Axwell Park and Derwent Valley Angling Association

Rain, wind & some fish….

Adam — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:07:04 +0000

The torrential downpours and constant influx of low pressure systems has made fishing either difficult or impossible for many days since the last update. On 3 separate occasions the river rose by more than 3 foot which is very unusual. That said once the river has settled fishing has been excellent with members reporting some astonishing returns. As the olive hatches reduce the Hawthorn takes its place and the fish have responded really well to these when conditions permit. It really does pay to match the hatch to ensure sucess. Largest reported trout of the season was caught on the 16th May, a beautiful wild fish measuring 18.5inches.

Fingers crossed the weather calms down and we have a good mayfly hatch which should be with us shortly! Tight lines all

April Update

Adam — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:25:02 +0000

The warm March weather has quickly been replaced by cool, wet April and normality has been resumed! Warmer days have seen good hatches of olives and the fish have responded to dry imitations of these although sometimes just for an hour or two in the afternoon. Its worth remembering though that even though fish may not be rising they are still there and feeding sub-surface!

We held our first coaching session of the year on Sunday 15th April and it was great to welcome people onto the banks, including some who had never held a fishing rod before! Despite the hailstorms and arctic conditions a good time was had by all. The club are looking at arranging further sessions in the future so watch this space.

Season/Summer has arrived…..

Adam — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:19:36 +0000

The season got off to a good start with members enjoying one of the warmest starts they can remember! Hatches have been plentiful and fish have been found rising freely at certain parts of the day. Greenwellls and Iron Blue duns have picked up some of the surface feeders whereas others have done well using GRHE and nymph tactics. Largest fish reported this week was a 15 inch wild which had a huge tail and beautiful markings.

The club has appointed a further river watcher called Stuart Greenwell who will be supporting the bailiffs with their duties over the coming season. The Environment Agency has also been in attendance and patrolling the river. Poachers beware!

Anyone interested in having a go at fly ffishing on the river will be interested in a free try it day we are hosting on Sunday 15th April. All equipment will be provided and expert tuition will be available from our ADB Level 2 coaches. Places are limited so please contact Adam.Brougham@tynewearsport.org to register your attendance.

Riverbank Blitz!

Adam — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:01:08 +0000

On Sunday 26th February the club has organised a clean up of the river banks in partnership with Gateshead Council and the Tyne Rivers Trust. We are aiming to remove unwanted items from as much of the stretch as possible so extra pairs of hands will be more the welcome. Everyone is meeting 10.00am at Rowlands Gill Park so please come down and help out!!

Latest Developments!

Adam — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:03:41 +0000

Only 6 weeks tomorrow until the trout season starts! The club is looking forward to what is hoped will be a really successful season and wish all members an enjoyable 2012 on the river banks.

Few developments to report this month. Nick Wood has left his position as Head Bailiff to take up a role coaching angling in Scotland, the committee would like to thank Nick for the work he has done previously. We have now appointed an additional 2 Bailiffs; Graham Robinson and Mark Collins. Both of which are also ADB qualified coaches so feel free to ask for tips if you bump into them!

Progress of the fish pass can be seen through our Facebook page (Axwell Park Derwent Valley), it is amazing how much construction work has already taken place only 4 weeks into the project. We are now also on Twitter so for the lastest news please follow us @APDVAA.

We are now taking applications for new membership and renewals for existing members. For further details please see the relevant section of this website, alternatively feel free to turn up to the next club meeting on Wednesday 7th March @ Swalwell Juniors Football Club starting at 7pm.

Quick reminder the clean the river bank day is Sunday 26th Feburay, 10.00am meet at Rowlands Gill Caravan Park. Bring wellies, protective gloves and lunch if you can!

Tight Lines!!

Happy New Year to all!

Adam — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:13:18 +0000

The new season is just around the corner and the the committee has been working hard in the close season to ensure 2012 will be as successful as last year. The club has appointed a further River Watcher Graham Robinson who will assist Nick and the Environment Agency in patrolling the river. Graham can be contacted on 07899050262.

