THE Environment Agency has announced the River Tyne upstream count for October was the lowest on record at 3,195, bringing the total for the year to the end of the month to 21,146.
The highest October count (14,066) was recorded in 2003 and the highest count for January to October (44,761) was recorded in 2010. Up to 10am on November 5, no upstream counts were recorded.
The Chatton Chasers – Gordon Swain, Jim Tuck and Rob Frame – took the honours in this year’s Grey’s National Bank Championships 2012.
After Saturday’s heat, Swain and Tuck, along with Trevor Wadds, are also through to the final of the Fritz and Flies festive competition.
Howard Croston and John William from Morpeth each caught 14.
Rob Frame from Newcastle caught 12 and returned a 12lb rainbow to Chatton Lake.
Wullie Crombie from Eyemouth caught 12, Andy Campbell from Backworth kept two and returned 10, Richard Hill from Gateshead caught 11 and Tony Robinson from Howtel kept one and returned eight, including a 15lb rainbow from Chatton Lake.
The fishery is now closing at 4.30pm seven days a week.
Caistron Lakes continue to fish well with trout still feeding on or near the top as the day heats up.
Dean Andrews landed the best fish of the week at 7lb while Andrew Barr had the best bag with three for 11lb and John Lewis had seven on Buzzers.
With water levels back to normal and clear, South Linden has fished well this week.
G Maddison caught his full bag of 10 fish on each of three visits, E Simpson of Bedlington caught and released 10 and seven, including a 12lb rainbow, in two four-hour sessions.
C Bolton of Morpeth caught and released 10, including a 12-pounder, B Dixon of Morpeth caught and released 10 and D Ferguson of Ashington caught four – including the third 12-pounder of the week.
On the bait lake, A Marriott of Ashington and son landed four rainbows for 8lb. The Sunday morning drop-in fly-tying class taken by Kevin Dawson of Rothbury went well and will be repeated.
Bait angler Ken Spark had a great day at Dewent Reservoir, catching his 10-fish limit for 18lb at Cronkley, which has produced excellent catches for both fly and multi bait anglers throughout the week. Ronnie Clennell from Washington, who had the week’s heaviest eight-fish bag at 17lb 8oz, caught the first tagged fish of the week at Murray’s Point.
Eddie Bennett from Stanley also landed a tagged fish.
An action-packed Friday at Fontburn saw Sid Barnes weighing in a 10-fish limit for 19lb.
The largest fish of the week went to R H Cousins of Birtley with a 5lb fin-perfect rainbow.
Tim Cameron landed the biggest fish of the week at Kielder with a 3lb 8oz rainbow.
That was one of five caught along Gordon’s Walls and Derek Gale and Robert Hudson had an enjoyable day, netting five rainbows between them.
Anglers enjoyed good sport at Lockwood Beck, where the brown trout season has ended, with 120 rods landing 243 fish with 180 kept at an average weight of 2lb 4oz.
FLY BOX
Aldin Grange: Damsels, Fritz patterns, Cat’s Whiskers, Bloodworm, Buzzers.
Chatton: Black Buzzers, various black lures, Dawson’s Olives, Cat’s Whiskers, Nymphs, Bloodworms, Diawl Bachs.
Derwent: Dawson’s Olive, Black Buzzer, Orange Blob, Black and Peacock Spider, Cat’s Whisker.
Fontburn: Cat’s Whisker, Dawson’s Olive and Humungous
Grassholme: Cat’s Whisker, Dawson’s Olive, Black Fritz
Hury: Cat’s Whisker.
Jubilee: Black beetles, Nomads, Minkies, Dawson’s Olive, Black Snakefly
Kielder: Cat’s Whisker, Clan Chief.
Naworth: Cat’s Whisker, Black Nomad Fritz.
South Linden: Cat’s Whisker, Black and Green lures, Goldheads, Montana, Bloodworm.
Scaling: Silver Invicta, Dawson’s Olive, Cat’s Whisker.
Witton Castle: Olive/White Zonkers, Cat’s Whiskers, Black CdC.
BAIT BOX
Derwent: Orange PowerBait Eggs with Magic Dust in a swimfeeder. Mepps
Fontburn: Chartreuse PowerBait Eggs, White Gulp Eggs and Magic Dust in a swimfeeder.
Grassholme: Orange Sparkle PowerBait Eggs, Magic Dust in a swimfeeder, Flying ‘C’ spinner.
Kielder: Green PowerBait Paste, ledgered worm.
Scaling: Worm, Chartreuse PowerBait.
