Rainwater spates give sport boost
THE recent rainfall has improved the prospects for the salmon and sea-trout angler. Tyne has had plenty of rainwater spates of late, plus input from Kielder releases.
Around 100 salmon were caught on the Tyne’s prime beats last week. Monday and Tuesday this week saw the Bywell beat produce 16 salmon.
Last week saw the Warden beats produce 22 salmon and eight seatrout. Chipchase Castle saw 14 salmon caught and six sea-trout, and Chesters also had 14 salmon and four sea-trout.
The largest fish I have heard about recently was a 21lb 11oz salmon caught by Phil Adams on fly from a private mid main Tyne beat. It was carefully returned.
Visiting angler Stuart Macfarlane, a regular on the Riverdale Hall Hotel beats on the North Tyne, caught eight salmon, two grilse and six seatrout over his four days fishing. In his catch were salmon of 15lb and 16lb. All of his fly-caught fish were returned. His successful flies were: Silver Stoats Tail, Cascade, Red Devil Conehead and Tyne Toucan in sizes 10 down to 14.
Out on Tyneside Anglers Syndicate’s Wear fishing, Bernard Westgarth landed a cracking 18lb salmon, a 4lb sea-trout and a 2lb 8oz brown trout. All were caught on fly and all were returned. George Renwick landed a 14lb salmon on fly and Daniel Patterson caught a 6lb 6oz grilse on fly. Other grilse and seatrout were caught up to 5lb.
On the Ford and Etal Estates beats on the River Till, stocks of salmon and grilse have been pretty good. Angling pressure has been light but those who have fished have done well.
Among the catches was Steve Di Ponio with a catch of four salmon, including fish of 9lb 8oz, 9lb, 6lb and 6lb, all to a Mepps, followed by another visit that produced a 12lb salmon and grilse of 4lb 8oz and 3lb, before the fly-only rules came in.
Keith Douds had a good spell on Flodden, catching four salmon to 12lb followed by a 15lb salmon. Paul Sanderson landed three fly-caught salmon to 7lb 8oz.
Cooler conditions have certainly perked up the stillwater trout sport this week. Northumbrian Water Reservoirs have seen much better sport, especially at Fontburn Reservoir, Derwent Reservoir and Grassholme.
Averages of around four fish per visit have seen plenty of happy anglers. As the cooler conditions continue, the larger trout should begin to show more interest, with many specimen fish waiting to be caught. Roving tactics have paid off on these waters.
On the smaller stillwaters, sport has also improved despite the often blustery conditions. These windy days certainly stir up the fisheries and the fish.
Trout seem to be much keener to take a fly or bait when the water is cooler and more oxygenated.