Cold snap is keeping bigger fish on the go
Nov 18 2010 The Journal
WITH the cold weather the double-figure fish at Chatton Lakes have been a lot more active with 78-year-old Duncan Stewart from Lowick bringing his first ever doubler – a 13lb 4oz rainbow – to the net from Chatton Lake.
David Pyle from Belford safely returned a 12lb 8oz rainbow, Bob Smith of Morpeth caught 11 fish and returned a 12lb rainbow while Derrick Brown from Pegswood caught nine, returning one of 9lb.
Other anglers among the fish included Andy Richmond from Irvine who caught 15 at Chatton, and Rob Frame of Newcastle who caught eight, safely returning a lovely 7lb brown trout and a 12lb 4oz rainbow.
Robbie Bell, Rob Frame, Stewart Younger and Trevor Wadds qualified for the final of the fishery’s Winter League Competition.
S Nellins of the Ashington Kingfishers had Langley Dam’s heaviest fish of the week, a well-conditioned fish of 6lb 4oz, while G Webb took the heaviest bag with three for 12lb 10oz.
Weather permitting, the fishery will stay open for the rest of the year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Lure fishing on a slow sinking or intermediate line continues to be the best tactic at Witton Castle Lakes, where the fish are now well and truly “on the fry” as they look to bulk up ready for winter.
Bishop Auckland’s Alan Ross used his own-tied Minkie to great effect again with six taken, including a lovely brown trout around 4lb, in a four-hour session.
Peterlee double team Kevin Carr and Dean Appleby returned fantastic rainbows of 14lb and 11lb respectively again on black lures fished deep.
The fishery management has thanked those Witton regulars who have been using their sport fishing tickets to remove fish from the east lake, safely introducing them to the west lake in readiness of the improvement work taking place.
It was a very quiet week at Jubilee Lakes with very few anglers out – probably due to the strong winds.
Fishing for those that did turn out was variable depending on the anglers’ ability to withstand the winds, which at times were fierce.
