Cumbria Fly Fishing

River Eden

2012-01-23T20:43:00.001Z

River is again swollen with more rain to come Tuesday, the fishing still remains on the slow side (but we are still optimistic!).

Just got the film of Grant with his first salmon on the fly rod which was taken on the lower Eden last August, Graeme his brother was filming the special moment, many thanks for that Grant - http://www.youtube.com/user/CumbriaFlyFishing?feature=watch

River Eden.

2012-01-18T12:08:00.001Z

15^th January - The water conditions are about as good as they can be for this time of the year. The clarity is excellent and with the water height at just over a foot is all one could ask for, the water temperature is now at 37oF. A high pressure system that had moved in over the UK along with a cool south easterly breeze has seemed to suppress any fish activity. I have not seen any movement of fish at all the first three days of the season, usually there is the odd Kelt or trout that will show itself in these conditions, but they remain with their heads down. It never ceases to amaze me how a "wrong" wind direction can often put paid to any response from fish; we have seen it so many times over the years.

Last week anglers who were bait and fly fishing for grayling got some decent sport with fish over the two pound mark. This week with a better water, it has been a real struggle with little or no interest from the grayling. We know there are fish there and this just confirms that not all weather conditions suit the fish.

There are plenty of goosanders on the river for those of you that like that sort of thing, they seem to be active unlike the fish and they look pretty well fed!

It is early days yet; it is also good to see quite a few anglers out on the water enjoying themselves, the potential is there and it is just a matter of time before we get a result.

Events

2012-01-07T13:44:00.001Z

AAPGAI are running two day instructor training courses this spring up and down the country. These courses are designed to either get you up to speed with current teaching techniques if you wish to become an instructor, or just to improve your own enjoyment and understanding of fishing. For more information please go to - http://www.aapgai.co.uk/body/events.html

A little draughty!

2012-01-03T10:53:00.001Z

This will be the sixth week that we are unable to get out on the river due to the inclement weather, it is very frustrating and cabin fever has set in. Today we have winds in excess of 60 mph and it is far worse just north of Cumbria, the river remains very swollen with the same weather pattern for the rest of the week forecast. The new salmon season will be upon us in just two weeks, it soon comes round, should the weather change the week before with a dry high pressure system moving in, we could be in with a shout.

The Eden does still maintain a spring run of fish and it is improving year after year, the majority of those entering the river in late March. If the conditions are favourable with low water, January and February can be quite productive on the lower river with the salmon in no rush to run any distance upstream until the water temperature is higher than 42oF.

I would like to wish you all the very best of health and happiness for 2012; to new adventures, good friends and experiences, tight lines and good luck to you all!

Its a little damp!

2011-12-15T10:32:00.001Z

The endless weather fronts just keep coming in from the Atlantic bringing very wet and windy weather, it just seems to have never let up this last few months. Getting out on the river to do any kind of activity has proved fruitless this December with the big waters, it was the same story for the best part of the last month. Yet, down south they have had the opposite all year, no rain at all and the rivers are at an all time low, do we in the north have the best of two evils i wonder?

I was inspired by the picture below, it looks like it could be a nice fishing lodge and also very mobile!

I would like to wish all that know me a very peaceful Christmas and all the best of health and happiness for the coming season!

Mystery caddis?

2011-12-06T12:44:00.001Z

My very good friend Bert Schaaf from Germany got this one, it is -

Apple Ermine Yponomeuta malinellus

Thanks Bert!

Any clues to this one?

2011-11-28T13:45:00.001Z

Found in numbers on the Aberdeen Dee in August, it is brilliant white and about the size of an Alder fly.

River Eden end of month.

2011-11-28T12:43:00.001Z

We have certainly had some fine autumn days during the first half of November in Cumbria, a nice respite from the last six months. It has been a real pleasure to be outdoors on such occasions in so mild a climate.

With the salmon season now finished six weeks ago on the Eden, it seems an absolute age since those fish were on our minds, the good numbers of fish that have run the Eden all year should ensure a decent spawning for future stock.

Grayling are the main quarry now until the salmon season once more kicks off in the middle of January. The river has relatively behaved itself this first half of November due to the more settled and dry weather, the levels and water clarity were about perfect. The grayling fishing of late has had some good and also some poor days, such is fishing sometimes. It is all down to the air and water temperatures, river conditions and the unpredictable weather. These factors are always out of our control and it is a hard combination to get right for any chance of success sometimes.

Grayling fishermen both trotting and swim feeders using maggots are getting good results, unusually fly fishing techniques do not seem to be so effective this autumn. This seems to have been the same scenario all over the country for whatever the reason may be, just as it has been with the salmon fishing, they just were not taking; you can put it down to unsettled weather I guess.

If you can locate the grayling, it can be a relatively easy task after that, but finding them can be difficult on occasions, this is where the bait fishers do have the advantage. I do not think there are the grayling numbers on the Eden that there were in previous seasons at present. The fish that anglers are catching are mainly on the large side, grayling over the two pound bracket are common and the smaller average Eden fish of around the pound mark are just not there in the quantity that there should be.

The last few days of November, the weather has deteriorated somewhat with very high winds and a mass of lows coming in off the Atlantic. This has put paid to any thoughts of getting on the river with the fly, although the anglers trotting and feeding bait are doing quite well. Water temperature is now at 9oC which is warm for the time of year and the river once more is in flood.

River Eden

2011-11-26T13:14:00.001Z

Richard

Neil

River Annan salmon school 2011

2011-11-16T16:55:00.007Z

The Annan salmon school run by Anthony Steel and Mark Bowler at Kirkwood has been an annual early November week date in the diary for me the last six years. It is one of the weeks of the autumn that I thoroughly enjoy to instruct and guide on the Annan and one I look very much forward to. It is not so much for the fishing side of things, although that is very enjoyable, but for the anglers that often return from previous courses that I have got to know quite well. It is also the people I meet for the first time, sometimes new friendships are created and sometimes your life is a little richer for having the company of these people.

Mid-week on the change-over day, the BBQ was on and there were two fish caught that day. Many of the anglers on the course had travelled from abroad, it was a great mix and everyone got on like a house on fire.

The weather at the start of the week was a little on the damp side to say the least, there were certainly fish running and there were plenty to be seen but the water was high. The beginning of the course was on the Sunday where the majority of people who came were from a trout fishing background, so the day was filled with Spey casting tuition to make ready for the Monday fishing.

Everyone made a fantastic job of the casting, some for the very first time and many were covering the water both at Kirkwood and Jardine hall effectively from the first day. The water rose and fell and rose again during the first half of the week, such is salmon fishing sometimes. By mid-week it had fell to a wade-able height and one or two fish stopped for a look. There were talks and demonstrations in the evenings over a few drinks after supper and great conversation.

Mike Cooney playing a salmon (Boyo fly)

Duly landed, happy days!

It was now a turn for Chris to hook up (on a fly his good wife had tied!).

Almost there at the net with Roger in attendance, but look at the autumn light, it is such a pleasure to be out sometimes.

Landed and returned. (A first salmon for Chris)

The otter was doing very well on the fishing front, it was seen most days and gave a lot of pleasure with its antics.

On the last hour of the last day Robert from Toronto fishing the tail of the Stone pool, hooked up to a fish that was quite substantial. The salmon dogged around heavily for some minutes without showing, a lot of pressure on the fish was applied. The fish deciding it had enough of this, left the pool with great haste making Roberts Classic reel sing very loudly. Unfortunately it went down the far side of the channel into the rough water behind a stranded tree and came lose! By then it was very dark and time to head back for the wonderful supper laid on back at the accommodation.

A very good week, great company, food, fishing and entertainment, I am already looking forward to next year.For more information - http://www.cumbriaflyfishing.co.uk/temp2.htm

River Eden

2011-10-29T17:08:00.002+01:00

Not a great deal to write about of late, the weather continues to be very unsettled and with the end of the Eden salmon season a bit of a washout. Over the last two weeks, when the river has been low enough there has been some very good grayling fishing. We just need some low and clear water now for some consistent sport, the weather forecast for the next two weeks would not suggest that we are going to get that.

I spent some time on the Tweed last week, initially on the first part of the trip the water was warm and fish (there were plenty showing) hard to come by, there was then a flood along with cooler weather and the fish began to respond, it says it all.

A very good salmon summit held by the Eden Rivers Trust last weekend at Scotby, some very eminent speakers there talking about the genetics of salmon, it has certainly changed my outlook on things.

