Tees holds fond memories

[andy1976]

And like I said only my opinion and we all have them depends what ya fishing for and where I maybe should of said areas I go are on there arse and I’m the least intimidating person you’d ever meet

Tight lines those who go out rain coming next week Too anyway

[andy1976]

Hope the rains freshened things up I’m going to try few hrs Sunday , with regards to last posts on this thread the type of scenario I think some should avoid is one of farleys latest vids where he’s fishing on a stretch tgats clearly on its arse and he’s playing bigish barbel tgat at some have to come across water that’s only inches deep it’s just dumb tgats type of thing I was referring too I’m not that desperate that I should do it when things arnt right

But get a fly rod out , or light float set up and maggots and catch smaller species in deeper bits great sport

[samvimes]

As a kid, I lived pretty much bang in the middle of the closest points on the Swale and Tees. I never travelled north and east to fish the Tees. As an adult, I now live even closer to the Swale than the Tees. However, about five years back, I started to occasionally fish the Tees. I probably fish it fractionally more than the Swale these days. The main reason for this is that it's always got that bit more flow than the Swale in low water conditions. The reservoirs and barrage can be a positive influence in this regard. As I do little but trot a float for anything that turns up, it's a big positive. Another reason for fishing the Tees more is that it's generally more productive and diverse (at least when comparing the bits I have access to).

Sadly, I see a few similarities between the Swale above Langton and the Tees from the Dinsdale ATDAC water and above. I know that I'm not fishing specifically for big fish, I've simply not got the patience to sit it out on big baits. However, the number of decent chub seems minimal (and very localised) and barbel almost non-existent (though it's good to see/hear about decent numbers of small barbel around Broken Scar this year).

If I fish the Swale, I expect grayling and trout amongst hordes of minnows. In the summer they are supplemented by chublets and dace. Once in a blue moon, I may see a tiny perch. The big chub and a few barbel tend to start to appear in the closed season in preparation for spawning. If it's a poor spring, they might still be about in decent numbers a month into the new coarse fishing season (it happened this year).

If I fish the Tees (often at Dinsdale, but I've played at Croft, Sockburn, Conniscliffe and Piercebridge etc too), I expect a bit more variety and fewer minnows. The perch appear to be in a bit of a cyclical trough at the moment. I've not had one much greater than 1lb 8oz for at least a couple of years. I doubt I've had anything much over 2lb (bar a rogue salmon) for at least a couple of years. Typically, I expect decent nets of dace, grayling, perch, chublets, gudgeon and a few bonus roach.

One thing I have noticed on the Tees this year is a relative dearth of angling activity. Last year was absolutely manic by comparison. Pegs that have been kept clear for years have been distinctly overgrown this year. Dinsdale seems to have a few clear pegs closest to the access points, and that's it. I don't know, but I can only assume that the matches haven't happened this season. Last year, I also noticed that the Middlesbrough club pegs (County Durham bank, below the bridge) were very well fished last year. I've not seen a soul on them this year. They weren't even cleared until the match at the end of August.

The one thing that I have come to firmly believe about both rivers is that a lack of people fishing impacts significantly on the quality of the fishing. The better bits of either river are invariably those with easier access and most angling activity. Now that's not to say that they wouldn't be good with less angling attention, but I feel that the underfished areas would be better for more. I know that I have favoured spots on both Tees and Swale. I've also noticed that they often appear to fish better the more I fish them.

[Deleted]

My experiences since opening day have been much the same.
I've mentioned in previous posts that I've not seen another angler on a 2 mile stretch of the Tees that I've been fishing almost every week since June.
I've had plenty of decent chub but the river just doesn't seem to attract anglers anymore,the lack of contributions from anglers on this forum probably reflects the numbers of lads actually getting out fishing.
The Association stretch at Dinsdale had several matches last season so all the pegs were relatively clear but I'm unaware of any matches held on it so far this year.
Further downstream the Haughton stretch always seems to have a healthy match calendar and the opposite Stockton bank is also quite popular probably,as you've said,because of the regular amounts of bait going in.
I've no complaints about the quality of the fishing on the areas of the Tees I visit although admittedly I consider a couple of good chub to be a good result when I'm sitting it out for a potential big fish.
Talking to a few match anglers this morning they seem pleased with the amounts of dace and roach nets coming out every week despite the lack of water but convincing the average angler to give the rivers a try seems to be a battle that we're destined to lose unfortunately.

