First at Felton

Belta of a day so I blasted up the A1 to Felton after work. Parked at a farm east of Felton village and made my way down to the river. It is an idyllic place, very peaceful.

Anyhows, wallked downstream to a large gravel bank and fished my way back up to 'the way through the woods'. 

Managed a few wild fingerlings to a home-tied coot wing spider pattern. changed to a PTN and Waterhen Bloa set up and snagged a few more. 

Was casting into a pocket of still water under some branches when I felt an 'odd' pull/snag, out pops an otter looking more surprised than me, spies me and rockets off. That could explain the lack of fish?

Next stop upstream of Rothbury I think.

First whole day fishing 2012

May have to wait.

Quack Quack

Second visit to the Coquet, second duck.

Wednesday after work I shot up to Pauperhaugh for my second (rushed) dip of the season. Parked at the bridge and walked downstream a ways to a likely looking pool with lots of overhanging branches and fishy riffles.

Over the past few days Ive been researching replacement rods as a birthday present to myself. So I took out the 7'6" Odyssey 4# as this is the closest to the size rod im considering (vision Cult).

Tied on a olive dry and began prospecting. Managed to catch some salad on a backcast and lost the first fly. Decided to try New Zealand style with a Klinkhamer and gold ribbed hares ear. Caught an overhanging branch after 10 minutes.

The bulls in the adjacent field began to congregate at the waters edge, probably getting a closer look to have a laugh, so decided it was time to move on.

Having lost all self respect I thought I would try a bit of nymphing near the bridge, there had to fish there? I even stooped so low as to try out a 'thingymabob' I know, I know, a kick in the pants from dangling a worm, but i was frustrated. Not a thing. Even managed to turn my tippet into a spring when i tangled around a bit of old fence in the water.

if fish lived in trees...

Back on with a dry and black spider on the dropper and up the river we go.

Next stretch saw fish rising.....fantastic, i can do this. Got a nibble then nowt more. Managed to tangle me tipped though. As i was bankside cutting off the mess a number of rises caught my attention. I was in such a rush to get at the fish I didnt measure out enough tippet and ended up with an adams 600mm from my leader. The sun was setting by now so I decided to try anyway. Of course no fish came near my sorry excuse for a cast which wasn't long enough  to turn over properly.

The end of the session turned into casting practice as it so often does (too late to find another spot, too stubbon to admit complete defeat). In my efforts to get a short leader to turn over I created the mother of all wind knots (too much force knot). This tangle was monumental, a knot of gordian proposions. The furled leader was dead. it was time to trudge back to the car and then home to wine.

A fishing trip best put down to experience. I will not be wasting any money on an expensive rod very soon. That would be folly. I may search out a fishing guide / ghillie though I think that may be money better spent.

The Coquet is a beautiful river though.

First of the 2012 season

Ok the title is a bit misleading. I caught nixy on my first fishing trip of the season this year.
dashed out of work yesterday and drove at breakneck speed to the Coquet just west of Rothbury (Ladys Bridge I presume, but when getting to know a new river I am never fully sure if I am where I think I am).

By the time I stood in the river it was 5:15 so only managed an hour before it began to get dark. I actually had to think twice about which way around to attach reel.....handle to right or left??? it really has been ages since my last fishing trip!

Didnt have a clue what fly to use so tied on a black bodied Klinkhamer as there were no visible rises but a few hatches of dark flies here and there. The Klink brought a couple of tentative nibbles from something on the inside bend just below the car park then nothing else. Persevered for a while moving up stream until just below the bridge to the golf course. Changed fly to a small adams to try an stimulate interest but nowt was either there or interested.

Not the best start to my season, but still it was super just being in the river watching the wildlife and enjoying the sun setting behind the hills. Clocks go forward this weekend so my next trip will at least be an hour longer.

almost there

Not long now. 21st March sees the trout season 2012 begin and lord it has been a loooooooong winter. I wont go into details but I am most pleased to see the first signs of spring and the promise of some blessed trout seeking.

This coming season I will be mostly fishing the Coquet, having just paid for a trout permit with the Northumbrian Anglers Federation. I will also be splashing around the Tyne around Bellingham for fun. Are there trout in that stretch of the Tyne? I will seek to discover.

The fever has returned as I find myself trying to find the next bit of vital tackle that I will need. New rod? always fancied a Hardy. New line? Different Weight? Try for Salmon?

I am OK for Flies for the immediate future, tied up a selection of Klinkhamers, Adams, Beaded Nymphs, and Spiders for 2012 chances are they will be useless on the Coquet. Finding out is the best bit.

So with gathering optimism I sign off till I can reflect upon my first dip in the Coquet.

TTFN

Ah well another blank............... BANG! holy guacamole

My first salmon, a photo by geordietrout@ymail.com on Flickr.

So, I was on/in the river yesterday trying to find some Grayling. I managed an out of season Brooney (oops. sorry bud) about 4" long. I was ready to give in when I heard an almighty splash behind me.... Big fish were jumping in a still pool at 5 minute intervals.

So on one last roll of the dice i retrieved my Greys 7# from the car and tied on an streamer which I had for some reason bought last year and forgotten about. The 7# normally only sees still waters and that is very infrequently.

Second cast...BANG! was that a whale?

After 5 mins fight my arm started to ache... I can remember chanting the eternal mantra of all fishermen " please don't snap, please don't snap"

My best fish yet. Phew.

Divint even think aboot it evil pollutoman.

Just a quick update on the progress towards a cleaner Ouseburn....
With an rush of self-righteous vigour I wrote to Nick Brown MP about the amount of pollutant allowed to flow into the Ouseburn etc etc....
here is the reply I have just received;

Dear Lyle Nicholson,

Thank you for your recent email to Nick Brown MP highlighting your concerns about the large amount of foam in the Ouseburn River recently. I am replying as Nick’s constituency assistant.

You are right that this is a dangerous pollutant in the river and seems to have come from drainage upstream which finds its way into the Ouseburn (which has historically been used for drainage purposes). I hope you will be pleased to hear that Nick has written to the Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council highlighting the matter and enquiring as to what the Council intends to do about it. Please find a copy of this letter attached to this email. I shall of course keep you in touch with any reply we receive.

For info, see below two links showing the coverage the BBC gave the incident, as well as the Environment Agency’s notice appealing for information from the public, if you have yet to come across these.

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/133689.aspx?month=9&year=2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-15136332

Thank you for taking the time to contact Nick about this matter and I hope to get back to you soon with a response from the Council.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

David Hickling

Senior Caseworker

On behalf of Rt. Hon. Nick Brown MP

WALLOP! take that.

here is the letter that was sent to Newcastle City Council.....

THWACK! they dont like it up em mr Mannerwring.

oh my god! in steps the BBC......

BOSH! feel my power!

Holy macaroni, here comes the Environment Agency....

Something might just happen.

TBC