Ah Steve, you sound like just the man I want to talk to !!!
I'll be hinest here ( as I always am), I've fished for over 20 years, but its been almost exclusively on lakes or the canals ( quite happily I might add), and wouldnt know where to start fishing a river.BUT---my local pond has got disease in and fish are dying all over, so I wont be renewing my membership !
The next best club as far as I can see is at Durham ( aha I hear you say) . Their waters include lakes , a canal sort of stretch, and LOTS of the Wear at Durham.
This I find interesting in my senior years as a new challenge , as I wouldnt know what a dace looks like, never mind how to catch one . I wqas hopinh to maybe link up with someone who could show me the techniques and have a whole lotta fun !!
Where is this free stretch?