Double delight

Date fished 31/12/25

8am until 10.30am

11.20am until 12.30pm

After my double blank earlier in the week, I planned a double success today. I thought I would go full circle on the year and end with a Tees grayling just like the year started on 18/1/25. But also  I hoped to get one from a second river on the way home.

A sharp frost greeted me. Minus two and windows that needed scraping. I was soon on my way though, heading south. I arrived at the Tees and walked quickly to the spot. Its a favourite spot for Ellis and I to catch grayling. No idea why they love it there, but they seem to. 

The island was very different now, loads of fallen trees and debris washed up on it when the river was several metres higher and bombing through. Today it was low and clear  but looked spot on. 

Third trot through and a fish. A grayling. All was well with the world! 

Three different fish

I fished on and in the next hour, I had six fish. Three nice grayling and three annoying out of season trout. The next 90 mins brought cold feet and three more grayling, the last one being the biggest as seen below.  It was time to put my plan in place. 

I drove North and headed to the Derwent, tributary of the Tyne. There are no grayling in the Tyne but they are in here, I have caught two here before. 

Second trot down, the float buried. I played the fish towards me. It was an annoying one though! I cursed and quickly unhooked it in the water. Is hard not to catch these trout out of season, who does not love a maggot on a cold day!?! 

I moved upstream and fished my way back. The highlights were a kingfisher whizzing past as I was wading mid river and getting stuck in a tree for what seemed like an age. Sadly no grayling and I headed home. 

As I pulled up to my house, a parcel force guy was crossing the road. He was holding a big box. He got to my door and knocked. I jumped out my car and gave him the greeting "thumbs up" 

He knew straight away.

"This your house mate? Great timing"

I took the box from him, marked 'Theakstons, handle with care' and laughed with him on the amazing luck of timing. 

Luck in life is not always fish or no fish! 🤣

Gone in 60 minutes

Date fished 10/02/2024

8am until 9am

Flooding, family and friends have been the reasons no fishing for a while. A uni mate came up for the weekend, days out with the kids and more water/snow/ice than the country knows what to do with.  

The weather was mild but after a week of rain, the rivers were high. As the Derwent is tidal, I wondered if it would be fishable. I set off for an early start. The river was similar in height and speed (flow) to last time I fished it. The big difference was the colour. It was gin clear last time and tea coloured today! 

I trotted the float and fed quite heavy. Thinking the more maggots, the more chance of the fish seeing them. 

I kept to one line near my bank and going towards a bush. 

One hour later, no bites, cold feet but I left happy! Weird, I must be some sort of fishing geek. 

NE16

Date fished 14/1/2024

8.30am until 11.30am

Ryton and District Angling Club has recently acquired a short section of the river Derwent at Blaydon. I still have not fished the Tyne, that flows through the town I live in, so I couldn't ignore this chance to fish closer to home. 

I was hoping for a Derwent grayling.

A leisurely cup of tea and homemade flat sausage muffin and I was soon on the road. A short 25 mins and I was there.  

I faffed around at the entrance, then I noticed someone in the distance in waders. I drove over and it was another club member, Philip. I knew he had fished here before, so it was perfect timing to be shown the ropes. He showed me the way to the river and it looked spot on.

Philip headed off upstream and I fished the first spot. It was fairly shallow, clear with a good pace. Perfect trotting water. I waded and started to fish. No bites, but I was sure this was the spot, maybe later. 

I headed upstream and met Phillip. We leap frogged likely looking swims, plus ones we could get to without slipping over. I think we managed one slip each. It was actually easier to walk in the water from swim to swim, but with potential for deep holes, the bank was the safer bet. 

Eventually the float disappeared and my first Derwent fish found the net. 

A good sized grayling. I fished on, and made it to the top limit. This was a bit of a recce and fish session, so was important to see it all. It's only a short stretch but looks great. I fished back down to the spot I first fished and finally, after feeding heavy got a bite. More a fingerling than a grayling, but it was perfect in miniature and most welcome. 

Phillip had fished hard and was unlucky not to have had any bites. He decided to watch me for a bit before heading home. He enquired if I was off to see Ronald on my way home?!,  My reputation must preceed me!! 

We both saw my float disappear in a spot with both thought was very fishy! This fight was not a grayling, unless it was a whopper! 

The flow was strong and the culprit knew just what to do. Another out of season Trout, but at about a pound and a half, a good fish. 

It sulked in the edge, before swimming back towards the fishy area, I will be racing Phillip to that swim next time!! 

A productive three hours fishing, with only three bites but all resulting in fish. I can see the potential of this stretch and will be back to NE16 very soon!!