Anglers look to cash in on thaw
Dec 31 2010 The Journal
WITH prospects looking the best in over a month, coarse anglers are expected to be out in numbers during the present thaw with more venues becoming fishable as the ice retreats.
The Angel hopes to hold an Open on Sunday, and other commercial stillwaters are expected to be on, although the regions running waters will still be running cold as melting ice and snow swell the rivers.
Chub have been providing sport lately with Les Charlton of Fenham landing three nice fish, best 3lb from the Swale near Morton, whilst only a week or two ago Ferryhill and District A.C.'s stretch of the Wear produced a fantastic chub of 4lb 11oz to an angler fishing breadflake after dark.
Carlton Hill fishery continues to prove how a couple of hours spent ice breaking, can still see matches go ahead. The latest event was as close as it gets, with George Bell winning with 1lb 7oz of roach and perch, ahead of John Little with 1lb 6oz and Jem Paveley third with 1lb 5oz.
Big Waters AC have announced the dates for their forthcoming winter series They hope to kick off the series a week on Sunday, January 9 at Woodlands, followed by dates of January 30 at the Angel, February 13 at Eden Meadows, March 6th at Woodlands and March 27th at Eden Meadows. Priority will be given to those booking the series
The Angling Trust have announced that Adult Membership subscription should be increased from £20 to £25 for 2011. A positive step is that Under-18s can now join for free, and for anglers in the18-22 age group it is £10.
Many anglers who belong to a club in the Angling Trust think they have automatically become individual members too, but that’s not the case.
The Trust has 1,400 clubs yet individual membership is hovering around the 13,000 mark. Locally the AT have employed consultants from the University of Sheffield to report on the sources of soil erosion that are smothering spawning gravels in the Wear and have secured significant new sponsorship to support our international coarse angling team.
To contacting the Trust either ring 0844 7700616 or visit their web site at www.anglingtrust.net. or drop an e mail to admin@anglingtrust.net
A new date has been set for the next British Pike Championship Qualifier to be held on the West Pond, Longtown, which was lost to ice recently.
The revised date will be Sunday, February 27 and the captor of the biggest pike caught during that match will win a 2011-2012 West Pond season permit. as well as qualifying for the championships. Call 01228 674519 or 07714 168939 to book a place.
Diary dates
Sunday: Open matches are scheduled for The Oaks, Woodlands, Carp Vale and Raker Lake. The Angel expect to hold a Winter League match., while organisers of opens on the Tees and Swale are hopeful that their events will take place.
Tuesday: Wansbeck and Cramlington AC hold a club meeting in Dudley & Weetslade Social Club. Clayton Street, Dudley, and the Darlington and County Durham branch of the Pike Anglers’ Club hold their monthly get-together in the Coxhoe CIU club.
Wednesday: Open takes place on Woodlands, while another Open take place on The Angel.
Thursday: A midweek open is scheduled to take place on The Oaks.
Friday: The Angel hosts and open match.
