THE serious damage done by the recent cold spell to local fisheries became evident this week as the retreating ice revealed the frozen corpses of dead fish in many local stillwaters.
Local clubs including Washington and Harraton and also Wansbeck and Cramlington have been hit hard, losing valuable carp, while the Wydon fishery is closed until an assessment and repairs have taken place following the damage suffered to the fishing platforms caused by the severe frost and snow.
Although the weather has improved lately, some waters are still frozen. The match on Loch Ken arranged for last Sunday had to be cancelled due to ice. However Martin Chandler fished one of the only two pegs free of ice and triumphed, taking skimmer bream and roach.
Aldin Grange is now ice free as Big Waters AC proved when they fished their first Winter League match on Sunday, and although the weights were all under 10lb, most anglers caught. Catch of the week was Les Goreham who used the quiver tip to hook and land a fantastic bream of 8lb 12oz.
An Open match on Carleton Hill Fishery went ahead, despite the low water temperatures, where Mike Shaw was the winner with 3lb 3oz made up of two small roach and a totally out of season carp of 2lb 12oz.
The first match on The Oaks in weeks saw Chris Hall win in style, putting 28lb 8oz of carp to 2lb on the scale, while on Woodlands, Gordon Poole also found carp in the cold, winning the match with 37lb 12oz by taking fish up to 7lb on a bomb and corn outfit.
Andy Hamilton won The Prince Charles Trophy fished at Yarm on Tees on Sunday with 4lb 5oz.
Big Waters AC are incorporating a presentation night, membership renewal and to get the new lock number for Dissington at their next meeting on Wednesday, January 26 at the Companions club, from 7.30pm.
CADCAC anglers should note that Crofton lake will be closed this week and next as work on the drainage trench takes place.
The Angling Trust is looking for volunteers who care about fishing and can dedicate their time and expertise in the following areas.
Contact will.smith@anglingtrust.net or alternatively contact Will on 0844 7700 616.
Diary dates
Tomorrow: An open will take place on Bowes Lake and The Angel. Draw at 9am, fishing from 10.30am-3.30pm.
Sunday: Open matches are scheduled for The Oaks, Woodlands, Carp Vale and Raker Lake. The Angel also holds another Winter League match and Wilton Angling Club hold a match on Forest Lane Ponds. WACAC contest another in their Pike Series on the QEII at Ashington. On The Swale, Richmond AC contest their Robinson Cup. Meet 8.45am at Great Langton Bridge. Also on Sunday, Ripon and District AC hold an attractive Open on the Ure, meeting at The Navigation Inn, Canal Road, Ripon at 9am.
Monday: The Durham CAA Group meet at The Get Hooked Centre, Witton Park, Bishop Auckland, DL14 0DY
Tuesday: The South East Northumberland division of the Pike Angling Club hold their monthly meeting in the Holystone public house, while Blyth Freshwater AC hold their monthly meeting in Blyth Rugby Club on Plessey Road.
Wednesday: Open matches take place on Woodlands and on The Angel, while Big Waters AC hold their presentation night in Newcastle CIU Companions Club.
Thursday: A midweek Open is scheduled for The Oaks and Hetton Lyons AC hold a club meeting in Station Road Club, Hetton, where subscriptions can be renewed.
