The warmer , milder, weather has returned with mornings and late afternoons fishing the best, until the Caenis hatches in the late evening.Hatches of Chirominids, Olives and Mayflies, Damsel and Soldier Beetles are happening across the complex.

Small artificials are the order of the day, Black buzzers, Diawl bachs, Shipmans buzzer, Hares ear or foam beetles.

Further down in the water column , anglers imitating the natural insect, such as the Mayfly nymph are all catching fish.

Probably the best proportioned full fined fish of the season came to Geoff Wharton from Spinneymoor on a size 20 Black Buzzer, with a mole skin thorax, fishing with an 3lb point new zealand style under a cdc shuttlecock buzzer. This fish was 18 lbs, completing his bag with a further 4lb  and 3lb fish. "Now that's fishing".

Half an hour later  from the same position on the east lake John King  on a lime green buzzer under an indicator took another double at 17lbs, completing his bag with a further 2, two pounders.

Eamon Anderson had his best ever bag at 8.5lbs,5.5lbs and 3lbs on a red jholographic Diawl bach.

Sporting permit anglers have had good days taking 3 to 5 fish, with 15 year old Ben Wheatly from Stanley on a father and son permit, returning 12 fish, the best to 15lbs plus on a black zonker.

John walker also from Bishop Auckland also had 12 fish , best to 15lbs on a small black buzzer just under the surface.

W. Ratcliffe from Blyth  reported returning a lifetime best fish of 20lbs plus caught on a golden olive damsel.

Witton Castle is a troutmaster fishery at Witton le Wear, County Durham.

To contact the Witton Castle Lakes Fishery ring 01388 488691