THE brown trout season in Yorkshire closes at midnight tomorrow (September 30) on all river waters.

Certain enclosed waters where there are no prospects of natural spawning no longer enforce the close season but it is up to the angler to ascertain the rules of the water before fishing.

On the Skipton Angling Association’s reservoir at Embsay, the close season applies as there are two feeder streams in which brown trout can and do spawn.

At Whinnygill Reservoir, the Association could dispense with the close season in absence of any suitable spawning streams but has chosen to enforce it to protect the fish and have commonality across all the waters.

The recent change in the weather has seen a gradual reduction in the temperature although the River Aire has remained in good form for all types of fishing.

Plenty of anglers have been fishing and have been rewarded with good bags of trout and grayling to well over the 450g (1:0:0) mark mainly on the fly.

Embsay and Whinnygill Reservoirs are still fishing well without producing any fish of distinction at the moment.

Embsay is well stocked with trout while Whinnygill is yielding many different species of coarse fish together with the occasional big brownie.

There has been an incident recently at Embsay concerning a group of youths throwing stones in the water to distract anglers and ruin their fishing.

Anyone affected in this way should endeavour to contact the Association Bailiff (phone number in rule book) immediately if possible so that evidence may be obtained that will be of benefit to the police.

Skipton Winter League competitors will be at the waterside again this Sunday for the second match in this season’s series of eight matches.

The venue will be the Skipton AA’s new length of the canal on Broughton Road with the top of Sawley Street being the headquarters.

This will be the last match when new entrants can register for the league.

The draw will take place at 8am with fishing from 9am until noon. (Phone 01756 799671 or 07581082576 for more details).