SLOWLY but surely coarse fishing in the region is beginning to improve, with reports of recent 6lb and 5lb nets of small dace and roach from the TAA's stretch of the tidal Tyne at Newburn giving rise to guarded optimism.
The Angel, Woodlands and Sessay are still producing sport for day ticket anglers, and all fisheries have been yielding out-of-season carp to add to the more traditional silver fish sport.
On the Tees it is perch which are the talking point as the amount of specimens caught improves. A magnificent 2lb 13 oz fish was one of 12 perch caught by match-winner Neil Milstead who was pegged at Yarm recently.
Eden Meadows has been in form lately with Mark Carlin winning a match there with a very creditable 30lb 10oz. Dave Hudson was second with 25lb 10 oz and Tony Dowson third with 22lb 5 oz to underline the great weights.
It's not long now until March 5 which is the day Whittle Dene re-opens its doors to coarse anglers. And the relatively good news is that prices will go up by only £1, after remaining unchanged for several years now.
As reported last month the severity of the deep layers of ice have caused substantial damage to the platforms at Wydon Water at Hexham and the fishery has been temporarily closed since. However this week the Environment Agency visited the site to determine if the problem was a design or build issue and make the necessary arrangements to get them fixed. Following his report it is hoped that fishing on these platforms will hopefully continue in the near future.
A couple of weeks ago Longtown West Pond was producing pike to just under double figures and a week on Sunday the West Pond is host to the last British Pike Championship Qualifying match. To book a place in the qualifier, telephone Chris on 01228 674519 or 07714168939.
Angling is celebrating a massive victory this week following a government promise to review the laws surrounding the controlling of cormorants.The decision, announced by Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon at the recent ‘Angling Summit’, comes in the wake of action taken by the sport’s governing body, the Angling Trust, which called for moves to protect fisheries from predation by the invasive freshwater dwelling subspecies.
“After five years it’s sensible to review the existing policy on cormorant licensing,” said Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon. “I understand the concerns of the angling community, but these must be balanced with protecting the birds.“
Diary dates
Tomorrow: An Open takes place on The Angel’s Bowes Lake fishing from 10.30am until 3.30pm.
Sunday: Ripon and District AC hold an attractive Open on the Ure, meeting at The Navigation Inn, Canal Road, Ripon at 9am. Border Match Group fish a contest on Carleton Hill and an Open takes place on Lookout Lake drawing at 9am. Richmond AC contest their Manchester Trophy, meet 8.45am. Thorpe Perrow Yarm AA contest the Harry Willson Memorial Trophy on the Tees.
Tuesday: SENPAC hold their monthly meeting in the Northumbrian Piper public house at Fawdon, while Blyth Freshwater AC get together in Blyth Rugby Club on Plessey. An Environment Agency Forum will be held at Durham County Council offices at County Hall, Durham, starting at 6pm hours with a light buffet provided from 5.30pm.
Wednesday: Opens take place on Woodlands and The Angel, while Big Waters AC hold a club meeting in Newcastle CIU Companions Club.
Thursday: The Oaks hosts a midweek open.