I am off the Annan tomorrow for the Kirkwood salmon school http://www.cumbriaflyfishing.co.uk/temp2.htm with Anthony Steel and Mark Bowler, looking very much forward to it, always a great week. There is rain forecast once more though and I just hope that this does not spoil what could be potentially a very good week on the river. The Annan has fished pretty well of late and we are hoping that just maybe with the lower water temperatures, a run of salmon might just happen.

The AAPGAI assessments and open day are going on at Builth Wells and by all accounts it has been a great success, (maybe I should stay away more often), check it out for other info also - http://aapgai.wordpress.com/

Why wait until the season starts next year and struggle with your casting when there are fish around, get it sorted now in the close season so you have a flying start. The Annan and Nith are still open for salmon until the end of November, on the Eden we have some good grayling fishing to look at over the winter; don't hang up the rods yet you will just get jobs around the house to do!

River Eden

2011-10-13T09:58:00.001+01:00

I would like to have said for the last two weeks of the salmon season in October, that the river was in fine order, that there were fish everywhere, that many were taken on the fly to compensate for the very wet August and September months. But I cannot unfortunately; the rain continued to fall in October, the river continued to rise, quite substantially on occasions putting an end to any thoughts of fishing. Every weather map we look at, there is always a swathe of cloud across Cumbria, everywhere south of the county seems to be basking in sunshine.

I think we will just have to sweep this peculiar season under the carpet, put it down to abnormal weather patterns and look forward to the next season. I have never known anything like this in over twenty years, there are many unhappy anglers on the river, some who have had to travel a considerable distance for their fishing only to face a big and brown coloured Eden. It is a shame, after a great start for the first half which was nothing less than outstanding, and that is fishing sometimes, we all encounter the wrong conditions on occasions, but this year it seems like it has been the wrong trousers just about every weekend for months!

The water temperature at present is 12oC, unusually warm for the time of year and easy for fish to run.

A coloured cock fish for Ken on the middle river carefully returned.

River Eden

2011-09-19T19:35:00.001+01:00

On the middle river today with Robert who had done coarse and sea fishing before, but was a complete novice at game fishing. The river there was in very good order, with clear water and dropping as the day wore on, a warm wind, we even saw an Osprey.

Talk about a fast learner, within half an hour of arriving he had his first ever salmon, played, landed and released!

We then went on to fly fishing with the single handed rod, with the Double Spey mastered in minutes, we tied a small nymph, and this happened! A real nice brown trout almost two pounds, played, landed and also released.

We had some fun and a good natter. If only everyday was like this!

River Eden

2011-09-18T18:46:00.000+01:00

During September, we have had many rises of water on the Eden due to the unusual wet climate, I have had to cancel more than half the days on the river this month due to this, than I should have normally. There are fish running, but not the numbers of salmon that we are used to seeing at this time of year. Next week is the acid test for this, as we generally get the big autumn run near the equinox period, the big question is, have we had the runs of fish early, or are they just running later like the grilse have this year? We will have to wait and see.

The water temperature was at one point 18oC and now has dropped to 13oC, it really needs to be lower for the time of year. The water is fining down nicely at present and we just need a longer dry spell now for it to come good again, fingers crossed.

For those of you who are concerned about the numbers of fish-eating birds, the saw bills on our rivers and the numbers of parr or potential trout and salmon they are consuming, you need to have a look at this site and do your thing - http://www.cormorantwatch.org/

What will come of the data in years to come, I do not know, but I do know that if we do nothing, nothing will change!

River Eden

2011-09-07T11:57:00.000+01:00

With all these heavy rain showers coming off the Atlantic, there is no surprise that the Eden along with all the other west coast rivers has risen somewhat, three meters yesterday! Although we expect this amount of rain around the equinox, it will not do any harm at this point (apart from curtail the fishing for a few days) as the river was in need of a bit of a flush. I think it will be now somewhere near the weekend before it will be anywhere near fly fish-able on the lower river, weather permitting.

This is a very good friend of mine David who was up with me last week and did a great job of catching two salmon off the lower river.

River Eden

2011-08-26T18:28:00.001+01:00

At last the grilse run has begun to trickle in off each tide, better late than never! There are many larger fish among them also, some willing to take and others impossible. The water condition at present is in very good order and things are beginning to shape up.

It has been a busy month with the last three weekends in Dumfries, two of those weekends with Dumfries and Galloway anglers which was very rewarding and great fun. The last weekend at the Drumlanrig Castle game fair doing both the casting clinic and representing Borderlines. Very busy show and the weather was just perfect, good entertainment and great trade stands.

I took my nephews Decs and Joe along with dad Steve to New Mills fishery one evening last week for their first trip out fishing, and they did a great job and look pretty cool with the shades on.

Peter.

Not much in the way of insect activity on the lower and middle stretches of the Eden of late, but there are some very good trout and grayling to be had on wets and nymphs if you are able to ignore the salmon rolling around.

Mike in some awful surroundings, Mike is turning out to be a real nice fisherman with both salmon and trout, he had a beautiful 14 pound fish off the Tay last May on Lower Kinnaird.

Cathy (above) and Sarah (below) are really enjoying their Spey casting on Lower Lazonby, good fun to be with and very keen with loads of enthusiasm.

Graeme (below) had bought at auction for the worthy cause the Wild Trout Trust, a day with me on the Eden for two, I do not know why he wanted to fish with me, but he did. Graeme got it so he could take his brother Grant also whose birthday it was, we had a great time with the Spey casting and good conversation.

Time to put a fly on now that the casting was looking quite good, and the odd fish began to show.

It was not long before Grant's fly grabbed the attention of a very nice seven pound grilse right off the tide! It was played admirably to a conclusion.

Happy days!

We had a nice day out on the river at Eden Lacy with Claire and Liz (mother and daughter) not so long ago, first time fishing, great fun, good company, nice weather and they both did a great job of it.

River Eden

2011-08-16T21:06:00.000+01:00

After all the heavy rain over the last week or so the river is now in fine order, there are plenty of salmon on the move with this second clean rise of water. The season is beginning to really shape up now, although the grilse run has not got under way yet, there are many large salmon entering the Eden.

River Eden

2011-08-02T19:25:00.001+01:00

The Eden is very low and clear at present even with all the rain we had last night. The fishing is sporadic but good when the conditions are right, very little in the way of hatches during the day as you would expect, a few stone fly, yellow may dun and the odd olive and caddis making an appearance.

Even though the fishing may not be full on so to speak, what is the worst that can happen when you are in such beautiful surroundings? The grayling this year may be in short supply for whatever reason, but what there is are of a very good stamp and in fine condition.

Happy days!

River Eden

2011-07-31T17:08:00.000+01:00

Fishing for both trout and salmon the second half of the month has been quite outstanding. There have been plenty of fish entering the Eden off each tide, it has been difficult fishing during the middle part of the day but morning and evening sessions have proved fruitful. Good numbers of bright grilse and some larger fish among them have been gracing the lower river, which is a great sight to see. Most fly patterns seem to work both large and small fished with a sink tip and no mending when the water is low and clear as it is.

The trout and grayling fishing has been surprisingly good during the very bright and hot days, in conditions you would think that would not be desirable for good fishing, and the evening rises are very short lived; but there you are, who knows what makes these things happen from time to time?

River Eden

2011-07-17T19:40:00.000+01:00

I have been away quite a lot this last few weeks, first over to Northern Ireland to the Irish International Fly Fair - http://www.irishinternationalflyfair.com/ for four days where Stevie Kennedy has done a fantastic job over the years for the Dibney Trust, and we at AAPGAI always support that. the whole thing went very smoothly and it was great to catch up with old friends there.

Then sea trout fishing in mid-Wales for four days with Illtyd, Clive, Karl and Phil, which was quite phenomenal and very interesting to say the least, even got a bit of beach fishing in .

And now back on the Eden, which I had sorely missed while I was away, apart from the couple of rises of coloured water, the fishing has been very good. A little slow in the daytime with the heat but early and late sessions are well worth the effort.

As we speak the Eden is rising due to the heavy downpours, although this may spoil the fishing, especially the trout and sea trout for a while, it will certainly get some fish moving, this is grilse time!

River Eden

2011-06-19T20:37:00.005+01:00

I have got to say, it has been quite a challenging and yet very enjoyable week in one way or another!

Although the weather has been unusually unsettled for June, blowing hot and cold one day, highs and lows of barometric pressure the next, which can sometimes affect adversely the behaviour of the fish and the invertebrate life, and that is out of our control. But when the conditions have been favourable, the fishing, especially the dry fly, has been nothing less than outstanding.

