AS the daylight levels increase, optimism also increases among the region’s coarse anglers.
Rivers and stillwaters are improving, with grayling up to 1lb 12oz being taken midweek by David Hall and, at Horton Grange, half a dozen anglers were rewarded with small roach and perch.
Sunday’s match on The Angel was won by Anth Richardson with an all-silverfish catch of 21lb 5oz, ahead of Davey Catchaside, whose 19lb 10oz was an all-carp affair, while Norman Laing made third with 15lb 2oz.
On Wednesday, a net of 10 carp for 32lb 10oz decided the Open in favour of Alan McGuire, with Ray Wallace runner-up with 11lb 7oz and Ricky Bennett third on 6lb 12oz.
The North East Winter League match, fished on the Tees at Yarm, saw Steve Wathey win with 13lb 2oz of perch taken on worm, while Paul Cummins with 7lb 7oz and Peter Rambow junior with 7lb 4oz were second and third respectively. Maver Newman Scotts were top team on the day, ahead of Daiwa Cleveland Angling Centre, with a Yarm side third.
Three major river matches were fished on Sunday with encouraging results. The Ripon Piscatorials event on the Ure saw Bill McAdam of Shildon weigh in 37lb 8oz of chub to win, while the Darlington Brown Trout match on the Tees at Croft saw Maurice Mudd of Darlington win with 15 grayling for 5lb 10oz.
Finally, the Open on the Nidd saw Richard Sowerby tame six barbel and six chub, using waggler and maggot, to win with a superb 32lb.
The Angling Trust’s legal arm, Fish Legal, has kicked off the New Year by winning nearly £20,000 for member club the Derwent Angling Association, whose fishing in the upper reaches of the River Derwent was wiped out in 2009 when sodium hydroxide escaped from a bankside water treatment works operated by Northumbrian Water.
Leazes Park AA are reminding members that subscriptions run out on January 31 and that anyone whose membership application is received after this date will have to pay the joining fee.
Anyone wishing to join Leazes for the first time, or people who have had a gap in their membership, should bring a passport-size photo. Membership fees for this year are £27.50 for seniors and £17.50 for juniors. Joining fees are £5 for seniors and £2.50 for other categories and they can be sent to LPAA, PO Box 272, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Diary dates
Tomorrow: An open is to be held on Bowes Lake, draw at 9am, fishing 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 Big Waters AC fish a winter series match, also on The Angel. Wansbeck and Cramlington AC have a winter series match on Horton Grange and there are opens on the Swale and Tees, where Yarm AA contest their Mike Grange Memorial Trophy Match.
Tuesday: WACAC 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. Aycliffe AC have a committee meeting at Neville Parade Methodist Church from 7.30pm, where club members are welcome to attend.
Wednesday: Opens take place on Woodlands and The Angel.
Thursday: A midweek open is scheduled on The Oaks.
