Post by JO on Sept 19, 2004 16:17:33 GMT -5
DaveSadowski said:
15-09-04I have heard through the grape vine that a member of this forum is having a decent week at Lambley on the South Tyne.
I will leave the details for him to post when he returns
Lambley Country Estate, just downstream of the viaduct 13th-17th September.
Pictures at www.eatcakedesign.co.uk/Tyne.html
Left Bristol at 4.45am having packed the car the night before and booked the fishing 2 years before (Riverdale Hall was already booked up then!). Set off in a light drizzle that turned into hard downpours going up through Gloucestershire and thanked the Lord that the weather had finally bought some more rain to the North.
Sailed up the M5 and hit that welcome point on the M6, after Manchester, where the traffic disperses and the hills come into view. Over the Ribble, Lune, and turned Right at Penrith, things were looking good, the Eden was up and coloured as was the Eamont and as we crossed the South Tyne at Alston. It was clear as long as any serious rain held off river level would be spot on.
The cottage was purpose built (or rather renovated) for flyfishers. There was a view of the river from both bedrooms, a wood burning stove for drying out waders and only a five minute walk to the bridge where conditions could be monitored and plans hatched. Our host Jim, was a fisherman, and as he explained how to fish each of the 6 or 7 pools we did our best to commit the advice to our combined memories.
By the time we had unpacked and orientated ourselves we were left with a good half days fishing, which we begun at the top of the 3/4 mile beat at Birketts, a classic salmon pool with a fast riffle at the head running into a deep but well paced belly and then a long tail which even in mini spate conditions had the odd fish holding bolder surfacing. Jim had advised us that the fallen trees near the head and beginning of the tail of the pool were the places to concentrate as they had created Groins which the fish liked to lay in front and behind off. The river was fining down as we walked the beat but still very coloured.
As we reached Birketts a grilse of about 6lbs jumped in the middle of the pool, it was enough to quicken pulses and concentrate minds. Despite seeing several other fish move and fishing down through the pools we retired for dinner having only notched up a few small browns.
The next morning (Tues) after deep sleep and a massive full English we hit the river again starting at Birketts. On the second run through the pool, and when I was just about getting the hang of casting a double hander, the line went tight and a fish dived deep into the still coloured water. After a spirited fight from the fish, Pete, my partner in crime, christened his new Sharpe's salmon net which had been bought especially for this, his fortieth birthday trip, and a ST of 4lb+ was brought to the bank. It was fresh enough to keep and plans were made for supper.
It soon became obvious there had been heavy rain on the hills as the water gradually rose and coloured, making success on the fly seem unlikely. I switched to the spinning rod as I headed up to the top of Birketts again, calling out to to Pete, "I've never caught a fish on a fixed spool reel, how do you work the clutch".
Meanwhile Pete was ringing NHS direct on his mobile to try and fix up an appointment with a local GP as he had broken out with impetigo. It was just as he was describing his rash to a doctor in Haltwhistle, that a salmon drew away with my red flying C and I gave Pete a look of sheer panic. This was not only my first salmon but the biggest fish I had ever had attached to a rod and line. Two Tornados, followed by Two Chinooks, and then Two Black Hawks flying down the valley on exercise seemed to complete the chaotic scene.
Appointment made, Pete ran for the net and soon the fish was on the bank, a salmon of around 10lbs and it looked pretty p1ssed off, so we returned it quickly to the pool.
Wednesday morning. After finishing off the rest of the ST with smoked bacon for breakfast, we were up at Birketts for an early start, it wasn't long before Pete was into another ST from the tail of the pool. It was my turn to Ghillie and christen my net. This one (4.5lbs) had taken a Garry Dog, yesterday's had come to an Ally's. The Kelly was stoked up for a celebratory cup of tea.
After lunch we bumped into a local Haltwhistle AC angler who told us that he had heard of an angler taking 14 fish in an afternoon from the pool below the bridge. That was all we needed to persuade us to rest Birketts and move downstream. This section had two pools, one directly below the bridge called 'Jackie's' and a smaller one just below it at the end of the island.
First cast on the smaller pool and my Irish shrimp fly was taken by something which again went deep into the belly of the pool, I whistled for Pete who was fishing below the bridge. He came running down in time to scoop up a ST of 6.5lbs in his net, my biggest ever. Cue more celebrations.
There was just time for one last trip to Birketts before supper. Pete fished down first using his 10ft single hander and as the line passed round the end of one of the fallen tree 'groins' it just slid away and the cry went up 'fish on'. We quickly saw the fish was coloured so Pete played it hard and released it quickly, the size 12 shrimp treble falling out of the 9lb cock salmons mouth at the net.
The locals has said night fishing didn't work on the the South Tyne. It didn't. We were back in the cottage by 10 O'clock with only midge bites to show for our efforts.
Thursday was our last day and by now spirits were high, the trip had exceeded all expectations. Firsts had been experienced, PB's had been broken, and although the atmosphere was still full of excitement, the pace became more relaxed, after all, for the previous ten years we had only fished for salmon (unsuccessfully), now we were bona fide, signed up salmon catchers and it felt really good.
At this point I loose the exact order of events but I lost a nice fish below the bridge, probably a ST and we both had another salmon to the fly each from Birketts (10 and 11lbs) both fairly coloured and one with a fantastic Kype, both returned. Our only remaining ambition was to bring a fresh salmon home to share with our families who had so kindly let us bugger off for the week. It was only fitting that Pete, 25 years on from his last Tyne Salmon, landed a 8lb fish that although wasn't carrying sea lice was as fresh as they come in Langley.
We took in Stocks Reservoir on the way home which bought us down gently, it's lovely lake and the RAF were there too in their tornados providing the soundtrack.
Big thanks to Dave Sadowski for adding greatly to the exciting build up to the trip with his reports and PMs.