Peter

I have had some good friends fishing with me on the Eden this last few days, that have come from near and far to see what we have to be very proud of in Cumbria.

Simon Johnson of the Eden Rivers Trust had organised with the owners and caretakers of several beats on the river, for anglers from all over to come and sample some of the fine quality of the wild brown trout fishing our river has to offer. http://trust.edenriverstrust.org.uk/auction-2010.html

On the Friday evening at the Tufton Arms in Appleby, there were around seventy people attending an evening where there was a fabulous supper in between some very interesting talks from Paul Procter and Jeremy Lucas, followed by a fly tying demonstration and a raffle, all in aid of the Eden Rivers Trust to further improve and look after the Eden.

Lacy Caves

The scenery on most of the Eden beats is quite stunning, it is these places that people often do not see from the road, with the river being mainly situated in a deep valley, maybe that is possibly why it is one of the UK's good fly fishing destinations best kept secret.

Lower Lazonby

The quality of the wild brown trout turning up this season is just second to none.

Steve

We had great fun with Peter and Steve for the best part of the week, they were great company, first we fished Eden Lacy, followed by Lower Lazonby and then the lower river to get an idea of what the river was about.

Peter

It was good to see that on the opening day for the grayling, that they also made an appearance

Steve

Ken

Steve

Peter

To round off the trout week today we were on Upper Lazonby, I had Philip for company; the hatches were very slow to get going, and as they began to develop, the barometric pressure would drop and a cold front would come through putting paid to any more activity. Philip did manage a couple of trout and also missed a few which excuse the pun, is par(r) for the course on most days.

Philp

To add to the frustration as Philip did not want to fish the nymph, the river began to rise a little and some colour came in from last nights rainfall. It was decided that as the trout fishing was deteriorating rapidly, to do something constructive, a little Spey casting with the salmon rod was in order, which I must say was very impressive.

I think we should put a fly on was the general consensus; and so we did.

It was not long, Philip had only fished twenty yards down the pool when.....

A fine end to the trout week, with a salmon!

River Eden

2011-06-11T18:56:00.002+01:00

Plenty of heavy showers coming in from the west these last few days, this is making the fishing sporadic. In between fronts when there are mild spell the fishing is very good to both wet and dry flies.

A few sea trout, brown trout and grayling are making there presence known to nymphs and dries.

The water temperature the last three days has gone from 10oC to 15oC and is at summer level.

Steven.

Happy days!

River Eden

2011-06-09T23:46:00.003+01:00

Although the weather is very unstable at present with heavy showers and high winds, the river is at a good temperature and level. The fishing is a little patchy at times, but if you are there at the right time and conditions, it is pretty outstanding.

Ewan.

James.

Jo.

Derrick.

Craig.

With a nice sea trout.

River Eden

2011-06-03T21:43:00.000+01:00

Although the weather has been settled and the river at last is in fine order, the fishing has been difficult. A bit of a respite from the gale force winds and rain during May. We are having to go very deep with nymphs and find fast broken water to get any decent sport, with the water at 10oC, a south westerly breeze you would think that is was about as good as it gets! How wrong you can be sometimes.

Saying that we have had some good trout, sea trout and the odd salmon.

My good American friend Don.

We fish in some awful places.

Bob with a nice brown trout.

17 future fishers on the Eden.

River Eden

2011-05-24T19:19:00.000+01:00

With all this lovely weather the Eden remains a little damp in places, hopefully when it settles the fishing should be pretty good. Although the trout fishing will suffer for a while, the extra water will bring in the salmon from the estuary.

River Tay salmon course

2011-05-19T17:40:00.002+01:00

Our annual May salmon course was held on the majestic waters of Scotland's river Tay, at Lower Kinnaird near Pitlochry. The two-mile beat that salmon fishing author John Ashley-Cooper considered the finest fly water on the Tay offered both the ideal pools and runs for learning to Spey cast and a good chance of a spring fish.

A mixed group of experienced and novice salmon anglers joined me for the three-day course, along with fellow AAPGAI instructors Illtyd Griffiths and Bob Sherwood. Karl and his daughter Stephanie, and Frank and his son Robert, flew in from Germany while Rudigge jetted over from Oslo for the course. Mike from Manchester and Steven from Kendal, and Jon from Builth Wells, made the rather shorter journey up to the Tay.

With easy wading, beautiful water to swim the fly and access from both banks, Lower Kinnaird was the perfect location for a first foray into spey casting, while the frequently rolling fish on Monday showed that the salmon were running and made the participants all the more eager to send their flies out into the Tay pools.

Karl and Rudigge, both salmon veterans, took their instructons from ghillie Martin and headed upstream to seek a fish. Meanwhile the rest of the team headed down to Guay pool to get to grips with a roll cast and double spey. Mike and Jon both had some salmon fishing experience and were soon fishing down the run. The other novice members concentrated on the fundamentals of casting after an introduction to the often baffling etiquette and safety rules of salmon fishing.

All of the group quickly made progress, though the mysteries of the 15-foot double-handed rod might have seemed a little daunting at first.

Mike gave us an explosive highlight on the first day and showed just what drives salmon anglers to pursue these fish, as a fresh Tay springer exploded at his fly as he fished down with Bob. Hooked into his first ever salmon, Mike was more shocked than the fish which tore down off and gave a number of impressive jumps and swirls before taking mike down to the end of the pool where he eventually landed it. At 14lb of solid silver muscle, it was a fine example of the stunning fish that the Tay is famous for.

As the course went on, the group made steady progress, establishing the basics of the double Spey and circle cast and casting from both sholders, giving them the ability to fish off either bank in any wind direction.

Throughout the three days, Stephanie cast some effortless loops:

Frank's short stroke launched his shooting head across the pools:

Robert's determination paid off with some great casts, despite the dodgy hat:

Mike finished with neat double Speys and circle casts, fishing down the pools with great concentration:

Steven enjoyed himself so much, switching from right to left hand up, that is was hard to get him out of the water:

And Jon was sending huge casts with tight loops right across the pools:

Unfortunately, the slightly high water level held for the three days, pushing the salmon on through the beat and leaving a shotage of resting fish. Undettered, Karl and Rudigge fished hard, fuelled with an abundance of Toblerone, but were unable to produce a fish.

Another great advantage of the Lower Kinnaird course was that Martin looked after us flawlessly, producing a lavish lunch spread and cooking for us in the evening, so that the team never had to leave the river. It was particularly gratifying to see every member of the party choosing to stay on for the optional extra fishing time in the evening after dinner. in fact, their enthusiasm was such that they only just made it to the pub in time for a well-earned pint before closing.

Illtyd hooked another fish briefly one evening and Mike almost gave us a big finish when another springer rolled onto his fly during his final few casts. We'll cetainly be back for another crack at them next year.

River Eden

2011-05-12T17:35:00.000+01:00

The weather is more like early April now, and April was like late May, water temperature 58oF and the air 54oF. The fishing is turning a little sporadic at present with the unsettled weather, first a dry east wind, then west winds bringing sharp showers. The hatches are reflecting this and thus the fish behaviour, even so it is always a great pleasure to be out on such a beautiful river as the Eden.

Corrie.

Trevor.

With the showers has come a small rise in water levels, the river was very low last wek and now we have around five inches on that. There are a few salmon nosing in and a couple have been tempted, also one or two nice seas trout.

Tony.

To get things going now we need some sustained rain which is forecast shortly, just to give the river a quick flush through to get rid of the algae. This will then kick the salmon movements off and hopefully some predictable sport, most action at the moment it is all toward evening time.

Jo.

Had some very good company this week, had a great time, had good fun, long may it last!

A good movement of smolts has been going on for the past couple of weeks, there seems to be more around than the last few years which is very encouraging. I am of the the Tay on Sunday running a salmon course with Illtyd Griffiths and Bob Sherwood, although I will enjoy those three days, I will certainly miss the Eden.

River Eden

2011-05-06T20:17:00.001+01:00

The swifts arrived two days ago making quite a racket after their long journey.
Still very dry and low water conditions, but the trout are still willing. We have had some superb trout fishing the last few weeks and the grayling are also turning up again. there are quite a few small sea trout on the move, but very few salmon at present.

Nicky and Gary.

I have had the great pleasure to be on the river with some very nice people of late, it is certainly good company that makes or breaks a day.

Peter with a good airborn trout.

Charlie.

River Eden

2011-05-01T19:57:00.002+01:00

It certainly has been a difficult week with the strong easterly breeze, clear skies and low water. Still it has not been impossible conditions for the trout as they have performed admiralby. As they say a bad days fishing (if there is such a thing) is better than a good day at work!