Work has commenced on the new fish pass at Ladysteps and the Environment Agency have released the following press release:

Work to build a new fish pass on the River Derwent near Swalwell in Gateshead will start on Monday, January 16.

The fish pass in Derwent Walk Country Park will allow salmon, sea trout and eels to swim past an impassable weir which has kept spawning fish out of the river since the industrial revolution.

The fish pass will be a single channel with two ‘resting pools’ to allow fish using the pass to rest and regain their energy before completing their upstream journey. An eel pass will also be incorporated into the design, to allow young eels returning from their spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea to enter the Derwent.

The joint-funded partnership project between the Environment Agency and Gateshead Borough Council will also include the potential for a hydropower scheme in the future, should funds become available.

Jon Shelley, project manager for the Environment Agency, said, “We want to improve rivers for people to enjoy. The fish pass at Derwenthaugh will allow salmon, sea trout and eels to swim up the river to spawn for the first time in over 300 years.

“As well as improving the ecology of the river, this will bring affordable salmon and sea trout fishing within easy access of the residents of Newcastle and Gateshead.”

The River Derwent upstream of the weir currently achieves ‘moderate’ ecological standards under the Water Framework Directive – EU legislation governing the water quality in rivers. By enabling fish to pass upstream, the fish pass is expected to improve the river to ‘good’, which is a target of the directive.

The River Derwent is at the centre of the Derwent Walk Country Park – home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, otter and the famous recently re-introduced red kites.

The whole area near the weir was formerly a coke works. The site was the subject of a large clean-up project by Gateshead Borough Council in the 1990s, but some historic contamination from the coking industry still remains below the weir.

Specialist contractor, Lumsden and Carroll, has been employed to build the fish pass without harming the environment. They will start by building a dam around the section of weir to keep the river away from the historic contamination. Any water that does get inside the dam will be pumped out and treated to remove any pollution, before being returned to the river.

Gateshead Council cabinet member for transport and environment councillor John McElroy said: “The River Derwent was once at the heart of an industrial and heavily polluted landscape, but the transformation since is nothing short of amazing.

“This fish pass represents the latest major improvement in the Derwent Valley, an area now known more for its wildlife than its industrial past. I’m sure that the newly accessible upstream stretches of the Derwent will provide a fantastic home for a variety of new fish species.”

Work to build the fish pass is expected to take around 16 weeks to complete.

The Club in partnership with Gateshead Council and the Tyne Rivers Trust has also arranged for a clean up of the river banks day on Sunday 26th February. Everyone is welcome and we are meeting at Rowlands Gill Park at 10.00am. For further details please contact Adam.Brougham@tynewearsport.org

New Members First Season

Adam — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 06:51:23 +0000

Stephen Blood joined the club this year, getting back into fly fishing in the last couple of years. He keeps a blog of his trips which can be viewed here Below is a review of how his first season on the river has gone:

Well with the season at around the half way mark I thought it would be a good time to do a half season review to see just how my first full season back on the river is going.

To be fair the season started pretty badly in December in to January, the really cold weather and high water hampered my start, well thats my excuse, leaving me looking at three straight blanks and not even a bit to be had… I was starting to think I had lost my touch.

As the weather warmed and we got in to March though the fish started to come , Olive nymphs and GRHE doing the job for me on most days with the Partridge and Orange also fairing quite well.

I wont forget the shock of hooking in to my first stock fish of just under 2lb , not knowing there were fish of that size in the river, the shock was unbelievable as my rod bent down towards the water and battle commenced!!

A nice surprise

Only a couple of evening , night time sessions were had this year, one catching loads of fish and ending with a nice 14” wild brownie of just under 1½ lb and another just a week or so ago where I got in to a couple of nice brownies just in the 10” range maybe about ½lb (on a good day!)

I have been surprised by the amount of small grayling in the water all less than 5” hopefully this will bode well as the temperature drops and I can get in to some of their big brother and sisters?

