Bailey Bridge - Gainford
Durham CC have inspected the bridge and declared it unsafe. It has now been closed to all traffic. Anglers wishing to gain access to the Yorkshire bank at Gainford may use the old Gainford railway bridge. To access the bridge cars can be parked in the lay by near the first bungalow after leaving the village.
One of our long standing members, David Harrison, has very kindly offered to allow members to reach the bridge across his land which lies between the road and the bridge. You should walk down the side of the fields until you reach the bridge. Please respect fences and any crops that David may have growing in his fields.
Aislaby Grange
A major theft has taken place at Aislaby Grange Farm and Andy Hutcinson has decided to limit access to the farm to specific times.
The gates to the farm will be opened each day at 9.00 am and closed at 5.00 pm. Anglers must leave the water in good time to ensure they are not locked in.
In addition Andy will also check that cars parked in the fishery car park carry the club sticker. Cars without the sticker will be denied access and the owners asked to leave the water.
It is in members best interests to ensure they leave the water on time and carry the club sticker on the car windscreen. The club will not support members whom do not comply with these rules.
Poaching at Gainford September 2008
There has recently been a poaching incident near Grand Beck. Two men were seen netting the pools for salmon. The police were called but the poachers had gone by the time the police arrived. The matter was reported to the Environment Agency and we have spoken with the local bailiff. This is the first reported incident of salmon poaching, with nets, on the Tees and the Environment Agency think it will occur again as salmon return to the Tees. The poachers may have been using a caravan or caravette.
Members should keep a look out for any suspicious activity and report it at once to the Environment Agency using the Hot Line number 0800 80 70 60 and also call Barnard Castle Police Tel 0845 6060365. Vigilance and police action is the best way to limit poaching of this sort.
Do not approach poachers, they may be violent criminals, but report the incident to the people best equipped to deal with them.
Freshwater Eels
The European population of the freshwater eel is at an historic low at about 1% of 1980 stock levels. The number of eels is continuing to decline and is now outside safe biological limits resulting in unsustainable levels for the future. In other words, unless immediate action is taken, the freshwater eel is heading for extinction, and soon.
There are a number of reasons put forward for this including:-
- climate change
- an eel parasite (anguillicloa crassus)
- restricted access to rivers for the migrating elvers (the barrage will not help the Tees migrations)
- bio-accumulation of toxins from pesticides and metals that could affect breeding
- exploitation by commercial interests
The reasons for this decline are still not fully understood but many of the factors previously mentioned undoubtedly contribute. In light of this desperate situation members are urged to take great care if eels are caught and do everything possible to ensure that they are returned to the river unharmed.
Club rules do not permit the killing of eels
Leptospirosis (Weils Disease)
Without taking proper precautions Anglers are at risk from Leptospirosis. It is a widespread bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. Common carriers are cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food or soil containing the urine from infected animals, the most common of which, so far as anglers are concerned is the rat.
The lower reaches of the Tees have a high rat population particularly near farms. The most common way of contracting the disease is by eating contaminated food or through skin contact, particularly eyes and nose, or cuts and scratches.
The Symptoms
The symptoms of the disease, which normally develop between 2 to 19 days after exposure are initially very similar to those of common influenza which are fever, chills, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. However if not diagnosed and treated correctly they can quickly develop into kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure and respiratory distress leading to death in some cases. Fortunately, if correctly diagnosed the disease is easily treated with modern antibiotics. It is therefore extremely important that you make your doctor aware of the possibility of Weils disease if you develop 'flu like symptoms that do not clear up quickly.
To reduce the chances of catching this disease we advise you to:
- Cover any cuts, sores or scratches with waterproof plasters or gloves
- Disinfect any wounds that occur at the waterside
- Wash hands before you eat or handle food with a wrapper
- Do not put your hand in your mouth after immersion in river water
- Never place bait or line in your mouth
- Do not touch dead animals particularly rats
- Do not leave food, ground bait or bait at the river side
- Carry some anti-bacterial hand wipes in your tackle bag
ATDAC News
ATDAC has been paying a lot of attention to its ponds at Westgate near Teesside Airport, and Bishopton Mill near Bishopton, by weed control, re-stocking, and building fish havens. It has extensively re-stocked both ponds.