Richard.

Hatches of fly life have been somewhat subdued with the wind, but when there was a lull they were up and the fish not far behind! Hawthorn flies are now apearing.

John.

Phil.

David.

The office!

The salmon fishing has been almost non-existant, we seriously need some rain, although the Eden for water level is doing a lot better than most rivers in the country.

River Eden

2011-04-24T19:00:00.000+01:00

Fishing activity was surprisingly good today for the bright and clear skies, still plenty of grannom coming of the water keeping things going.
Out today with Roly and Karen from Norfolk, really good fun and they did a great job!

An absolute pleasure to be with, great weather and good company.

Roly with a good trout, it does not get much better.

River Eden

2011-04-23T18:33:00.000+01:00

One of the visitors we often see at this time of year; there's more to fishing.......

River Eden

2011-04-22T18:01:00.000+01:00

I have enjoyed the last two days and great comapny with Mike and Brian on the river, the weather was not great for fishing for the time of year, but was ideal for BBQ's and picnics!

Saying that there has been some very good hatches of grannom all week and the trout have responded well during the late morning to noon time. Once the light has got too bright and the temperatures have climbed, the river shuts down until the evening.

Brian with a good trout.

Mike with a nice fish also.

The water temperature today is at 58oF and the air is in the high seventies and clear skies, wind was south east and went southerly in the afternoon..

River Eden

2011-04-14T20:36:00.000+01:00

The salmon fishing has slowed somewhat the last few days with very little coming off the tides at present. We have enjoyed a spell of good fishing up until then with some fine fish taken mostly on fly. Most of the kelts seemed to have now dropped back into the estuary, and the salmon that were in the lower river have gone up to pastures new.The trout fishing is improving all the time, the hatches are having longer periods now when there is not a stiff breeze and cool air temperatures during the day.

The river level at this point is summer height, clear and hovering around the lower fifties. The grannom have not yet made any sort of serious appearance, just the odd flurries at the moment.

Quite a few otters on the river this year again, and there have been Osprey also stopping off for lunch on their journey north.

River Eden

2011-03-18T19:19:00.000Z

John and Simon joined me today on the lower river, they are great fun and both very keen fishermen. Weather was dry, a cool breeze from the south west and the water temperature at 42oF.

The tide had just been and gone and a few kelts began showing, kelts do not often jump for no apparant reason, and on the next run through the pool Simon had got hold of one. The following run through confirmed the disruption with a fresh fish of around nine pounds which fell to one of Simons flies which he tied himself.

John and Simon

A nice fish carefully released

Patagonia week 9

2011-03-10T17:22:00.003Z

Week 9.

Hosted and organised by Illtyd Griffiths.

Illtyd, Jamie, Brian, Neil, Mike, Clive, Phil (Dobbin), Phil (Lord Boot) and Ed.

Guides- Stephan 2, Juan Manuel, Hernan, Diego and Stephan 1.

We just had fun from the very first minute, it does not matter what the fishing maybe like when you arrive, if you are in a group that know each other and nobody takes offence, it is a great part of the holiday.

But as it happened, although the water was on the low side and the wind direction variable, the group still did okay though (most had been before), it certainly was not easy, and the single handed rods with twenty odd foot leaders and small flies were used most of the time which was great fun.

Ed with Hernan

Jamie did very well with surface lures all week on the single hander.

Dobbins fishing partner.

There were a number of big fish lost also this week which often happens.

Mike with a good fish on dark.

And brother Clive (the fish magnet), Mikes fishing partner who did exceptionally well during the week with all big fish.

Neil was also enjoying himself with two twenty pounders for the week amongst others.

Lord Boot of Stoke releasing a good fish.

Ed and Phil who were fishing partners.

Phil (Dobbin) with a fresh fish.

My fishing partner Clint Griffith with a large brown.

Neil's fishing partner Brian with a silver sea trout.

What a cracking week and what great fun, five fish over twenty pounds for the group and plenty in the teens. Had the water been right it would have been ridiculous, but who wants it easy! Everyone had a ball, and the guides and staff as usual were fantastic.

A big thank you to everyone who came with us and to the Loop camp!

Cannot wait for next year!

Patagonia week 8

2011-03-10T14:54:00.003Z

It is always nice to get away from the Uk in February and March when the weather is cold, wet and windy and conditions not always reliable for fishing here. I have just spent two weeks on the Rio Gallegos with the Loop camp, first guiding a group on week eight through Jim curry's sporting agency Halstead and Bolton, and then my own fishing week with my very good friend who orgainises week nine, Illtyd Griffiths (next post).

There are some facinating rock formations in Argentina, this one on one of the pools called Kitchen, is ancient larva flow over sediment. Argentina is just a beautiful place to be, the scenery is stunning along with the unusual wild life.

Week eight group included Richard, Sandy, Ken, John T, John H, Jeff, Brian, David and last but not least Tony. A group of people that gelled very well and had a great sense of humour!
Water conditions were pretty much ideal at the start of the week with around 35cms on the gauge at 12oC and fish running. What made the fishing conditions a little difficult the first half of the week was the 30oC air temperature, hardly a wind and bright sunshine.

Intermediate lines and tips on the double handed rods with flies with yellow in the pattern were the order of the day, and after people settled in to the routine there was almost immediate action with john taking a nice sixteen pound fish and Richard one of twenty.

A bit of an anxious moment!

But a successful outcome, and you can see just how calm and hot the weather was.

One for John T's fishing partner David.

Jeff and Brian the lamprey also fishing partners had great fun too.

Later in the week as the water level dropped and cleared smaller flies and nymphs were employed on single handed rods like Yuk Bugs, Stoneflies, Vitamin C, Copper John and Staot tail fishing less depth.

Richard with guide Diego with a fish on dark at the Old Bridge pool.

Tony who cast very well and covered the pools with a nice fish of eighteen from Outer Limits pool.

Who is playing who here!

John H (that's the geezer!) with a nice sea trout from C-pool

Goucho's JohnT and Jeff even found time in between fishing to go for a ride (poor horses!)

Ken (also a great guitar player as you can tell by the way he holding this fish!)

Sandy (the trawler) who got the biggest fish of the week, 26lbs!

One of the awful sunsets we had to endure most of the week!

All in all a pretty successful week given the hard conditions, but everyone managed a double figure fish and there were four fish over the magic twenty pounds. Fantastic bbq on the Thursday followed by Juan Manuel and Ken on the guitar in the evening. Good nights out in Buenos Aires before and after the fishing, (not for vegitarians!).

We were all looked after very well at the lodge by Claudio (camp manager) and Fernanda, Sidney, Florence and Alexandro did an outstanding job of the great food and entertainment.

Thanks to all the very professional guides, Diego, Juan Manuel, hernan, Stephan 1 and Stephan 2 who did a great job of putting people in the right place at the right time.

River Eden

2011-02-13T15:22:00.000Z

Had a very pleasant three days on the river with Mike, Colin and James who are very nice people from Essex.

Although the river was very swollen, nearly three feet above summer level, it was running pretty clear. The first day was just too big on the lower stretches, so we changed to Warwick hall which was running a little less water, but still on the big side. Friday was just fishable and a few kelts were caught, a cold noth east wind all day. James was getting his first taste of salmon fishing and making a very nice job of the casting.

James.

Rain on the Friday night kept the levels up and on the Saturday it began to rise once more.

Most of the fishing was done off the bank as it was just a little too deep to wade.

Mike into a fish.

And carefully released.

The weather for Saturday was very pleasesant with a south westerly, the water temperature was at 5 Celcius.

Colin.

Colin persisted with the full sunk line and did a grand job.

Colin performing a little surgery before releasing.

River Eden

2011-01-31T10:52:00.001Z

A good spell of dry weather has put the Eden back into a good fly fishable state, the levels are around the one foot mark. There still are plenty of kelts waiting to drop down the river from above Carlisle, and a good number of baggots which would suggest there are still fish yet to spawn. The river is looking very clean and clear at present, there has been a little gravel movement throughout the system, but not too much damage with the recent high water we have experienced.

I was out on the river last wednesday with Ed and Phil shaking a few cob-webs off.

It was not a bad day weather-wise although the east wind did have a little bite to it. There was quite a bit of action throughout the afternoon when the temperature did finally rise.

It did not seem to matter too much to the fish when they were on which pattern they took, anything from large hairwings to bugs.

