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The goosander on the river wharfe look to have had a bad year breeding, I've only seen one bird with two chicks and the rest don't look to have any. This compared to most having between 4 and 12 last year. Of course I'm devastated about this! Just wondered how other rivers had fared?

I fully agree dave, there is absolutely nothing we can do but harm our own reputation on this one. I don't understand why people don't get it. If you want to fight to improve our rivers, fight for something that can be won.

Thanks for the replys, looks like some good shelters and decent prices aswel.

Can anyone recommend a good shelter please? I would like something that's fairly quick and easy to put up. It would be used for overnighters so I'd need to fit a bed in it. I also like the option of a zip on front for if the weather gets rough!

Do it! When the wife asked if I wanted to look at a house in Boston spa I said no, just buy it! I know live a minutes walk from the river instead of 30 mins drive. The advantages are endless, the closed season is more enjoyable. Lots of time walking the banks watching fish and the river coming...

Looks like your right Clive, I looked at several different spots last week, all had lamprey on them. Today I've been watching barbel, chub and some other fish feeding well over the areas.

Still waiting! If it wasn't for clubs asking for it I'd be tempted to boycot it, just another tax

Thanks for that Neil, there are trout and grayling in the area and a few chub too. I've also started to spot an odd barbel on the shallows so could be any of them! Interesting reading Anthony, sounds like you spotted the same as me and they also had to cross a weir.

What do you mean by redds Neil? I wouldn't wade over or bellow these patches, just incase it is spawning fish.

Shouldn't be caused by fish feeding on bait Tim as I don't think any has gone in, unless someone else's pre baiting! Could it be a mixture of the lamprey spawning and then fish feeding on the spawn? I have no idea on lamprey numbers in the wharfe but it's possible this could be happening all...

I suspect there's a holt opposite some pegs where I do well on the wharfe Anthony! They always seem to be swimming about there and often disappear into the bank. The wharfe is a bit wider than the nidd though! Certainly still worth trying I'd say

Some are around a couple of foot in diameter and others around six foot, they look just like fish have been feeding and there are often a couple close together. The surrounding areas are covered in algae so it's easy to see how the fish would clean it up by feeding heavily. It was interesting to...

Was having a paddle in the river yesterday with a fly rod when I spotted a group of lamprey spawning, sucking onto the pebbles and shifting them about. This was on one of the clean gravel patches so either this is the cause or it was just a coincidence. Great to watch

Thanks for that paul I'll have a look. These patches I've seen are more localised, certainly looks like something's been feeding over them.

Definitely not a jack russell! Mines a belter of a dog, very smart, good natured and great for walking up and down the banks finding new swims. Take him fishing and he's a nightmare! Paddles in the water, diggs holes like he's lost a pot of gold and drops a stick 5yds from me then barks as loud...

On my wanders down the riverbank I've noticed some patches of clean gravel, usually above some rapids. Is this caused by barbel feeding? I started seeing them around this time last year.

Oh, and I would NEVER describe any match angler as being great. I think that when money becomes the reason for being on the bank, the passion for prize money outweighs any other reason for being here. I have to disagree with you there, just because you might get a few quid for winning doesn't...

Being good at it. The snag is that unless they are match fishing, or are prepared to publicise everything they do, great anglers will never be known as such. There are plenty of great anglers out there that only a handfull of other anglers will know about. The above is very true. Having match...

I don't like getting up early! It's so easy to just roll over and doze off again. The trick is to think big barbel ;)

I like early morning, it always seems to produce a fish or two. The only thing I will say is that fishing early my confidence drops as the session goes on whilst on an evening my confidence grows.