CHECK RIVER LEVELS

We have suffered with low flows for several months but lately there has been some rainfall. Tyne had 6507 upstream counts in July bringing the total run so far to over 9000.

The Wear had 4029 upstream counts in July with a total of 6031 to date.

Fish have been caught by keen anglers. There are reports of plenty fish waiting in the Solway to run the Border Esk. Anglers should watch for the rises in flow as good runs could materialise.

Getting out when river levels are falling and clearing can enhance catches. Hopefully the next couple of months will give us a good ending to what has been a very poor season. The problem is widespread so we need to hope next time around will be better but all is not lost as a few spates may improve our sport considerably.

The North Tyne has been pretty fresh compared with other rivers. Prospects look good from here on in. Once again keeping up with river levels can mean the difference between success and failure.

Suggested info links are: Fish Tyne .co.uk

Kielder release programme which gives anglers a full weeks info of release sizes. 5 Cumecs, 7 Cumecs and 9 cumecs are ideal levels. Larger releases make wading more challenging but still worthwhile but care is needed.

Border Esk River levels at Langholm is the best info for us.

River Wear levels at Sunderland Bridge and Witton-le-Wear are useful.

Coquet River Levels at Alwinton and also Rothbury.

South Tyne River levels at Alston, Haydon Bridge .

River Rede at Otterburn

River Whiteadder levels at Hutton Castle.

Just Google River levels at Langholm as an example and you will get the latest level for that area of the Border Esk. Try the others when looking for a venue visit.

Please note that these levels can vary and are not 100% reliable but are a pretty good guide for your visits.

While salmon and sea-trout opportunities have been less than great some fine wild brown trout have been caught by members. It has been pleasing to hear of some good catches and some very nice quality fish up to 3lb plus.

Tight lines for the rest of the season. Don’t forget our trout lakes for the Autumn and winter months as they can fish well. They will be stocked.

FLY CASTING / BACK TO ANGLING DAY

On Saturday 7th August, the North East Fly Casting Club is holding an Free Open Day –

The day will include, a range of demonstations

Free coaching opportunities double and single handed casting.

try fly tying

kick sampling and bug identification

coarse fishing.

try fishing tackle etc from leading manufacturers.

The event will take place at Dilston fishery between Corbridge and Hexham on the main Tyne and is free save for the price of coffee and sausage sandwiches from the barbecue.

The event begins at 10am and there will be a welcoming address from Robson Green with the first demos from 11am.

The beat is accessed from A695 at Widehaugh. A white post with a red top marks the turning point from A695. Turn right off the main road on to the track which leads down to the Widehaugh Railway Crossing at the entry point to Dilston Fishings.

As access can be awkward at times, for Tyneside Anglers Syndicate members who wish to attend our entry time is between 10 am and 10-15am

UNION HALL NIGHT SEA-TROUT FISHING

23/06/21

Members please note that the automatic entrance gates at Union Hall are locked from 10pm. Night sea-trout fishing is still available but members must park at the Dog Agility section on the entrance drive on the right.

Also may I remind members to display their car pass when parked here and on any other areas of our fishing. Riparian owners need to know who is on their property. Enjoy your fishing.

WAITING FOR WATER

River levels are very low at present and we need a good spate in all our rivers. Tyne has been receiving extra water from Kielder. Fish have been moving up the North Tyne and it is likely that our beats will have fish present.

Sea-trout can run in even when levels are low and can appear in pools overnight. The opportunist angler often cashes in on the sport.

Brown trout anglers have done well on the Rede with one member catching well over 20 trout to 15 inches on small nymphs. Another rod have into double figures with several good fish. Both anglers lost large brown trout. Some nice trout have been caught on our North Tyne beats.

Our Coquet beat also produced some good fish to 2lb.

We need to be patient in the wait for water. When it comes sport should improve considerably.

My advice is not to ignore the wild brown trout. We have some excellent areas to enjoy and there are plenty good fish there.

The dearth of salmon this year is being put down to the wipe out by Storm Desmond. Hopefully runs will build up in the weeks to come. Watch this blog for up to date news as it happens.

SCOTTISH WATERS OPEN AND WE HAVE RAIN

From Monday 26th April our Whiteadder, Ettrick and Border Esk beats will be available for members south of the Scottish Border. We have had salmon to 15lb on our Whiteadder fishing so far this season with only a handful of members being able to fish.

Obviously this has been restricted to a very few members who live locally in the Borders.

We are in real need of rainfall with rivers very low and some beginning to get badly weeded. A good flush out is required which will bring in runs of fish.

