CHESTER-LE-STREET’S Mark Atkinson came out on top in the Steve Roberts Memorial Match.
Sunday’s event, the last of the three opens fished annually on the Tyne, suffered from cold and frosty conditions which suppressed catches, but nonetheless some encouraging weights were recorded.
Atkinson made the most of the Riding Mill backwater peg to put together 22lb 8oz of dace, plus a solitary roach.
Runner-up with a trio of chub for 11lb 13oz from a peg near the A68 road bridge, best 5lb was Big Waters AC’s Andy Bell, while Trentman Rob Perkins took third spot, weighing in 11lb 5oz, ahead of Gary Ward on 10lb 13oz. with fifth place going to Tom Marshall with 9lb 3oz.
On Aldin Grange some, cracking ide to 3lb have been caught despite the cold weather and Brian Taylor sat it out in freezing conditions and netted five carp and lost three at the net, while Wayne Harrison netted 82 ide in five hours fishing, all taken on maggot.
At Whittle Dene, the Northern Lake has offered some great sport over the past week with Brian. Allum reporting a superb net of roach weighing in at 11lb 12oz. Malcolm Wilkinson also had a great day netting 102 mixed fish for an impressive 9lb 2oz. After opening all banks of Derwent Reservoir to coarse fishing, anglers have seen some great catches with many of these fish having yet to see a hook and David Brown had a good catch of 14lb 12oz at Pow Hill including roach up to 1lb in weight.
Washington and Harraton’s match on Derwent Reservoir was won with 21lb 8oz by Tommy Marshall, while Davey Brown was second with 14lb 13oz and George Huscroft was third on 14lb 3oz. Elsewhere It was a real grueller on Silksworth Pond for members of Sunderland FAC where Dalton Mullinger won with a few perch and roach for 12oz ahead of Iain Foster with 6oz.
Although pike fishing is the main attraction at Esthwaite Water the general coarse fishing season started there on November 1 and runs until the end of February. It gives anglers a crack at the untapped silver fish potential of the lake.
Tickets are £10 per day, which covers the use of two rods and maggots. Last winter 20-30lb bags of fish were not uncommon, telephone the ticket office on 015394 36541 for further details.
The continued growth of angling has not gone unnoticed in business circles, and now Mike Ashley’s company has announced that they will be venturing into supplying top-class gear for Britain’s biggest participation sport in 2013.
A range of quality tackle manufactured by famous brand Dunlop is set to be on sale in many of the 400-plus Sports Direct shops next year, and the Geordie connection does not stop there.
Television angling star Robson Green, whose new Extreme Fishing Challenge is set to hit our screens in February, has signed to be the face of the new angling side of Dunlop – and a video has been released to help launch the partnership.
The Angling Development Board will be sharing some good news with local angling clubs and organisations at their meeting on Monday.
The focus of the meeting will be on regional funding and Sport England’s Small Grants programme, which offers up to £10k for clubs and organisations in the region. They will have a guest attending to deliver the presentation and answer any questions.
DIARY DATES
Tomorrow: A match will take place on Bowes Lake, fishing 10.30am-3.30pm.
Sunday: Wansbeck and Cramlington AC’s planned Winter League match has been postponed as club members now have a day on Fontburn instead. A Winter League match will be held on Eden Meadows (tel 01429 835 836 to book) and a Winter League match takes place on the Tees over both Yarm AA’s water and that of The Lower Tees Angling Association's stretch at Bowesfield. Elsewhere, Leazes Park AA hold a Fur and Feather match on their city centre fishery, while Wilton AC have a club match on Woodlands. There are also opens on The Angel, The Oaks and the River Swale.
Monday: A meeting of The Angling Development Board goes ahead at Riverside House, Environment Agency Headquarters, Newcastle at 7pm.
Tuesday: The Tyneside Division of the Pike Anglers’ Club meet at Blaydon CIU Club, Blaydon Bank. All pike anglers are welcome.
Wednesday: A midweek Open is scheduled for The Angel – drawing at 9am, fishing 10.30am-3.30pm – and there is also an open on Woodlands, while Lakeside Angling club has a business meeting on the at the Robin Hood Inn, Jarrow.
Thursday: An open match will take place on The Oaks at Sessay.
