Bank holiday proves a winner at Sharpley

May 7 2008 by George Macintyre, The Journal

ANGLERS choosing patterns to match the small Olive Buzzers that have been hatching at Sharpley Springs have enjoyed good sport as the stocked trout have come on to the feed.

It was a good Bank Holiday’s fishing, with many anglers reporting big bags from all of Sharpley’s lakes.

George Hurst, on an afternoon ticket, brought 27 trout to the net; Dave Nunn landed a fully-finned, hard-fighting rainbow of 12lb 8oz, while M Middleton had two 10-pounders. With quality fish being landed throughout the week, the Doxford Lake was in high demand, with N Sanders bringing a fish of 11lb to the net, Mick Sanders landing one of 10lb and Tom Reay safely returning a blue of 9lbs 4ozs

It was another excellent week’s fishing at Jubilee Lakes, with Sedges, Olive Buzzers and Pearly Pheasant Tail Nymphs all taking good numbers of fish, although, with the lakes teeming with fry, the Zonker also fished particularly well.

Dan Sefton from Burnopfield, fishing mostly Olive Buzzers, had full returns on both lakes, while Durham angler Harry Freeman, fishing large Diawl Bach, had the week’s heaviest fish at 17lb 7oz. Ponteland angler Mark R enjoyed a great day’s sport on an Olive Zonker, bringing a well-conditioned rainbow of 15lb 3oz to the net.

There was a good turnout for last week’s competitions at Caistron Lakes. Morpeth’s Ethan Marshall won the Junior competition for the second year in a row, while P Wagggett of Blaydon took top spot in the fly competition.

Winner of the worm competition was Chris Hanson of Berwick, with Frank Common of Wideopen second.

Jubilee: Sedges, Olive Buzzer, Pearly Pheasant Tail Nymph, Zonker

Knitsley: Buzzers, Black Gnat, CdC patterns, Damsel Nymph, Cat’s Whisker, Orange Fritz, Black Fritz.

Sharpley: Black Buzzers, Olive Buzzers, Grey Palomino Buzzers, Diawl Bach, Red-Ribbed Pheasant Tail Nymph, Bloodworm, Foam beetle, Orange Shuttlecock, Waddam’s Hare’s Ear.