THE JACK Charlton Children’s Day competition was held at Sharpley Springs on Sunday with Portland College lifting the Seaham Town Council trophy.

The Sunderland Echo trophy for the heaviest fish was won by Frances Greenlay from Portland College with a fish of 3lb 2oz; Christopher Briggs, also from Portland College, took the Sharpley Springs Trophy for the heaviest bag with a catch of 14lb 5oz while another Portland angler Zandra Green took the Ultimate Fishing Supplies trophy for Girl of the Match.

The Boy of the Match trophy, also supplied by Ultimate Fishing Supplies, went to John Kenny of the Barbara Priestman School while the North Tyneside Coalition for Disabled People trophy for the smallest fish was won by Nathan Pearson from Percy Hedley School with a fish weighing in at 11oz.

Other prize winners were: 6-11-year-olds – 1, James Piet, Percy Hedley School; 2, Kenneth Simpson, Portland College; 12 and 13-year-olds – 1, Liam Lister, Portland College; 2, Emily Bea Murphy, Portland College; 14 and 15-year-olds – 1, Craig Holyoak, Portland College; 2, Stephen Simpson, Portland College; 16 and 17-year-olds – 1, James Shotton, Collingwood School; 2, Adam Callaghan, Portland College.

Fish have been raising well at Sharpley this week with good mixes of blues, rainbows and brownies taken on dry flies.

Paul and Ashley Fenny caught 27 on a long half-day ticket. David Robson from Dover used a Pheasant Tail Nymph to bring a 12lb 4oz rainbow to the net, one of 17 trout landed on his visit to the fishery while. Bill Watson from South Shields took home a fin perfect 10-pounder.

Morpeth angler Ronnie Wilson landed the heaviest fish of the week – a well-conditioned rainbow of 6lb 7oz – at Langley Dam while B Robson had the week’s heaviest bag with three for 12lb 9oz. This year’s Langley Junior competition will be held on August 17.

Full details from the fishery on (01434) 688846.

Anglers enjoyed fantastic surface sport at Sweethope Loughs this week Daddies, Muddlers, Hoppers and Shipman’s all taking fish. Neil Urwin and John Henderson had more than 30 fish from 2lb to 6lb all caught on the surface with static or fast-retrieve.

Caistron Lakes continues to fish well with good numbers of fish in the 3lb to 8lb range brought to the net. Tom Oliver had the week’s best fish with a well-conditioned rainbow of 16lb 8oz taken on a Black Hopper. Bank angler Eddie Armstrong, fishing Hare’s Ear and CdC patterns safely returned 18 while boat anglers P Stonehouse and A Potts returned 17 and 11 respectively.

Summer has returned with a vengeance at Witton Castle lakes with the fishery entering into the so-called dog days with many anglers finding the conditions challenging. However, anglers using 15 to 20-foot leaders and staying low to the bank have still managed to take quality fish with the best part of the day being early morning just before the cloud and fog lifts.

Two fine double-figure fish were landed this week. Leadgate angler Phil green had one of 14lb 2oz while Kevin Applegate brought one of 10lb 8oz to the net. Top sporting rod was Geoff Wharton who safely returned 17 with John Siddle safely putting back 11.

The first EA casting course of the season was held at the fishery last weekend with 11 novices being introduced to fly fishing.

On the South Linden fly lake, Mr Henderson safely returned six, his best fly being the Pennell Buzzer while A I Johnston and A Shores each fish of 3lb.

ALNWICK fishing tackle manufacturer, Hardy & Greys Ltd arecelebrating success at the recent European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition in Budapest, Hungary.

The company lifted three Eftta New Product Awards – Best New Fly Rod for the Hardy Classic lightweight, Best New Fly Line for the Hardy Mach 55 and Best New Carp Bivvy/ Shelter for the Greys Torsion.

FLY BOX

Caistron: Hoppers, CdC patterns, Hare’s Ear.

Langley: Daddies, small dries, Buzzers, Cat’s Whisker.

Sharpley: Olive Sugar Cube, Hare’s Ear Shuttlecock, Green Pennell Nymph, CdC Olive Dun, CdC Aphid, Caenis Dun/Spinner, Damsel Nymph/adult, Silver Invicta, Sedgehog.

South Linden: Dawson’s Olive, Black Fritz, Cat’s Whisker, Black Buzzers

Sweethope: Dawson’s Olive, Cat’s Whisker, Black Fritz, Damsel Nymph, Gold Bead Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear, Black Gnats, Black and Peacock Spiders, Diawl Bachs, Olives, Sedges.