Wind is the big opponent

Oct 30 2009 by Kevin Dinsdale, The Journal

WITH water temperatures mild this week, holding at nine degrees, the wind has been the angler’s greatest enemy.

Some success has resulted on The Angel for anglers using seasonal berries for bait with carp as well as silver fish taking them.

Keith Brown, fishing Bowes with pellet, had a great day, taking 40 carp despite the windy conditions.

Lookout has remained in form with Chris Abbott taking carp, bream and skimmers on pellet while on Bassetts a trial match was held for the first time on Friday and was won by Ray Wallace with 22lb 10oz, featuring both ide and rudd to 2lb.

Despite the blustery weather conditions the hardy souls who visited Whittle Dene were rewarded with good catches. Best catch of the week went to Alan Robson who fished the Lower and recorded a total of 13lb of roach, dace and gudgeon.

The Tyne has been producing some encouraging catches of dace and small chub to stick float from Hexham’s Tyne Green but the remarkable catch was made by 14-year-old Lee Smith of Ryton, who took advantage of his school holidays to fish the tidal TAA stretch at Newburn and had dace and roach into double figures as the tide fell.

Sunday’s NE Winter League fixture on Woodlands was won by Graham Lowery of Newman Scotts with 15 carp weighing 54lb while Dave Harris was second with 53lb14oz. Barry Smith with 48lb was third while Andy Simspon with 47lb was fourth, and long distance traveller Mal Gardener of Big Waters ID Tackle was fifth with 45lb.

Browning Quaker won the team event ahead of Daiwa Cleveland Angling Centre. Browning Quaker still top the league but Newman Scotts are second with Daiwa Cleveland Angling Centre third.

The Les Winder Memorial Match, incorporating The Middle Swale Championships, saw Ian Curtin of Yarm win with seven chub for 22lb 11oz, one ounce more than runner-up Ian Parker’s 22lb10oz.

Cadcac’s Winter League match at Borwick saw Alan Walsh win with 35lb 3oz of carp ahead of Tony Murphy with only five ounces less, with John Bowness third with 23lb 10oz of ide in third. Chris Owers won Sunday’s Open on the Angel with 81lb ahead of Tony Watson with 48lb 6oz and Barry Lockey with 38lb 2oz in third, while John Foster won the Wednesday match on Lookout with 39lb 3oz from the golden peg, using pellet and corn.