Lookout anglers beat the cold snap

Apr 11 2008 by Richard Neale, The Journal

HEAVY snow showers threatened to spoil anglers’ fortunes over the weekend and at The Angel water temperatures dropped from 9.7º on the Friday to 6.1º on Sunday.

However Lookout Lake has seen some quality carp caught by Ian Dixon, with fish to 24lb, while season ticket holders coming on to Bowes at dawn are having some superb bags of carp before going off to their work.

Dissington Pond has started fishing too. Friday saw near double nets of ide, roach and perch being caught by Roy Small and Bill Paterson, and during Sunday’s snowstorm, Dave Hambledon and his young friend, James, caught lots of ide, roach, and even tench.

Whittle Dene has remained productive with anglers catching a better stamp of roach from the Great Southern. Steve Wood again showed the others how to do it, managing a terrific catch of 90 roach for 27lb in a five-hour session using the pole, while P Hoult and N Jose caught 16lb of mixed fish.

CADCAC’s Crofton Lake has avoided the colder weather and Jim Saville topped off a bag of roach and bream by landing a specimen perch that weighed in at exactly 3lb.

On Aldin Grange the ide are feeding well, and before the cold snap Blackbird Lake produced a 25lb net for Rob Rundle from Ouston.

John Foster won Sunday’s Open on The Angel with 14lb 14oz ahead of Neil Brown with 12lb 13oz and junior Anthony Longstaff Angel Jnr 8lb 12oz, while old stager Ray Wallace was fourth on a day when the match field even included Scots visitors from Monklands.

Not unexpectedly, Steve Wood won the Big Waters AC match on Sunday at Whittle Dene, the snowy conditions couldn’t stop him catching 168 roach for 17lb 7oz to win ahead of John Reynolds with 10lb 11oz and Neil Beardsley with 10lb 7oz

DIARY DATES

TOMORROW: Coaching sessions are now up and running at the Angel with novice coaching taking place on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Telephone 0191 4100449 to book. There is another match in a series of open matches on the F1 lake at Brafferton. Contact Norman Twidle on 01642 276452 or at norman_twidle@hotmail.com

SUNDAY: Big Waters AC visit Woodlands for a club trip, while Middlesbrough AC fish a club match on The Oaks. Another Open Match takes place on Whittle Dene, organised by Scott Lister and Peter Hamilton. Call 0191 2687458 or 07817630869 to book. Wansbeck and Cramlington AC hold a junior and ladies match on Horton Grange. Sunday also sees Sunderland FAC host their Steve Brown Trophy Match on Silksworth and there are stillwater Opens scheduled on The Oaks, Woodlands, The Angel, Carp Vale and Raker Lakes and The Broom Fishery are holding a £1,000 Open Series. Call John on 0141 9545490 to book.

TUESDAY: The monthly meeting of The Tyne Anglers Alliance, to which all member clubs are asked to send a delegate, takes place at the Empire CIU Club on Salters Road, Gosforth.

WEDNESDAY: There are midweek Open matches on both Woodlands and The Angel.

THURSDAY: There is another Open on the Oaks at Sessay.