Sunday sees round four of the Yorkshire Winter League come to York waters on the Ouse below the city.

With frosts every night this week, the river is likely to be running at normal level, clear and cold. Hardly ideal conditions.

The bream and skimmers that have been the mainstay of action in recent weeks will be at a premium and a draw in current hot spot, the Pumper at Fulford, will be much sought after.

Anglers World hold a narrow advantage at the half-way stage and with the rest of the league now fished on their 'home' water they look to have the advantage over nearest rivals Hirst Tackle and Marsh Tackle.

With Poppleton the only York reserve booked for club matches, there is plenty of water available to the pleasure angler. All venues are now open as are all access paths.

There is also good news from Laybourne Lakes.

After a long wait the end of the tunnel could be in site. I went to have a look at these lakes this week and was impressed. The new one is dug out, with trees planted on the islands.

York Amalgamation Committee have decided that after the new addition, the old lake will be cleared of fish, so that deepening and bankwork can be done.

When this has been done and 2,000 trees planted, with landscaping, then hopefully we will be up and running in time for the new season. If it is not ready, it would not be opened in June.

It is to be stocked with carp, bream, tench and ide, the carp total being twice the amount of any other species. Almost a commercial fishery one might say.

The bad news is that in order to keep the stocking right, there will be a charge, in the form of a "Laybourne Lakes" book.

This will be in addition to the normal year book, which will be required to be produced when purchasing a lake book, so the number can be the same on both. Monies received this way will go to the restocking and maintenance of the lake. No decision has been made yet on the figure to be charged for this book.

The purchase of this book is optional. Only anglers who want to fish Laybourne Lakes will need one, therefore members from far away who have no intention of fishing this lake will not need one.

The perennial problem of litter has raised its ugly head again, this time at Rawcliffe Lake.

The locals are unhappy at the amount of litter that has allegedly been left on the bank side by anglers. I regularly walk the banks at lunch time as my office is just across the road and can honestly say I do not think there is a problem with anglers.

The majority of litter in the area seems to me to have been generated by the local youths.

Nevertheless the terms of the fishing agreement mean that anglers are responsible for the five metres of bank at the waters edge.

If you tackle the lake, which incidentally is in sparkling form for roach and chub, then please clear away any litter in the vicinity of your peg, even if it was there when you arrived.

Safeguarding the fishing at this top venue must be a priority.

Updated: 12:12 Friday, December 14, 2001