DISCOVER WATERSIDE PARKS AND FISHING - Your guide for 2015 with Northumbrian Water www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing
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Your guide for 2015 DISCOVER WATERSIDE PARKS AND FISHING with Northumbrian Water facebook.com/nwfishing www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing @gofishingnwl
Northumbrian Water We also have a designated section for roach fishing at Derwent Reservoir. For those of you fisheries have built up a who are new to the sport we offer ‘try it days’ fishing lessons for beginners. well deserved reputation for offering top quality fishing. New for 2015 is an all day (7.00am until close) catch and release sporting permit for fly fishing only priced at £15. (Anglers fishing with this With some of the best scenery around, permit will be required to use barbless hooks). friendly and helpful employees, plus well For non-anglers our waterside parks offer a stocked tackle shops, the result is a recipe for range of activities including walking, picnicking, a perfect day’s fishing. bird watching and cycling. We offer angling opportunities for everyone with For details of what is on offer at each park please bait or fly trout fishing at our premier fisheries, visit www.nwl.co.uk/leisure and go to the with wild brown trout fishing in Upper Teesdale leisure section of our website. and coarse fishing at Whittle Dene. OPENING DATES AND TIMES * Please note during November, fishing and opening times are 9.00am until 4.00pm. To The trout fishing season on our premier fisheries reflect the reduced daylight hours in November, opens on Saturday 14 March until Monday 30th trout fishing permits are priced at £16 per day with November 2015 (except at Kielder Water which a ten fish catch limit. closes Friday 13 November 2015). Day permits are available to buy online The wild brown trout waters at Balderhead, before your visit through fishpal. Selset and Cow Green are open from Sunday Visit www.fishpal.com for more information. 22 March until Wednesday 30 September 2015. For further information on fishing with Our coarse fishery at Whittle Dene is open Northumbrian Water call 0845 155 0236 all year. (lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00am until * All visitor centres and fishing lodge facilities 5.00pm), visit www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing or are open daily from 7.00am. email go.fishing@nwl.co.uk. Tower Knowe visitor centre is open daily from For the very latest information including catch 31 March at 10.00am. Bank fishing times run returns and images you can also find us on from March 14 until October 31 from 7.00am Facebook: Facebook.com/nwfishing or until 9.00pm or sunset (whichever is sooner). twitter:@gofishingnwl. 2
LEARN TO FISH AT FISH FREE FOR A DAY DERWENT RESERVOIR WITH A STARTER PACK In partnership with the BTFRA (British Trout Once you’ve got the angling bug, our shops sell Farmers Restocking Association) and in memory everything you will need, including fishing starter of the late Rob Mackie, we are proud to announce packs which contain the complete kit and our that the monies provided by the memorial fund rangers will be pleased to show you how to has enabled us to reduce the cost of introducing ‘tackle up’ and select a bait. These starter kits juniors to the sport of fishing for rainbow trout come with a free day permit which makes it even from £20 to £15. easier and cheaper for you to begin fishing! Fishing is an excellent sport but also makes a fantastic hobby and our ‘try it days’ make it FREE LOYALTY CARD AND easier for newcomers of all ages to get into this superb sport. FISHING REWARDS Our fisheries already offer great value for The courses are professionally run and aimed at money, and to reward your loyalty we run complete novices with our friendly coaches a fantastic free fishing offer. As an extra taking you through each stage step by step, bonus we have increased the catch limit for teaching you everything you need to know to be the free loyalty day to 10 fish for a full and able to have an enjoyable day’s fishing. concessionary permit and five fish for a credit cruncher permit. HOW TO BOOK Come fishing seven times and your eighth Courses cost £30 for adults and £15 for under visit is free – that’s a saving credit of £3.42 on 18’s for a three hour session and all of the tackle a full £23 eight fish day permit every time you is provided. ‘Try it days’ are held on Tuesdays swipe your card! The fantastic savings are and Saturdays (beginning on Tuesday 7 April) illustrated below: and will alternate between any method and fly fishing. We can also offer ‘try it days’ at our other premier fisheries. Cost of 8 visits Full £23 Cons £21 Credit cruncher Family £35 Fly only catch and £16 release £15 For more information and to book one of our Without card £184 £168 £128 £280 £120 ‘try it days’ call 01207 255 250. With card £161 £147 £112 £245 £105 Saving £23 £21 £16 £35 £15 GREAT VALUE FAMILY FISHING WITH FREE FISHING FOR • To register for your free loyalty card online visit www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing, or you can UNDER 18s call us on 0845 155 0236 or email go.fishing@nwl.co.uk. Fishing is fantastic fun for children and the whole family. It’s so easy to learn, makes a great family • Once you have your card it is yours for day out and is the perfect way to make friends life, there is no need to renew your card and have