THE opening of the new coarse fishing season has prompted a recruitment drive by the York & District Amalgamation of Anglers.

The season starts on Monday, June 16 and the amalgamation launch their series of matches with the First Sunday Open on the River Ouse above York on Sunday, June 22.

Treasurer Mike Longhurst said: "With the coarse fishing season almost upon us, a great value for money way of being able to fish a variety of different venues is via the membership of York & District Amalgamation of Anglers.

"Membership is a great way to be able to experience different types of angling without the need for a large outlay in permits.

"It offers both the beginner and the experienced angler a variety of venues at a reasonable price - be it rivers, canals or stillwaters."

Members can fish numerous stretches of the rivers Ouse, Derwent and Nidd, plus with a stretch of the River Rye at Newsham Bridge and the River Foss at Strensall.

Also included is the right to fish the nine miles of the Pocklington Canal, the Selby Canal from the town centre to Brayton Bridge and 11 miles of the Aire and Calder Navigation.

For stillwater fans, the amalgamation has six ponds from Burn and Hemingbrough near Selby to Park View Lake and Sand Hutton Gravel Pits, both off the A64, and Rawcliffe Lake.

For an extra charge of £10, anglers can access the Laybourne Lakes complex, which comprises three ponds and more than 100 pegs. The amalgamation have introduced a restriction on matches on the first weekend of each month to give pleasure anglers more opportunity to fish.

Basic membership costs £41 for adults and £23 for OAPs, with concessions available for intermediates, juniors and disabled anglers.

Day tickets are available, with a £5 on offer if anglers then take up membership. The amalgamation also sell seven-day and 16-day holiday tickets.

Further information about the amalgamation is available by visiting the website www.ydaa.org.uk

The draw for the First Sunday Open will be made at St Clement's Club in South Bank on Sunday, June 22 at 8.30am. Fishing will take place from 10.30am to 15.30pm.

Tomorrow, the amalgamation will host a Junior Open Match on Brown’s Lake at Laybourne on Saturday, June 14, with prizes on offer for the top anglers.

Entrants must be aged 12 and over, and must be accompanied by an adult. The draw will be at 1pm, with fishing from 2pm to 6pm.

Tickets, costing 50p, are on sale at York Tackle and Mitre Angling Centre and entry is limited to 36 anglers.

The York Junior Angling Championship will be held in New Walk Terrace on Friday, June 20.

Tickets, again costing 50p, are available from York Tackle. The draw will be at 5pm, with fishing from 6pm to 9pm.

All entrants must be under 18 on the day of both matches.

Details about both matches can be obtained from Terry Pinder on 01904 629126.

YDAA membership yearbooks and day tickets are available from the following outlets:

Hooks & Tackle, 40 Huntington Road, York, YO31 8RE. Tel 01904 610357.

Mitre Angling Centre, 212 Shipton Road, York, YO30 5RZ. Tel 01904 654841.

York Tackle, 31 Yarburgh Way, Badger Hill, York, YO10 5HD. Tel 01904 411210.

Eccleshill Angling Supplies, 13 Stony Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD2 2HL. Tel 01274 627989.

Castleford Angling, Lower Oxford Street, Castleford. Tel 01977 550465.

Kirkgate Angler's, 95 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire. Tel 0113 2434880.

Field Sports, 24 -26 New Street, Selby, North Yorkshire. Tel 01757 709607.

The Post Office, 4 Church Road, Stamford Bridge, York, YO41 1AA. Tel 01759 371251.


MATCH BOOKINGS

Tomorrow

Laybourne (Brown’s pool, all pegs): YDAA Junior Match.

Sunday, June 15

Laybourne (Brown’s pool, pegs one to 30): Bishopthorpe & Acaster AC.

Laybourne (Marley pool, pegs one to 20): Cygnet AC.

Hemingbrough Pond: Burton Stone Lane WMC AC.

Wednesday, June 18

Laybourne (Brown’s pool, all pegs): YDAA Veterans match.

Friday, June 20

The New Walk: YDAA Junior Championships.

Park View Lake (pegs six to 29): Cygnet AC.

Saturday, June 21

Donkey Woods: Poppleton Rovers AC.

Hemingbrough Pond: York Railway Institute Angling Section.

Killingbeck: Shepherds AC.

Sunday, June 22

Beningbrough (Park), (Above); Red House (Middle), (Bottom): YDAA First Sunday Open match.

Poppleton (Above), (Moatfield), (Sellars’), Donkey Woods: York Angling Association.

Fulford: Acomb WMC AC.

Laybourne (Marley pool, pegs one to 36): Huntington WMC AC.

Newsham Bridge: Burton Stone Lane WMC AC.

Park View Lake (pegs six to 29): White Rose AC.

Selby Canal (fire station): New Earswick AC.

Saturday, June 28

No bookings.

Sunday, June 29

Acaster: Cygnet AC.

Laybourne (Brown’s pool, pegs one to 30): Acomb WMC AC.

Laybourne (Marley pool, pegs one to 36): Bishopthorpe & Acaster AC.