THE new salmon season on the Northumbrian Anglers’ Federation waters on the rivers Coquet and Tyne starts on Wednesday.
Head bailiff Willie Farndale said new permits have been sent out and if any member has not received one they should contact him at 15 Woodlands, Rothbury, Northumberland NE65 7XZ, telephone (01669) 620984.
“We are hoping for a good turnout on the opening day and that we will get an early first fish to kick-start the new season,” he said.
The angler who catches the first salmon of the season on the Coquet will hold the Coquet Trophy for a year, a replica trophy to keep and three years’ free permits.
With the frosty weather earlier in the week, the fish at Chatton were lying deep and intermediate lines worked well, but when the weather turned milder towards the end of the week the fish were only five to six feet deep and anglers were catching on floating lines.
Len Broxson from Tanfield, County Durham, landed a 14lb 3oz rainbow from Chatton Lake on a Dawson’s Olive fished on a floating line.
Charlie Punton from Coldstream caught 15 from Chatton Lake; W Crombie from Eyemouth kept three and released eight; Bob Smith from Morpeth caught 10; Robbie Bell from Berwick caught nine; and Tony Robinson from Howtel kept one and returned seven. Chatton Lake is booked on Sunday but Ross Lake and Dunnydeer Lake will be open as normal.
Higham Lakes have fished very well this last week with floating lines and dark lures working best.
Simon Hathaway from Throckley safely returned 12 to a Dawson’s Olive and Richard Mason from Ashington caught and returned a 11lb 3oz rainbow on a Black Minkie.
The bait lake has also fished well with Tom Fairburn from Wallsend weighing out five for 19lb on Red Powerbait.
South Linden is to hold prices at 2011 levels for the start of the new season. Both lakes have cleared and are fishing well with a number of larger fish brought to the net.
G and D Maddison of Bedlington each caught and released 10, including several double-figure fish in four-hour sessions; T Gould of Amble caught and released several fish including a nine-pound rainbow; and Rob Huggins of Swalwell caught and released nine.
The bait lake is also well stocked, with fish up to and including six-pound rainbows and blues.
It was an excellent week’s fishing at Jubilee Lakes but spoiled at times by strong winds. The best trout this week went to Chris Lonsdale from Bishop Auckland who took a well-conditioned rainbow of 6lb 14oz; James Campion, also from Bishop Auckland, took one 5lb 8oz and Joe Drummond from Rowlands Gill had one of a 4lb 11oz.
The fishery’s 9am to 1pm morning ticket is proving too early a start for some anglers so the four-hour ticket will now be available from as late as 10am to 2pm.
The few anglers who fished Knitsley Mill this week returned a rod average of 3.8 with A Ward from Birtley taking 10 on a Cat’s Whisker.
Naworth opened by midweek after the short freeze and, although there were no large catches, good numbers of big fish were landed.
M Proudfoot landed the best at 18lb to fly, D Cruikshank landed a best, with a 17lb 8oz to fly, R Rowley landed one of 14lb to fly, A Brown took a 10-pounder to fly and R Wood had fish of 10lb and 7lb to fly.
Fly box
Chatton: Dawson’s Olives, Yellow Dancers, Montanas, Cat’s Whiskers.
Higham: Black Fritz, Orange Fritz, Dawson’s Olive, Olive Buzzer, Bloodworm.
Jubilee: Buzzers, Bloodworm, Yellow Dancers, Cat’s Whisker, Blobs, Zonkers.
Knitsley Mill: Cat’s Whisker, Dawson’s Olive, Bloodworm, Orange Fritz, Black Fritz, Sunburst Blobs.
South Linden: Black Buzzers, Black and Green lures, yellow Dancer, Cat’s Whisker.