[andy1976]

Think the thing is lads society has changed the world is quick gratification , social media bolloks , you want summat you just take it or get it given without effort

We are a dying breed a lot or river clubs after our time will fizzle out as generations just arnt into fishing anymore I honestly believe fishing in general within 100 years will largely die out because people won’t take their kids their kids won’t take their kids and so on

So let’s make most of what we got left

[Marc]

I actually disagree about the lack of anglers on rivers at the moment. Yes the tees seems to be lacking of anglers but all other rivers I fish is full of anglers and more so than ever over the last couple of seasons. Alot of new anglers as well.

[Deleted]

I can only comment on the local stretches of the Tees that I've fished this season and I've not come across another angler so can't imagine I'm going to see anyone as the weather becomes colder.
This forum seems to confirm my experiences,3 months into the season,hardly anyone has posted anything and the lads that used to be most active seem to have moved on.

[Marc]

Unfortunately barbel seem to pull anglers to the river. The river tees doesn't hold the amount to pull the anglers. It's a shame because its an awesome river. I've sent an email to Stockton angling about stocking the river I just hope we do.

As for lack of positing on the forum it's all down to social media. When this forum first started it was usually forums only when we talked about fishing now it's Facebook, instagram and twitter. But I think what has happened is people have posted pictures and talked about their fishing online and perhaps spoilt their own fishing so what we find now is people keep captures close to their chest. For me I just haven't the time to post my fishing sessions as I once was posting. I have a very busy job and 3 kids I fish a hell of a lot aswell but if I get something special on tees I will post on here for old times sake.

[andy1976]

I went to broken scar and Blackwell area yesterday evening caught few chublets and dodged footballs and filled a carrier full of other people’s rubbish think il join Darlington next year avoid the numpties Shane cause nice stretch water wise

[kev g 1953]

Hope you asked the club to put double figure barbel in the Tees Marc, I don't think I've got time to wait 20yrs for them to grow😁😁😁

[sensorian]

I'm a barbel angler by trade having moved up from Cheshire just over a year ago where I fished the River Dane and the Ribble. I've not actively targeted them on the Tees but find myself adapting my tactics to increase the 'off chance' that I might catch one. I have to say, I've become totally obsessed with the Tees, it. has a bit of everything and I've returned to targeting other fish that I'd neglected over recent years. I joined two local clubs when I arrived and have had decent Pike, Chub and bream and feel sure I'll get a Barbel at some point but am not obsessing on that, just enjoying being out in the incredible scenery that the Tees offers.

[robinfoxile]

Like Marc, I’ll always post anything decent - I do feel a sense of loyalty to the forum, as when I got back into fishing a few years ago, I got lots of good advice and met some decent like minded souls..
It’s a shame so many have dropped off but that’s online life , people come and go whatever the subject matter. Maybe in time the forum will have a resurgence - but in the meantime it’s good to see people trying to keep it going.
I’m really looking forward to the Autumn / Winter - best part of the year for me… I’ve also got a trip away to the Trent for my 60th in October- a new PB barbel would do nicely…

[andy1976]

Think covid affected everything too m8 people just got out of fishing snd took up new hobbies found new interests

Also I agreed with someone else’s post can’t remember who now , but fishing especially river is in rapid decline , I see very real scenario that all but the big clubs like ya Leeds n stuff will fizzle out

Tbh honest club fishing baffles me there’s one stretch I regularly go to where otters and mink have caused havoc this year and have wiped out most of small and medium pike all the big perch for which the stretch was well known for , and that leaves big pike and barbel so they will be getting munched

I used to think just nature and nowt you can do but holy crap it’s awful to watch when you laid money to fish the stretch

Spoke to club and got the usual nothing we can do and the barbel numbers seem ok , well in scenarios like the one that’s unfolded this year I disagree do it humanly catch them re locate put em in a sanctuary but to just let them in such a tight area destroy the fish sticks just tells me that our club subs are just lining the pockets of people who arnt really tgat concerned at the quality of fishing for its members

[andy1976]

And to the people not on here who have told me they arnt doing that much damage there’s several reports and videos on line of them killing fish and iv witnessed a near double pike being played like a harmonica by an otter laying on the surface on its back and carrying round like a toy

[kev g 1953]

Information for all, the EA are releasing 1500 barbel of various sizes, with the cooperation of our club, into our Tees club waters back end of October or early November.

Plus side for Otters, they are assisting in keeping crayfish numbers down.