the aerator he chose not to feed and rely on his hook bait.

A mixed bag of ide, chub, tench , barbel and small carp showed a passing interest to give him 15-8-0. Dennis Geldart (Leeds) fished a maggot feeder from Skylark 29 for 12-10-0 of small carp.

Others: John McGarill (MAP Elton) 11-4-0; Cliff Lofthouse (Ripon) 10-5-0; Colin Owen (Wilton) 7-9-0; Stuart Newberry (Elton Tackle) 6-12-0.

This weekend sees the Acomb Tackle York Winter League return to the banks of the Ouse below York.

With the pre-Christmas snow melt-water having flushed the system earlier in the week the contest could be a tough one. I suspect that the odd bream will make all the difference to both team and individual cards in a low-scoring affair.

The only other contest sees Pudsey visit the Derwent opposite Howsham Hall.

At the time of writing locals ponds and lakes are free of ice offering the pleasure angler an excuse to evade the 'sales', even if the rivers are flooded.

Updated: 12:21 Friday, December 28, 2001