Stillwater sport holding up well
SPORT on the smaller stillwater trout fisheries held up very well over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The larger reservoirs had mixed fortunes with Grassholme, Hury and wild havens Balderhead, Selset and Cow Green all benefitting from blown-on terrestrials which seem to bring the trout up almost immediately.
Large falls of Heather fly can bring great sport for the fly angler as the awaiting trout often gorge themselves on these large offerings.
These red and black terrestrials certainly attract the trout to the surface.
Successful fly anglers dress their own special patterns for this time of the year. A good copy of a Heather Fly can mean a great day’s sport. The Bibio is a good substitute especially when there is a good wave on the fishery.
Trout will take them with confidence given a swell and cloud cover. Bait anglers did well at Derwent and Kielder Water with Powerbaits doing the trick.
Other fisheries close to heather moorlands have had flurries of Heather Fly; while others saw good sport to various dry flies.
Patterns such as Sedges, Hoppers, Daddies and a variety of black dry flies produced some good catches.
Evenings are proving top times to fish along with early mornings. Shipmans, CdC’s, Diawl Bach and Hare’s Ear Nymphs have also been successful patterns.
Many of our local fisheries are very well stocked and this includes Northumbrian Water Reservoirs.
July and August have in the past seen persistent “dog days” when trout disappear into the cooler depths of these vast areas of water. The bonus is that when cooler conditions at the onset of autumn arrive these fish will come out of the depths to feed in the margins offering some fine sport. The same thing happens on the smaller waters. Cool cloudy days offer the chances of some super sport in the weeks to come.
On the salmon and sea-trout front sport is patchy.
Beats such as Bywell and Dilston were top Tyne areas last week but some lower areas of the Tyne have struggled.
Sea-trout action is still good on areas of the River Wear, with night shift rods catching on smaller flies and tubes. Daytime sport has slowed
Grayling have been showing up well in catches on the River Wear. Aidrian Jordan, a member of the Bishop Auckland Angling Club caught 30 in a four-hour session which included fish of over 2lb and all caught on a Griffiths Gnat and GRHE Nymph.
From September 2 to September 4, there will be no boats available at Kielder Water or any bank fishing from the Dam Wall; due to the Kielder Fest and the Tour of Britain Cycle Race.