GAME ANGLING
AFTER a mini burst of winter, the more springlike conditions have awakened some fly life at our local stillwaters.
Big hatches of buzzers have occupied the interests of the trout and the anglers have enjoyed fine sport with buzzers, nymphs, Diawl Bach and dries.
The outlook looks promising with favourable weather conditions forecast.
These milder spells should see a further awakening of insect life at our stillwaters and hopefully on our local rivers too.
Patterns such as the Bibio and Hawthorn Fly are likely to be featuring in lots of catches in the weeks to come.
Top stillwater rod this week was Dave Bilbrough from North Gosforth with a 20lb rainbow caught at Chatton Trout Fishery on a Fritz pattern.
The wild Northumbrian Water Reservoirs should be producing good sport in the near future as temperatures rise. These wild fish give superb sport on light tackle and traditional flies and nymphs with roving tactics effective. Balderhead, Cow Green and Selset reservoirs can be accessed via Fish Pal or Grassholme Reservoir.
ON Saturday Jubilee Trout Lakes hold their Open Day with Rio, Vision, Greys and Shakespeare at the fishery from 11.00 to around 2.30.
Lots of tackle will be on show and plenty to try out as well as demos with Switch rods and casting techniques. There is no fishing on this day.
THE popular Kielder Boat Pairs Competition is running again this year. Dates for the heats are: Heat one– Sunday, April 23; Heat two– Sunday, May 28; Heat three – Sunday, June 18. The final takes place on Sunday, July 9. Book on 01434 251 000.
THE Thrunton Trout Fishery Troutmaster’s Fish-Off for both seniors and juniors takes place on Sundaystarting at 9am on the Coe Crag Lake with registration from 8.15am. The Long Crag Lake will be available to regular anglers.
ON the salmon front the Styford and Bywell beats on the Tyne have seen sport, Bywell producing nine on Monday and Tuesday to 20lb.
Bywell’s total for this season so far is 14 while Styford was on 15 up to Tuesday. Styford had four on Monday to 16lb and two last week. Graham Heaney of Wylam caught his second salmon of the season on Tuesday, a 15lber on spinner and carefully returned.
Reports I have received from anglers fishing the lower main Tyne are the new Kielder release arrangements have proved far from satisfactory.
Some have said conditions have been worse than in previous years for the early spring fishing.