River Tyne 17 June 2016
Kielder release
Yet again most of the rain has missed the Kielder catchment so the reservoir remains below the trigger level and no normal hydropower release is planned for this week nor proposed for week commencing 23rd June.
The extra water from the South Tyne which encouraged fish to run in number has not been enough to alleviate Environment Agency concerns about estuary conditions so a request was made for a release next week. This will be at 9.3 cumecs for three days starting at 07:00 on Wednesday, 22nd to coincide with spring tides.
Tyne Salmon counts
The fish counter at Riding Mill recorded 2706 upstream counts for June to 16th. The total for the season to date June is close to 3,700. Daily record count for June occurred on Monday 13th, when 1306 fish were recorded in 24hrs. During the small rise in water levels the counts were mainly in daytime, that activity has reverted to overnight as river levels fall and the water clears.
River reports
The South Tyne flows increased with a series of freshets culminating in an attract bit of water going through the Tyne on Monday the 13 June. The response from the fish was amazing, so great was the fish activity at Riding Mill the agency cancelled their maintenance work on the counter, as this work would have led to the raising of the gates at the fish pass. Those rods who were able to fish this period, particularly as the water cleared, enjoyed some very good fishing. For the first time this season good numbers of fish were able to access Hexham Bridge footings, leading to good returns for the angling effort. Waters Meet, Warden and elsewhere on the South Tyne witnessed many sightings of fish, salmon and sea trout. A sizeable number of the salmon landed above Hexham showed lesions on the head, these fish may have been in the river for some time. Rods below Hexham as expected, caught a fair number of salmon, some of these were very fresh fish. Reporting beats included Bywell with 7 fish in a day the best day catch of the week, Waters Meet and Warden also enjoyed a bit of sport.
Those rods who reported fish included Lynton Boulton & party with a fish of 9lbs with another 3 lost, the Dart was the taking fly. Fergus Graham caught a 12lb salmon on a Stoats Tail after only 5 minutes of fishing. Aidan Pollard caught two to 11lbs and lost another all on a FW Dart.
In what appeared to be difficult conditions Alistair McEwan enjoyed a productive day at Dilston, Alistair landed three salmon to 13lb and lost another.
On the North Tyne at Chesters, a 6lb fish was caught yesterday, earlier today Cris Ramos landed a 12lb salmon on Upper Beat. There are reports of the occasional salmon coming out upstream of Chesters. This is good going in extremely low water conditions.
Some meaningful rain is forecast over next week with the Northern Pennines expecting up to 15mm on Monday, further rain is forecast mid- week. The rivers could do with a good spate, flushing the river and invigorating the estuary. With fresh water there are good numbers of migratory fish which will run hard into the system, bringing many more beats into order.