Bywell Salmon Fishing: Catch Reports
February - April 2024
After an encouraging start to the season with a good number of salmon entering the Tyne in the early weeks, we observed a significant presence of fish around mid-March. During the February/ March period, we encountered some impressive salmon, resulting in seven fish on the board by the beginning of April. Along the way, we had several encounters and lost fish, with the largest landed fish weighing 19 pounds. ​ Consistently high water levels marked the opening eight weeks of the season, rarely dropping below 1 metre (as recorded by the gov.uk Bywell station), with water temperatures steady between 7°C and 8°C. On the 1st of April, we again saw a good number of fish throughout the beat. However, from the 3rd of April onwards, persistent floodwaters made the first two weeks of the month nearly unfishable. The highest peak was recorded on April 9th at 4.38 metres (13 feet 4 inches). ​ As the water levels settled, we returned to action with three more fish reported for the remainder of April, all beautiful specimens still carrying sea lice. The last week proved frustrating with numerous brief hookups, mostly from what I believe to be hard-running fish. The water and air temperatures had dramatically changed, now ranging between 12°C and 13°C, with some lovely warm afternoons making it the first time I felt confident leaving my jacket in the car. ​ To conclude, it was a great start to the season with plenty of action and an encouraging number of spring fish seen running the Tyne early in the season. Tight lines! We hope to see you all soon. ​ Steven Keeney (Bywell Salmon Fishing Ghillie)
May 2024
Hooray! Finally some half settled conditions! Generally, the period of may was rather tough..pods of fish seen moving through the beat most days with most of the action being in the evening's. We had a good first week with 3 lovely salmon to the net and a few others lost, with the water settled at 0.57m and the water temperature sitting about 14°c we were in amongst some lovely conditions! Although we were looking at the weather forecast and could see that the coming weeks did not look too promising as the temperatures drastically increased to mid 20's with the water temp sitting between 18-20°c.. this made fishing very difficult for a couple of weeks. We did have various hookups and contacts throughout the period with 6 fish hooked and lost. We then went from one extreme to another and had lots of big water throughout the last week of may, with the highest peak recorded at 3.03m on the 23/5/24.
June 2024
As we entered the first week of June, water levels were dropping off and things were looking good again! The first decent lot of sea trout had also arrived! Also with some superb condition early summer salmon in amongst them too! We managed a few lovely fish with the best fish being a 10lb sea-louced beauty out of the bridge pool. We then had a nice lift coming from both north and south tyne, which peaked at 1m, which quite frankly just made things too easy for the fish! There was a few fish seen running hard but were very difficult to tempt and they just didn't seem to be slowing down at all! There also didn’t seem to be many sea trout amongst them as the month went on.. one or two amongst them, but not as many as usual.. We then had a losing streak of 10 fish in a row throughout the last 2 weeks of June through the lower water and warmer weather, which were mostly salmon. The streak was finally broken by a couple of fish landed in the last week of June, roll on July!
July 2024
After a pretty tough time throughout the past weeks, we went into July with some nice water conditions which fluctuated quite regularly with the highest peak recorded at 2.3m on 10/7/24. As this proceeded to fall and clear, there was a nice number of fish seen moving and the fishing really picked up. As from the 12/7/24 we managed some absolute stunning specimens totalling 15 salmon and 7 sea trout for the next couple weeks with fish coming to the net most days, and as always... lots of them also doing the Houdini on us!! So plenty of action! The largest fish being an absolute spanking fresh 16lb salmon from the fish pass pool. The best of the fishing has been throughout the more settled periods of the month, the lower water conditions have really slowed the fish up, and all of the pools throughout the beat are now showing a good number of both resident and fresh run fish. Although there still doesn't seem to be many sea trout? Odds and sods but no colossal numbers of them. Or certainly none that I can get my eye on!! Maybe they are a bit late this year? We will see! Would be interested to hear any locals opinions on this! Feel free to give me a call! The water temperature right now(1/8/24) is sitting between 19-20 degrees and has made the fishing tough over the last day or so, although we did have 2 good brief hookups yesterday morning.. But a tough afternoon sunbathing!! With a kielder release of 11cm scheduled for 7am Sunday morning, and a few heavy showers forecast tonight up the south tyne valley, hopefully we can get a nice little freshet of water down the system and see what August brings to the table!
August 2024
As we went into August, we were faced with low water and warm weather resulting in water temperatures recorded up to 21°. We were then welcomed by a small kielder release alongside a little freshet of south tyne water on 5/8/24 which cooled everything down as the weather changed and it really set the ball rolling again! The fishing has been absolutely tremendous since then with lots of action, and lots of fresh run fish still coming into the tyne as I write this report(2/9/24). We have had fish hitting the net almost every day resulting in 36 salmon and 3 sea trout for the remaining 3 weeks of the month, the largest salmon weighing 18lb. We have had various water levels throughout the month with the highest peak recorded on the bywell station at 2.27m(6ft) on 23/8/24. We have consistently caught in various water conditions between 0.44m and 1.21m with most of the action taking place between 0.6m - 0.8m. The weather has also been kind to us with air temperatures peaking between 17-19° most days, and the water temperature varying between 15-18° most of the time. The run of grilse this year has been absolutely brilliant to see, as they have certainly been a miss in recent years. They are in absolute superb strong condition and are still coming fresh run into the river now, and lucky for us they are brilliant little takers! We have had lots of stunning double figure salmon in amongst all the grilse sport with lots of fish between the 12-18lb mark. The highlight of it for me being 2 beautiful hen salmon from megs mill, within 10 minutes of eachother, 14lb on the nose, sea liced and absolutely like 2 Peas in a pod. Stunning fish. All in all, a brilliant month for us here at bywell. I'm currently in Millers hut just watching the tip of the gauge re appear in front of me, after a heavy downpour yesterday evening. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what September brings to the party once this water settles off, and allows us to get back at them!