The change in weather has not produced enough rainfall to lift our local rivers. There will be fish present in some of our beats but they will require smaller flies to tempt them. Wylam always offers a decent chance of a fish when levels fall. Salmon have been seen recently in the top pools.

Some nice brown trout have been caught but sport in general has been slow with the cold frosty nights and mornings.

The long awaited rainfall has arrived with all of our rivers getting water. This will hopefully bring in the first of the sea-trout and some salmon which have been scarce especially on the Tyne.

Today 4th May, I had a visit to Smalesmouth our Upper North Tyne beat as rivers were coloured and in spate. The conditions there were good. Flies were hatching and trout were showing interest. I managed 7 in three hours best one 1.5lb. Two equally good fish were lost off. Worth a visit for the trout enthusiast. 5 cumec and 7 cumec Kielder releases should be ideal. 3 Cumecs at the moment making wading lass difficult. Rocks are slippery so be careful and take things slowly.

We are still taking new members interested anglers can contact davecarrickryton@hotmail.com

Members should keep looking at this blog for further updates throughout the season.

Below are some pics of just a few of the fly streams on the recently leased Union Hall Farm beat on the River Wear. There are many more as well as good glides and holding areas for both salmon and sea-trout. This is an excellent addition to our many fine fly fishing areas. Please look back at the post with details from Union Hall Fishing

1 The Meadow Stream

2. Upper Flats

Lower Flats Stream

Mid Stream

CHANGES TO RIVER WEAR FISHING

As of 2nd April, we have leased the 1.5miles of fishing at Union Hall Farm. We used to have this fishing until a few years ago. It offers some fine fishing for salmon, trout and sea-trout in lovely surroundings. We have come out of the fishing at Low Grange Farm but we have kept Low Grange Meadow below. This can be accessed from Union Hall in sensible water heights.

There is an area where anglers can cross the river to Grange Meadow when river levels are suitable. In high flows we can fish the near bank. A number of years ago we accessed the Meadow in this way before we had Low Grange Farm fishing.

Union Hall post code DH1 5SG can be accessed by the private road just before the Adventure Park. If you follow signs for this it will bring you to the entrance of Union Hall Farm. Just before the entrance gate there is a button to press which will open the gate.

Very safe Parking is on your left in the small layby. If full, use the large metal gate entrance on your right but make sure you park without obstructing access. Race horses use this area at times.

There is a 15 minute walk to the river following the track. Go through the large metal gate and follow the track along the side of the horses’ fields and then down the hill to the river. The upper and lower boundaries are clearly marked. Our TAS signs from our previous tenure are still there and are easily seen.

Please note this beat has not been let since we had it a few years ago. We are very glad to have renewed our tenure as it offers some lovely fly water as well as some good holding pools. In real terms we have only lost around 300 yards of fishing on the opposite bank but have gained over three quarters of a mile below. You will be able to see this from the map.

Advice to members is to take only what equipment you need for fishing, as the walk will take around 15 minutes down to the river; then of course you have 1.5 miles below to fish or your beat across the river below the sewage works outlet stream. Plan longer visits unless you are young and fit. There is a track which runs along most of the fishing. The lower boundary is just above the Pipe Bridge.

If sea-trouting late please leave the farm quietly.

The fishing is available from Friday 2nd April.

The Low Grange Meadow fishing runs from the Sewage outlet stream to the top of Moorhouse Wood at the fence.

YOU MUST DISPLAY YOUR CAR PASS WHILE ON THE UNION HALL BEAT.

FROM OUR PREVIOUS BOOKLET ENTRY

UNION HALL FARM- BRASSIDE- DH1 5SG

This 1.5 mile beat is situated below Franklands prison near Brasside, a few miles below Durham. Access by Pity Me then on reaching the front of the prison continue down the road until it becomes a single track. Enter the entrance to Union Hall Farm clearly sign posted. PRESS BUTTON TO OPEN THE GATE. Park in the layby on the left or inside the metal gate on the right. Fishing is for 12 months of the year. Best times for large mature sea-trout is from April, May and June. Grilse and salmon can also be present from this time. Runs of salmon, grilse and sea-trout take place throughout the summer and through into the autumn. Fishing is seven days a week. Security is important as race horses are kept here plus the Adventure Park.

Always park sensibly. The beat also holds good stocks of brown trout, grayling and coarse fish.

The large metal gate on the right is your access. Proceed along the track then turn left down the bank to the river. Any questions contact the secretary.

THIS SADLY MEANS THE END OF OUR EXCHANGE WITH FELLING FLY FISHING CLUB WHICH BOTH PARTIES HAVE ENJOYED IN RECENT YEARS.