There still seems to be a shortage of grayling in the Eden this winter, it would be nice to have an answer to that one.

River Eden

2011-01-25T13:37:00.000Z

At last the river is at a reasonable height and condition that we were able to get out after the recent very high water. The flood has certainly moved some gravel around and it will be all to re-discover again where the good lies are, the river is looking very clean and scoured at present. I did hear that there was a springer caught this last few days on the lower river on a spinner which is always good news to hear that there are the odd fish entering the Eden. There are kelts now beginning to drop down the system, I just hope there has ben a good spawning and not too much damage done to the redds with the high water of last week.

Out with Ken, William and Chris on the middle river yesterday, the water was gin clear with about a foot above summer level and the weather quite clement for the time of year.

Once again this season the grayling were very hard to locate, all we could do after searching over a mile of river was to pick up twp grayling and one lost. The hard work was well worth it as both grayling were just over two pounds and fell to Williams rod.

Should be able to get out now for the next few days if the forecast is as it says to see what is what after the changes.

River Eden

2011-01-16T13:25:00.000Z

Not the best start I can remember to the salmon season on the Eden, five meters of water going through with gale force winds! The forecast looks a litle more settled for the coming week so fingers crossed we can get out by Thursday or Friday.

River Eden

2010-12-27T15:41:00.000Z

No change in the weather conditions over the last few weeks, it is still sub-zero and river still frozen to the extent that would make it very difficult to find suitable places where grayling might be. It wil soon be the start of the salmon seaon in January, I just hope that the temperatures rise a little so we can get out and have a go!

Cabin fever!

2010-12-11T20:22:00.000Z

Three weeks of helish cold temperatures along with snow and ice, have curtailed any thoughts of venturing out to do any serious fly fishing. We have had a few casting days with the more hardy, but even then the frigid line has been sticking to the rod rings with ice. The river up to two days ago was half frozen, but the grayling fishing was good when they could be located, and now we have a few feet of very coloured Eden snow melt water coming down after the thaw.

These are times when confined to barracks to do a few jobs that have been much neglected all year around the house, collect some rare brownie points and to sort out the tackle and flies for the coming season and look kind of organised.

It is good to see that inquiries for next season are coming in and October is already gone, the salmon season on the Eden starts on January 15th and if the conditions are good there is a chance of a fish. Now is the time to get the fly casting right before the season is in full swing so you have a flying start. April is when the trout fishing really kicks in and May/June is quite exceptional, the sea trout begins in ernest June onwards, and the salmon fishing is relaible given the right water from mid-March on the lower river. It will be May onwards before the fish are on the middle river, my favourite time of year at Lazonby with all the scenery there.

What sort of season can we expect next year? I wish I had the answer, this is nature and it will make you out to be a liar every time you predict it. Even if the fishing is poor at times, the scenery remains constant as do meeting and making new friends and aquaintances on the river, we always learn something new every time we go out; how bad can that be?

I am ceratinly looking forward to going to Argentina with some very good friends in February for two weeks, and then on return from there we can get the Eden season under way.

Have a peaceful Christmas to all I know and a happy New Year, and thanks to all who I have met on the river over the years, it has been a fulfilling, enjoyable and happy experience.

River Eden

2010-11-22T09:23:00.000Z

The water conditions at last are ideal on the lower river, it is now running quite clear, around a foot above summer level and dropping.
We had a good day on the water with Andrew from Blackburn in the week, a cracking late autumn day with hardly a breeze, and the seldom seen of late sun was making a welcome appearance. Fishing a couple of nymphs just off the rod tip got the desired result.

Almost there!

A very nice grayling and in fine condition.

Out and about

2010-11-16T20:20:00.000Z

Little bit of cabin fever set in last week, catching up with jobs at home under protest I might add, tying a few flies for next year and doing some river bank repair work. November is not the best of months for reliable weather, just when the river is beginning to settle in, more weather from the west appears and puts paid to it. I am waiting for those frosty still sunny days, where the river is low and clear for the serious grayling fly fishing to begin. There have been some very good specimens on the river this year so far, fish up to two pounds twelve the biggest up to present, looking forward to good conditions to have a proper go.
Spent the last day of the salmon season on the Annan yesterday with Anthony, it is probably the best it has been for some weeks now the season has finished. We will be doing a residential grayling school there this month.
Getting organised the salmon courses for the Tweed and Eden for next season, an instructor training day in April, Argentina in February and loads of other things, I will be glad when spring finally comes around once more!

Out and about

2010-11-08T11:07:00.000Z

I have not been at home for some time with various fishing excursions into Scotland. Fished the Teviot with Neil on the 25th October which was in good order but very cold weather the night before slowing things up early on in the day. I had to leave early on the Monday and it was then that things picked up a little when temperatures climbed and a few fish were caught.

On the 27th and 29th with Borderlines doing a couple of youth days we fished Warwick Hall on the right bank for grayling, thanks to Nick for that. The river even though the rain was quite heavy at times was in very good order, there were many grayling caught throughout the two days. It was also a revelation on those two days to see the return of the dace in amongst the catches, these fish have been conspicuous by their absence for some twenty years or so and some good specimens were seen.

The 2010 Annan salmon school with Anthony Steel and Mark Bowler took place starting on the Sunday 31st October, the week was split into two halves and was very well attended. I really look forward to this week as the fishing can be very good given the right conditions, but more importantly it is the people you meet, some of which come back year after year and are now good friends and very able fishers.

On the Sunday with the river in fine order the group were taken through the various Spey casting methods and safety procedures and did an excellent job getting ready for the fishing on the Monday. During the Monday unfortunately the river rose due to heavy rain the night before and put some colour in the water, there were fish moving throughout the beats.
With the rain the river kept it's high level for much of the week rising to around four foot three on the gauge and then dropping to three feet. The evenings were taken up with fly tying and talks, good food and good company.

Dave had three fish on the fly and lost one, he did a fantastic job fishing the fly close into the bank where the salmon were running. There were a few fish missed, and it was not until the second half of the week with the new arrivals that another fish was taken by Ulei on the fly (a New Zealand trout pattern!) of all things.

I visited my German friend Hartmut who was with a group of friends that were fishing Hoddam a little down from where we were in the week, and they too were struggling due to the conditions.

The weather at this minute is atrocious, the Eden has been in the fields, there are gale force winds and it is very cold, not the sort of weather to inspire one to go fishing.

River Eden, Tweed and AAPGAI open day

2010-10-22T17:27:00.001+01:00

I have been away for what seems like an age. The Eden finished it's salmon season on the 14th, I missed the last two days of it unfortunately but by all accounts I did not miss that much. Although conditions were about perfect for the last week it did not really develop, fish numbers were definitely down this autumn and I hope that this is just a blip in the whole scheme of things. Below are a couple of the pictures of fly fishing in the fog and it is the first time that I have seen success when there are these conditions.

Anglers are now turning their heads to the grayling fishing on the Eden, as long as the weather behaves, it is a beautiful time to be on the river. Those that are not venturing into Scotland where the fishing for salmon continues well into November will be in for a real treat with the condition of the grayling at this time of year. Not really my cup of tea that time of year in Scotland fishing for salmon where there are a lot of coloured fish; and many fallen leaves in the water that seem to keep you occupied for most of the day, (but I still go!).

The AAPGAI open day at Caer Beris Manor in Builth Wells was a great success on the weekend, there were many demonstrations covering fishing techniques, various casting workshops, one to one instruction and a lot of fun. This year Karl Humphries organised the event at short notice and did an excellent job, there was a good attendance and everyone looked after.

The next AAPGAI meeting and open day is the 23rd to the 26th March 2010 with the Open Day on the Saturday at Cockermouth - http://www.aapgai.co.uk/body/events.html

Just got back from the Tweed at Tweedswood having spent three days there with my good friend Ed, a very nice venue to be and Kevin a superb Ghillie to be with, the water was a little low on the Monday but there certainly were plenty of fish about. I was very lucky and managed to get hold of six on the first day and landed just two, the takes were a little non-committal from the fish due to the conditions. By the Tuesday, there was an overnight frost which really dropped the water temperature and enhanced the clarity, along with very bright sunshine it was always going to be difficult, not a sniff! By Wednesday after another cold night and very cold and breezy day the fish now were in the deeper faster water, only with a very fast tip and three inch black and yellow tube did we get a result.

