Kielder Water (Northumberland)

This water has had trials on it for about 4 years now, with limited success. Only a couple of jacks and a low double of about 12lb. The main problem with the early trials was the fact they were held in November. With Kielder being around 525 feet above sea level it tends to be a bit on the cold side, with all the November trials were preceded by at least a week of hard frosts.

This seamed to put all the fish down to at least 40 feet and very hard to make contact with. The following trial was in April 2000, unfortunately it was arranged at very short notice and was not very well attended. It was hoped that the fish would be higher in the water, and with the help of fish finders it was proved despite a couple of hard frost a few days before the event. There was only 2 boats on the water yet one of the boats lost a fish and the other missed a good take.

With this encouragement I managed to persuade Northumbrian water to grant us access in September 10 boats on the water, but for various reasons (holidays, sickness etc) we only managed to get 3 boats on the water. Despite this we were within inches of hitting the head lines, with a pike of at least 20lb being lost at the boat on the Saturday. Then on the Sunday another big fish was lost, this fish was not seen, after a few short fast runs it managed to throw the hooks. This boat also had a couple of slamming takes which were missed. This seamed to prove the theory that the pike would be more active and more accessible. Permission has been granted for another trial in September 2001 (date to be confirmed as soon as piking 2001 is confirmed), as I couldn't get on the water this year, next year can not come soon enough.

With Kielder being approximately 2700 acres and up to 170 feet deep there is every chance that there are some monster brown trout, and some people think there could be some land locked salmon and sea trout. So until we get some photo's of these very large pike we won't be able to convince everybody.

Some big pike have been lost on the more recent events, with a pike of over 20lb being lost at the net, we will keep trying we will get the evidence soon.

(c) copyright 2000-2010 Robert Murray