One of the least discussed club waters - R.Aire Stocksbridge

[nige_LS7]

Another stretch I'm looking at trying soon, but a definite contender for the "Leeds club water it's hardest for a newbie to find any reports about" award.

This stretch of the Aire seems to be incredibly rarely mentioned on this site - whether I searched Riddlesden, Stocksbridge or Keighley, the only thread I can see is exactly seven years ago, and even that was just one man saying "some big chub but hard to find, maybe a few grayling but not as good as other clubs' nearby stretches for them."

Maybe not many who frequent this site live over that way?

Really enjoyed fishing some Keighley AC streches of the Aire a couple of miles above the Leeds water on day ticket last September - hoping for the small barbel and possible chub that were reputed, I just caught a few small trout and lost a couple of bigger fish. But best of all - I got there by train from Leeds with me bike!  Might do the same for our stretch soon.

The (limited) reports on the Keighley AC website seem to suggest that the opposite bank just yards upstream from our bit does OK, and is getting better & better after being rubbish a few years back, ... anyone fished our side within living memory?  Lots of river to cover and I could do with a pointer or two.

[smithleback]

Fished it once,about 18years ago[dont mean its crap just a bit of a ball-ache to get to].We had a chub and a pike and some bits i think between 3 of us.Didnt like aire then[pollution in leeds put me off].Anyway gonna try aire in leeds this year back of goodman street any info from anyone would be appreciated

[nige_LS7]

Thanks for the reply!

I've been targeting chub on the Whitehall Rd to station stretch of the Aire lately. Not enough success yet to be able to recommend it.

[nige_LS7]

Very impressed by this Stocksbridge length of the river which I tried for the first time today for grayling & chub.

Saw a swim and thought "looks grayling-y" and caught grayling on maggot right away. Stayed in the swim too long catching the small grayling so only had an hour or so left for some chubbing

I'd already been past 2 swims that I thought "look chubby". Caught trout on cheesepaste first cast in the first swim!
and YEESS chub just under 3 pound first cast on cheesepaste in the second swim, as dusk was just starting to fall.

Plenty of other swims that look chubby, pike-y, etc. When the wind gets annoying you can v. quickly find a swim with shelter & facing a different direction.

New lambs, sunshine and a brief snowstorm were the backdrop.

Managed to walk about three quarters of the length - always leave some for next time. 

Great day, joy to be alive, thanks Leeds&D ASA for having this water!

[nige_LS7]

By the way, the upper end of our stretch, one huge field and then one tiny field, upstream from the access field, were blocked off by a barbed wire fence with no gate or stile. That's about 40% of the length in total. I crossed it anyway and that's where I fished. The hawthorns etc in the fence make it look as if if would be uncrossable (without pruning) except in winter. 

It could be that there's different access to the top fields somewhere past the farm, but it's not on the map, and 'best not rattle any cages at the farm' is always my motto.  (I'd guess it's the club's motto on such matters too)