River Eden

2010-10-11T21:53:00.000+01:00

After a quiet spell over the weekend where there was little activity, things are now starting to pick up a little. With the fair weather we have at present and the river settling in with clear water, the river temperature has dropped from 58oF to 48oF due to the cold clear skies at night. This morning we arrived on the middle river in thick fog, by 9.30 am Duncan Goldsmith had landed two hen salmon (photos to follow) on a small black and red fly weighing 5 and 15lb which were promptly returned. The fog lifted and things went a little slack until the evening around 6pm when he got hold of two more! There were some good numbers of fish moving during the period when the sun was hidden above the heavy mist, very encouraging.

River Eden

2010-10-05T21:09:00.000+01:00

Perfect conditions after the last coloured rise of water for fly fishing but very few new fish running the river at present. It should be a very reliable time of the year for autumn salmon fishing on the Eden, other close by rivers like the Ribble and Annan are doing very nicely, I just hope that this a blip.

Hugh

Ian, Terry and Ronnie

The weather does not look too adverse for the rest of the week, maybe, just maybe if things settle down a little we may be able to get some decent sport toward the end of the week, it aint over till the f.. .... sings!

River Tweed 27th-29th salmon course

2010-09-30T21:51:00.000+01:00

The annual Tweed salmon course held at Tweedswood was attended by, Michael, John, Hughie from the Stoke area, Ed from Cumbria and Simon from south Wales (and joined by another Stokie later Phil). The river conditions on the Monday were just about as good as they can get for the beat. The beat is perfect for such courses with a very well equipped hut with all the amenities, Kevin Patterson the resident ghilly is more than helpful and knows the river well.

The group.

The accommodation at the Buccleuch Arms two miles away was first class and we were all looked after very well with nice rooms and a three course evening dinner and superb breakfast. Neil Truelove, Illtyd Griffiths and myself were there to help for the three days and lunch was provided for all with a BBQ on the Tuesday.

During the first day after some initial tuition, there were sixteen fish played and nine landed, with a lot more takes missed, not a bad start!

Simon

Ed with another

John playing a fish from the boat

One happy man!

Simon

Michael aka (Mick) making a nice cast

Michael had hold of two fish during the three days but which sadly came off.

Hughie (who had the chance of five!)

The last day with all the heavy rain the night before the river began to rise putting paid to any more sport. This is prime time on the Tweed, fresh fish are numerous and a nice place to be. But what a great group with some characters and what a laugh, I hope to see them all next autumn on the Tweed.

River Eden

2010-09-30T21:48:00.000+01:00

Good numbers and quality of salmon on the river from the 25th onwards, and some very large fish up to twenty six pounds reported around Carlisle.

Two very good friends of mine Bob and Brett joined me for the weekend on the lower river, and between them had quite a time on the Saturday. The river was in fine order.

Brett

There were certainly enough fish on the move to keep things interesting off the tide, the weather was good along with the company. Six fish were contacted and Bob lost a large one on a tail of a pool with rapids below which wanted to head back to the Solway!

Bob

Although the water was an absolute dream on the middle beats on the Sunday there were few fish to be seen although the day before (and after) there were plenty.

But who cares when the scenery is as nice as it is anywhere and people are enjoying themselves!

The river continued to fish well until the 30th where the night before there was heavy rain which put a foot and a half of extra water in and plenty of colour.

River Eden

2010-09-24T13:52:00.000+01:00

The river was unfishable during Monday the 20th, not big but with plenty of colour. By Tuesday it was in good order on the middle beats but not so on the lower river until the Wednesday. Very little fish movement this week although there have been some fish taken, the main run which should happen now has not quite materialised yet.

Heavy and persistent rain with the river looking promising on the 23rd has put two foot on the level overnight with a fair amount of colour. There are fish moving at last and we are hoping that this could be the start of the autumn run, the weather is forecast dry for the next few days, I am out with two friends from London this weekend so fingers crossed for them.

River Eden

2010-09-20T11:20:00.000+01:00

It was one of those water conditions on the weekend that we all hope for when we go fishing. Everything seemed to be possible, there were salmon running, good hatches of stone fly and the odd sedge, and with some very good trout coming up for them, feeding all they can getting ready for their spawning soon.
Out on the river this weekend with me were Dave and John, Dave had a go at the trout for a while and came up with this on the lower Eden!

A fine brown trout in anyone's book which was released carefully.

John had lost a salmon during the first five minutes of arriving, there were fish coming in off the tide all morning and running through, it began to slow during the afternoon. On the Sunday we gave the middle river a go, and after the nights heavy rain the water slowly lifted by seven inches but still clear during the day which encouraged fish to run. It was not long before John hooked another and promptly lost it, we had a discussion about the merits of long distance catch and release and being a conservationist. The next one did not come off to everybody's relief.

A bit of a moment there

Hen fish carefully returned

Last but not least, Dave, good weekend and very good company, if Carlsberg made fishing weekends......

River Eden

2010-09-13T19:35:00.000+01:00

The river was in fine form today with just a slight peaty tinge, a foot above summer level and quite a few fish moving. There have been many salmon caught today up and down the river, but it has not stopped raining all day and I fear the worse for tomorrow with two inches of rain forecast tonight along with gale force winds.

But like they say a bad days fishing is better than a good day at work!

On the middle river with Harold today trout fishing, unlike yesterday with the heavier colour to the water and the fish pretty hard to tempt, today was a different story, there was plenty of interest.

Nice one Harold!

River Eden

2010-09-11T19:39:00.000+01:00

Not many fish to talk about yesterday, the water was at summer level and clear until the tide came and ended up in the fields. Today with the rain from last night the Eden has risen by a foot and with colour, just before that happened there were quite a few fish taken. All being well tomorrow the the river should be in fine fettle.

River Eden

2010-09-09T19:36:00.000+01:00

Massive tides all week of up to ten meters are stopping the fishing for around three to four hours before it eventually runs off. The big tides they never seem to bring many fish with them, but what they also do is lift the residents a little further upstream, highest tide tomorrow. The weather looks unsettled for the rest of the week so we will have to wait and see what happens, we do need water like everywhere else to get some numbers in to the middle river.

Out with a delightful couple today Jack and Sue on the lower river, lovely people and lovely weather to go with it.

River Eden

2010-09-08T20:27:00.000+01:00

The weather at the beginning of September has been quite exceptional, the river has been below summer level and the water temperature at around 60oF. There are plenty of salmon on the lower beats of the Eden and more come in off the tides everyday. The trout fishing with the low water has been very good, especially when there is cloud cover or fast water. Although there are good numbers of salmon present in pools they are very hard to tempt, nevertheless it is good to see them.

I have been out with some very good friends on the river and we have had a ball all week.

Rod and Tim.

Eddie.

John.

Kate and Dan.

Dan.

Johnny.

River Eden

2010-08-26T20:34:00.000+01:00

It has been a week of mixed fortunes, before the rise of water last Friday there were plenty of fish on the lower river arriving and willing to have a go. My good friends on our syndicate got five and lost a couple on the fly.
The water then coloured up and rose three feet with a heavy peat tint on the Saturday, it began to fine down and drop during the week. By today it is now at just above summer level with a slight tint. Did not see many fish showing throughout today, but out with my friend Ed, between us we managed to get attached to seven fish.

Ed playing the first fish of the day and christening his new rod into the bargain as well. Although there were anglers spinning on the opposite bank, it was the fly that did the business today.

Right off the tide a cock fish of eight pounds on a Boyo. Ed also got a couple more bright grilse that were returned.

Happy days!

River Dee

2010-08-22T16:03:00.000+01:00

I have been away for the last week or so on the river Dee at Little Blackhall just above Banchory running two three day salmon course's with Alan Maughan. A very enjoyable week with some real nice people who were keen to learn and fish. The accommodation on the fishery is very adequate, amply furnished and very relaxing and the river a one minute walk away.

The first day there was good water conditions, and after a little casting practice a couple of fish were taken and a couple missed.

Just happened to be in the right place at the right time for a good look at Tim's fish!

Tim did a great job of playing the fish into the bank to a conclusion.

Nothing more bigger than grilse size fish caught for the first half of the week but very enjoyable with four fish banked for the first three days.

For the second half of the week the water continued to drop and so lessen the chances of taking fish although there were plenty seen. The second group that arrived were very much more keen to get their Spey casting much improved rather than fish. This was easily achieved as the enthusiasm of the group was just fantastic, some of them were casting from breakfast to dark!

All in all a very enjoyable week with some very good company, with people Welsh, Scottish, South African, English and even a rather odd chap from Birmingham, and everyone having a great sense of humour. Many thanks for making it all such fun to Trevor, John, Rob, Brian, Tim, Ian, Mike, Clive, Brian, Chris, Gary and the odd chap from Birmingham John.

