When fishing the River Tyne, always check the Kielder Reservoir release schedule before you set off. Because Kielder regulates the Tyne's flow, the river level can rise suddenly even if it hasn't rained locally. A scheduled water release can turn a gentle glide into a raging torrent in minutes, making your feeder gear useless. Always set your rod rest a bit higher than usual and keep an eye on the water line against your bank-sticks.
The angling heart of the county is the River Tyne. While famous for salmon, the Tyne is also a premier coarse river, particularly for dace, roach, and large chub. The middle reaches around Hexham, Corbridge, and Wylam are the hotspots. The River Coquet and the River Blyth also offer coarse sport in their lower reaches, particularly for grayling, which are a local staple.
Because Northumberland lacks the dense canal networks of the south, the "stillwater" scene is dominated by massive reservoirs. Whittle Dene is the standout—a complex of three reservoirs specifically managed for coarse anglers, holding huge numbers of roach and perch. Kielder Water, the largest man-made lake in the UK, is primarily a trout water but contains massive pike and roaming shoals of perch for those willing to put in the legwork on its 27 miles of shoreline.