Thanks for the replies.
I've googled the different clubs, just find it hard trying to workout who runs what.
I suppose I've got used to sea fishing where you can roam where you wish (well, even that's changing!).
Think I will concentrate on the Tees, it seems easier to fathom out, and definitely has the fish I'd like to target.
Thanks again.
Durham free stretches do fine by me.
These are from the boathouse which is at the end of the road which goes from the prison (beyond the cricket pitch) to the bridge downstream.
Slow and deeper than the other free stretch. It's got a good mixed bag of fish on there ,mostly in the way of coarse fish. It's also largely overlooked by other anglers too so you'll get some peace and not much competition. (Oops, have I just blown that away?)
The other free stretch is where the Ice Rink used to be and is now overlooked by I think a new Raddison hotel with more being built on the opposite bank. Last time I was there a young lass was standing at her room window on the top floor and flashing her boobs to the world while her fella was doing a moonie. I guess there was at least one empty bottle of liquor in the room. ??????
This is where I do my fly and fishing and spinning for brownies, the odd grayling and perch and I even hooked a dace with a 4" Toby lure, all 3 hooks in the mouth too.
This gets very overgrown with the invasive Himalayan Balsa weed on the banks during the summer.
Put on waders and fish the faster flowing stretches over shallower runs and it's great fun. You can target fish showing at the surface. You can see where they are from the riverbank with a decent pair of polaroids and go after them.
Caught pike there too as well as sea trout and smallish salmon in season.
There's a stretch of free water up the Tyne around Hexham where I suspect you'll get some good trout, sea trout and salmon fishing. Just Google it or ask at a local tackle shop.
The Tees at Yarm has a good free stretch. A 30lb pike was pulled out of there a few weeks ago and there's a good offering of other species too. I used to go to school in Barnard Castle so know all about the free stretch up there as well. Good sport again mainly trout, sea trout and salmon in season.
Between these there's the stretch by the waterworks in Coniston Rd, Darlington which holds a mixed bag of fish then another stretch down towards Croft. It's years since I was there but I believe it was free then and still is right now. Did you even think of the small river that runs from Newton Aycliffe to the Tees through Darlington. The Skerne has been showing some good sport lately by all accounts. At least some of this river is free and some is in the control of a club from Aycliffe. I'm thinking that the part that goes through the South Park will be free as it's on council land. It's a better spot too as it's nearer the Tees and is where fish often take refuge when the Tees is in spate. You may well find that the riparian owners would allow you to fish the river where it runs in their farmland. Just turn up at the farm with a bottle.
Apart from those known spots there are loads of other places to drop a hook where you don't have to pay for the privilege.
The ponds in and around Washington, I believe in James Steel Park,
Herrington Country Park etc are free. There's an intriguing pond at the side of the road at Testo's roundabout, called Boldon Pond. I believe
it may be free too although I do see mention of some club having the rights from time to time but don't know if that's correct as they may well have opted out of running it.
I have a topic running on the River Team where there's just been a restock of 3000 chub and a couple of thousand dace. Same thing as well on the less likely River Gaunless.
If you would like a club with decent waters then I'd opt for
Bishop Auckland Angling club. It has some fantastic spots along the wear from just outside Durham to as far as Witton le Wear. A 3 mile stretch of the Tees is there's too.
I'd say to do a bit of sea fishing but spend the summer warmer months doing freshwater and then hit the beaches when the cod are likely to have appeared. Get the best of both.
