Two Novice Anglers fish the River Derwent in NE England for the first time.

Fly fishing for brown trout on the River Derwent in NE England. A pretty little river which flows between the county boundaries of Durham and Northumberland. It broadens into the Derwent Reservoir, west of Consett. The Derwent is a tributary of the River Tyne, which it joins near the MetroCentre near Gateshead.

[@richardkennedy7941]

This is literally 5 mins down from me at consett, av had some massive brownies and a few grayling at the wear at the bridge along from the caravan park, there’s some great grayling pools across the road by the bridge opposite way to caravan park, some great spots at shotley bridge and ebchester aswell if you go again, I fish the axwell hall section of the derwent from lintzford near rowing’s gill up to swallwell roundabout some great trout and grayling pools that way

[@richardkennedy7941]

I find mainly smaller on top on dries and bigger ones down low on nymphs, worming season is crazy, there’s a decent way halfway between the caravan park and shotley bridge you can’t miss it a bit dam wall you can get along to get further out or across the other side under the tree cover, if you ever fancy a day I’d happily come with you to show you some decent places

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

Thanks for the comments Richard and yes I would like to meet up. Perhaps June time?

[@caorach3354]

What a lovely day to be out and about on the river. You need to get the stove on for some tea! Sometimes when you are making relatively short casts like that it is worth considering going up a line weight just to load your rod a bit quicker, I guess it is a bit of a cheat but maybe a 4 weight line on your 3 weight rod would allow you to lift just a few feet of line but still get a decent cast.

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

Thanks for watching Phillip.I agree and will try that. It is a tiny river which is likely to be fished more by otters than people! I don't think it is stocked. The problem for a novice is the depth. Two feet deep of gin clear water here and there. The tree cover looks fantastic and I see some very "fishy spots" but hooking a little wild brownie was a struggle. When we do get one we can savour then accomplishment.

[@chrisdean2942]

Hi Paul lovely river the Derwent, Casting can make all the difference on the rivers for the smaller trout, most people try for distance on the lakes etc but its not needed on rivers learn more about roll casting and upstream mending (your flies are dragging through the water). I used to like the tail end of fast running water sections the fish not got time to inspect your fly, the fun is in the learning.

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

Thanks Chris. Yes, it is very different to fishing a 1 acre pond or a 100 acre lake. I like social media as a means of learning from other people's experience. Thanks for your comment. Please keep them coming.

[@LolsFishingAdventures]

Good try you two! Those small clear rivers aren’t easy at the best of times. Maybe go “stalking” and find the fish first? Didn’t look like there was much sign of life. Nice little water all the same. I waited patiently for a huge 3 inch Troutling to snaffle your fly but was bitterly disappointed by the end 😭

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

sorry. You won't get the 18 minute back. Thanks for watching anyway. Not a fish moving anywhere. We have been doing the walks as a sort of reconnaissance of the river . We never saw a fish move on those walks. Plenty of fly life. we will keep trying.

[@LolsFishingAdventures]

@@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170 be interesting to know the stocking policies. I’d have expected to see a lot of fish in all the miles you’ve covered on your walks. Used to be a good Grayling river from memory, I fished it by the old Lintzford Mill beside Rowlands Gill years ago and there were loads of good trout and Grayling all along that stretch from the road down, think that’s private water now though.

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

@@LolsFishingAdventures Perhaps the lower stretch is not stocked? We will continue upstream and see what happens.

[@nigelclasby2650]

The cormorants hammer the lower Derwent and tend to remove most of the larger fish each winter so I assume that they are doing likewise on the upper stretches.Keep trying though.

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

@@nigelclasby2650 Thanks. It is worth knowing. It was nice just being on the water on a pleasant day.

[@hesalovelybuoy5944]

do you know if theres any free fishing on it

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

I don't know of any. Unfortunately, I have struggled to find "free fishing" anywhere in England. I have found some in Scotland. The day tickets on this river are less than £10 atm whereas on the Tyne I have seen they are much higher. Thanks for watching.

[@neilandrew961]

It's a totally different way of fishing on the rivers something you have to spend a decent amount of time doing to get used to them

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

Yes Neil Andrew. We agree. This is our first try. No doubt there will be several more. It's a steep learning curve. However, it is fun and the weather was lovely.

[@neilandrew961]

@@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170 it is its good fun though it's what I've been fishing most of my days fish mostly small still waters like you do now but still love a day on the rivers or lochs for the wild fish getting a fish of half pounds is just as pleasing to me as a 5 pound bow from still waters

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

@@neilandrew961 We started "learning" on small still waters which are generally speaking easier to the novice than loughs or large reservoirs. Sweethope and Langley Dm are challenging and fun. You are right, rivers are a complete different challenge. Since we generally return most fish it doesn't matter if the fish is 6 inches or 24.

[@neilandrew961]

@@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170 hundred percent sir if I get a small wild fish i am happy with that try picking somewhere you know definitely has a decent head of wild fish and if possible fish with someone who knows the water to show you best way to fish it

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

@@neilandrew961 Good advice.Thanks

[@user-iw9yn8il3n]

Done well not to be stuck in the trees with the back cast.

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

Thanks for watching Joe. There are certainly plenty of snags here and there.

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

Hi Joe. Did you ever fish the river and catch anything?

[@user-iw9yn8il3n]

@@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170 I was a member of Derwent AA for many years and fished it several times a week from the res to the ink works. I caught most times out but over the years I learned where the fish might be hiding.

[@pauljohnsontwonoviceangler6170]

@@user-iw9yn8il3n Thanks