Tyne Update October 18th
The Tyne like many other rivers continued to have periods of very warm and then unsettled weather throughout September and early October as well as a proper flood which peaked at 14 feet on the South Tyne and main river.
Consequently fish are very well spread and the lowest beats on the main Tyne in particular have often been frustrated with big water and fish generally pushing through without stopping. With only a couple of weeks left, speaking to anglers up and down the river and looking at catch returns where they are available, the general feeling is that after a very good run of sea trout, with many beats comfortably surpassing their recent averages, salmon catches have remained pretty comparable to 5 year averages and in some cases a little better but on some main Tyne beats the constant rises in water have meant that fish have run through without giving anglers much of a chance at them. Every year is different... On a bright note reports over the weekend of anglers on the main Tyne both seeing and catching a few fish suggest that there are still fish moving/coming into the system.
On to catches and James Stokoe reports that husband and wife team Barry and Alexis Ward managed a 10lb salmon and also a double hook up of 4lb sea trout at the same time from Warden. ZIan Gatti and his group of other 4 rods managed to land 8 fish from 11 hook ups over 2 days from Dilston on the main Tyne with a mix of salmon and seatrout to 7lb. Keith Hampson and friend Simon managed two 11lb salmon from Warden in very high water and Steve Turrell managed his first ever sea trout from Dilston on the fly which weighed in around 7lb. James himself managed 2 salmon from the main Tyne of 15lbs and 8lbs during the big flood on fly which proves that if the water is not too coloured fishing the fly can be a productive method whatever the height!
From Riverdale beats Adam reports that rods landed 24 salmon and 31 sea trout for September and the first week of October.
Back on the main river and fishing at Farnley in October for 3 days, Dr’s Ian and Jane Davison over from the USA were restricted due to high water levels for some of the time but as levels dropped caught Salmon of 5 lb and 10lb on fly and lost 2 others.
Finally from Warden fishing Andrew reports:- A return to warm weather at the start of September saw tricky fishing conditions, however normal service resumed from mid month with frequent rises in river levels seeing fish well spread throughout the beats at Warden.
46 salmon and 20 sea trout were caught in September which is just short of our five year average. This could have been a different story if we hadn’t lost several days to floods. Some good fish were netted during the month. Friends Dan Winstanley and Chris Atkinson both had salmon of 11lb on fly while on the 16th Richard Thompson caught three sea trout, the best a huge fish of 14lb and the next day his success continued with three salmon to 14lb and another sea trout.
Towards the end of the month John Ystenes and friend David Mason shared a catch of six salmon and two sea trout between them with John accounting for four salmon on day one. Chris Atkinson returned and enjoyed a catch of two salmon and one sea trout. He lost a large salmon which ran his fly line between the notorious boulders at Thistlerigg which jammed solid and the fish shook itself free.
Catches in October to date have been steady and although fish are not showing, they are there and it seems that the drop in water temperatures have encouraged fish to come on the take again. The Graham party had an enjoyable trip to the Tyne with Jim Meysey-Thompson landing his first English salmon of 15lb while Will Roberts netted a 13lb salmon.
Regular Warden rod Jim Hunter caught two salmon, best 13lb on the 13th both on fly. Damian Dwerryhouse returned and on the 15th caught a 6lb salmon when the fish were playing very hard to catch the following day the fish switched on again and David Bates caught an 18lb cock salmon on the 16th his first English salmon. Also on the 16th Adrian Cross recorded two personal bests with a 20lb plus salmon and a 7lb sea trout Adrian also landed a 17lb salmon. Jim Hunter also had a red letter day on the 17th landing three salmon 15lb, 17lb and best a clean 19lb hen salmon on fly and a sea trout. Also on the 17th Adrian Cross was back in action again with three salmon 9lb, 17lb,19lb with the two largest being caught on a tiny size 16 fly.
As the water temperatures cool towards the last days of the season this can bring fish onto the take and in recent days there are signs of this happening.
Tight lines if you still have a trip or two to come.
Tight lines
Neil Lobban
Contact [email protected] or call me on 07751644599
Conservation Angling for Salmon on the Tyne (CAST)
All fish landed should be kept in water in a net and handled as little as possible before careful release. Spring fish particularly are very precious and each one is a special catch to be well looked after. Please remember they will be in the river a very long time before spawning and deserve your respect. The latest guidance on Conservation Angling for Salmon on the Tyne (CAST) has been adopted by many Tyne beats and syndicates and can be found at Conservation Angling for Salmon on the Tyne (CAST) | Tyne Rivers Trust
Helpful Information
Tackle Shops and Outfitters
Guides and Instructions on the River Tyne
Where To Stay on the Tyne and the surrounding countryside.
Where To Eat on the river Tyne.
Fishing Permits for Tyne and its tributaries.
Please keep sending in your reports and/or photographs of fish caught. All reports are gratefully received and make this page a much better read for all.
Tight lines,
Neil Lobban
Email or call him on 07751644599
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