Gordon clinches Derwent's top prize

30/04/2008

LIGHT winds provided ideal casting conditions for fly anglers with several taking fish on their first cast in the annual Derwent Reservoir WaterAid Angling Competition, sponsored by Hardy Greys.

Bait anglers found the conditions slightly more challenging with the fish seemingly preferring a moving fly to static bait. Nevertheless, there were good bags recorded with bait anglers averaging 3.5 fish per angler and fly anglers 4.1.

Rumours of a big fish caught just minutes before the end of fishing were confirmed when Derek Carr weighed in a 7lb 9oz rainbow to secure £60 of Hardy Greys fishing vouchers.

Overall winner and winner of the fly competition, with five 3lb rainbows among his 20lb 3oz catch, was Gordon Swain from Dipton who won a Northumbrian Water 2009 season permit and £100 in Hardy Greys vouchers. Second was Joe Carr with eight for 16lb and third was A Coates with seven for 15lb.

The bait anglers weighed in fewer, but bigger fish. Peter Lockeron had six fish for 12lb to claim first place and £100 of Hardy Greys vouchers. Second was Derek Carr and third was D Robinson.

The day raised £1,398 for WaterAid, a charity that is dedicated to providing clean water to people where water is a scarce commodity.

Fly continues to be the best method at Derwent Reservoir although bait anglers continue to do well next to the stream. Mr Ridley recorded the week’s best bag with eight for 23lb 12oz.

It was another good week at Fontburn with many anglers recording limit bags. P Newlands had the week’s heaviest fish at 5lb while J Green had four fish of more than 3lb in his limit bag of almost 24lb.

The Burns family from Cramlington had their best fishing trip to Fontburn to date taking two limit bags on ledgered Powerbait from the north Shore. Greg Robinson fished two consecutive days recording limit bags of 18lb and 19lb.

First-time Kielder angler Mark Bell, fishing worm and bubble float at The Belling, brought a well-conditioned over wintered rainbow of 4lb to the net.

Whickhope and the Plashetts have been the most productive area for boat anglers with many fish taken just sub-surface on black lures. From tomorrow boat hire times will be from 8.30am to 8pm.

Fly box

COW GREEN: Black Pennell, Kate McLaren, Shuttlecock CdC.

DERWENT: Dawson’s Olive, Black Fritz, Cat’s Whisker.

FONTBURN: Orange Fritz, Viva, Bibio.

GRASSHOLME: Mosaic Viva, Black and Green Thompson’s Gazelle, Sunburst Kate McLaren.

HURY: Black Cat’s Whisker, Clan Chief, Black Fritz Booby.

KIELDER: Ace of Spades.

SCALING: Dawson’s Olive, Montana, Kate McLaren.

Bait box

COW GREEN: Ledgered worm.

DERWENT: Powerbait and worm cocktail.

FONTBURN: Pink Powerbait and worm cocktail.

GRASSHOLME: Rainbow Powerbait and greedy Bait with Magic Dust in swim feeder.

KIELDER: Powerbait and worm cocktail.

SCALING: All baits taking fish.

Journal Live - www.journallive.co.uk