Environment Agency deserve credit for their work on the River Nidd

The Environment Agency are working together with anglers on the River Nidd.

Earlier in the year I made no bones that the use of contractors by the Environment Agency in its attempts at flood defence was a disaster and the uncaring demolition of trees and bank side cover not only destroyed habitat for fish but nesting birds and all dependant wildlife.

Months later a phone call from the EA’s area boss Dave Morley came as a welcome surprise and his invite to myself, Leeds Fisheries Liaison Officer Dave Ruston and venue expert Neil Crozier was accepted with open arms.

The site meeting took place on the River Nidd downstream of Hammerton Mill and the promise made that the Agency would be undertaking all future work tree cutting sympathetically and with anglers concerns a priority, after hearing contractors promises in the past, to say I was sceptical would be an understatement.

The work is now finished and after talks with Dave Rushton to follow progress, I have to hold my hands up to say they have done everything they said and more, even clearing new stands for anglers that had been lost for years.

We are often quick to complain, but when a job is well done I think we should give credit to those responsible and if the Environment Agency and anglers can achieve this result on the Nidd then maybe similar problems around the country could be resolved.

John Cyrowski fishing under the Barlby Village Stores banner has over the years become best known on the Yorkshire river circuit for his “win-win” attitude to almost any peg that he draws from the hat.

His super positive approach paid dividends recently enabling him to complete a rare festive double that showed his skills on both big fish and then the smaller samples needed to secure victories.

Starting on the York DAA Christmas Cheer held on the River Ouse around Fulford and Bishopthorpe Palace and drawn below the A64 road bridge, his famous feeder fished chopped worm and caster combination with double dendra piece hookbaits proved too good for the rest, as five big bream couldn’t resist temptation and his weight of 18-05 made it look easy as it more than doubled that needed to take runner up spot.

Days later and moving miles upstream to the Ouse and Ure split around Hunters Lodge, anglers competing in the Leeds DASA Fur and Feather were welcomed by a river at perfect level but a strange colour due to snow coming through the Northallerton becks.

Undeterred he again pulled out all the stops being able to put just a few extra of the quality roach available in his net to take his second big win.

All of his fish were again taken on the feeder fished mid river, though much scaled down tactics with pinkies and mushed worm being better for the smaller stomachs and mouths than his trade mark bream and barbel tactics.

With both associations providing bumper cash payouts and extra prizes of the usual turkey, duck and legs of pork, Christmas gifts and dinner in the Cyrowski household has been more than taken care of this year.

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Results

York Christmas Cheer Ouse at Fulford: 1, J Cyrowski 18-05; 2, M Potter 8-10; 3, T Harrison 3-15; 4, C Burton 3-09; 5, S Edson 3-05.

Leeds Fur & Feather Hunters/Linton: 1, J Cyrowski 4-06; 2, C Turbitt 3-08; 3, G Brown 2-09; 4, A Miller 2-08; 5, D White 2-06.

Leeds DASA Midweek Linton on Ouse: 1, D Armitage 6-14; 2, D Miles 5-14; 3, M High 5-02; D White 4-11.

Mirfield Calder Woodnook: 1, J Lomax Manchester 6-10; 2, S Newns KL Tackle 6-05; 3, D Grace Pontefract 6-04; 4, N Hirst Mirfield 4-04; 5, K Hobson Barnsley 4-03.

Mirfield AA Altofts: 1, M Wood 10-04; 2, N Hirst 8-00; 3, D Armitage 6-02; 4, N Chaffier 5-11.

Moor Monkton Pools Rover: 1, G Watson 22-13; 2, A Bull 12-07; 3, S Jeffreys 6-12.

Moor Monkton Pools Midweek Rover: 1, D Wright 66-15; 2, L Smith 40-05; 3, A Gallant 29-15; 4, A Bull 23-10.