Northumbrian Water Go Fishing
Ranger's Weekly Fishing Review
Fishery: Derwent
Date: 27/04/2008
Number of rods: 409
Number of trout taken:
rainbows 1295
browns 17
blues 8
Total number of trout taken : 1320
Rod average: 3.23
Best blue:
Best rainbow: 8lb 8oz, Mr R Ridley
Best brown:
Number of fish re-stocked: 1,000
Number of anglers to date: 1,857
Total number of fish taken to date: 6,067
Largest rainbow of the season so far: 14lb 12oz Geordie Samson
Largest blue of the season so far:
Largest brown of the season so far:
Ranger's review:
The popular Water Aid competition sponsored by Hardy Greys was held on Sunday 27 April and 67 anglers had some excellent catches, with the reservoir producing some fine sport. The winner of a season permit was Gordon Swain from Dipton who took 8 fish for 20lb 3oz. Mr Derek Carr took the best fish at 7lb 9oz. The best catch of the week was Mr Ridley who had 8 fish for 23lb 12oz, which included the fish of the week at 8lb 8oz. Fly continues to be the best method with many limit catches, especially on the North bank and The Meadow with buzzers taking a larger than usual share of the fish. Bait anglers are catching well next to the stream, where the fish seem to be holding in the fresh water from
the nearby tributary.
Best flies: Dawson's Olive, Black Fritz, Cat's Whisker.
Best baits: Powerbait worm cocktail.
Best areas: South side next to stream, for bait anglers.
Next to the spillway on fly.
Chris Hodgson
Flash Gordon claims WaterAid Title!!!!!
On a dull but warm April Morning, 67 expectant anglers took to the waters’ edge at Derwent reservoir to take part in the annual Water Aid Angling Competition sponsored by Hardy Greys. This is a keenly contested competition, with £600 of Hardy Greys tackle vouchers up for grabs, as well as a season permit for 2009 donated by Northumbrian Water.
The light winds provided ideal casting conditions for the fly anglers with several anglers taking fish on their first cast. Bait anglers found the conditions slightly more challenging with the fish seemingly preferring a moving fly to static bait. Nevertheless, catches were numerous, illustrated by a rod average of 3.5 fish per angler, with the fly anglers averaging 4.1 fish.
The rain arrived just as the anglers congregated at the lodge for the greatly anticipated weigh in. Nine anglers had arrived with their eight fish limit and with rumours of a big fish caught just minutes before the end, the tension grew. The rumour was confirmed when Derek Carr proudly dropped a fine 7lb 9oz fish on the scales to claim the prize of £60 of Hardy Greys fishing vouchers.
The overall winner and winner of the fly competition, with five 3lb rainbows among a 20lb 3oz catch, was Gorden Swain from Dipton. Gorden was “Over the moon,” to claim the season permit prize and £100 of Hardy Greys vouchers. Second was Joe Carr with eight fish for 16lb and Third was Mr A Coates with 15lb for 7 fish.
The bait anglers weighed in with less numerous, but bigger fish. Peter Lockeron illustrated this with 6 fish for 12lb to claim First and £100 of Hardy Greys vouchers. Second was Derek Carr and Third was Mr. D Robinson.
It seemed ironic that a full reservoir greeted the anglers on a day that proceeds were donated to WaterAid, a charity that is dedicated to providing clean water to people where water is a scarce commodity. With this in mind we can present a grand total raised on the day of £1398 to WaterAid and hope that the success of this competition will go some way to providing a better life for some of people who live in these less developed parts of the world.