At Westgate, 139 lbs. of bream, 200 8-10 inch roach, and 39 lbs. of big roach have been planted. At Bishopton Mill, £4250 was spent on 8-10 inch roach and seperately 800 bream have been planted. Keep nets are not allowed at Bishopton Mill until further notice.
Members wishing to fish at either pond MUST use the designated parking place and no other. Access to the designated parking is via a locked gate. Keys for the gate can be obtained from Adams Tackle shop, Duke Street, Darlington, and Yarm Angling Club clubhouse off Yarm High Street.
Some members may already have obtained a key. The locks have been changed, and new keys can be exchanged for old ones.
We hope you can get out and try these excellent waters. Anglers on the water will discourage the predatory birds and help to preserve our fishing.
Our Salmon in Danger
Our native salmon are in danger from a highly contagious parasite (Gyrodactylus salaris) that has
devastated freshwater salmon stocks in a number of countries. In Norway for example, salmon stocks in
20 rivers have been virtually wiped out.
Less than a millimetre long, the parasite multiplies very rapidly, and it only takes one to start an epidemic. Countries currently affected are:
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Norway
- Portugal
- Russia
- Spain
- Sweden
The parasite is capable of surviving for several days in damp and/or wet conditions (such as on waders, fishing tackle, bags,nets etc.), therefore it could be accidentally introduced by an angler who fishes a river in an infected country and then uses the same equipment in the UK without taking precautionary measures.
The parasite needs a wet environment to survive. If you fish in any of the infected countries make sure that your tackle is completely dry before using it on any UK river. The safest precaution is to dry your tackle at a minimum of 20 degrees centigrade for at least two days before use in the UK.
Fishing on the River Ure at Middleham
At long last we have completed the purchase of the short stretch of fishing previously rented from the Ripon Diocese. The stretch is about one third of a mile of mainly coarse fishing. The water has not been fished much in the past but is said to contain roach, dace, chub, barbel, pike with a few trout and grayling.
The water is very easy to reach along a good footpath with easy parking. Why not give it a go and let us know how you get on. Maps for the water can be obtained by emailing the club web site or from the Treasurer.
Poaching
There has been also been a significant increase in poaching on the lower stretch at Worsall and Aislaby. If you see poachers, particularly those using a net, you should call the emergency number on your fishing licence and in the case of the Gainford stretch the Barnard Castle police as well, Tel: 0845 606 0365.
If you believe there is criminal activity taking place dial 999. Do not tackle poachers yourself, particularly if they are using a net or you believe they are engaged in criminal activity.
Parking at Worsall and Aislaby
There have been a number of significant thefts from local farms and Andy Hutchinson at Aislaby Grange and John Lowther at Port Knowle have decided to lock the farm gates at specific times.
Aislaby Grange - Gates open at 8.30am, close at 5.00 pm winter 8.00pm summer (1 April to 30 Sept)
Port Knowle - Gates open at 8.30am, close at 5.30 pm winter, 8.00pm summer (1 April to 30 Sept.)
These times will be posted at the car parks to remind you. Both farmers will NOT open the gates once they have been closed and if you over stay the closing time your car will remain there until the gates reopen the following morning. You have been warned.
Parking at Low Worsall is on the village green. Cars must not be taken down the track to the river bank. At High Worsall parking is in the car park on the lane leading to Holme Farm and at Fardeanside in front of the farm house.
All members are issued with a windscreen sticker. Farmers recognise members cars by these stickers and may also ask you for your club card. Anglers not displaying car stickers will be denied access.
We rent this fishing and have no wish to lose it. The board will not support any member who contravenes these instructions and the offender may have his membership withdrawn.
Changes to Fishing Rules
In order to bring club fishing rules in line with Environment Agency bye laws the following rules now apply:
Rule 11 a. (i)
Changed to:
2 brown trout, 2 grayling per day
Rule 11 c. (ii)
Changed to:
Members shall not take fish of any of the following
species from the company’s waters that do not comply with the following size limits ( measured from snout to cleft of tail):
no brown or migratory trout below 11 inches (28 cms) to be taken,
no grayling below 12 inches (30 cms) or above 15 inches (38cms) to be taken