Special Report

The heat is really on in this event now as the Stonebridge regulars battle their way towards the finishing line in their quests to become Stonebridge's first 'fisherman of the year'. Harrogate's Billy Campbell has held the number one spot for the last six weeks, his consistent catch rate kept Billy ahead of the field, until that is, rival Campbell (no relation to Billy) Ritchie Campbell upped his game determined to take the title to the North East, power catching his way upward and knocking Billy down to the second place position. Unaware of each others recent catch returns 'The Campbell's' have eerily replicating one another's tallies fish for fish right up until Ritchie's last visit where he employed the successful tactics needed to topple Billy's number one position. Hot on their heels and currently in 3rd place is Durham's Harry Freeman. Gazelle like Harry has leapt from mid table by using his noodle as well as his nymphs and fishing Hergill when the Specimen Lake has fished hard and vice versa.

Rivers expert Peter Fletcher has made a return to still water fly fishing, the Eaglescliffe angler has put in a sterling performance and from no where he has rippled up the leader board into 6th position and should Peter have landed the many fish he has lost at the net he could have been placed much higher in the rankings, as all fish have to be netted to count in this competition.

Match man Ryan Barron has also stepped up his game during his last two visits amassing a very credible 30 fish! Both sessions Ryan has caught his limit bags on the Specimen Lake then moved to Hergill to further increase his fish average.

As anglers geared up around the lodge front (the early bird catches the worm) were the thoughts of a certain Rob Frame. Rob decided to opt out of the pre fishing banter and eagerly made his way lakeside to wet a line. Rob must have written the script out himself and also instantly his line tightened and he was 'into a fish'. An arched rod and screaming reel soon caught the attention of Rob's friends as they looked on in awe, holding his nerve and 'hanging on'. Rob's encounter with one of Stonebridge's quality Brownies will be sure to stay with him for many years to come, eventually Rob managed to slip the net under a fully finned 7lber securing him with a new personal best Brown. Steve Jameson was quick to follow Rob by tempting a cracking 5lb Brownie just minutes later. Many of the crew found success throughout the day including Mavis and Tony Downing; the Husband and Wife duo from Kendle caught consistently using a variety of different methods. The honors of best bag fell to Cramlington's Stuart Younger. Stuart used a Black Zonker to make light work of the Specimen Lake, nailing at least 10 fish before connecting with one of Stonebridge's notorious heavy weights, taking off like Linford Christy and Geoff Capes combined leaving Stuart with the usual one option 'to hang on'! After the initial run Stuart tired applying some slowing pressure and regained control of this big double and sadly everything went slack! Steve Jameson was quick to follow Rob by tempting a cracking 5lb Brownie just minutes later. Undeterred Stuart carried on in search of another Specimen but something fishy kept occurring and after dropping his next 6 fish Stuart launched an investigation toward his fly only to find the hook had been straightened most probably due to the earlier encounter with the heavy weight! Stuart then decided to take on the Hergill Lake (and winning) catching a further 8 Rainbow's plus a double, a 10lber but it wasn't in the shape of a Rainbow...its was a Carp! Stuarts capture earned him a place in Stonebridge's Hall of Fame for the largest fly caught Carp also Stuart has claim to yet another place in the Hall of Fame for landing the first Blue Trout under the new ownership. Well Done Stuart!

Anglers enjoy a hearty breakfast before the days fishing!

Late October saw the Evenwood Travelers Rest Anglers descend upon the booked Stonebridge's Specimens Lake for their end of season club day. Fish were caught from the off with Gary and Graham first to make contact with the local residents. Gary won his encounter with a supercharged Blue Trout of 3lbs 8oz whilst Graham's fish had other ideas in mind and decided to go for another tour de Stonebridge rampage around the lake before tiring enough to allow Graham to slip the net under the fish. Graham had also caught a Blue Trout but sadly it weighed in at 4oz's less than Gary's. There is still no denying it though pound for pound that these Blue Trout take some beating and certainly live up to their notorious repuation for shear out right fighters.

Gary Dawson Right 3lb 8oz Bluie and Graham Dawson left 3lb 4oz		Glen Gray 5lb 6oz Rainbow on a Blue Zonker

Half time the saw the Evenwood party slip off in traditional fashion to sample the local ales, this led to a much light hearted approach to the second session and although the fishing did become much harder the Evenwood squad never lost sight of the fact that they were at Stonebridge for a good day out and thats just what they did! Well done guy's for keep the fun in fishing. Top Rod Paul Hull.

Ayton's fishing club members returned back to Stonebridge for yet another Private Day this time in honor of founder member Jack Stevens. Former water bailiff and true Yorkshire man Jack spent countless hours roaming the bank side enjoying the company of his fellow Anglers never holding back any help of advise he could pass on through his seasoned wealth of fly fishing knowledge.

