Season extended due to demand

Nov 26 2009 by George MacIntyre, The Journal

DUE to demand from the anglers, Derwent Reservoir will remain open this season until December 12.

The fishery continues to see a great show of tiger trout in this late stage of the season with Scott Bedlington from Birtley, fishing a Mepp, landing the 17th of season, a quality fish of 1lb 12oz, on Saturday on the south side next to the disabled area.

The recent terrible weather had pretty much destroyed the hope of any late season bonanza with a huge influx in water making the fishing much more challenging.

Hopefully the last week of the season will bring more appetising conditions for both the fish and anglers alike as there are still some specimen trout of up to 10lb waiting to be landed.

The heavy rain this week brought a deluge of double to Sharpley Springs/Water with Barron from Coxhoe using a Zonker to land the week’s heaviest rainbow at 17lb 6oz.

Adam Baird from Cramlington also brought in one of the heaviest of eight doubles caught this week with a well-conditioned fish of 15lbs 9ozs, while 11-year-old Elliot Hancock from Whickham landed his first Sharpley double at 13lbs 8ozs on a Bunny Leech.

Sam Scott and John Saul each bagged 14-pounders while Kenny Gill from Whickham and Derek Parker from Consett had doubles of around 13lb using a Pinkie and Olive Buzzer respectively and Fred Westoe from Morpeth took a 12-pounder on a Black fritz.

Both lakes at Sweethope Loughs carrying extra water due to flooding with anglers having to go deep for a chance to take fish. The fishery is offering an end of season special all day, six-fish permit at £20. Pike anglers can fish all day for £5. For further information contact Rob at the fishery on 01830 540349.

With many anglers kept away from Witton Castle Lakes by the weather the fish are well rested and are beginning to gorge themselves before the arrival of winter.

Andy Coates of Darlington used his Dawson’s Olive Variant to good effect to land a well-conditioned rainbow of 13lb while David Robson of Chapelhouse brought a cracking quality fish of 12lb 8oz to the net on a Pink Fritz.

Durham angler Lee Wilkinson landed a limit bag of 4lb 8oz, 3lb and 2lb on a Cat’s Whisker as lures are becoming more effective as the fish feed up for winter.

Witton Castle will remain open throughout the winter again this year. The weather put all but one brave soul off at Hury this week with Brian Cranmer defying the big waves and heavy rain to take two blues and three rainbows to 3lb on a size 16 worm fly!

Naworth struggled all week because of the heavy rain and flooding. The start of the week saw the best sport with some good fish taken up to 9lbs, but then it rained. All the fishing platforms went under the rising water and by Friday the level had reached an all time high of three feet above normal. Fishing became very difficult in the coloured water, but even so, for the few that braved the conditions there was some sport. The fishery is in need of some settled weather to get back to any normality. Fishery updates available on 07831 862 863, email naworthfishery@hotmail.com or visit www.naworthfishery.co.uk

Strong winds throughout the week made for difficult conditions at Scaling Dam. Anglers who found a few of the sheltered areas along the south shore had some success. The conditions caused cloudy water close to the shoreline so a long cast into the deeper water with ledgered Powerbait and short traces just off the bottom, tempted most fish.

Slowly retrieved lures proved to be the most successful for the fly anglers with once again, Dawson’s Olive proving it’s still one of the top three patterns.

Due to the recent floods and heavy rains, the lakes at South Linden have been very full and cloudy.

The weather has been keeping both the fly fishermen and the bait fishermen at bay and although fish are being caught in both lakes it has been hard work.

Because of the weather South Linden will now close for the season on Sunday.

Despite the weather it was quite a good week’s fishing at Jubilee Lakes. Phil Totten did quite nicely this week especially on the lower lake.

He caught on the top lake on a Black UV Fritz pattern with a very long tail which gave his fly plenty of movement. On the lower lake he caught on a Dark Olive Zonker with an Olive UV Fritz body. He fished both patterns on an intermediate line.

Dave Cardwell had a good day fishing a Cat’s Whisker but he could have done much better – he had another eight trout on the line but lost them all off.

Denis Bowe from Willington definitely seems to be on course again with yet another double. He was catching them well earlier this year but his run was broken when he had a major operation. He’s back on form with a 14lb 4oz rainbow which he caught on a Dawson’s Olive – not quite as big as the 14lb 9oz he had three weeks ago.

At Grassholme, A Sweetman, fishing between the Witch’s Hat and the disabled platform, took nine good fish at the start of the week on ledgered worm and Powerbait cocktail.

Fontburn regular Ian Garrett makes the headlines at the fishery for the third week in a row after catching the best fish of the week on Sunday – a 4lb 4oz rainbow – using Pink Powerbait Eggs.

While much of the action died off mid-week due to high winds and heavy rain, bites did pick up again on Friday with M Martin taking seven rainbows in five hours. P Greenidge also did well to make the catch of the week consisting of six rainbows and two blues for a total of 13lbs.

The Fishing For Everyone Ladies Fishing Club are organising their first pike fishing day to be led by world class pike angler, Nige Williams. The pike fishing event will be held at Sweethope Lough on Sunday. The event will start at 9am and cost £10.

Any women interested at trying their hand at pike fishing should contact club founder and chairman, Lucy Bowden on lucy@fishingforeveryone.com or visit www.fishingforeveryone.com

The club will also be holding a grayling fishing day at the private Tweedswood beat on the River Tweed on Saturday, January 16.

More than £6,000 was raised at the Fish with the Stars Celebrity Charity event organised by Hardy & Greys Ltd and Game Fishing Supplies of Morpeth.

FLY BOX

Derwent: Cat’s Whisker, Black Fritz, Dawson’s Olive.

Fontburn: orange Blobs, Dawson’s Olive.

Grassholme: Dawson’s Olive, Black Fritz, Cat’s Whisker.

Hury: Worm Fly.

Jubilee Lakes: Black UV Fritz, Dark Olive Zonker, Cat’s Whisker, Dawson’s Olive.

Scaling: Lures, especially Dawson’s Olive.

Sharpley: Black Buzzers, Diawl Bach, Pheasant tail Nymph, Goldhead Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear, Copper Wire Buzzer, Pinkies, Cat’s Whisker, Zonkers.

Witton Castle Lakes: Dawson’s Olive and variants, Cat’s Whisker, various lures.

BAIT BOX

Derwent: Yellow floating Powerbait eggs tipped with worm.

Fontburn: Pink Powerbait Eggs and worm cocktail.

Grassholme: Powerbait Eggs and worm.

Scaling: Dark Green/Orange Powerbait. Short traces.