Fish will feed as they get used to cold

WINTER has definitely arrived as we try to recover from the ice and snow onslaught of the last few days.

However, as the local coarse fish acclimatise to the freezing temperatures, expect them to feed a bit more than they do at present.

Northumbria Waters’ coarse fishing in Lockwood Beck will continue over the winter month and while coarse season has now ended on Scaling Dam, Pike permits are still available from: Anglers Choice in Middlesbrough TS5 6PW Tel 01642 899288 or Anglers Place in Guisborough TS1 46PP Tel 01287 635,959 and Carp Crazy TS1 23DD tel 01287 631110.

Bitterly-cold conditions greeted the hardy souls who turned up for the first match in the Big Waters AC Winter series at Whittle Dene last Sunday. Recent rain had put a bit of colour into the water which encouraged roach and skimmers to feed. Tommy Marshall took the honours with 7lb oz of roach taken on pole and maggot over ground bait, John Mitchell followed with 6lb 12oz, ahead of Malcolm Wilkinson with 6lb 10ozs. The penultimate match of Sunderland FAC’s Winter league took place at Stonebridge Lake a large ide and a few rudd and perch on pole for 4lb 8ozs gave the win to Ian Foster, ahead of Brad MacParlin with 3lb 8oz and Les Cooper 2lb 9ozs. The final match will be at Stonebridge again on December 17th.

The Angel of the North is still producing the goods despite the winter condition, last Sunday’s open on Lookout Lake saw John Nelson take the win with 42lb 15ozs, ahead of Norman Laing with 36lb 1oz and Ray Laing with 20lb 8ozs. Grayling dominated the nets in Thornaby’s match on the River Tees where Anthony Smith took 23 of these to win with 13lbs. Marty Chapman followed with 8lb 4ozs ahead of Richy Newton with 5lb 2oz.

Durham City AGM takes place on January 18 at Framwellgate Moor WMC at 7pm.