There is no respite for anglers from the ongoing foot and mouth crisis with more waters being lost this week.

Following North Yorkshire County Council's decision to again close the Howardian Way to preserve biosecurity the Derwent is once again off limits.

With access now restricted and the interests of the riparian owners to consider anglers should note that both sections at Kirkham, Howsham Barnfield and Howsham Hall are now shut. The stretch on the Ouse below the weir at Widdington has also been lost restricting river angling to the Ouse downstream of the city and at Poppleton.

With little let-up in the number of new cases around the Thirsk cluster North Yorkshire is now at the very heart of the crisis and I very much doubt if river sport will be reinstated at all this season. It will be interesting to note the impacts of the lack of anglers' bait going into many of our popular river stretches. Will fish find enough natural food?

With such a lack of moving waters at our disposal it is fortunate that the Evening Press catchment is blessed with one of the highest densities of commercial stillwaters in the country.

The Vale of York is fast becoming saturated with new ponds and lakes and with such a wealth of choice it is little wonder that open match entries are on the decline. The jointly owned Aire and Calder Navigation is one water that has remained open throughout and is now starting to fish well with roach showing in good catches for pleasure anglers. Although match sport remains patchy, with the inevitable end peg domination in most events, anglers fishing early and late can expect brisk action on hemp and caster.

The CIU Saturday League continues at Park View where anglers are asked to note the afternoon draw. Fishing will be from 13.30 until 18.30 with the draw on the bank at 12.30.

The front pond at Carpvale is in sparkling form at present with lots of small carp providing a bite a chuck. Pellets, paste and meat will all score with pole, or waggler, equally effective. Some nice bream have also been taken of late with pegs 67 to 70 a good bet when there is a southerly wind blowing.

A visit earlier this week revealed one angler getting a carp a chuck as they intercepted his floating bread and proceeded to tow his pike bung across the pond.

At the Willows some big ide and orfe are taking maggot and worm on Ridgepool - try pegs 3 to 8.

On Goldrush it is small carp and tench that are making up the bulk of catches. Try pegs in the 50's with pole fished pellets among the dense banks of weed.

Down at Paradise Fishery pond one continues to produce excellent pleasure catches of rudd,tench and carp with 20lb-plus being fairly common place. Pole, fished against the islands or the lily beds on maggot produces a fish a chuck. Meat and corn are selecting the better fish.

Paul from Lancaster had a wide variety of fish on Tuesday, including carp to 6lb for a total weight of around 50lb.

Pond two is also fishing well. Despite the low water levels the majority of fish continue to be caught from between two and four metres - sometimes in as little as 18inches of water.

Maggot once again brings plenty of fish, while continual spraying with loose maggot is proving very productive for building your swim. Again meat, corn or pellet sorting out the better fish.

Weekend bookings

Saturday: Park View - CIU, Poppleton - Buster, Fulford - Local, Palace Ings - Shepherds

Acaster - GPO.

Sunday: Park View - Royal Oak,

Poppleton - Acomb WMC, Fulford - City Arms, Palace Ings - Burton Stone.

Updated: 12:05 Friday, August 10, 2001