River Eden

2010-08-09T21:15:00.000+01:00

It has certainly been a strange period on the Eden of late, although there are plenty of grilse and salmon entering the river, they are reluctant takers. The grilse seem intent on running the lower river but they are not quite getting to the middle beats in any serious numbers. The levels are fluctuating with the showers we are receiving this week and there is a peaty stain with clarity which does not seem to suit the fish that much. the forecast remains unsettled for the coming week.
The trout and grayling fishing is struggling a little during the day but is good in the evening, the sea trout seem very well spread out on the Eden now.

Yesterday David and Alfie fished with me on the middle river, although their casting was excellent only small trout were caught and a good'un lost. Alfie beat his dad eleven nil! Did not see many fish show at all that day.

Nathan and Sarah from Conset fished very hard today for both trout and salmon, for all their efforts they were rewarded for a few small trout, with the peaty stain it was difficult. The river at the middle beats is just hovering around the summer level mark.

More rain forecast tonight and tomorrow, the fish are maybe waiting for a little rise to get them higher up the river.

River Eden

2010-08-05T21:19:00.000+01:00

Was on the river Tweed from Monday to Wednesday, I have heard it before "you should have been here last week!" The water was on the low side but it was still a nice three days with some very good friends, you can't beat that!

At last we have some fish running the Eden although it is still at summer height, the main of them seem to be grilse, their late, but better late than never as they say. On the lower Eden today with Geoff and we saw a few grilse and sea trout showing off their impressive leaping skills to us, but we were not impressed with their fly taking abilities.

The weather was very good especially in the morning with good cloud cover and a stiff breeze. Because the salmon were playing very hard to get, Geoff had a go for some trout and did rather well. It is always a nice alternative when the salmon fishing is a little slow to do these things.

River Eden

2010-08-01T18:00:00.000+01:00

Reports today of a good pod of grilse going through the middle river, did not see any yesterday go past on the lower beats, I think they must have come in on the night tide. Typical though, we were fishing for trout today when they ran through; Sid's law!

Chris and Dana we with me on the river today who just got married and they are from from Texas, we had a great time out and it was a pity that all the trout that were on the take were on the small side and not what they are used to back home.

Chris did an exceptional job of the fly casting for a novice and they were real nice people to be with!

Off to the Tweed now for three days with Illtyd to do a salmon course at Tweedswood, it's a hard life but someone has to do it!

River Eden

2010-07-31T19:24:00.000+01:00

The last day of July and still the grilse have failed to materialise in any numbers, there are a few fish about but for an absolutely perfect water you would think there would be more. Yesterday was a pretty good day with quite a few salmon taken up and down the river, but today... This is just a fact of life when salmon fishing, you take the good days along with the bad, and the worse thing about it is that you have still enjoyed the day out whatever happens, how bad can that be?

Phil joined me today on the lower river, I must say that I really enjoyed Phil's casting, enthusiasm and craic, we did see a couple of fish show in the deeper sections just before the tide but nothing in the runs, and even the trout have gone quiet of late.

Carlisle Angling Association yesterday provided a junior day on the Eden at Rickerby Park, it was certainly well attended with almost one hundred participants who were fly casting, fishing and fly tying, food was laid on for everyone, I think a good day was had by all and many thanks to CAA for that.

River Eden

2010-07-26T17:48:00.000+01:00

The water conditions on the lower and middle Eden are about as good as it gets with a nice tint to the water and around ten inches above summer level. For whatever reason the grilse have not arrived in any numbers yet. Ireland are getting a lot of grilse now and it is usually a week or so after that we on the west coast get the same, we will have to wait and see.

Due to some cancellations we have a couple of spaces for the Tweed on August 2nd, 3rd and 4th at Tweedswood near Melrose. At this very minute there are good numbers of sea trout on the beat with a few salmon. Should anyone be interested in just the fishing for the cost of day ticket or having some help with their fly casting alongside that please let me know and we can tailor make that for you, it would be a shame to miss this opportunity and we can arrange some accommodation also if needed.

River Eden

2010-07-23T20:15:00.000+01:00

Although I did miss the big coloured water on the Eden the last couple of days, I did not miss it on the Dovey. The rain was torrential and the river big, we managed to get the last couple of hours in on the last evening at the top of the river as it began to clear. Also fished for wild brownies on a nice secluded lake up in the hills loch style with palmered flies, it was like going back in time, just beautiful and I felt very privileged be invited.
The Eden now after it's few feet of flood water is starting to fine down now and is at ten inches with a peaty tinge, there have been a few grilse taken today which is the right timing for this, and great news as we missed most of it last season.

River Eden

2010-07-19T16:09:00.000+01:00

Just as the river was shaping up nicely with a few fish running the heavens opened last night and today we have a dirty flood. At least it is a good one that will flush the remaining debris away. Fortunately I will miss the big and coloured water as I am on the Dovey for three days fishing with my good friend Illtyd. I was out with a good friend of mine Alexander on Sunday on the middle river and the water was a perfect height with a little tint to it, Alexander contacted a fish on a Boyo fly size eight, which promptly came off unfortunately.

Got to say though Alexander's Spey casting was quite exceptional for having three years off the river. We had to cancel today because of the high water and Alexander will try again tomorrow, good luck to him. The grilse run should begin this coming week when the water clears a little all being well.

River Eden

2010-07-14T16:54:00.000+01:00

These bands of rain passing over the county have put a little fresh water and oxygen into the river and the temperature is now at a comfortable 60oF. A few salmon at the lower end of the Eden, my very good friend Ed managed to winkle one out on the fly early this week so there must have been a lot in the pool!
There are some heavy showers over Cumbria as we speak and hopefully this will give the Eden a good rise to wash the remaining algae growth away to give the river a clean start.
There seems to be more sea trout around this year than of late which is good news.
Big tides due to a new moon approaching this week are pushing the river back upstream and rising levels by three feet or more, this does help the fish in and we often get wet weather at new and full moon phases, maybe some fish will run on this. We do need some salmon to get up to the middle river.
Andrew joined me today on the middle river, and unlike yesterday when the barometer was falling and the fishing was slow, today mid morning it was on the rise and he managed a good trout and missing a couple more.

River Eden

2010-07-12T19:27:00.000+01:00

I have been on the Aberdeen Dee for the last week running a salmon course, it seems the water shortage was the same up there also. Although we had rain on the Sunday night which put the water up by a foot or two it soon ran off, there was one fish caught of twelve pounds and a couple lost. As soon as the levels dropped back again it was back to casting for the sake of it, very useful pastime but not very productive.
It seems to be a problem all over the UK this season, very dry for long periods everywhere and now we have a hosepipe ban in force. Last Saturday night the rain that fell on the hills did manage to put just over a foot into the Eden and on the Sunday it was pretty dirty with all the algae being washed down the river. By Monday the water had cleared sufficiently to allow good fishing conditions. There are not many salmon running on this but the next lift of water we get will certainly change things, we have an unsettled week ahead of us which is great news.

I was out on the middle river with Keith and Sue today who were very good company, we did see a fair bit of activity in the morning with fish rising on a regular basis, but by mid day it had gone a little quiet. Bit of a shame really, by the time we got the casting good the trout had gone down although we did get hold of a couple on nymphs later which came off.

Never mind we all had a good day and saw plenty of wild life and the weather was just perfect!

River Eden

2010-07-01T17:56:00.000+01:00

We have been doing a few school days earlier in the week on the Eden on behalf of Borderlines and the S&TA which were great fun, the weather was very good for those outdoors.There has not been much change in the conditions on the river (seem to have been saying that for a while now), there are good numbers of sea trout around but with the cloudy water they are not ready takers. As for the salmon, they seem to prefer the estuary at present until the levels change. We were hoping that the rain they forecast would come to give a well needed flush, but not yet.
The brown trout fishing is pretty good if we get overcast skies, this morning the wind was from the west and it was cloudy overhead, there were fish showing everywhere, soon as the wind swung round from a more easterly direction it seemed to flatten everything. The weather has to break soon, then we can all get back to business.
Anyone that is interested in some salmon, sea trout and trout courses due the next two months (hopefully by then the rain will come) there are some places left -

http://www.cumbriaflyfishing.co.uk/courses.htm

River Eden

2010-06-24T19:07:00.000+01:00

Apart from today where the conditions have been overcast and a lot cooler, very little has changed since the last report. The weed growth is getting desperate and water levels severe, they are now talking about a hose pipe ban. I hear on the Ribble there are sea trout going belly up with the low oxygen content in the river, we are not at that stage yet on the Eden thank goodness. I do not like to be negative about the situation that we are in, but until we get some decent rain we are in the doldrums for a while.

