Blank

Date fished 28/02/2026

7am until 11.30am 

Broken scar, Tees today's venue. 0.99m on the guage, fishable but only just in the slacks, and would be tough.

Ledgered worms,  pellets or chesepaste for the hook. 

Accompanied with a feeder stuffed full of dead maggots, bread crumb and pellets.

Not a touch in three swims. A few snags, and even managed to flash a passing dog walker! He still chatted to me after and pointed me in the direction of a good swim. 

Knowing what I know now, would I still of gone?? 

Too bloody right!!

Twixtmas, 'Crimbo Limbo' or 'Feral Week',

Date fished 28/12/2025

7.30am until 1pm

After a busy Christmas, I ensured the southerners left Northumberland, then I was free to go fishing. 

A spur of the moment decision meant I grabbed one rod, the net (new), terminal tackle and a ball of Cheesepaste. I headed to a club water on the Swale. 

I have been in this club for over 10 years, but have decided to switch it up this year and join a different area to target. I am sure I will be back soon. 

Unfortunately today's trip was a blank, well a double blank, more on that at the end. 

I tried several swims and although the river was high, it was still clear and very low in some places (I didn't understand why). 

A mink popped it's head out several times whilst I fished in this swim. 

In one particular swim, three knocks on the rod resulted in no bait. Whether it was chub or crayfish  I will never know.  It was fairly mild, but I still relaxed with a hot drink whilst watching the non moving rod.

I met another angler on my way back to the car. He had lost one fish and he headed back over the swims, I had vacated. 

I headed to a local brewery after checking their opening hours to buy a crate of beer I have recently found. It really is amazing!! 

I parked up, walked to the brewery to find it shut. Checking the date again, I realised I had got confused as to what date it was.  Gotta love the post Christmas, pre New Year period!! Ffs.

Rupe's chub

This post is not about Rupe putting on weight, or indeed going to the gym or making some kind of protein milkshake concoction in my special beer glass. It's about him trying to catch a chub as I guaranteed him I could help him....

Its been a few trips in the making, starting some years ago (sept 2021) when we went to the Swale with my dad. Rupe caught a crayfish that day and declared that was a fish - Fishin' Impossible: Tired out

Then all subsequent Swale trips that were masked by grayling, trout or pike were actually chub trips too! There have been 4 blanks on the chub front. 

Fishin' Impossible: Junior anglers

Fishin' Impossible: Minn-ho ho ho

Fishin' Impossible: Dork hat

Fishin' Impossible: Catching salad

12/7/2025 - 90 mins

A hot day and evening meant we could not be arsed with driving to the Swale. 

Trying to buy a local day ticket was 'awkward' but we managed to visit the Tyne. 

Rupe fished meat and bread flake alternating for an hour and a half in the evening. It was certainly pleasant sat in the shade as the paddle boarders went up and down. No chub though!

A trip to the Swale end of July and it happened - 27/7 - 7am until 1pm

Well, it would of if it wasn't for dad to muck it up.  

We fished the Swale again, all three of us. Two rods. Meat and worm - the worm just got attacked by small stuff and the meat just sat. Eventually some local advice arrived and put us on the potential for a pull. Rupe crept into position and cast mid river, the flow took the bait under the tree and we waited. It wasn't long and the rod began to twitch, I was so excited I shouted at Rupe to strike. He obliged, but far too early and the chub was gone. I mean, it might have been a barbel - who knows. 

We kept on but nothing came back, another blank on the chub front, but a minnow, called Gary (obvs) got impaled on our hook. He went back strongly though. I swear, I will get Rupe to catch his chub this calendar year!

1/11/2025

7am until 10am

I woke Rupe up by switching his bedroom light on. We had agreed a gentle shake does not work and he usually goes back to sleep. Cup of tea, homemade sausage muffin and we were off. Wanting to put everything 'down by my feet' said rupe, I let him pack the car. 

We had not left Hexham and he was fiddling with the radio. November must mean one thing. Heart Xmas! Over an hour of nonsense, but we did get a spaceman and a fairytale! 

Travelling light it was a quick scamper to the river. It was high but fishable and looked good. We started in the swim we ended in last time and started to fish. The cheesepaste we made last night was ledgered on the crease towards the over hanging willows. 

Nothing here, we moved on. 

The sun was warm but blinding. we moved on. 

We came to my usual spot. I helped my dad and Tom catch their first Swale chubs from a particular peg. I tackled up a 7ft rod and shepherded Rupe to the swim. He has fished it before, but would today be different? 

"I've got one dad!" I heard, as I checked the photos on my phone. 

I scrambled down behind him, with a near useless net and scooped up his prize. For a first ever Chub, it looked a beauty! 

At 5lb exactly, we were both over the moon. We rested it and watched it slowly swim down and through the weed. 

Was there time for me to try in the first swim again, if I could only pry the rod out his hands!!??

Not a chance! 