fun. Families and couples can enjoy a each year. day’s fishing with our family and couples permit* which allows parents or guardians, plus any • To claim and record your credit simply number of their children aged under 18 years, present your card to be swiped at point of to fish for the inclusive price of £35. For those of sale when buying your permit. you who enjoy eating your catch, this permit offers a 12 fish shared catch limit. • There is no limit to the number of times you can claim and all your credits are Remember, up to two children under 18 can carried forward on your account to the still fish free when one parent buys a day or following season. concessionary permit. This permit offers an eight fish shared catch limit. • You can also use your loyalty card when *Cohabiting only, proof may be required i.e. a utility bill hiring a boat at Kielder. 3
Kielder Water is our boat 4 fishery and with over 2,000 KIELDER WATER & FOREST PARK Open Saturday 14 March until Friday 13 November 2015. acres of water to explore Directions: Located 12 miles west of Bellingham, Kielder is easily you can try a different spot accessible from the A69 at Hexham. every time you fish. With a fleet of 15 fully equipped is open daily (10.00am until motor boats and the biggest man 5.00pm) from Saturday 10 March made lake in northern Europe until Sunday 1 November. Kielder Water offers exhilarating Bring along the family for the fishing for both enthusiast and day as there is plenty for competition anglers alike. everyone to enjoy. Bank anglers are also spoilt for Leaplish Waterside Park choice when it comes to choosing The Boat Inn restaurant and bar a spot to fish with access to around serves coffee, drinks, lunch and 20 miles of shoreline along the evening meals. Facilities include Lakeside Way. Please check an indoor pool, childrens play with the on site rangers for areas, shop, ferry rides, birds of further details. prey centre and mini golf. Please note some of these facilities Environment Agency licences are require advanced booking and available to buy at Leaplish are an additional cost. Waterside Park. Please note, only one rod is allowed per licence. Tower Knowe visitor centre Café on the water serves ANY SAT EARLY Permits are available from Leaplish Waterside Park from a selection of drinks and light bites. Visit the shop or learn METHOD FISHING NAV NE48 1BT OPENING FROM 6AM 6.00am until 4.00pm and also from Tower Knowe visitor centre, which about Kielder at the interactive exhibition.
KIELDER WATER & BOAT HIRE Bakethin No fishing on Bakethin Reservoir FOREST PARK Full day midweek £15 Full day weekend £19 Reservoir www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing Boats must be booked in Weir go.fishing@nwl.co.uk advance. Boat hire is included P in loyalty day scheme. Ideal for boat fishing all year Saturday 14 March until Plashetts Friday 13 November 2015. Matthew’s Needs Linn Hill Bay Hire from 8.30am to 8.00pm P (depending on sunset times). T Plashetts Incline Half day midweek £12 Popular boat fishing with Friday 1 May until No access shallow and deep drop offs available when water skiing Wednesday 30 September 2015. taking place Hire from 8.30am to 2.00pm or 2.30pm to 8.00pm (depending on sunset times). Good all The Belling year round PRICES £ Belvedere Sheltered area with steep drop offs, ideal Benny Shank Belling Inlet P Day permit for the fly angler Scotch Hawkhope Valve Tower Full £23 Concessionary £21 Beeches Rocks Slipway (8 fish catch limit.) Walk Fly only catch and release £15. P T (Barbless hooks required all te r y rou trout to be returned.) Leaplish Fer Kielder Waterside Park lodges Leaplish Old North Family and couples permit* (fishing permits) Ski Bay Tyne Road (shop and Boat Inn Bull Crag Kielder Water Stockie £35 (12 fish catch limit.) restaurant and bar) Bay Sailing Club No fishing when water Shallow bay Credit cruncher £16 skiing taking place P which holds fish all year available from 2.00pm 2,700 acres Popular bait area during P T (4 fish catch limit.) (1,093 hectares) spring and summer Merlin Tower Knowe Whickhope Brae Day permit (November) £16 Visitor Centre Whickhope (fishing permits) (10 fish catch limit.) Elf Kirk Burn viewpoint (Café on the water Opening times 6.00am and shop) until 4.00pm. No fishing when water skiing taking place KEY Parking is free if you are fishing. No access Life belt Fishing lodge Information Telephone Disabled access * Cohabiting only, proof may be (signing in and catch returns) (Matthew’s Linn is emergency only) required i.e. a utility bill. Lakeside No fishing No fishing when water Way at any time T Toilet P Parking Picnic area skiing is taking place 5
Fontburn is one of our smaller 6 FONTBURN waters and consequently has a Open Saturday 14 March until Monday 30 November 2015. reputation as being a friendly, family oriented fishery. Directions: Located just off the A696 and close to the village of Rothbury. It is located within easy reach of Tyneside and offers top class fishing for fly and bait anglers alike. Many of Fontburn’s trout are stocked from our own on site fish farm and is suitable for disabled anglers. On site we have an excellent lodge shop stocked with everything you need for a days fishing such as rods, reels, tackle, accessories, clothing, worms, bait, ice creams and refreshments including hot and cold drinks. Environment Agency rod licenses are also on sale at this fishery. For non-anglers, there is a stunning circular walk and a spacious picnicking area for you to relax at. The reservoir and surrounding land is home to a vast array of wildlife and wild flowers. On some days you can watch juvenile ospreys fishing and observe great crested newts in the north shore lagoon ponds. Soaring buzzards are a common sight and if you are lucky it is also possible to ANY SAT spot otters at play in the secluded parts of the nature reserve. METHOD FISHING NAV NE61 4PL
