Northumbria Invitational Match 7 Bowes Lake, Angel of the North lakes, Birtley

Monday 1^st  September 2025.

This was the final match of the Northumbria Invitational series for 2025. As usual there was a good turnout from both Northumbria and Durham anglers. At the draw most were not concerned about drawing one of the lakes “flier” pegs but more about drawing an area out of the stiff south westerly wind blowing across the lake. The weather forecast had predicted showers which were likely to be heavy. After what has been an idyllic summer it looked like we were going to get wet today.

The all in was called at 11.30am.

Kevin Hood (Northumbria) on peg 7 was into fish straight away and was catching some good carp using a method feeder alternating micro pellet or groundbait around the feeder wirh pellet as the hookbait. However to get bites he was having to fish tight to a reed bed and the carp were running back into it once hooked so tackle losses were inevitable.

Next door on peg 5 Steve Holmes (Northumbria) was fishing the pellet waggler and was struggling. Steve barely caught a fish for the first 3 hours then a change to the method feeder and he began to catch regularly.

Paul Hutchinson(Northumbria) had drawn peg 34 which was in a sheltered area of the lake with the wind off his back. He fished all day in a t-shirt whilst the rest of the field were wrapped up in heavy windproof coats. Paul used a variety of methods including bomb and pellet, method feeder and pellet waggler to catch regularly during the day. Paul even had time to coach a number of young anglers who were fishing together in a corner of the lake. No sooner had he tweaked their tackle and given advice the young lads began catching fish.

Dave Brown (Northumbria) had drawn peg 24. Dave had a good days fishing. Dave caught regularly throughout the match catching carp and some big roach and ide on  the pole.

As expected the rain hit around 1400hrs and it was torrential.

Time was called at 1730hrs.

The results were as follows ;

1^st Paul Hutchinson 107lb 11oz

2^nd Steve Holmes 98lb  7oz

3^rd Dave Brown 78lb 12oz.

Well done to all those that fished.

After 7 matches the final standings are as follows;

1^st Dave Brown 12 pts 613lbs 1oz

2^nd Paul Hutchinson 18 pts 500lb 14oz

3^rd Steve Holmes 31pts 400lb 10oz

Anybody who wishes to participate in any of the matches or who require further information regarding the Freshwater Fishing Section this can be found on the Northumbria Police Sports and Social Club website the point of contact being Paul Hutchinson.