Cba turns into pb

Date fished 14/3/2025

9.15am until 2pm

I had booked the last day of the river season off work and thought I would go fishing. The weather was looking ropey and it was to be a solo trip, maybe that is why I just could not be arsed! Unusual really as I love going fishing and usually the cba phrase is most used at work!! 

The night before, I had not sorted any kit or decided where to go. Even in the morning, I said to the kids I was not feeling it and cba.

Thermals on (top and long johns), I made breakfast and three packed lunches and eventually I was feeling in the mood. I set off and headed for the Swale at Morton, a club water.

I fished a swim where I had caught many chub, including my pb of 5lb 8oz on 29th October 2019. The sun was bright and I was annoyed I didn't pack properly, no sun glasses, no hat. I had the dork hat and a snood on as the wind was cold.

Annoyed, I left that swim after an hour. I headed upstream, the next peg I wanted to fish had a huge branch in it. Annoyed, I headed further upstream to an area I have probably only fished  less than a handful of times in my (maybe) 10 years of membership.

Second cast towards a raft by a fallen tree and I sat down to stew things over. The rod give a tap, then a wiggle. I picked it up. The drag spinning as the fish dived towards the raft, this was a battle. The flow was strong too but I finally got the fish towards me. I saw it in the clear water and it looked huge. I started to tremble. A few attempts and it was safely in the net. 

Of course you know the weight now, but I was hoping for a six, I was sure it would break my pb. At 6lb on the nose, I was buzzing!! 

The photos don't do it justice and I was begging for a dog walker to walk past to take a picture. No such luck, so it was self takes. What I may lack in photography, I make up in smiles!! 

I fished a little bit longer but as the rain fell, I was more than happy to pack up and head home. I was unlikely to top that! 

Four cars in the car park when I left, must be the last day of the season!! 

As I sit here, my son just text me to ask how my day went. 

I feel we both learnt a lesson here that you might not want to do something, but sometimes the benefits are sooooo worth it!! (I will remind him of this when it's GCSE revision Vs PS4).

6lb chub target - completed!! 🎯 

Game changer

Date fished 15/02/2025

7.15am until 1.15pm

Very cold conditions as I prepared for todays trip. Hill snow, rain and freezing fog. Two tears in a bucket...... (If you know the ending, well done) I was committed, so off I went. 

Leaving early, I parked up at 7.15am and was cast in a few minutes later. Choosing a swim right by the bridge, I have caught in here before. It looked different today. I assume the landowner has removed the tree, doing some bank works, it was very different, but the water looked good.

One rod, hand warmers, waterproof trousers being the game changer today! 

I got my steps in today and walked a fair bit, trying 15/20 mins in every likely looking swim. The chub were not playing ball, or maybe they were. I had no interest on the cheesepaste.

The bridge swim

Finally changing to maggot feeder, it was constant knocks. The first fish was a grayling, the second an out of season Trout, no pics. I value my life. 

I made the effective decision to deliver at pace and collaborating with myself headed upstream. My usual banker, that had not served me or Rupe well in recent visits. I sat on the cold wet ground and watched the rod tip.

I need not bothered, it went no where. The last swim of the day is an old favourite. My mate Giles had a good pike from here many years ago, I was not allowed to say where. So here it is. 

I thought about this as I sat in the swim. I wish I brought the pike rods. Constant taps on the maggot feeder but nothing materialised into a proper bite! 

Heading back to the car, I met Ellis and Carole, they were out on a shopping trip. It was nice to catch up and admire their clean wellies. We must do a parmo soon! 

Heading home I was glad I went out, but now I have had a few beers and some hot food. I am even more glad that I came home!! That's a game changer. 

Splish, splash. I was taking a bath

2/2/2025

10am until 2.30pm 

I didn't find the fish today. 2 hours roaming the river and 2 hours in a bait and wait style swim. Neither produced a knock. 

Ledgered Cheesepaste on the Tees was the attempt, blank the result. It was fairly mild though and time on the bank was worth it. 

I did think whilst sitting there, time is ticking away fast for this river season. I have some commitments for a few up coming weekends, so not sure how many more trips I will get in. 

I was going to sit it out until dark, but after no interest, I decided an early bath might be a better use of my time. 

Catching salad

Date fished 29/12/2024

8.30am until 2pm

After his pike success a few weeks ago, Rupe was keen to add a chub to his 'caught list'. We headed to the Swale, to try. 

20 minutes waiting for our McDonald's should of told us what the day was going to be like. Not perturbed we headed south whilst admiring the sunrise and eeking out the last of heart Christmas. 

We set up the ledger rods, cheesepaste moulded round a pellet and cast in likely looking spots. We had meat too, just if the fish fancied something different. 

I reeled in to cast again. Some leaves and debris on my hook and line. Rupe said "that's good, you've caught some salad"

I have no idea where he gets these phrases from, but he makes me laugh! He commented on the "salad" caught every time!

After a while we went for an adventure. Crossing over to the island and seeing where the river has breached some winters ago. It's still drastically changing and soon will be the river's new natural route. 

We tried a few more swims and ones that are new and maybe not swims yet. Some good casts right under a bush on the far side were not rewarded and we trudged across the field in a cold biting wind. 

