River Eden

The little rain we had on Saturday rose the river by two inches which promptly dropped off again overnight, but it did drop the water temperature to 54oF. Trout fishing has picked up a touch but the hatches are still sparse. Colin joined me today and did better in the afternoon than the morning, the wind in the early part of the day was rather cool and blustery.

Still a lot of fish in the lower river just waiting for the levels to rise, just need a foot or so to get things moving.

River Eden

The salmon are building up in good numbers with some large fish among them above Carlisle at present, and are taking well. There has been some rain today but not a great deal around the lower reaches, just hope it has rained up the valley a little more heavily. We need the levels to rise to get the fish up the middle river and then settle down again to encourage the sea trout conditions for the night fishing.
The first flood will be a dirty one with all the algae on the river bed and bank litter, the water needs refreshed and the oxygen levels to rise to get these fish moving. It is the beginning of June that we get on the Eden a run of rather large salmon, here's hoping!

River Eden

I have been working with schools in south west Scotland the last two days and doing a salmon course with Jim Curry and Jim Williams on Lazonby Estate, this time of the year there should be plenty of salmon up there. Needless to say the water is still very low on the river and the salmon fishing is tough, saying that though there was a threat of rain on Wednesday and fish began to move, Tina on the course got hold of a nice sea trout and possibly a grilse that came off, fish were also seen moving. I have heard that on the lower river there were a few fish caught off the tide also bearing sea lice, five from one pool just above Carlisle I am told, there is decent rain forecast for tomorrow so we will have to wait and see the result of that.

The trout fishing is getting patchy along with the insect activity although there are plenty of fish around, when there is a hatch it is relatively easy, but they are getting more sparse during the middle of the day due to the heat.
Peter came out with me this morning and did a good job on the casting and fishing, we watched a kingfisher for a while hovering like a kestrel before swooping down to catch fish, I think he did a little better than us today, such is fishing sometimes!

River Eden

On the river today with a couple of high flyers John and Dave who were a good laugh and fantastic company.

Conditions were not the most conducive for catching fish with the low water and heat, the hatches today were non-existent, I think until the cooler weather forecast shortly comes along we are limited to early and late fishing to get a result.

Even so both tried their utmost for four or five small fish and did a cracking job with the casting side of things and deserved a better result.

This is probably the lowest river level I have seen in Twenty years, not desperate yet, but not far away, a little rain is supposed to fall this week sometime.

River Eden

The weather forecast today said the odd heavy shower, cloudy with the air temperature at 22oC, it was wall to wall sunshine, there was not a cloud in the sky all day and 26oC by 9am this morning. Unlike yesterday when the air temperature did not get to 20oC until mid afternoon, there was very good sport to be had in the morning with plenty of activity on the surface which ceased around 2pm.
Today everything just shut down very early and Richard who was out with me worked very hard and struggled for a couple of fish although he did everything expected of him. Small flies like size 20 snipe and purple on long fine leaders were the only thing the fish would look at and he did get broke on a good-un.

You could see the odd salmon in the very fast runs some of which were coloured and possibly dropping down the river due to the low water. The sea trout did not want to play today either, this weather is great for the gardeners and picnickers but if the heat continues and no rain it will have to be very early or late in the evening to get fish to take.

River Eden

I have been away for the last few days working with the youth and at the Cumbria Fishing Festival at New Mills in Brampton (which have some stunning brownies in) and on the Eden which was a good turn out and great fun. I must say a big thanks to Lazonby Estates and Edwin Tailford for letting us use the river on the Meadows for the demonstrations and teaching with fourteen people, it was absolutely ideal.

The Eden at the moment is at an all time low with the water temperature at 60oF, the algae growth is starting to proliferate, and if we do not get some form of rain soon it could become a problem. Saying that the trout fishing is very good although the hatches are dropping off a little now, there are still grannom about and the odd flurries of Olives.

The salmon fishing is almost non-existent at present due to the low flows, fish are occasionally nosing up with the tide on the lower reaches then dropping back. The sea trout and herling numbers are building up nicely and a little later in June when the temperature is a little warmer in the evenings it should be okay for a spot of night fishing.

We could do with a bit of rain to clear the river and get the salmon going, but that would spoil the sea trout and trout fishing, we are never happy are we!

The weather forecasters have predicted a very wet June, so go out and buy your BBQ now, it is going to be a scorcher!

Ben joined me on the river today and had a little action with the dry fly.

Pleasant day on the river with Kingfishers, sandpipers, shelduck, dab chicks, oyster catchers and even a wading crow to name but a few.

River Eden

The rain of late has by-passed the Eden catchment and filled some of the rivers on the other side of the Solway, the Eden still remains at six inches below summer level. I had to cancel two salmon courses on the middle river due to the low water, although the river is in pristine condition there is just not enough water to bring the salmon up at present.
We cannot have everything, the way the water is right now is just about right for some really good trout and sea trout fishing. There have been some outstanding hatches of many species which is really turning the fish on.

The weather has been variable blowing hot and cold, I think we have one day of westerlies in two weeks of north and east winds.

Out the last two days with my good friend Ed. Dries of all description are working very well as are spiders fished just below the surface like waterhen bloa and snipe and purple.

There are many herling around this year which is always a good sign with one or two bigger fish to around four pounds amoung them.

There are the odd salmon nosing their way in on the lower beats, we could do with a little lift right now.

There is more to fishing than catching fish sometimes, ask this fella!

River Eden

What a difference a day makes! (for the worse I might add). Today the north wind was still very evident and quite sharp at times, there were hatches of olives mid day and it looks like the grannom are grinding to a halt now. Had a good kick sample and found plenty of invertabrates on the bed for later in the season. The fish just did not want to know after 10am this morning, there were a few tentative takes after then but nothing converted.

Mervin and James really did their level best and did nothing wrong, it was just a day when it was not going to happen. The worse case scenario was we all had some fresh air, good scenery, a natter and enjoyed casting. The afternoon got very bright and with the low clear water we were on a hiding to nothing.

I have not seen a salmon show for around three days now, the water is extremely low and the tides are small, I think we need some rain soon!

James and Mervin.

River Eden

Day two for David and Roger went a little better, still the north wind blew and low water but there was sport to be had. Fishing spiders and small nymphs in the more rippley water proved productive. For good parts of the day the fish were freely rising after the same things as the numerous sand martins were.

Roger got three of the four species, sea trout, brown trout and a grayling (out of season but it cannot always be helped), but unfortunately just could not finish with a salmon.

Great company and good fishermen, an absolute pleasure to be with!

River Eden

We have had good friends Roger and David from Norfolk on the Eden at Lazonby today and the lower river tomorrow, the intention was for some salmon fishing but with the water levels a little on the low side for that part of the river we did some trout fishing followed by salmon casting.

The weather was very kind today with good cloud cover and still plenty of grannom coming off the river. There are a lot of smolts dropping down this week which is always a good sign.

Plenty of offers from fish and David managed a nice trout on a pheasant tail, Roger had quite a few takes from good fish but they did not want to meet his aquaintance! The river could really do with some rain right now to freshen things up a litle and get some of the salmon in the lower river further upstream.

Tweed fair

Good weekend at the Tweed Fair with all are friends and instructors from all over the country for a fun get together. A very well organised three days thanks to Eoin with the Friday being dedicated just for the young ones who were all very keen. Fantastic demos to watch, good trade stands, good film on Russia on the Saturday evening with Peter Power and enjoyed working on the AAPGAI casting clinic Saturday and Sunday.