Fantastic day at Cow Green

Jul 7 2010 by George MacIntyre, The Journal

ESH Winning anglers Christopher and Allen Bramfitt had a fantastic midweek day at upland wild brown trout fishery Cow Green, returning 53 trout between them on floating lines with small wets and dries.

Many others returned double figures of fish and the next few weeks should provide the best fishing of the year should the weather remains “kind” and settled.

As the heat subsided sport improved and by the end of the week catches at Derwent Reservoir improved dramatically and the recently stocked 8lb-12lb fish are starting to show with Don Coe taking the first of these at 8lb 2oz in Sunday’s competition.

Another tiger was taken this week by Peter Cunningham of Houghton-le-Hole, fly fishing with nymphs on the south side just past the second fence.

Some fine fish have been landed at Fontburn this week, including a cracking 5lb 9oz rainbow by Wayne Charlton on ledgered orange and green Powerbait from the north shore. R Athey, fishing two permits, landed four rainbows and six blues for a 19lb 8oz from the same shore.

The fish have been a little deeper in the water at Grassholme this week due to the bright conditions but some excellent catches have still been recorded. Bishop Auckland angler Jason Ballard tempted a 6lb 11oz rainbow ledgered spring green Powerbait on the north shore. R A Fishwick went one ounce better, a 6lb 12oz blue.

As with most of Northumbrian Water’s upland waters this week the bright sunny periods have seen the fish drop a little deeper in the heat of the day at Hury, but intermediate and slow sinking lines with small lures such as mini Cat’s Whisker or Orange Blobs accounting for a lot of fish.

In the evenings, the fish come to the surface to feed as soon as the sun begins to drop and some superb trout have been taken on dry Sedge and Daddy patterns as well as small Black Buzzers.

In an early week day session at Kielder Water, Allen Temple worked hard to catch three rainbows. However, he returned at the weekend to take a fine eight-fish limit.

Although the strong winds had an impact over the weekend it was another great week at Scaling Dam with plenty of sporting action for both bait and fly anglers.

Fly angler Gerry Dewey from Redcar caught his eight-fish limit and went on to return a further 11. Eric Neasham from Snilesworth, spinning, took the season’s best eight-fish limit of 23lb.The largest fish of the week, 6lb 4oz, was taken on worm and orange Powerbait eggs by Martin Peebles from Boosebeck.

l Bishop Auckland District Angling Club hold a Grand Charity Day at Witton Castle Lakes on Saturday, July 17.

The event is supported by Witton Castle Country Park with all proceeds going to two charities – Help the Heroes and the 3 Rifles Swift and Bold Appeal.