A good year for still water anglers
Dec 9 2010 by George MacIntyre, The Journal
ALTHOUGH Northumbrian Water have yet to release official figures for the year, 2010 looks set to be another great one for North East large still water anglers.
Latest available statistics show that there were 37,968 angler visits to the company’s dams with Derwent Reservoir attracting 12,648 of these while 213 rods took advantage of the wild brown trout fishing provided by the uphill water at Cow Green with G Davies-Jones, K Winter and an unnamed angler landing browns of 1lb 8oz. One brown of 15 inches, two at 14 inches and seven at 12 inches.
Cementing Northumbrian Water’s reputation as the largest provider of still water game fishing in Northern Europe, the company’s stocking policy saw 126,471 quality trout put into the fisheries to provide top quality sport for the anglers who brought 120,030 fish to the net..
Nine-year-old Liam Christian of Ferryhill set the fishery record for a blue trout and shared the honour of the largest fish of the season - 14lb 4oz - at Grassholme with Malcolm Franklin from Sacriston while Martin Corner set the early pace at Derwent with a well-conditioned 12lb 12oz rainbow.
The Northumberland fisheries at Fontburn and Kielder Water were also popular, attracting 6,721 and 4,352 rod visits respectively. In sharp contrast with Derwent, the heaviest fish of the season at Kielder was not landed until the final week of the season with Les Ions landing a seven-pounder during the first week of November. In July, Ian Frier landed what was to be the season’s best trout at Fontburn - a great looking fish of 11lb 4oz, a full 2lb 4oz heavier than its nearest rival.
April saw the season’s best fish landed at Hury reservoir and Scaling Dam - fish of 8lb 11oz and 9lb 13oz respectively. These early season crackers were brought to the net by Paul Millburn at Hury and A Macquire at Scaling.
The still to be confirmed statistics show the number of fish caught – with numbers stocked in brackets – at the Northumbrian Water fisheries as: Cow Green, 960 (839 trout safely returned); Derwent: 40,890 (38,700); Fontburn: 22,531 (22,230); Grassholme: 23,406 (22,365); Hury: 6,314 (6,320); Kielder: 11,515 (19,250); Scaling Dam: 14,414 (17,606).
Witton Castle Lakes are looking like a scene from a winter’s fairytale but with the lakes frozen over all week there has been no angling.
The fishery is now only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting). Bookings are being taken for Saturday, February 26 – the opening day of the 2011 season which will be restricted to full tickets only.
There will also be a new stocking policy for the 2011 season which will see more top quality rainbows than before and the introduction of tiger, brook and a good spread of hard-fighting blue trout.
To be among the first to fish the redeveloped and upgraded Witton Castle Lakes call (01388) 488691.
Anglers planning a trip to Witton Castle should call the fishery to check conditions before setting off.
The fishery will open at normal until December 5. The lakes will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day but will open on Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28. The lakes will also be closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
JUBILEE Lakes will not re-open until Thursday, December 16.
The tackle shop will be open from 9am to 1pm today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - see the Bookings Page on www.jubileelakes.co.uk for details.
There will be daily online sales dispatches. Details available on www.anglers-lodge.co.uk