FONTBURN PRICES £ www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing Day permit go.fishing@nwl.co.uk Full £23 87 acres Concessionary £21 (35 hectares) (8 fish catch limit.) Fly only catch and release £15 (Barbless hooks required all trout to be returned.) P Family and couples Good bait area all year round Deep permit* £35 (12 fish catch limit.) Credit cruncher £16 Disabled Dam available from 2.00pm access (4 fish catch limit.) North shore Deep Day permit (November) £16 (10 fish catch limit.) Best fly area all year round Opening times 9.00am Shallow Shallow Visitor Centre until 4.00pm. Nature reserve and shop The Shallows * Cohabiting only, proof may be P T required i.e. a utility bill. Deep Lodge X Deep Bank Stile X Good bait area South shore Stile all year round KEY General info: 0845 155 0236 Life belt No access Information Telephone Disabled access Rangers and shop No fishing tel: 01669 621 368 T Toilet P Parking Picnic area at any time 7
8 DERWENT ANY SAT Open Saturday 14 March until Monday 30 November 2015. METHOD FISHING NAV DH8 9TT Directions: Located just off the A68 and four miles west of Castleside, turn south at the Manor House pub and follow the road into the valley. Throughout the season a drinks. Environment Agency number of tagged fish will rod licences are also on be stocked, with special sale at this fishery. For those prizes awarded to those not fishing there are several anglers lucky enough to picnicking and play areas, catch them. In addition, the plus spectacular walks dam wall is available for along the north and south coarse anglers who can shores and across the expect to catch some dam. The reservoir and quality roach. surrounding land is home for a fantastic array of Derwent is suitable wildlife and you can often for disabled anglers see soaring buzzards, red and visitors. kites and fishing ospreys as well as red squirrels On site we have an rabbits, stoats and weasels. Derwent is our most popular excellent shop stocked with everything you need for a A wheelchair accessible fishery, with anglers liking day’s fishing such as rods, reels, tackle, accessories, trail runs from the south end of the dam along to Pow Hill the combination of lots of clothing, worms, bait, ice Country Park and from the bank space and the chance creams and refreshments including hot and cold north shore of the dam wall to Millshield picnic site. to catch specimen trout weighing up to 20lbs.
DERWENT PRICES £ www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing Day permit go.fishing@nwl.co.uk Full £23 Concessionary £21 (8 fish catch limit.) Fly only catch and release £15 (Barbless hooks required all 1000 acres trout to be returned.) (495 hectares) Bay of Family and couples permit* Plenty Best fly areas in spring £35 Quaker’s (12 fish catch limit.) Graveyard Millshield North shore Sailing Club Deep P T (fly only) Credit cruncher £16 Shallow Henry’s available from 2.00pm Plantation (4 fish catch limit.) Nature reserve Hunter The Day permit (November) £16 House Meadow Best fly area all year round (10 fish catch limit.) Opening times 9.00 am until Best bait area Deep early and late Deep Cronkley Bay 4.00pm season Coarse fishing permit £10 Carricks Pow Hill Country park P * Cohabiting only, proof may be P required i.e. a utility bill. P Limit of any Shallow method P T Best bait area Visitor Centre in summer and shop South shore Deep Disabled (any method) Second fence platform P KEY Life belt No access Information Telephone Disabled access General info: 0845 155 0236 Rangers, visitor centre and No fishing T Toilet P Parking Picnic area at any time shop tel: 01207 255 250 9
Grassholme is firmly established 10 as one of the top any method GRASSHOLME Open Saturday 14 March until fisheries in the country, lying in the Monday 30 November 2015. picturesque rolling pasture land of Directions: Take the B6277 from Barnard Castle upper Teesdale. towards Mickleton. Turn off at the western end of the village, sign posted Grassholme Reservoir. The fishery is roughly a mile up the road on the right. With four miles of bank space and many inlets and bays it offers a great variety of fishing. Grassholme also enjoys the luxury of its own local fish farm. Grassholme is suitable for disabled anglers and visitors. On site we have an excellent lodge shop stocked with everything you need for a days fishing including rods, reels, tackle, accessories, clothing, worms, bait, ice creams and refreshments including hot and cold drinks. Environment Agency rod licenses are also on sale at this fishery. There is a circular footpath around the lake providing magnificent views across the water and a pleasant picnicking area next to the visitor centre for you to relax. The reservoir and surrounding land is home to a vast array of wildlife and wild flowers, and on calm days you can listen to the song of the skylark and call of the curlew. At the western ANY SAT end of the reservoir it is common to see electric METHOD FISHING NAV DL12 0PW blue damsel flies and large dragonflies on the wing.
