SUNDAY is the deadline for applications from those wanting to take part in the Angling Development Board’s pilot scheme to prepare North East youngsters to participate in county and regional competitions and training programmes.
A fly fishing event will be hosted by Bishop Auckland Angling Club at Witton Castle Lakes on Wednesday, June 22. Registration will take place between 5 and 5.30pm with fishing from the bank from 6 to 9pm.
A coarse angling event will take place over two sessions at Angel of the North Fishing Lakes on Saturday, July 2. Registration is from 8.30 to 9am with the morning session 10 to noon and the afternoon session 1-3.
For details of what is involved contact Cliff Johnston, Durham County Action group chairman, on 01388 605340. More information on www.fishingforanglers.com
Anglers at Derwent Reservoir, including 76 youngsters spending their half-term break fishing free with their parents, have enjoyed good sport with noticeably more consistent returns than in recent weeks.
Andrew Rutherford landed his catch limit within two hours and, after buying a second permit, brought another four to the net from the Hunter House area.
Regular Dave Middlemast netted a fine limit catch of eight for 36lb 8oz on the fly while Billy McGuire, from upper Weardale, landed a 5lb 8oz rainbow also on fly, and Anne Dullard landed the best fish of the week – an 8lb 8oz rainbow.
B Gillespie caught five rainbows, including one of 5lb 4oz, from the south shore bay at Fontburn, with T Richardson catching four rainbows and four blues to 4lbs 7oz from the same area.
Ian Frier caught both the heaviest fish and catch this week with eight for 23lbs including a fine seven-pounder, while A Miller landed five rainbows and two blues for 21lb 4oz, including fish of 5lb and 4lb 8oz, from the north shore.
Kyle Whellans, aged four, and Harry Jones, aged six, enjoyed their day out, landing fish of 5lb 4oz and 6lb 8oz respectively.
There has been good sport from both boats and bank at Kielder Water with Alan Atkinson landing a 5lb 6oz rainbow, the heaviest fish of the week, from a boat below Gowanburn Farm.
Boat anglers Gerry Henderson and Philip Shevlin each caught eight-fish limits on fly at the top of the Belling Inlet, Philip recording the heaviest limit catch of the week at 24lb 5oz.
R Thomas, fishing from the bank, landed rainbows of 4lb and 3lb 6oz from the point at Merlin Brea.
Dry flies reigned supreme at Cow Green this week with the brownies willing to take almost any size 12 or 14 black pattern.
The fish seem to be very well spread with those anglers who walked all the way around getting takes and seeing rises in nearly every area that they cast a line.
Kieran McCall, from Annfield Plain near Stanley, went for quality not quantity at Grassholme, taking an 11lb 4oz rainbow from the West End of the reservoir. Kieran then moved to the lodge bank and landed a lovely conditioned 2lb 8oz blue trout.
