Roach are likely to be the target species this weekend as waters below York host the third round of the Acomb Tackle York Winter League.

The river should be at its best level since the start of the current campaign and prospects look encouraging.

Although there were no big weights taken in last weekend's Yorkshire Winter League match most anglers had catches and I think that there will be few dry nets this weekend.

With the river now settled for some time the usual suspects will come to the fore with pegs at the bottom of the Palace, Middlethorpe bend and possibly the Donkey Woods sand favoured.

The downside of lower river conditions is that the angler must go prepared for all eventualities with a bait list longer than most weekly shopping lists.

My net bag will contain maggots, in a variety of hues; pinkies, ditto; casters; lobbies; dendrabenas; hemp; bread, plus groundbait and liquidised bread.

With a quarter of a pint of each being sufficient, however, the total bill will amount to barely a fiver - one of the reasons perhaps why the evergreen league manages to maintain an entry of 120-plus when other contests on the Ouse struggle for double figures.

The clearer water has been to the liking of pike anglers with their favourite quarry feeding voraciously in recent days.

Several decent fish have fallen to rods in the busy Foss Basin area, topped by a fish of 23lb. Legered sea baits are proving effective with herring, mackerel, sardine and smelt all worth a try.

Further afield roving lure anglers have enjoyed the benefits of a warming stroll with pike to low doubles taking well along the lower river. I suspect that there could be some pike action on Sunday's big match. Pity they don't count then.

Another fish-eating predator has been much in evidence of late. This one has feathers however.

I recently saw several goosanders fishing on the Ouse upstream of Rawcliffe Bridge. The match secretary at Boroughbridge counted nearly 100 birds on their stretch of the Ure between Boroughbridge weir and Aldborough.

Their match last Sunday, on a day when roach and dace fed well elsewhere was won by a single 2oz bleak. I don't think it takes a government enquiry to point the finger of blame.

Members of Strensall Angling Club are wanting to spice up the coming months by arranging a series of 'friendly' contests with other angling clubs.

The club currently has a membership of 15 to 20. If any clubs of a similar size wish to take on the Strensall mob then they contact club secretary Andrew Pollard on York 628606 evenings or York 664300 daytimes.

The club have also entered the Maver club angler of the year contest. Watch this column for details of how their representative fares.

Updated: 10:49 Friday, January 19, 2001