GRASSHOLME PRICES £ www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing Day permit go.fishing@nwl.co.uk Full £23 Concessionary £21 (8 fish catch limit.) Fly only catch and release £15 (Barbless hooks required all 140 acres trout to be returned.) (57 hectares) Family and couples permit* £35 Good fly fishing (12 fish catch limit.) Low Rigg Deep Rabbit Bank Credit cruncher £16 East Close Bay Stake Hill available from 2.00pm Deep Witch’s (4 fish catch limit.) Hat Deep Shallow Pebble Beach Disabled Day permit (November) £16 platform (10 fish catch limit.) Rigg Bank Shallow Shallow opening times 9.00am until Deep Brock Visitor Centre 4.00pm Scar Easter and shop * Cohabiting only, proof may be Bay Grassholme Bank Wester Bay West Pasture P T required i.e. a utility bill. Kelton Bank Middle sections of the reservoir Good early and Deep Deep late season are good mid to late season Shallow No access P Nature reserve KEY Life belt No access Information Telephone Disabled access General info: 0845 155 0236 Rangers and shop tel: No fishing 11 T Toilet P Parking Picnic area at any time 01833 641 121
Hury is exclusively a fly fishery and 12 is the ideal venue for traditional fly FLY SAT anglers who like to fish with wet FISHING ONLY NAV DL12 9UP and dry flies as well as lures. HURY Open Saturday 14 March until Monday 30 November 2015. Directions: Located in the Balder Valley, the lake can be reached from either Romaldkirk or Cotherstone on the B6277 Barnard Castle to Middleton-in-Teesdale road. Stocked weekly, often with our own grown fish from our Teesdale fish farm, Hury is a must for traditional and fly fishing enthusiasts. There are picnic and play areas located on both the north and south shore next to the dam wall for you to relax at. The reservoir is home to a vast array of wildlife and wildflowers. In May the hawthorn bloom fills the western end of the reservoir with both colour and perfume. Several species of wading birds can be seen on the shoreline sharing the water with other wildfowl such as teal and widgeon.
HURY PRICES £ www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing go.fishing@nwl.co.uk Day permit Full £23 Concessionary £21 (8 fish catch limit.) Fly only catch and release Lodge £15 125 acres P T (Barbless hooks required all (50 hectares) trout to be returned.) This bank fishes consistently all year Disabled Family and couples platform permit* £35 How Gill Shallow (12 fish catch limit.) Excellent Point Reedy Bank buzzer hatches Credit cruncher £16 Shallow available from 2.00pm all year Waterfall (4 fish catch limit.) Bay Corporal Day permit (November) Newhouse Bay Hill £16 (10 fish catch limit.) Deep Scoon Shallow P Opening times 9.00am until Shallow Bank 4.00pm Deep Bay * Cohabiting only, proof may be Deep Peninsular required i.e. a utility bill. Rocky Low Bank Newhouse Boil Good late spring/ early summer Top Dam KEY General info: 0845 155 0236 No access Life belt Information Telephone Disabled access Rangers, tel: 01833 641 121 (based at Grassholme.) No fishing 13 T Toilet P Parking Picnic area at any time
Conveniently located near 14 Teesside, Scaling Dam enjoys a SCALING DAM Open Saturday 14 March until Monday 30 November 2015. lovely setting on the edge of the Directions: Scaling Dam is located between Guisborough and North Yorkshire Moors. Whitby directly off the A171. The reservoir is surrounded Our visitor centre by beautiful wild heather provides information moorland and is relatively about the reservoir and shallow, making it an excellent surrounding attractions. choice for both fly and bait anglers alike. For the rest of the family there is a pleasant circular walk, a On site we have an excellent section of which is wheelchair lodge shop stocked with accessible, plus several lovely everything you need for a picnic areas along the way day’s fishing including rods, offering wonderful views and a reels, tackle, accessories, place for you to relax at. clothing, worms, bait, ice creams and refreshments The reservoir and surrounding including hot and cold drinks. land is also home to a vast Environment Agency rod array of wildlife and wild licenses are also on sale at flowers. It is a key site for this fishery. wading birds and wildfowl and ANY SAT juvenile ospreys practicing METHOD FISHING NAV TS13 4TP Scaling Dam is accessible for disabled anglers and visitors. their fishing skills can often be observed.
