Weekly fishing reports

Rangers review

SCALING DAM

Ranger's review: 'Great catch for grand pair'
The week got off to a steady start with both bait and fly anglers catching in most areas of the reservoir. Bait anglers fishing the east end at times enjoyed some exceptional sport. Mornings and late afternoons have been the most active feeding times throughout the week.

Mr R Speechley from Thornaby had a great day with his grandson using maggots with a feeder at the west end. The pair managed to catch 7 rainbows and 1 blue between them in a 4 hour morning spell for a total catch weight of 15lb 6oz. The largest fish of the week was also tempted by maggot and was caught by Mr D Russell from Middlesbrough weighing in at 5lb.

DERWENT

Ranger's review: 'Weather the winner this week'
The week got off to a great start and some excellent sport was enjoyed on most banks with fish close in and near the surface. This saw an excellent rod average and good numbers of fish caught between 3 and 6lb. As the Bank Holiday weekend approached the weather changed and a gale force north westerly made for challenging and at times uncomfortable conditions. Fly anglers continue to find the areas further west most productive so Millshields and above the Sailing Club are highly recommended.

Many of our regular anglers have taken eight fish catches from these areas with Olive Flies proving to be successful. A Dawson’s Olive has probably been the pick of the flies, especially when retrieved quickly near the surface which can lead to some spectacular takes. Bait anglers also had a good start to the week but the wind also proved to be very challenging particularly over the Holiday Weekend. After a double stocking and with the weather ironically now set fair prospects remain good. The Tiger Trout pot is also in very healthy condition and should land several anglers a nice little windfall over the coming weeks!

WHITTLE DENE

Ranger's review: 'Mixed results' 
This week at the fishery there have been numerous mixed catches with the northern and lower seeing the best of the sport. B. Evans recorded the best catch of 7lbs with Bob Ramshaw also recording a mixed catch of 6lbs.

Regular Steve Eddy made two visits midweek taking 19 skimmers, roach and perch for 6lbs on the following day Steve caught 40 roach, perch and gudgeon for 4lbs 10oz. Mr. R. Shanks had a busy day with 42 roach from the northern whilst Steven Smith recorded a mixed catch of 35 fish including a roach of a1lb.

KIELDER

Ranger's review: 'Perfect for Parker'
Robert Parker aged 7 caught a rainbow trout weighing 2lb on his first days fishing at Kielder Water. Roberts’s dad purchased a fishing starter kit from Leaplish Waterside Park which he put to great effect. Robert’s successful tactic was to use a float fished worm and sweet-corn cocktail. Robert from Selby in North Yorkshire who was holidaying at Leaplish Waterside Park said "I now want to go fishing again".

Boat angler Keith Garrow spinning a Devon Minnow recorded the heaviest fish of the week from the Belling Inlet weighing in at 6lb. The heaviest catch limit of the week was caught from the bank at the Wave Chamber with eight fish for a total weight of 18lb 10oz. Bank anglers have also had some excellent sport from Matthews Linn; I. Keeler fishing with worm caught eight rainbows from this area three of which were over 3lb in weight.

GRASSHOLME

Ranger's review: 'Blue is the colour'
Anglers enjoyed a bonus this week when 700 hard fighting blues were stocked which gave a return rate of 5 blues for every rainbow caught. If you have never managed to land a blue trout before then visiting Grassholme is now a must, more of these fantastic fish will be stocked over the coming weeks. These feisty fish are not quite as easy to tempt so anglers need to be prepared to refine their tactics, mixing different coloured Powerbait on the hook seems to bring results for bait anglers along with float fished worm.

For the fly angler those scaling down in fly size and retrieving very slowly has worked the best. Regular rod Derek Carr landed the best fish of the week, a belting 7lb 8oz blue, from the north bank on fly. Youngster Kieron Sowerby of Bishop Auckland fishing with his mum also got in on the action taking several blues, the best of which was a nice two and a half pound fish.

Due to low water levels anglers are advised to take extra care and avoid soft areas. Wading is not allowed until further notice.

HURY

Ranger's review: 'Competition anglers master conditions'
The Ashington Kingfishers held their bank competition on at the weekend and despite the worst possible conditions of bright sun and strong winds, they still managed to take forty fish between them. Most of them elected to fish booby tactics on fast sink lines and were rewarded with some very nice resident fish. The eventual winner was the in form England International Scott Nellins, he had a slow start to the day but found fish along the north bank late in the afternoon and managed to take seven in quick succession and lose his last one just before the match finished.

Hury also hosted a Prince’s Trust charity match on Saturday and had a very good turn out of 64 anglers. Unfortunately Mother Nature served challenging conditions with a day of sun and wind. Michael Findlay won the event and the £300 prize, taking seven fish for 10lb 10oz from the south shore using a floating line with a black lure on the point and a Kate McLaren on the dropper. Wayne Ferguson took 2nd place with 6 fish from just below Corporal Hill, again using a floating line with an Orange Zonker taking most of his fish. 3rd place went to Mitchell Dow who weighed in 5 fish from the north shore; a fast sinking line and slowly fished boobies was his successful method. Michael Turner had the biggest fish of the day at an ounce under 3lb which earned him £50. Dries and nymphs have continued to fish well on the calmer days with most of the limits this week falling to those methods.

FONTBURN

Ranger's review: 'Mark and Grace take it to the limit one more time' 
The great sport on offer this week has seen many anglers making two or even three visits to the fishery this week. Regular couple Mark and Grace Flannigan took their limit catch of 8 rainbows totalling 13.75 lbs including a 3lb 2oz. fish taken by Grace on a spinner. The couple returned the next day and fishing from the north shore they took a further 8 rainbows for 15 lbs including one at 3 lbs 6oz. As well as the numerous limit catches recorded this week some larger fish have also featured in the catch returns.

Mr. D. Hamilton took the best fish of the week at 4lbs 8oz on ledgered Powerbait Eggs from the north shore. Mr. A. Clarke also had a 4lb 6oz fish to the spinner from the north shore. 8 year old Daniel Preece aught a fine 4lb fish on worm and this was his first ever fish – not a bad start! Mr. Collis from Ashington took grandson Shae (8) fishing with the youngster catching 5 rainbows on ledgered Yellow Powerbait Eggs North shore bays also produced excellent sport for fly anglers with D. Frazer taking 6 fish for 13lbs using a floating beetle. S. O’Grady went home with 5 fish having returned a further 6 while father and son team C. & H. Graham released all seven of their rainbows caught using a Silver Invicta and Black Pennell.