Excellent surface sport at Jubilee Lakes.

THE trout at Jubilee Lakes have mainly been taking flies off the top and Daddies, especially, have done really well.

Michael Roddy, who probably did best this week, caught all of his trout on the Wicked White. It was quite breezy but he fished this buzzer across the wind and used a very slow retrieve. Although that put a bit of a bow in his line he found that this was much more effective than trying to retrieve his buzzer quickly across the ripple which would have looked unnatural to the trout.

Doubles this week were caught by Keith Pearson who landed two - one at 16lb 12oz and one at 12lb 15oz - on a Dawson's Olive and Dave Cardwell from Darlington, who brought one of 13lb 3oz to the net on a Black Zonker.

Would anglers note that after the close of fishing on Sunday, August 2, Jubilee Lakes will be closed until the last weekend in the month - reopening on Saturday August 29. This is the Bank Holiday weekend and the fishery will be open Saturday, Sunday and the Bank Holiday Monday.

The water at South Linden has been clearing well after the recent rains and, as a result, the fishing has improved. George and David Maddison each caught and released six rainbows in a four-hour session with the Black Buzzer accounting for most of their fish.

Amble angler Karl Yeoman caught four, safely returning two, while D Lamb kept two nice rainbows.

On Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16, the fishery will be holding a casting clinic with licensed fly fishing instructor Kevin Dawson. The cost is pounds 15 for a half-hour coaching, and three hours catch and release.

Witton Castle lakes are also starting to clear. Although the coloured water had little effect on the fishing it did keep some anglers away. The best bag of the week was recorded by C Hunter with three fish each just over the 4lb mark. Terry Ross had two four-pounders while Raymond Anderson took two nice fish of 5lb and 4lb. All fish were taken in coloured water.

The Witton Castle junior anglers also took quality fish with Lewis Hirst landing trout of 6lb and 5lb while Billy Sumpton had two threepounders and three two-pounders and Ryan Matthews, who has again been selected for the England Junior Fly Fishing team, safely returning 23.

Although road barriers have been put up following recent flooding anglers approaching Witton lakes both from the A68 and the Witton le Wear road should note that the fishery is open and accessible just past the barriers.

A more settled week weatherwise has produced big bags for all but the least experienced anglers at Sharpley Springs/Water. Ashley and Paul Fenny from Hartlepool, returned more than 47 over three visits with Ashley safely putting back a fit fighting rainbow of 12lb 4oz and an 8lb blue. Paul also returned a trout of 10lb 8oz.

Steven Fish from Houghton-leSpring safely returned nine, the best at 8lb, and Ross Coulson put back an eight-pounder while Sunderland angler Will Hope had 23.

E Carmichael had the heaviest fish of the week at Langley Dam with a quality rainbow of 8lb 8oz while P Pattinson had the heaviest bag with four for 13lb 8oz.

The settled weather also led to excellent sport at Sweethope Loughs.

Ken Nott and Bill Ashcroft from North Shields had a fantastic eight hours, safely returning 70 fish on Dawson''s Olives.

Dan Sefton and John Liddle returned 31 while John Goldsborough of Lanchester had 18, including a cracking rainbow of 8lb 8oz and D Irwin of Newcastle had 22.

FLY BOX Jubilee Lakes: Daddies, Hoppers, Shipman's, Emergers, Damsels, Dawson's Olive, Black Zonker, Olive Zonker.

Langley: Buzzers, Hoppers, Muddlers, various wets. Sharpley: Black Gnat, Buzzers Hoppers Black/Orange Fritz, Black Sedge, Damsels, Hare's Ear, Diawl Bach, CdC patterns, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Zonkers.

South Linden: Black Buzzer, Orange Dancer, Kate McLaren, Black Fritz, Zonker

GEORGE MACINTYRE [phone] [e-mail]