Andy S

That sounds like the west pond at Longtown run by Chris Bowman, if so I used to fish it years ago and it had some very big carp, chub and perch, there were a few bream around then but you hardly ever saw them. There is another water close by just off the A7 to Langholm, I think there are 3 separate lakes now, one is trout and one of the others I think is coarse fishing, again years ago it used to have some very big chub and bream and some carp.

You're right it is the fed stretch, I think you can get a coarse fish only season ticket for £27, you get quite a stretch of fishing from upstream of Ovington on the north bank almost all the way down to Wylam and the south bank from Ovingham down to about half a mile up stream of Wylam bridge. Theres loads of dace and small chub with quite a few roach, perch and gudgeon, there's quite a few decent chub around now. As for the place in Hexham they started work on the old wydon burn reservoir around the end of 2004 as part of a flood prevention scheme, I understand their intention is to make it a mixed silver fishery. The lad in the tackle shop in Hexham will have the latest info on the water, but I think it will need a little time to settle in once they stock it and on one of the banks you might feel as though you are fishing from someone's back garden.

Phil I joined Haltwhistle club more or less as soon as I moved here, had loads of small trout and few about 10/11", pity there arn't a few more of the 10/11 inchers, but have had a couple of salmon so am feeling quite pleased with myself. Before moving to Haltwhistle I lived about 5 mins walk from Whittle Dean, but found that hard going, I did fish Thornbrough quite a bit and had some good mixed tench and perch catches with the odd gudgeon, hooked a few carp but never got one in. With regard to fisheries Crofton is a good mixed fishery, its the other side of Carlisle, halfway between Thursby and Wigton and is about 40 mins drive, however there are some other fisheries a bit closer. Carlton fisheries consists of 3/4 ponds and has Roach, Bream, Tench, Perch & Carp and is about 5 South West of Junction 42 on the M6, Lonsdale Fisheries is close by and is a similar type of fishery. Just down the road is high stands, its in the middle of a forrest and is controlled by Big Waters AC, the ponds (3 of em) have Perch Roach Tench and Chub, the one with the Chub in used hold massive ones. There are a couple of ponds the other side of Brampton just off the A69 that have Perch Tench and the odd Carp but I am not sure how you get to fish them these days. All these waters are probably no more then 30mins drive away once you know where they are. Theres other still waters up at Longtown and Big Waters have a stretch of the River Lyne that used to hold some massive Chub and quite a few dace, more of a specimen hunters river, but in the winter you used to be able to get some good catches when the fish shoaled up. There's quite a few other other waters a little further and the tackle shops in Carlisle can give the most up todate advice on tickets etc. I hope the above helps. I'm afraid I don't have your details though but I think I know someone who does.

Phil Having recently moved to Haltwhistle I know what you mean, I too am somewhat tied with work etc. so I make the most of nipping down to the Tyne to enjoy a couple of hours here and there when I can, however there are quite a few opportunities within about half an hour travel. The Tyne around Ovingham is pretty good these days, Dace, Roach, Chub are quite common and reasonable catches can be expected. In addition there should soon be a course fishery at Hexham (part of the flood prevention scheme) and there are a number of stillwater fisheries around Carlisle that offer some very good coarse fishing, most are available on a day ticket basis. PS Hope this works, its the first time I have done one of these forum things.