Weather can’t stop anglers – or sport

Apr 2 2010 The Journal

ANGLERS have been out in increasing numbers this week despite the wild weather with mixed results.

While some waters are still too cool to be productive, The Angel complex has been doing well with pellet, maggot, caster, worm, and paste has also been starting to work.

Some excellent carp and lots of the large bream are providing great sport on Bowes, while on Bassets, orfe, ide, tench and crucians are all now being caught.

Anglers at Whittle Dene have seen better results this week, with the most productive spots being on the Lower Lake, where pegs in the late thirties and early forties have been the favoured areas to fish.

Steve Wood had a fine day’s sport, using pole at ten meters taking 100 fish for 8lb, while John Parkinson caught 85 fish weighing a total of 7lb 8oz. Mal Gardner and Steve Carr both had good catches of roach weighing 9lb and 5lb 8oz respectively.

ROF and Washington AC fished a combined match on Lookout on Sunday where Rob Rundle won with 43lb 14oz from Tommy Marshall with 31lb 13oz and Dave Pearson on 28lb 4oz.

Alan McGuire with 57lb 12oz won Wednesday’s Open on Bowes and then continued his winning form by topping the first Spring League match on the Angel with 62lb 1oz. Tony Watson, with 42lb 8oz, was runner up with Ian Lumb third with 41lb 8oz.

A terrific match weight that topped “the ton” was amassed by Tom Trenholme when he weighed in 106lb 3oz of carp to 8lb to win Sunday’s Open on Woodlands

Pike fishing ended on April the 1 on Esthwaite Water and will restart on October.

Due to ice covering the lake for much of the winter, the pike have hardly been touched.

However, one angler that finished the season with a bang was Dave Roscow, who has landed a string of big predators, topped by a magnificent specimen of 28lb 8oz.

Wydon Water at Hexham has received further stocks and the new fishery will open its doors over the weekend of April the 25 & 26.

The Environment Agency, in conjunction with Hexham Angling Association, are ensuring that two or three coaches will be present between 10am and 4pm on both days to offer taster sessions, aimed really at locals in the Hexham area.

Stocking for Wydon has included so far: 500 4-8cm tench, 1750 4-8cm crucians and 1000 6-8 cm roach, all stocked last autumn but boosted by 500 roach from Derwent Reservoir this winter.

This month a further stocking of 2000 4-8cm rudd, 600 roach from 6 oz to 1 lb 8 oz and 50 tench between 1lb and 2lb have been added.

Phil Rippon from the EA said: “I’m really pleased that Northumberland is getting a new coarse fishery which will develop as the water matures.

“It will be easily accessible too with day tickets available from either Gojo records or Top Tackle in Hexham, or alternatively via membership of the Hexham Angling Association (coarse) or the TAA.”

Sunday: Open matches at The Oaks, Woodlands, Carp Vale and Raker Lake, Langley Park AC (meet in Langley Park Working Mans Club’s back room). Wilton AC match on Forest Lane. Big Waters’ Tommy Walker Memorial on Whittle Dene. Spring league match on The Angel.

Monday: CADCAC AGM at Carlisle Conservative club; all members are asked to attend.

Tuesday: Wansbeck & Cramlington AC’s AGM at the Dudley & Weetslade club from 7:30pm prompt. Darlington and County Durham PAC meet in the Coxhoe CIU club.

Wednesday: Open on Woodlands.

Thursday: Midweek Open on The Oaks.