Conditions on the day were terrible to say the least with an early freezing fog lying dormant across the lake surface. The cold motionless water sent out the signal of a tough session ahead. Knowing the fish would be holding deep the undeterred Ayton crew set about the Specimen Lake with his confidence of catching so long as they slowed everything up and remained focused. Chris Brown (aka Reed Warbler Chris) did just this and caught the heaviest fish of the day using a size 18 pond olive nymph. All the members fished incredibly well but Julie Milburn, Stuart Keaver and Chris Brown came up trumps and managed to tie with each other on fish number before retiring to the lodge for tea and scones. With day light drawing to an end the Ayton trio decided to hold a fish off on their local water at a later date. The Jack Stevens Shield went to Julie Milburn after she showed the guys who's the boss; Stuart Keaver took second place whilst Chris 'The Reed Warbler' Brown took third place. Stonebridge's donated trophy for top fish went to Chris 'The Reed Warbler' Brown.

Reed Warbler Chris receiving his trophy from Chairmanv Jeoff Stevens of the Ayton Fishing Club

Is there something fishy going on here or what? Stonebridges new Brown Trout record under its new ownership fell to Mr Mark "Brown'! Brown by name Brown by nature. Mark on his first visit to Stonebridge tempted a beautiful yellow bellied and fin perfect 10lb 12oz Brownie. Floating Line and cats whisker were Mark's winning tactics on the day and his capture earns Mark a place in the Stonebridge Hall of Fame although something tells me he may not be there too long!!!

Many of the Stonebridge regulars will be well aware of this local attraction. Sidewinder is the nick name given to a double figured Rainbow who patrols around the margins in full view of the angler, replicating the movements of a North American rattle snake, Sidewinder propels forward using a side ways looping motion hence the name. In full view of the angler she has rejected every fly presented to her until that is Dave Mordue upped the anti with one of his secret patterns inducing the fish to take. Sidewinder did not lack in strength or power testing Davey's gear to the max eventually Mr Mordue managed to slip the net under and Sidewinder was finally captured, quickly weighed at 12lb 12oz before being returned to the water to sidewind another day.

Football legend Paul Gascoigne made a return to Stonebridge on a three day fishing break. Paul has been a regular since Stonebridge first opened in 2000 but still manages to take time out of his hectic lifestyle to enjoy his favorite past time, fly fishing.

Day 1 - And the Stonebridge Trout were not (avin it)! Paul fished hard but the fished showed little interest.

Day 2 - Gazza was back this time with an even more determined look about him, could day two be fruitful? or would day one repeat itself? Lunch time passed and Paul was begging to fear the worst. Surely not another day with a dry net. Although the fishing was still quite hard other Anglers around the lake had managed to catch so what was Gazza doing wrong or was it the case of doing the right thing at the wrong time. A quick change of fly and a move to a new spot produced the success that Paul was looking for. Tweaking a small black clink hammer across the surface he was instantly rewarded with a soft gentle take. His black clink hammer was sipped under and Paul immediately struck setting the hook. After a monstrous swirl the fish made its run and Paul then knew he was into something big! Again breaking the surface revealing itself to be a huge double! A muscle bound fish on the run leaves the angler with just one option! - hang on. That was all Paul could do as the fish carried across the lake after a 15 minutes duel Paul managed to conquer his quarry and a superb 18lber was netted. At last the pressure was off and Paul could relax and enjoy the rest of his session, win loose or draw it didn't really matter now as Paul's 18lbs of raw power nailed on a tiny black clink hammer speaks for itself.

Day 3 - and with the presents of a Sky TV crew filming Gazza's every move didn't help Pauls pressure levels (I can vouch for this, long lens cameras fixed on you can be very daunting and off putting to say the least) but ever the pro Paul didn't take long to produce the goods and provide the Sky team with the shots they were after. Not the size of the previous days double, but hey size isn't everything of so they say surely its the quality that counts and the quality of the Stonebridge Trout that Paul caught were second to none.

Stonebridge wishes to thank Paul for the donation of the photograph of him and his 18lber. The photo was purchased and printed in the national Sun newspaper and all funds received will be the starting block for a Stonebridge 2008 fundraiser. (Charity to be confirmed)

Throughout the winter month's fish will be seen rising throughout the day although insect life will be on the decline there will still be enough hatches to keep the fish on the feed. Dry fly and nymphs suspended (New Zealand style) will still remain productive. Lures such as the cats whisker and northern spider will regularly trigger the trout's aggression mode but the apps blood worm flicked with a jerky figure of 8 style of retrieve shouldn't fail. Please note that throughout the cold months takes will be extremely fierce so all anglers visiting Stonebridge must be advised to use a good quality 6lb minimum leader strength in order to avoid the ongoing smash takes that so many of our regulars have sadly endured.