SCALING DAM PRICES £ www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing go.fishing@nwl.co.uk Day permit Full £23 Concessionary £21 (8 fish catch limit.) Good location for bait fishing Productive for fly during Fly only catch and release Popular for both trout northerly winds £15 Very popular area and pike fishing Depth: 8 - 10ft (Barbless hooks required throughout season Depth: 25 - 30ft Overflow all trout to be returned.) (bait best) Depth: 10 - 15ft P PT Family and couples permit* £35 East Shore (12 fish catch limit.) Dog Leg Deepest water in reservoir - 30ft East Credit cruncher £16 Bay Good for fly fishing available from 2.00pm in an east wind Visitor Centre Depth: 2 - 8ft (4 fish catch limit.) and shop T P i Disabled platform Day permit (November) ‘Timber’ Best area for fly fishing £16 Bird Big Depth: 3 - 10ft (10 fish catch limit.) Hide tree Groyne SW winds best Opening times 9.00am until Best months June, July and August 4.00pm Good bait fishing * Cohabiting only, proof may be Good area for both bait and fly required i.e. a utility bill. throughout the season May is best month for fly when Depth: 3 - 8ft Hawthorns hatch Depth: 6 - 15ft Nature reserve Popular for fly fishing summer months, evening best Depth: 3 - 8ft 105 acres (42 hectares) KEY General info: 0845 155 0236 Life belt No access Information Telephone Disabled access Rangers, visitor centre and No fishing shop tel: 01287 644 032 15 T Toilet P Parking Picnic area at any time
DAVES TOP TIPS 16 WHITTLE DENE Dave Coster, Product Innovation Manager at Pure Fishing UK Ltd, shares his top tips. 3 The waggler option – Waggler tackle works well everywhere on this complex, although in the deeper swims it takes a Open all year. 1 Hook and feed baits – Maggots will little longer to get the fish feeding, Directions: Easy to reach from Tyneside, the catch fish on all three lakes. I prefer to introducing odd balls of soft groundbait lakes are located right on the old military road use these more in the winter, finding a combined with loose fed maggots. The (B6318) near Harlow Hill. pint of grubs is enough to catch fish all best waggler swims are near the main day, feeding little and often style. Casters road on the Northern, where the water are better during the summer and is shallower, also on the Southern, autumn, helping to pick out better sized particularly late summer when water roach, particularly when fishing up in the levels are lower. Don’t ignore the slider water. The hemp and tare combination in deeper swims, a method that works accounts for really big nets of roach from well over a bed of groundbait, using early summer to late autumn. Sweetcorn double maggot or worm and maggot and pellets are good back up baits when hook baits. Sweetcorn and pellets are small fish are a problem. Chopped worm also worth a try in warm conditions. helps to activate swims quicker all year round, also being good for attracting skimmers on the Northern and Lower lakes. 4 Feeder fishing – Use small groundbait feeders on the Northern and cast regularly to get the bites coming from the roach, although a lot more skimmers The three coarse fishing lakes at Whittle Dene 2 Pole tactics – Long pole tactics work well on all three lakes, using fine lines and small hooks with baits like maggots, showed up in this lake last year. The prime feeder hotspot is the Lower lake, which holds a huge head of skimmers. are exceptionally well maintained and set in beautiful rolling Northumbrian countryside. casters, hemp and chopped worms. Use a medium sized groundbait feeder If you don’t want to walk far, the roadside banks Putting in a few balls of groundbait at the on here, introducing chopped worms on the Northern and Lower lakes are easily start is a good way to kick start your and casters to get the skimmer bream accessible, while for the more adventurous swim, introducing regular small amounts interested, along with quality roach and minded the grassy banks are easy to traverse of loose feed over the top. Feeding little some nice sized hybrids. If you get with a trolley if you want to explore further and often usually results in bigger fish pestered with gudgeon and small perch, feeding at mid-depth or close to the add a few 4mm pellets into your afield. Sometimes it can pay to fish the far surface, so switching to a shallow rig can groundbait and try a 6mm offering on banks of the top two lakes, which often provide bring very good results. Last year four to the hook. Sweetcorn is another good bet bigger fish. If you prefer solitude the 10-15 five metre whip tactics also scored well, for better quality fish. The feeder also minute walk to the Great Southern lake is worth particularly when there was a tinge of scores well on the great Southern lake, the effort too, providing stunning scenery and colour in the lakes. With the whip, feed but at distance, using a medium size small balls of soft groundbait regularly, cage feeder and soft quick release the potential for some of the best roach fishing loose feeding a few maggots or casters groundbait – laced with hemp and you will ever enjoy! Whittle Dene is continuing in-between. Once again the hemp and casters. Use maggots on the hook few to grow in popularity – don’t miss out! tare combination has produced the best yards further out. summer and autumn roach sport, while PRICES £ switching to a groundbait approach with Dave Coster, Product Innovation Manager worms, pellets or sweetcorn is a better Pure Fishing UK Ltd bet for the prolific skimmers in the Day permit £7 Lower lake. Credit cruncher £5 available from 2.30pm.
