July In Northumberland

[fluffforfun]

Hi all. I will be in Northumbria on holiday in July and will be sampling the rivers for Trout whilst I'm there ;D

I would also like to fish for salmon, but being a complete novice I was hoping somebody could put me in touch with a guide/ghillie/insructor in the area. I will be staying on the NE coast (Seahouses) so able to fish many of the rivers, but will be especially close to the Tweed and Till.

I own a 13 #8/9 DH and spey line (with poly leaders) and have plenty of time to practice in the park across the road and at the local trout lake, so any tips/reference guides on spey casting also welcome.

[Tyne Angler]

The main problem with the Northumbrian rivers during July will be a lack of water unless we get a wet summer.

If your visit is timed to coincide with a Kielder release then the North Tyne maybe worth a visit. Could be worth contacting Robert Keeney via www.tynefishing.co.uk I believe Robert offers a Guide service.

The Coquet could be worth a cast but will be totally dependant on rainfall.

For info on the Till contact Brian Thompson on Tel: [phone]

[tyneandrew]

As Tyne Angler says the biggest problem will be the lack of water - we should be about 2 months into the summer drought by then (as previously prredicted by another member ;D).

My pick in July would be the bottom of the Tweed or Upper Floors (which has availability on www.fishtweed.co.uk in July).

If we have a wet spell when you are around then the tables really are turned (Tyne / Coquet would be good). Keep it short notice for booking anything.

[fenton]

Tyneandrew,

I'm interested in your response. I agree that the lower Tweed could be a v good bet in July. But why also Upper Floors?

Thanks in advance
F

[fluffforfun]

Tyne Angler/Tyne Andrew, thanks for reply. I have a couple of other posts about flies etc, but as you both seem to have "the knowledge", what flies/sizes should I have in my box that would service the salmon and both salmon and sea trout?

[Yorkshire Esk]

fenton said:

Tyneandrew,

I'm interested in your response. I agree that the lower Tweed could be a v good bet in July. But why also Upper Floors?

Thanks in advance
F

If it has been a wet time then you can bet that one or both of the Floors beat will do well. Keep your eyes peeled for the availability, it will come, but it will also get booked up pretty quick too. Once fish have made their minds up whether to stay in tweed or go Teviot, if they stay tweed, then the first beat is the floors beat, that is why.

[johnc]

On the Northumbrian Anglers Fed waters on the Coquet I had a couple of small sea trout on 16s silver butchers/alexandras/peter ross from Felton around July. I only fished 3 or 4 evenings so it wans't a lot of effort but apparently the number of sea trout was well down on historic levels.

The advantage of low water is that fewer people fish. When there is a spate the NAF waters get a lot more popular.

[charlieh]

Don't you have to stay at Sunlaws if fishing the Floors beats? I've always understood that to be the case, and Fishtweed seems to back it up. I'm sure it's a very nice hotel, but once you factor that in, a day's fishing could start to look quite expensive, especially since the catch figures aren't brilliant at that time of year.

Having said that, I did fish Upper Floors for one day some years ago without having to stay there, but that was as a guest of someone who lived nearby - I think the Duke used to keep back some Saturdays for himself, but then relet them if he couldn't fish, so people living locally could sometimes get an odd day. Smashing beat, as I recall, with some much more attractive water than some of the big slow pools and dubs you get, particularly on the lower beats below Kelso.

I'd be sure to check the score regarding fishing early and late before booking anywhere - I seem to remember hearing of tenants having to leave at 5pm and then finding other people were fishing later in the evening as guests of the beat proprietor.

[fluffforfun]

So now have been on holiday in Northumberland and had my first hook up ;D!

I booked a beat via fish tweed at Pedwell which was unfishable due to the recent rain ! However my ghillie (Mel) was able to take me out on the Teviot the following day, where the river levels were better - but not ideal. After about 2 hours fishing on the Monteviot beat, I lifted into what I estimate was an 8-9lb fish ;D. I was unable to tell if it was a salmon or a sea trout, however it cleared the water and shook the hook . Mel said he thought it was a sea trout, but anyway it came off!

We moved downstream in the afternoon, where Mel hooked into another fish early on. This came off quickly but next cast was tightening the line again. This turned out to be a 9lb salmon which Mel let me play and land. We saw other fish in the beat, with one clearing the water.

What a day! My first time ever salmon fishing, and on the fly too ;D ;D ;D! So I've done it in 2 halves, but now need to get back to do the complete job !

[tyneandrew]

Glad you managed to get and cast in somewhere between the big spates - sounds like it was fun too. Have fished with Mel quite a few times.

[salmonking]

Mel,is one of the best gillies you could fish with,top bloke.

glad you enjoyed yourself

[tyneandrew]

salmonking said:

Mel,is one of the best gillies you could fish with,top bloke.

glad you enjoyed yourself

easy

[salmonking]

tyneandrew said:

Glad you managed to get and cast in somewhere between the big spates - sounds like it was fun too. Have fished with Mel quite a few times.

easy now

[tyneandrew]

Get on ;D