River Tyne 29 June 2016

Kielder release

The current Kielder release is 1.32 cumecs which will continue until 0.700 Wednesday 6th July when the release will increase to 9.3 cumecs. This flow will continue until 07.00 on Friday 8th July, when it will reduce back to compensation flow. Kielder releases are subject to change.

Tyne salmon counts

Since the last reported count on 17th June the outstanding run of migratory fish has continued, a further 2,678 upstream counts have been recorded at the Riding Mill fish counter up to the 28th June, at the time of writing a another 100 or so will have travelled in the last 24 hours. The total to date stands at 5,484 for June to date far exceeding the previous June count of 4,047 recorded in 2008. The peak counts were recorded on the 24th and 25th when around 1,500 counts were made. We are enjoying a RECORD JUNE.

River reports

A number of small freshets from the South Tyne and a fish welfare release in the North Tyne encouraged lots of fish to travel the Tyne. Over last weekend spectators at Hexham Bridge enjoyed some wonderful sightings of fish, predominately salmon leaping onto the bridge footings. This activity continued into Monday when it was possible to see up to 4 leaping salmon at the same time. Fishing was rewarding, rods catching the water right, despite low flow enjoyed some good sport. On Saturday George Benson caught 3 fresh salmon at Chesters during the afternoon, the largest, a fish of 11lb; the fly was a red shrimp pattern on a small tube fished with an intermediate leader. The previous weekend saw Graham Howse and friend land 2 salmon to 12lb on the same beat.  Aidan Pollard landed a sparkling 10 pounder at Waters Meet using a 1” FW Dart. Top rods of the week have to be Adam and Harriet Dunlop, who in two short visits to Dilston caught 5 salmon to 14lbs. Harriet caught her very first salmon totally un aided  (apart from netting the fish). Harriet’s father was about 300 yards away when he saw his daughter playing the fish. Running downstream to assist Adam arrived at the scene in the same condition as the fish, pretty much played out! 

Both Warden and Bywell rods were productive as were beats near Hexham. Another freshet from the South Tyne was in the river on Monday, falling and clearing on Tuesday, large numbers of fish were seen running above Hexham, with such good numbers about and a good drop of rain today prospects are much better for those beats upstream of Hexham.