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THE NEXT GENERATION
Phil Thompson recently had the pleasure of taking his ten-year-old nephew George Crosby fishing for the first time. The pair set off after George had finished school, as temperatures hit 26 deg C. Phil said, “Hopes were not high, but we had practised hard all week in the garden using George's Grandad Geoff’s float rod and reel. Sadly, Geoff passed away in 2021, and George was keen to use his tackle as a fitting tribute."
Fishing the Willington AC stretch of the River Wear, the pair chose a well-oxygenated run and within minutes George had hooked but lost a 6in trout. After adjustments to the float and a fresh worm, he was in again, this time landing a lovely 12in brown trout (pictured) with a bit of guidance from Phil on the net. George’s smile says it all as he admires the fish in the water.
After moving to another run, he was soon playing another trout, this one 14in, which was landed and returned. “George is now the third generation of fisherman in the family,” said Phil. “Grandad Geoff would be so proud.”
FISH OF THE MONTH
Anton Rasmussen from Glasgow landed this monster salmon at the Boat pool on the Pert beat of the North Esk.
The cock fish, which took a purple Flying C, measured 49in and weighed 40lb.
Beat owner David Swanston said, “It was measured with two witnesses and weighed twice to be sure it went 40lb. It has been a fantastic season, with an exceptional run of sea-trout, which we are still seeing, along with big back-end salmon.”
David’s not wrong. Salmon of 30lb, 22lb, 18lb and two of 16lb have been caught on the beat in recent weeks.
A TASTE FOR IT
After a return to fishing inspired by Mortimer and Whitehouse’s Gone Fishing TV series, Craig Hodgson from Norwich decided to pass on his rekindled joy for the sport by taking three novice angler friends to Orvis’s flagship Ginger Beer beat of the River Test at Kimbridge.
There wasn’t a single fish rising in the sweltering September sun, but they received excellent tuition from guide Steve Cronan, who taught them the delicate art of nymph fishing.
Having spotted a large rainbow trout on the fin, Craig set about trying to tempt it with a Peeping Caddis nymph. After numerous casts, he finally managed to hook and land the 6lb 8oz cracker.
“It was an exhilarating feeling, having had many blank days, and I will certainly be back next year,” said Craig.
His friends also had an enjoyable experience, catching brown and rainbow trout, as well as a bonus grayling. They finished the day with a barbecue, Craig’s catch taking centre stage and much appreciated by his friends, who had never tasted a fresh river-caught trout before.