It has also surprised me just how few other anglers I have seen on the water, I bumped in to a few at the back end of last year up at Rowlands Gil but haven’t seen a single one on the water around Winlaton Mill all season, Is River Derwent one of the North East’s best kept secrets?

The beautiful River Derwent

So as we are now in to early September it has been a cracking start for me , really enjoyed my fishing , caught fish every time out of varying size, got a good few surprises in the size of some of the fish landed.

Hopefully between now and March will be in a similar vein!

Damp August!

Adam — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:06:44 +0000

The rain and adverse weather conditions certainly made things challenging at certain times in August. The river was in heavy spate 3 times during the month with coloured brown water knocking the trout fishing on the head during these periods. In between the rain and fluctuating river levels members have had some really good sessions. Kevin Dick has had some productive evening sessions averaging 15 fish per visit with his biggest measuring 17 inches. Pete Macparlin also managed a fish just under 2lb from the points pool at Rowlands Gill on a medium wet olive. On a seperate note Pete has just published his latest book The Lambton Worm: The Definitive Guide to Angling in North East England which does contain references to the club waters in the trout section. The book can be purchased here

With September now upon us we move into the final month of trout fishing, given the right conditions the river can fish really well with the trout preparing for spawning and the cold months ahead they can start feeding frantically. Larger dark olives should return along with sedges picking up fish.

First Game Angling Club in Tyne & Wear Gains National Quality Mark Recognition!

Adam — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:42:07 +0000

Axwell Park & Derwent Valley Angling Association (APDVAA) have been awarded ClubMark, Sport England’s cross sport quality accreditation for clubs. They are the first game angling club in Tyne & Wear to achieve this prestigious award. APDVAA are one of five accredited clubs in the North East and this demonstrates a real commitment by the club to developing young anglers and providing high quality opportunities to local young people.

The Angling Development Board’s ClubMark scheme is based on a three year award system on which clubs are assessed annually on their ability to provide a safe, effective and child friendly environment in which young people can acquire and develop their angling skills.

Adam Brougham, secretary of APDVAA said “We have been working really hard to develop the club across a number of areas in the last 2 years. It is testament to the committee, qualified coaches and volunteers that we have gained accreditation and recognition for our efforts. The club is now in a position to offer young people and adults the opportunity to receive quality coaching and experience the excellent fishing available in the Derwent valley.”

Aidan Pollard said “this award is a major step in modernising angling in the Derwent Valley, the club now has the means to approach local schools and community groups with increased confidence for participants.”

Ben Thompson, Angling Development Board said “The club are working very hard to increase opportunities for young anglers to participate in angling. This award demonstrates a real commitment by the club to developing young anglers and providing high quality opportunities to local young people. The club are helping to develop angling within Tyne & Wear and are members of Tyne & Wear County Angling Action Group (CAAG). They are also delivering angling projects in their local community and have a number of very dedicated volunteers who are committed to seeing the club develop further”.

A Day On The River, Sunday 17th July

Adam — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:47:57 +0000

Working in partnership with Gateshead Council and The Tyne Rivers Trust the club is hosting an open day on Sunday 17th July from 10.00-3.00pm at Rowlands Gill Caravan Park. As part of National Fishing Month we will have fully qualified ADB coaches offering instruction and a range of fun activities free of charge. All ages and abilities are welcome so just turn up and have a go!

The river continues to fish well and those anglers staying on the banks until last light have had some real success. Some pools that appear empty suddenly become alive with rising fish! Both brown and black sedge patterns continue to be effective and rises to these patterns are usually explosive!

Some remarkable returns from the last couple of weeks including Peter Laws taking 25 browns and 3 grayling in a day on the lower stretch with two of those fish around the 2lb mark. Michael McDermott taking 10 all on dries and Andrew Sowerby from Hardys Greys fishing on a day ticket had a memorable day returning 8 fish including the one below. He also lost a fish which looked to be around the 3lb mark which was awfully unlucky as he was on for a while before slipping the hook!