Sharpley Springs Trout fishing

How's it fishing
Fish are taking morning and late afternoon. There has been some good Winter bags netted this week . Andy Grabham from Long Newton returned 8 and Tony Bell from Sunderland returned 11. Dave Robson from Seaham returned 13 so did Steve Greathead from Lumley. Local John McQuire from Newbottle returned 12. 
Some descent fishing to be enjoyed before the expected snow. 
Rod average 
3.2 

Tactics
The main lakes remain fishable despite the best efforts of some harsh overnight frosts.Without its maritime influences the story could be very different-as other fisheries discover.
Some good bags have been taken, again on large lures and bloodworms predominantly.
Snakes,zonkers and damsel nymphs ( the large variety) were useful additions to the usual worms and cats whiskers.
The pleasant mild snap at the weekend had eager trout queuing at the north eastern pegs of the Doxford lake and willing to take pinkies and black buzzers alike.
Mild early in the week could be some snow at end .

Fly box:
Black buzzer
Pinky 
White zonker
Snake
Damsel
Cats whisker
Orange/ yellow worm
Best wishes
Carole

How's it Fishing
The week started mildly with Buzzers and Bloodworm, however on frosty mornings you may need to try flys fished static under a Blob. 

Christmas Day brought 8 anglers celebrating good complementary catches and Boxing Day saw  two Trout at 14lbs returned by Kevin Hopper from Burraden and A Westgarth from Greenside.

Cris Nickaller from Stockton  Two lads from Middlesborough both released 20 each, Lee Clarke and Steve Park using a Pinky and a Wicket White.

Andy Grabham from Low Newton returned 14 . David Todd from Gateshead netted a total of 14 using Nymph and Squigly.  

A double was returned by Dave Robson from Seaham at 12lb 6 oz from a bag of 11 fish using a Fritz .
Tactics
The week started mildly with buzzers and bloodworm imitations successful but after a wet mid-week interlude, things turned chilly. The big lures that have worked of late then came back to the fore with zonkers reliable patterns.
Largish buzzers in black and Apps style leggy bloodworms should continue their success given relative warmth,otherwise retrieves will need to be slowed considerably or flies fished static,  under bobs.

Fly box:
Black buzzer
Pinky
Yellow/orange bloodworm
Appetiser
Black/white zonker
Daddy
Diawlbach
Minkie's

Happy New Year All

Carole and Simon