No point beating about the bush, smothering it in banal platitudes. August has offered the worst fishing for well over twenty years its been consistently a decent time to fish. It all started badly enough with rods connecting fish coming off in all sorts of baffling ways, heat in the air tepid river; yet regular trips to Wylam fish were popping up in reasonable batches..oh and also three seals working the pool there tourists filming them with migratory fish in their clutches ah well.
Spoke to one of the Tyne’s foremost experts Graham H and we ruminated on what was happening. First on the river for decent catches, his stretch were catching a few fresh run fish but without sea lice which usually means the fish are hanging around in the tidal stretches so not ideal.. stale running fish something that a dry autumn can bring but not usually August ?
Couple this with reasonable Kielder water which offers cover but not really the healthy oxygenated stuff fish thrive in. The much needed rainfall after a beautiful looking river in March just never came and so the fish stayed at sea. Covid adding to the woes it was a very sad spring on a shrunken river.
The roll call of regulars the Harwoods (at least Guy had one on although it didnt get banked !) for Mark B , Robert W , Peter S and their team is was a dead loss. Barry N a friend popped down late two times I think 8-9Pm and managed a couple so well done him but otherwise it was tragic indeed!
The only advice in poor weather conditions is ‘early and late’ something drummed into me in my teens fishing the highland river Don. Difficult when the pub is very attractive and you miss those excellent full Scottish Breakfasts. We offer the Lodge so for a small extra cost think about this option in 2021?

Another team of Farnley regulars led by Keith Johnson who used to manage Sportfish in Theale, a place where I can honestly say I have bought loads of gear from but whether it improved my luck the jury is out!.

They stayed in the Lodge for the first time and enjoyed the ability to get on when and where, afternoons were for snoozing ! they were pleased with the  new steps which Barry M, myself slogged over the Willows steps created during epic floods in the Spring, also Charles and Josh managed to sort out the entrances in Dead Tree. Watch this space we have more in mind and some areas to clear with seats where one can see fish moving up at least , we will leave the thoughts about catching them perhaps for next year eh ?

Their last day was a wash out but on Day 2 around 8.15pm at last they caught a lovely one 7lb grilse ‘Well done MIKE’ they saw some good fish too…

Eddie Mcarthy got 4lb a fresh Grilse on the previous Sunday so went home very happy, Danny J just gritted his teeth.

Roger Naish’s team hit the river, Hugh left early unfortunately , storms were forecast and for a two hour period the river dropped …Roger said he had had the most exciting afternoon for years on the stretch. Fish taking pulls on off nothing landed unfortunately but its never easy when the river is up and they got out just in time because tea time on Day 2 the river rose in minutes! Scary Stuff indeed.

So perhaps with Storm Francis the aftermath could be better conditions and normal opportunities for the rods GOOD LUCK all!!

BREAKING NEWS Thurs 27th August a good fish lost and plenty moving thanks for the reports from George Upex !!