WITH temperatures dropping there has been a dramatic improvement in the sport at Derwent Reservoir where good numbers of fish have been seen feeding in the margins.
David Middlemast and Edward Murray located a shoal just off the rushes at Cronkley and took home more than 40lb of fish between them, including one of the best fish of the week at 6lb, and returned up to 40.
John Tuff from Ouston took four, including a 6lb rainbow, for 12lb and Raymond Whaley from Ferryhill landed a cracking 6lb rainbow next to Murray’s Point.
Northerly winds brought mixed weather to Fontburn with anglers needing to fish deep to find the fish.
A swimfeeder and PowerBait combination worked well for George Wind who made three visits during the week, recording limit catches each time with his third trip gaining him the catch of the week at 18lb.
John Tulip, who fished twice, recorded two eight-fish bags up to 13lb, Dave Kirkwood had eight for 12lb 8oz, O Barnes landed eight rainbows for 12lb and G Bamford fished the disabled platform, landing seven rainbows and a blue for 12lb.
Boat fishing at Kielder is now finished for the season. Day permits have been reduced to £17 with an increased catch limit of 10 fish. The family permit is now £24 with a catch limit of 15 fish. The fishery, which closes for the season on November 16, will be open from 9am until 3pm
J Bewick took the heaviest fish of the week at Tower Knowe.
Caistron Lakes continue to fish well with Carole Weir landing four, including the heaviest fish of the week at 6lb 8oz.
The Caistron stretch of the River Coquet continued to fish well with six good salmon taken and good numbers of fish still in the pools. Salmon fishing has now finished for the season.
The fly lake at South Linden has been closed for routine maintenance, although small number of regulars fished it before fishing was suspended.
E Simpson of Bedlington caught and released 10, including a 14lb rainbow; G Maddison caught and released 10, including fish of 12lb and 8lb; D Mitchell caught four and released three. The bait lake has fished well this past week, with most fishermen catching full bags.
On Sunday from 10 to 1pm, Kevin Dawson of Rothbury will be holding a drop-in fly tying session.
It was another good week at Aldin Grange where Gareth Tilley bagged more than 30 rainbows and a brown trout and Brian Dawson landed 11 on home-tied patterns. The cold snap slowed catches down at Naworth where worm rods did better than fly, at times, with most fish caught deep.
The best catches of the week were made by W Langdon with 15 fish on worm and P McNeill with 15 fish to fly. The Big Fish Week starts on Saturday.
More good fish were recorded at Jubilee Lakes where John Wildon from Middlesbrough landed the biggest of the week at 8lb 1oz. Ralph Holmes from Murton landed one of 5lb 10oz.
John Wildon won the £200 Vision Catapult fly rod for the heaviest fish of the summer with the 13lb 1oz rainbow he caught in August.
Fly anglers have enjoyed good of sport on the bottom lake at Knitsley Mill where a few anglers ventured on to the middle lake for any method fishing and recorded good results, with most taking bag limits on worm and maggot.
The top lake is open this week to beginners for any method fishing.
The fishery’s monthly competition will be held on Saturday with fishing starting at 8am.
FLY BOX
Aldin Grange: Fluff cats, Tinnies, Olives, Beetles.
Derwent: Black Muddler, Black Fritz, Dawson’s Olive, Sunburst Blob, Orange Blob.
Fontburn: Black Fritz, Hare’s Ear, Black and Green Montana.
Jubilee: Dawson’s Olive, Bloodworm, Black and Lime Bunny Leech, Green Zonker, Black Minkie.
Kielder: Orange and Green Montana, Orange Fritz, Cat’s Whisker.
Knitsley Mill: Black Fritz, Buzzers and Bloodworm.
South Linden: Black and Green Lures, Cat’s Whisker, Red Montana, Diawl Bach, Zonkers.
BAIT BOX
Derwent: Yellow PowerBait Eggs with Magic Dust in a swimfeeder.
Fontburn: Chartreuse PowerBait Eggs with a swimfeeder or Rainbow PowerBait Paste.
Kielder: PowerBait Eggs, Ledgered Worm.
