Eager youngsters give angling a Try
FONTBURN Reservoir hosted a children’s Try It Day with 30 year five and year six pupils from the Northumberland Church and Academy in Ashington: The Josephine Butler Primary Campus.
The day was run and organised by the Northumbrian Branch of the Salmon and Trout Conservation UK. The object of the exercise was to encourage youngsters to take up the sport, and from what I saw there was plenty of enthusiasm shown by those who took part.
The event was well supported by helpers from the S&T Conservation UK and also parents and staff from the school, plus Northumbrian Water’s Fontburn Reservoir staff. The children had a wonderful day and many cannot wait to try it again. The third heat of the WaterAid Boat Fly Fishing Competition took place at Kielder Water at the weekend. Winners were Simon Lee and Shaun Ramshaw with 11 trout for 16lb 6oz. Connor Metcalf and Lee Wilkinson also qualified for the final with four trout for 6lb 1oz.
Ashington Kingfishers fished their annual Derwent Competition. Derek Johnstone won, with Scott Nellins runner-up.
Two very important meetings have been re-arranged. The first is the Tyne Anglers Forum which will be held on Wednesday, June 28 at 7pm at the Marriott Hotel, MetroCentre. Important topics such as the Net Limitation Order will be discussed. The region’s salmon, trout and sea-trout anglers should attend and give their views and opinions.
On Wednesday, July 26 the Northumbria branch of the Salmon and Trout Conservation UK meeting will be held at Northern Rugby Club’s McCracken Suite (7pm). People who are attending should email philadams77@me.com. Topics include: Salmon and sea-trout exploitation: what do we want from changes to regulations?
Rivers have slumped again in flow and rainfall is needed to improve levels and also bring in more salmon and sea-trout from the North Sea.
The settled conditions will please the night sea-trout anglers, who should be catching well on fly under the cover of darkness.
The angling fraternity lost one of its stalwarts this week with the passing of Martin Rutherford after a long fight against cancer.
An accomplished salmon angler, Martin will be missed by all who knew him. He ran Temples Fishing Tackle in Whitley Bay with his brother Bill for many years.