Coarse Angling: A smashing time to look for the pike

Feb 28 2010 Sunday Sun

Carp are slowly starting to re-appear which should see a marked increase in catch rates.

Please note that Bassett’s Lake is closed until March to let the newly stocked fish acclimatise! The prestigious River Swale Preservation Society Team Masters celebrated its 20th anniversary last weekend with 204 anglers taking part.

Freezing waters greatly affected the results but it was a good day for Stuart Tate, a founder member of the society, when he took the top weight of 28lb 5ozs. Darlington’s Rob Stubbs took second with 27lb 11ozs, a weight which helped his Darlington Brown Trout team take both the team trophy and the aggregate trophy.

Although still fairly quiet, some snippets from the River Wear indicate that it may well be worth while putting some time in! A few roach have been taken from the Ferens Park stretch, fish around the 12oz mark with one roach of 1lb 8ozs reported!

Any Big Waters AC members who would be interested in taking an Angling Coaching Course should contact Les Goreham on 0191 2140480 as soon as possible. Places are available on a first come, first served basis!

Don’t forget the Whittle Dene opens its doors to coarse anglers tomorrow after its winter break. Tuesday evening is the monthly meeting of the Wansbeck & Cramlington Angling Club, held as usual in the Dudley & Weetslade Social Club. The same evening is the monthly gathering of the Darlington & Co. Durham branch of the Pike Anglers Club, the Coxhoe Club is the venue.