No, I have not taken up photography, that was all I could do to lighten the mood. I tried meat and Rupe tried my banker swim by the fallen tree. If the fish were there, they must still be watching Tiddler or whatever is the fish equivalent. 

Back at the car, another angler was packing up too. He was just about to drive away, we waved at him, he waved back. We were not just being polite, he had left his wellies outside the car door. He realised and we ticked that off as our good deed for the day! 

I love fishing with my son, its about making memories and just being together. Today's memory to quote Rupe was '  slow McDonald's, eat plenty of salad and don't fish when it's cold!!" 

Eek

Date fished 27/12/2024

8.30am until 4pm

Ellis,me. 

Tees, blank.

No point eeking it out! 

(Will need to read the 2024 review for more) 

Close to home

Date fished 1/12/2024

8am until 1:30pm

Man flu and Man City (visiting Anfield) today meant I was limited with my fishing options. I decided to stay close to home, closer than the lake at Ryton, I was going to fish the Tyne. 

I put some feelers out and was given a particular location, this worked well as given I walk along that river a lot, it was the swim I was going to fish anyway. I bought myself a day ticket from the council website, a random £10.19. I was going to target the chub so took meat, cheese paste and bread and the 7ft ledger rod. Scared I might need a minnow as the blank saver, I took the float rod, closed face and frozen maggots as back up. 

I left the house at 7.45am and walked the mile to the river. It was just getting light and looked so perfect when I arrived. So perfect in fact, that I didn't waste time to take a pic, but cast straight in. This was later and you can see it still looked lovely. 

First cast and nothing happened, I tried again. Second cast and the rod pulled round, I struck and played the fish. On the little rod, its sometimes difficult. I cursed this small rod as the fish got off. It's perfect in tight swims behind a bush, maybe not so on the wide river Tyne!

I cast again. Over the next hour I missed 7 bites. they ranged from savage pulls that I missed to smaller plucks that I hit and played the fish. None resulted in a capture. 

Frustrated, I changed the hook from a hair rigged cork ball to a plain hook. I moulded the cheese paste to the hook and cast it back into the zone. As sure as eggs are eggs, the rod pulled round and I was in. This time, I connected and played the rubber lips to the waiting net. Success!

2lb 11oz, so not massive but immaculate. My first ever Tyne fish, I was buzzing. I cast back in and waited, this is where the blog could end, but I will keep writing even if you don't keep reading. 

I trotted with maggots but the float remained above the water. I did move downstream to ledger in some likely looking spots behind bushes and the like, but nothing else happened. I had caught a Tyne chub, success!!, is that not enough!??!

Four legged and two legged visitors came down the steps to see what "fishing" was. They mostly left disappointed and bored without full tummies of my bait. A slice of pizza keeping me going just long enough till home time. 

I walked home happy with a stinky net, lets hope Liverpool will do the business later and make the net bulge!

Dork hat

Date fished 3/11/2024

8am until 12.30pm

You may remember, I asked the kids what they wanted to try and catch this year. Rupe said a pike and Martha said a chub, (she has since changed this to a river carp!!) . I wondered if I could sort both together? Well, I could try. 

Earlier in the week, I went to Tight Lines North East and bought some dead baits. It's been a while since I did this style of fishing. I remember why now.  It can be frustrating, but rewarding! 

We set off early with pain au chocolate, wrapped in tin foil. They were eaten well before we left Hexham. We had two rods, one for pike and one for chub. The usual tactics. 

Martha wore waders, but hadn't checked if they fitted. She had tried the boot on but not pulled up the legs. She waddled all the way to the river moaning! 

We started at the washing machine peg. I was hoping for a chub here but thought a pike may be on the cards too.  We lacked stealth, the kids creating the actual noise of a washing machine! 

It just turned into a place for selfies. We moved on upstream and found the perfect swim. We waited and only got snagged. I remembered the pit falls of pike fishing. 

You can see Rupes float, waiting for a bite

We moved on and found another perfect swim. No bushes, no cover. Just a slack on our bank in an otherwise expanse of flowing river. It was 10.40am, we cast in and gave ourselves until 11am. 

I had explained to Rupe about reeling in slowly when we are moving on as this can still produce a bite. At 11am he started to reel, the bait came inches to the bank and rose in the clear water. We both saw the pike follow and lunge at his bait. It grabbed it and he held on. He played it like a pro and we were soon netting (a bit downstream) his first pike. Very proud dad. At 8lb 7oz it was a great first fish. 

We moved on upstream and found a swim we thought was chubby, we could also sit here and eat our lunch, chubby too! 

The cheesepaste was cast in by the bush and we waited. I am not sure if it was Martha wiggling on the chair or a fish but the rod definitely did something. There was nothing on the end though and even the trick of giving it until 12.30 didnt work. We left happy and still wanting more, isn't that the best way!? 

The dork hat was a phrase coined by my dad and his mate Les on a fishing trip. I think Rupe wears it well!!