WHITTLE DENE NORTHERN LAKE The Northern Lake can be a slow Fishing with maggots or casters www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing starter, which was the case in 2013 normally results in roach, dace, go.fishing@nwl.co.uk after a late spring, but once the gudgeon and perch feeding all day water warmed up the fishing was along this stretch. If small fish are a exceptionally consistent. The road problem try switching to hemp, tares, side is popular because you can park worms or sweetcorn to sort out the P T Northern COARSE SAT your car behind most swims; it’s also sheltered here when the wind is better roach. The far bank is deeper and it sometimes takes a bit longer to Lodge Lake FISHING NAV NE15 0QA from the west. get the fish feeding, but bigger roach and skimmers reside here. Apart from This bank offers slightly shallower chances of roach to well over the water, only requiring top 3 kits if pound mark, a lot of skimmers showed you fish the pole, while waggler and here last year, including proper bream light groundbait feeder tactics work to 2.5lbs! The best weight was a 40lb Lower well too. catch of bream, skimmers and roach. Lake LOWER LAKE The permanently pegged Lower lake is a good trick to avoid the hoards of provided the best sport in years on the small gudgeon that tend to maul baits complex during 2013. Apart from many like maggots, casters and worms. The big pleasure fishing weights of roach waggler fished shallow is another way and skimmers, there were some of avoiding gudgeon. It takes a while to cracking match returns too, including a get bites this way but constant loose Great Southern near 50lb weight of skimmers – caught feeding of maggots or casters soon activates the huge shoals of roach. A lot on cage feeder tactics. Lake of good sized hybrids turned up last The skimmer fishing has really year, along with dace to 12ozs and improved on this lake, both with normal rogue carp averaging 5 – 6lbs. The groundbait feeder tactics and the long hemp and tare combination works well 17 acres pole. A new development has been the for the quality roach from July right (7 hectares) use of pellets to catch these fish, which through to November. GREAT SOUTHERN LAKE KEY This is the least fished water on the The best time to fish the Southern is complex due to it being a 10 to 15 during the summer and early autumn, minute walk to reach. If you have a especially when water levels are low, No access Life belt Information barrow or trolley it’s not a difficult when hemp and tares become top baits. journey and worth the effort because No fishing very often you can have the place to This lake is a lot shallower anyway, Telephone P Parking at any time yourself. It’s not an easy venue but get making waggler tactics very good, it right and the roach fishing is top along with light long pole rigs and T Toilet Disabled access notch, bearing in mind the red fins tend groundbait or cage feeders fished at to be a better stamp, with fish in the distance. Maggots will always catch 12oz to 1lb category very common. fish, with casters and sweetcorn worth a try. This is mainly a roach venue but perch, dace, gudgeon and odd small 17 General info: 0845 155 0236 Rangers tel: 01669 621 368 (based at Fontburn) chub often turn up.