MORE SCOPE NOW

From today 29th March members are able to travel to our English fishing.

Members should note that despite the changes we still need to be very careful and observe all the recommended rules we have been keeping. When on farmland etc we advise members to wear gloves when opening gates etc. We must protect our owners and also fellow members as well as the general public who may be on public rights of way.

Members should keep consulting this blog in case there are any changes or owners who are still concerned at anglers accessing the fishing.

The recent spates in our local rivers may well herald the first real runs of fish this year. As levels settle there is a chance of sport.

Our Scottish Waters are still a no go for us south of the Border. Watch this blog for details when travel restrictions are eased or lifted.

We still have vacancies. Any interested anglers can contact davecarrickryton@hotmail.com for details.

FIRST SALMON TODAY

Update 19/03/21

Another fish was caught by Colin Tait on fly estimated at 7lb and carefully returned.

Kevin Foster caught a 3lb plus brown trout on our Wylam fishing recently in a high water.

The excellent fish took a Toby in the Commander Dunn Pool. No salmon have been seen up to date. The river was falling into decent condition today and with settled conditions there is the chance of a spring fish or two. This also applies for Bywell Quarry.

We will be able to fish our English Waters from 29th March as travel restrictions will be lifted.

We may have to wait longer for a visit to the Whiteadder, Ettrick and Border Esk. Watch this blog for updates.

8-03-21

Paul Neate from Edington caught our first salmon of the season on Monday 8 th March off our Whiteadder fishing. The shining 8 lb springer took a Black and Silver Snaelda fly. The fish was very carefully returned.

Not too long to wait now until we can all get on to our beats as and when we wish.

Tyne has been running clean but too high for our lower river beats at Bywell Quarry and Wylam. Given a drop in levels then there is a good chance of a fish or two from these beats. Please note that you can access the fishing at Wylam. Just lift the fencing and go through; we have permission.

Tyne had its first fish caught at Styford directly below the fish pass last week at 18lb.

Please refer to previous posts on Bywell Quarry access and Wylam access.

Anglers waiting to join now is the time!

NEW PRESIDENT FOR TYNESIDE ANGLERS’ SYNDICATE

It is with great pleasure that I can announce that our new president will be Sir Ian Botham OBE. New and recently joined members will be unaware that we lost our previous President Jack Charlton OBE last year. Jack will of course be fondly remembered by those who knew him.

We welcome Sir Ian and hope he enjoys fishing our varied waters when he has the time.

Latest news: March 29th will see restrictions being lifted that will allow non local fishing and travelling to fishing allowed once again. It is unclear at the moment whether this will include our Whiteadder, Border Esk and Ettrick fishing. We await clarification from the Scottish government. Please keep an eye on this blog for further updates as and when they come available.

Please refer to previous posts on this blog regarding access to our Wylam and Bywell Quarry fishing.

Prospective new members can now join us with confidence of being able to travel and fish most of our waters. Hopefully our Scottish Border rivers will be available at the same time.

TAS WYLAM ACCESS OPEN AGAIN

Our access to the Wylam fishing is now available again. For members unaware of the problems we have faced in recent weeks I will explain. At the bottom end of the Wylam Station Car park there is a barrier. Tyneside Anglers Syndicate members can now access our fishing through this area. Advice to members is as follows: Access this area and take the pathway down to your left. Fishing is OK down to below the Concrete Pump House. This area has large whinstone blocks along the bankside and is not a comfortable access. There is some excellent streamy water here. The danger area is below this and members are instructed not to access the danger area.

In this area of our fishing, there has been extensive erosion which has never been attended to. The situation over the last five years has seen banking collapsing, trees slipping into the river pathways been fenced and now huge cracks have formed in what is left of the Keelman’s Way path at this point.

This severely threatens the Newcastle to Carlisle railway line! The massive build up of rocks opposite the collapsed area has been left to accumulate for decades. The EA were informed verbally by me some years ago but this was ignored. The flow of the Tyne was forced at right angles straight into the bank. This warning was ignored!

To sort this problem out is now a mammoth task with very difficult access for plant.

The rock mound across the river requires moving to allow the river to flow straight. Maybe some of this deposition could be used to shore up the damaged banks by using gabions. Access for cranes etc will be very awkward. Bearing in mind that erosion is happening daily in the form of river current power, tidal surges twice a day and huge spates this area needs attention now!

Our lower pools below the damaged area can be accessed from the river bank at the top of the Golf course. This means travelling by car to Clara Vale and parking near the railway crossing.

Any problems contact the secretary or chairman.