LOCAL stretches of canal maintained their excellent form last weekend despite the atrocious weather.

It couldn't really get much worse than it was, in terms of wind and rain, and it will not. Consequently you should expect decent catches again this week from all the most popular venues.

The river was, as you may have suspected, carrying more than just a little extra water last weekend, and fishing was virtually impossible. That has now run off, and prospects for the Ribble are also excellent.

The reservoirs, ponds and lakes of the region have not been in great form. Though not total write-offs, especially if you're after quality pike, they must figure low on any list of possibles.

Once again it is definitely the canal that offers the best chance of consistent sport. Breadpunch and casters continue to be the top baits so it's not only good - it's cheap.

I suspect all the best local stretches will show improved form this week, with a return to double figure nets for some lucky pleasure anglers. Having said that you could be tempted a little further afield, for a change, by some great reports from Yorkshire.

Skipton Boatyard has been a winter hotspot for more years than I care to remember, and it continues to be so. It has all the right elements, reasonably wide, quite deep, moored boats for cover and lots of ducks.

That's right, lots of ducks. Many years of experience have demonstrated that pegs with this particular feature are not to be ignored, but sought after.

If you think about it the reason is obvious. Where there are ducks there are people to feed them. The people feed them bread, but the ducks don't get it all. Under them, waiting for easy pickings are usually shoals of roach.

That's not the only reason why Skipton boatyard and, to a more obvious extent, Silsden boatyard are great locations. Each has the other features in common - and loads of fish.

There was a match at Silsden last week and, as everywhere, sheltered pegs were not only at a premium but fished the best. In this case the pegs that are always the best, the boatyard, were also sheltered.

Put a good man there, such as Dave Colbran, and you would expect him to win with a great catch - and so he did.

He knows exactly what to do on here, and it was no surprise to note he spurned the use of bread. Caster is, and always has been, his favourite and most successful bait. In this case, using the pole at 10 metres, quality roach after quality roach ended up in his net.

At the end they totalled a magnificent 14-7-12 and made him a very clear winner. No other angler managed double figures, but it was a decent match for the 40 anglers who fished and there were few dry nets. It is a section worthy of consideration - as is Skipton Boatyard.

Closer to home 80 brave souls turned out at Rishton for the Hyndburn and Blackburn Winter League. There are loads of fish along here and, despite the conditions, they were right to expect a decent match.

They got one as well, with winner Stuart Rogers taking a fine 6-2-14, just one fish ahead of the consistent Mark Ellement with 6-1-15. Again there were few dry nets, with smallish roach spread throughout the length.

Winner and runner-up were pegged either side of the bridge - peg with the easiest access - and used bread punch (as did most of the other anglers).

Bloodworm produced some decent weights of small roach from the Lancaster Canal at Garstang, but there are much better sections.

Through Lancaster is one, and the roach are a bit bigger as well as in larger numbers. Bloodworm is not needed by pleasure anglers here, with bread punch perfectly adequate. Double figures are definitely on the cards here and it is worth adding to your list.

If you decide that the Ribble is worth a look then, bearing in mind the high water conditions of late, look no further than lobworms for the hook. Balderstone, as the light fades, would be a decent choice of venue. Travel fairly light so you can try a number of swims and, a new tip, try chopped worm in your feeder.

This has, as well as boilies, meat and paste been accounting for numerous barbel. Breadflake will take barbel, but is a much better bet if you want to isolate the big chub that have been showing of late.

There isn't much more than a month left to enjoy the delights of the river, so you must make the most of it whilst you can.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.