Tackle advice
Tackle for salmon
When fly-fishing on the Tyne there is no real requirement for huge double handed rods. Rods in the 13ft - 15ft range will cover most eventualities in the lower to middle river. In general floating lines with a variety of tips will cover most of the river but it is always worthwhile carrying a full sinking line as well (Wetcel II for instance).
Fishing is all about confidence so choose flies with which you feel comfortable. Size is the most important matter when considering what pattern to use, with colour running at a close second. In general if the water is warm and lowish a smaller fly will be best and when the water is running a bit higher or colder consider larger flies. If there is a bit of stain in the water a pattern with a bit of brightness about it will probably out fish a more sombre one. Popular patterns in the area at the moment are the Ally's Shrimp (and all of its variants), Copper Bodied Red Ally, Cascade, Stoats Tails and various tubes such as Gold Wille Gunn, Temple Dogs etc.
If you have a spinning rod as well bring it along. The Tyne can rise very quickly and occasionally become unfishable with the fly at short notice. Spinning or bait fishing at this time can reward you with fish that otherwise could not have been caught. Bait fishing to match the conditions is available on some beats. Also when the water gets very low and clear and the fish are starting to get stale a well-presented worm may be one of the few ways in which you could get a fish.
During the summer months and early autumn most anglers that spin do best on Tobys and Flying Cs. As the water cools down towards the end of the season the Devon Minnow comes into its own with Black and Red, Black and Gold and the Pink Lady being particular favourites in either sinking or floating formats.
Tackle for sea trout
On Tyne sea trout are often caught in day time as a by catch when salmon fishing. Shorter rods in the AFTM 7/8 range are the preferred option. If you are new to sea trout fishing but have fished for stillwater trout the chances are your rod is about perfect and there is no need to go out and buy a specialist sea trout rod. It is worth fishing with a heavier tippet as Tyne sea trout often run into double figures. As with salmon fishing a floating line with a variety of sink tips is probably all you will need, weight forward Spey-type lines are increasingly popular.
As for the fly box make sure that you have highly visible flies with yellow and orange. This is particularly true when there is peat stain in the water. Jungle Cock is useful addition! silver and blue flies such as the Medicine or Teal Blue and Silver and Silver Stoats Tail. With warm waters Riffle Hitch and similar surface flies can be very rewarding.
Tackle for brown trout & grayling
Lighter rods around 9ft, rated for a 5wt line are best suited to most of the brown trout and grayling fishing on the river. There is little need for anything other than a full floating. In the spring flies such as Greenwells, Coachman and Kites Imperial will catch large brownies feeding on the prodigious hatches. Come summer such things as Silver Sedge and Tups can imitate the large hatches of sedge and smaller olives.
The river holds a population of very large brownies and whilst these can be caught on the surface in the spring by summer they feed almost entirely on fish (minnows in the main) and can be caught on sculpin patterns. During autumn and winter, when fishing for grayling on the River Derwent, small spider patterns, Czech nymphs GRH and grayling bugs should replace other flies in your tackle box.