SCALING DAM Enjoy walks and wildlife Scaling Dam Reservoir is located within the at our reservoirs. North York Moors National Park. The western end of the reservoir site has been designated a nature reserve and, as part of this is also within the North York Moors, it has been classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Although there is no public access within the nature reserve, we have developed an excellent circular walk that follows the boundary. The walk begins from the sailing club car park as a grassy path which goes through a small area of woodland and then onto a track known as Boghouse Lane. Going in an anti-clockwise direction, this track skirts the edge of the nature reserve with boardwalks crossing particularly boggy areas and a bridge taking you over the main inlet stream to the reservoir. The path then takes you onto the moor, still skirting the edge of the nature reserve, and a stile eventually leads you back towards the reservoir adjacent to conifer and broadleaved woodland. The rest of the path stays close to the reservoir going through areas of heather, species rich grassland and gorse. KIELDER WATER & FOREST PARK Bear left on the path and climb up to a forestry road then turn right and follow the road as it bears to the right. On the left the Bakethin reservoir, which forms part of Kielder trees have been felled and in the clearing Reservoir and Forest Park, is an area specially is ‘Deadman cairn’, a prehistoric burial set aside for wildlife and an excellent place for monument which sits on a carpet of different a walk. From the car park, turn left at the road mosses. Round cairns like this were common and then right to cross Butteryhaugh bridge in the Bronze Age around 3500 – 4000 then follow the road south for 250m. Turn left years ago when metal tools were first used and follow the waymarked path into the forest in Britain. until you reach a firebreak (large grassy strip in the trees used to prevent fires spreading). Here, Continue along the road until it joins a track Norway spruce is the dominant tree species and leading from a disused quarry, bear right and is the main food source for red squirrels, so keep follow the tarmac road until it joins the North an eye out for this charismatic creature. Haul road. Two rare flowers can bee found at this junction – the heath spotted orchid and the lilac coloured fragrant orchid. Turn right and walk along the track heading towards Butteryhaugh where you will find excellent views of the reservoir to your left. Just over half way along the track there is an option to take a left turn and head down to cross the Kielder viaduct. Take this route, take a right turn at the end of the viaduct and then descend via the path towards the car park where you started your walk. /nwfishing @gofishingnwl 19
WILD BROWN TROUT In balderhead, cow green, and selset we are fishing than roaming the banks of these waters, fortunate to have three of the very best wild and even fewer places where you can catch truly brown trout fisheries in the country. wild browns. All based in Teesdale, they are full of fighting fit The trout in these Reservoirs are 100% native, trout, providing excellent sport. having descended from the original upland brownies which lived in the streams before the Surrounded by the fantastic scenery of the North dams were built. Lightning quick and very hard Pennine grouse moors, there are few more fighting with unique colours and markings, these tranquil and relaxing ways to spend a day’s fish are a joy to catch. HOW TO CATCH THEM Although using small hook baits such as a which are evident throughout late spring and brandling under a stick float often gives good summer. At this time, small traditional patterns results, by far the best approach is to travel light such as Black Pennells, Invictas and Spiders are with a fly rod. The golden rule for any of these consistent fish catchers with dries including methods is to keep on the move as these are wily Hoppers, Sedgehogs and Cul-de-Canards doing little fellows and will quickly be spooked by very well when fish are rising. repeat casting in one area. “A jewel in the crown of Northumbrian Water, When fly fishing, an intermediate line may be Cow Green offers the angler the opportunity to needed on the colder days in March and April, catch lightning quick wild and hard fighting when a small Black Tadpole on the point and drab brown trout in stunning surroundings, no finer Palmers on the droppers should get plenty of place to be with a fly rod.” action. From May onwards, use a floating line as the trout are usually at the surface, often free Paul Little, AAPGAI Master: rising to all manner of terrestrial insects and the double handed and fly dressing. prolific hatches of small Black or Olive Buzzers PRICES Full £9 Concessionary £7 (12 fish catch limit.) The season opens on our wild brown trout waters at Balderhead, Selset and Cow Green Day permits for Balderhead, Selset and Cow on Saturday 22 March until Tuesday 30 Green are available to buy from Grassholme September 2015. visitor centre only. Permits can also be bought in advance using your debit or credit card by Rangers tel: 01833 641 121 calling on 01833 641 121 or online at (Based at Grassholme). www.fishpal.com. 20
