River Tyne 18th August 2016
Kielder release
The current release is 1.32 cumecs. A 9.3 cumecs release will begin at 07.00 on Sunday 21st August; this is proposed to run until 07.00 on Friday 26th August. This release program is subject to change without further notice.
Tyne salmon counts
Migratory fish continue to enter the Tynes in significant numbers the count for August to the 17th is 3,009. The total count for the year to date is 21,033.
This level of activity is reflected in upriver rod catches.
The fish counter revised figure for July is 9,919.
The Environment Agency has confirmed the total for June was 7,113, arecord count for the month since 1996 (when the counter was commissioned).
River reports
Following the recent rains, high barometric pressure with high temperatures led to river levels falling quickly. Today Bywell is showing a river level of 0.48 metres, Haltwhistle is at 0.38 metres and Reaverhill is at 0.36 metres.
Fish counts at Riding Mill show good numbers of fish running, there are very good numbers of fish throughout the system.
Rods fortunate to be out last week were quite busy; a good example of the quality of sport available is the catch return of the rods at Chesters. Top rod was Cris Ramos with 10 salmon to 19lb, followed by John Carmichael who had 4 salmon to 16lb and a 6lb seatrout. John little caught a 13lb salmon, overall a good week with a high average weight of the fish landed.
Chester is enjoying a good season, having caught 101 salmon and 26 seatrout to date.
Rods on the South Tyne are also enjoying good sport, those fortunate to fish a falling river are often finding quite easy to catch salmon and sea trout. There are very good numbers of migratory fish in this river including some very large salmon into the high twenties. It can be a beautiful river to fish, however it is a true spate river where a good understanding of the effect of rainfall and the ability to respond is important.
The weather forecast suggests a reasonable amount of rain may fall in the higher reaches of the catchment, if the rain appears further spates are likely, these along with a Kielder release and spring tides to 5.46 metres will create ideal conditions for migratory fish.