HINTS AND TIPS BY ANDREW SCOTT Our very own ranger at Teesdale has once again been selected to represent the England national fly fishing team. Here are some fantastic tips from Andrew which will help you to catch consistently across our waters during the season… 1. Fish the margins! 2. Keep on the move! With most of the natural food Especially during very hot fish feed on in upland or cold weather. During reservoirs being land born prolonged periods of cold insects and invertebrates, or warm weather the fish more often than not, the become lethargic and it’s trout tend to patrol close to essential to keep moving in the bank. order to catch consistently. Before wading in or casting Travel light and spend no to the horizon try a few casts more than 30 minutes in one at short range, many good area without success. catches were taken this way last season. 3. Dries at Derwent. 4. Colour combinations 5. Count down spinners. Derwent saw some fantastic fly Try two different colours of Depth can be crucial when hatches last summer with fish PowerBait eggs on the same using spinners and using the rising all over in the evenings hook. This technique has simple countdown method when conditions were been used to fantastic effect often employed by fly favourable. One method often at Grassholme over recent anglers can pay dividends. overlooked by anglers is seasons by a few of our fishing dries ‘blind’ (when no regular anglers. Try fishing Start the retrieve fish can be seen rising). Often a pink and a yellow egg with immediately on the first cast the only reason they can’t be a feeder of Magic Dust. This then after a count of five on seen is because there’s simply method has consistently the second and so on until no fly hatches but they will still taken limit catches when the fish are located. be on the lookout keen to take others have struggled. an artificial. 6. Set the drag! We mention this time and time again, but still on a weekly basis we have anglers returning to our lodges with stories of huge fish lost and snapped line. This is nearly always a result of the drag not being set correctly on the reel. With many fantastic double figure fish waiting to be stocked this season we urge all of our anglers to make sure it is at the correct setting before fishing. Ask the rangers if you’re not sure how to do it, they will happily help. Tight lines, Andrew. 21
COMPETITIONS DIARY KIELDER PAIRS 2015 Fly only boat pairs 10.00am until 5.00pm. Fishery rules and booking required. To book more information please call our team on 01434 251 000. Heat 1 – Sunday 26 April Heat 3 – Sunday 21 June Heat 2 – Sunday 24 May Final – Sunday 12 July SATURDAY 9 MAY 2015 FONTBURN CHARITY COMPETITION MORPETH LIONS Fly and bait – entry on the day, prizes for adults and juniors. For more information please contact our ranger team on 01669 621 368. SATURDAY 9 MAY 2015 KIELDER WATER SCIERRA PAIRS HEAT Fly only boat pairs (fish with your partner). Fishery rules and booking required. Entry form available from www.scierrapairs.co.uk or contact 07921 713716. SUNDAY 7 JUNE 2015 DERWENT RESERVOIR BANKMASTER Fly and bait – separate competitions on different banks of the reservoir. Entry on the day. Prizes for adults and juniors. For more information please contact our ranger team on 01207 255250. WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE 2015 KIELDER WATER JACK CHARLTON DISABLED ANGLER CUP Fly and bait fishing from boats and bank. Booking required. To book please contact Pat on 0121 429 6107 or email pat.redfern@blueyonder.co.uk. SUNDAY 31 MAY 2015 KIELDER WATER ATTEFF NORTHERN ENGLAND QUALIFIER Fly only from boats. Booking required. Contact Alan Jenkins 0191 377 9056, 07780 304 364 or alan202@btinternet.com. 22
FRIDAY 31 JULY 2015 FOR YOUR COMFORT AND SAFETY FONTBURN CHARITY COMPETITION Northumberland County Blind Association. The safety information and Fly and bait – entry on the day, prizes for adults angling rules are displayed in and juniors. For more information please contact the fishing lodges and around our ranger team on 01669 621 368. the sites. In addition, a full copy of our safety and angling rules SUNDAY 2 AUGUST 2015 can be obtained from our rangers on site or can be KIELDER WATER TEAM OF FOUR viewed online at Cash Prize Competition. Fly only, 10.00am until www.nwl.co.uk/gofishing. 5.00pm. Fishery rules and booking required. To book and for more information please call All anglers aged 12 or over must be in possession of their our team on 01434 251 000. own individual Environment Agency rod license in addition MONDAY 31ST AUGUST 2015 to the fishery permit. COARSE FISHING CHALLENGE It is a criminal offence to take At Whittle Dene (lower match lake). fish in excess of the permit Tickets available from local tackle shops from catch limit and offenders will July. For more information please contact our be prosecuted under the ranger team on 01207 255 250. Theft Act. Our rangers reserve the right to inspect catches Our life saving partnership with world class and enforce the fishery rules. tackle company Hardy Greys continues this In adverse conditions and if season. Together through a series of fun and necessary they can also friendly competitions, we have raised more cancel or suspend fishing on than £50,000 for independent charity WaterAid. safety grounds. Thanks to Hardy Greys for their continued support providing over £1,000 worth of tackle RETAIL vouchers that participants can win when they enter any of our WaterAid competitions. It is well worth paying a visit to Thanks for your support. one of our shops when you go fishing. These are located at Derwent, SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2015 Fontburn, Grassholme, Kielder (limited stock) and Scaling DERWENT RESERVOIR Dam. Each is stocked with all ANNUAL CHARITY COARSE FISHING of your fishing requirements CHALLENGE from baits and flies to rod and 100 peg match tickets only, tickets available from reels. Plus we have a full range match organiser from October. For more of accessories including clothing, waders, umbrellas information please contact our ranger team on and tackle boxes. 01207 255 250. Our knowledgeable employees are on hand to advise you on the best pack for your needs, at the best value prices. Leading tackle brands are stocked including Sonik, Hardy Greys, Lureflash, Leeda, Svendsen sports and Deerhunter outdoor clothing. We also have a range of ice creams, confectionary and refreshments, including hot and cold drinks available. /nwfishing @gofishingnwl 23
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