The salmon are just nosing into the very lower river and going no further, there are a few fish about and some anglers are picking away at them with various baits, some of the fish are in the teens of pounds. The sea trout fishing at night is not that fantastic due to the slight cloud of algae bloom, but there are fish there.

David and his daughter Elizabeth did okay while there was some cloud early on in the day, when the sun broke through everything shut down once more.

Haydn did not stand a chance with the bright conditions although he fished very well and hard that day.

Today with the good cloud cover and cooler temperatures the fishing was pretty steady, Mark got into quite a few fish and missed plenty.

River Eden

2010-06-18T18:02:00.001+01:00

We have been doing a few youth days over the last week, one a pilot scheme for the S&TA, a day for a school on the Eden and classroom and a couple of schools at Port William. Fished the river a few times since then and I have to say that very little in the way of water conditions has changed of late. The trout fishing is still slow unless you are there in the evening or fishing very small flies during the day. Out with Dave today, north wind, bright sunshine, it was all against him but he did a grand job!

The algae growth is getting pretty serious and the bloom in the water increasing, there are plenty of invertebrates on the river bed but not much coming off at present. I was on the lower river today and did see quite a few salmon showing there, these were fresh fish off the tide but not running. The tides are big enough this week to maybe lift a couple of fish further up the lower beats and away from the estuary nets and predators. The night fishing for sea trout is not spectacular as it should be due to the cloudier water, once we get a decent flood to wash this away and cool things down it should be business as usual. I think most rivers in the UK are struggling with the same problem at the minute, just need some serious rain.
Water temperature 60oF.

River Eden

2010-06-11T21:16:00.000+01:00

Rain eventually came on the 6th and 7th June along with stiff east winds, but with the growing season in full swing and the ground so dry, the majority of water disappeared into the ground and just putting a meagre four inches into the Eden. Not quite enough water to make any salmon move but welcome none the less.
Ed and myself were on the river Tweed for three days and that was exactly the same, not a sign of a salmon anywhere to be seen, but there seems to be plenty of good sea trout in the lower beats of the river though.
Borderlines in conjunction with the S&TA did a day on the Eden in Rickerby Park courtesy of CAA with High Hesket school yesterday, the weather was good and the people who attended were very well behaved and enjoyed themselves.
Watching the water on the lower river Eden today there was very little movement of anything although there are a good head of trout and sea trout in, sometimes if you are quiet you can watch some of the bigger trout hitting the minnows in the shallow water of the margins. Today I saw a few fish making bow waves into the thinner water, only this time they were not chasing minnows but trying to get as far away from an otter which was pursuing them. These sights we sometimes see are are priceless, and probably a very good reason why some of us like to go fishing, just an excuse to be by a lovely river.
Tomorrow Clive and myself are back on the Nith for the weekend with Dumfries and Galloway Anglers, I think the weather is set pretty fair for the next few days.

River Eden

2010-06-06T22:30:00.000+01:00

The trout fishing has been rather slow on the Eden during the daytime the first week of June due to the low flows and high temperatures unless you are willing to fish into the darkening. There is good sport to be had, the brown trout fishing this spring has been second to none when the conditions have been right. Salmon fishing is poor at present with the fish just nosing in from the estuary and dropping back again. Today is the first day of the rains to come and the week is forecast to be unsettled, this maybe is the time for the long overdue flush out of the river which is very much needed just to get rid of the algae and ever increasing blanket weed. The first week or so of June often see the larger salmon enter the Eden and the sea trout alongside, if the conditions permit, a good rise of water and then clearing and fining down, it should be nothing less than outstanding and re-invigorate the brown trout fishing also.
Just spent the weekend after being invited with Clive on the river Nith with Dumfries and Galloway Angling Association helping some of their members with fly casting techniques, a great bunch of enthusiastic people. We had to cut the day short on the Sunday afternoon with the threat of being struck by lightning as it was all around with some hefty showers on the hills. Off to the Tweed with Ed for three days on Monday, I just hope that they have had rain there also to get some fish moving up otherwise I shall have to enjoy some of the fine trout fishing the Tweed has to offer.

River Eden

2010-05-30T19:48:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-29T22:25:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-28T13:53:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-24T19:44:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-22T21:10:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-20T16:51:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-14T19:27:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-07T19:11:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-06T20:07:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-05T19:53:00.000+01:00

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

2010-05-05T19:45:00.000+01:00

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.

River Eden

2010-04-29T18:46:00.000+01:00

Not so hot today on the salmon front, just the odd fish showing itself. Big tides this last couple of days have been raising the levels several feet for an hour or two which kills the fishing. Good hatches of grannom this morning which petered out by the afternoon, the wind was a south westerly.

We saw the first of the swifts arrive on the Eden today, always a welcome sight.

Adam joined me today and did manage to get hold of a couple of small sea trout and a grayling, he also had a few takes in the morning that were missed and things did slow down during the afternoon.

We gave the salmon a go for a while without success, so Adam stuck with the single handed rod most of the day, although there were one or two salmon showing in the morning we did not see them in the afternoon, whether they had moved through or not during the day we do not know. The levels are at just below summer height but still good.

River Eden

2010-04-26T17:21:00.000+01:00

My good friend Ed who was with us in Patagonia this year was on the lower Eden today, a little cooler south westerly breeze seemed to supress the hatches somewhat slowed the fishing down. Still the odd grannom coming off along with brook duns and a lot of large stonefly still around.
Ed fished the dry fly and did okay with a Klinkhammer.

The brown trout and in fine condition.

Water temperature today is 54oF, there are some sea trout moving into the Eden at present and with the summer level the salmon are not moving far, great for the lower reaches but not for the middle Eden. An unsettled week is forecast, should be interesting.

There are still two places left for the salmon fly fishing course on May 11th with Paul Little and myself due to a cancellation. Hopefully by then we will have had rain and the fish will have moved up there, this is a beautiful beat to fish.

These courses are geared for all abilities and if you do not have any equipment it can be supplied free of charge along with lunch.

http://www.cumbriaflyfishing.co.uk/courses.htm

We have the whole beat to ourselves.

River Eden

2010-04-24T20:19:00.000+01:00

This morning although the wind was from the east it was not a cold as it was previously, the day was also a little more sunnier than of late.The hatches of grannom are getting more intense, the fish must be gorged on them by now, the little sedges are crawling onto your waders and laying eggs. There was a good rise from the fish in the morning which petered out a little by the afternoon, but there are fish a plenty! During late afternoon the wind at last had swung round to a more south westerly.

Raymond on the far bank into a two pounder.

My old friend David (who got a twelve pound fish on his last visit) came up to fish with me on the Eden today and brought his brother in law Gavin along, Gavin who is a relative beginner at fly fishing began with some trout fishing and did an exceptional job with the casting. First starting with fishing wets using a double Spey followed by a Circle cast as the wind directon changed, even managed to connect with some fish.

David stuck to the salmon fishing all day, we did see a lot of fish moving in small pods through the beat for most of the day, but they just were not interested. Then at three o'clock the mood of the fish seemed to change with the wind and David missed the first of the day.

He did not miss the second one which took a Boyo fly fished on a sink tip, a nice cock fish near the seven pound mark and fresh off the tide.

Gavin did a splendid job of carefully landing the fish.

David returning the salmon which swam off strongly, good weather, good day, good company and good fishing, it does not get much better!

River Eden

2010-04-22T17:36:00.000+01:00

Steven and Diana are a lovely couple, and it was a great pleasure to have them visit the Eden on a morning when the temperature was warmer than of late and thigs were happening at last. The hatches of grannom and large darks were good and the fish responded well, Steve got hold of a sea trout followed by a brownie, Diana also managed to hook one but it soon parted company.

As the hatch decreased during the afternoon Steve got a take from something quite substantial which promptly broke him. Later on in the afternoon the temperature dropped suddenly and all activity ceased.

Did a kick sample and was looking at a very healthy river!

River Eden

2010-04-19T19:52:00.000+01:00

A little warmer to day and the hatches of olives were a big improvement, the fishing is still on the slow side but going the right way.

Had Brian up today, got to grips with things very well, had a couple of sprats and lost a good fish on the spiders.Seems like the smolt run is building up now, that should please the goosanders!

As Brian said, there could be worse places to spend a day and he did like my office!

River Eden

2010-04-18T21:54:00.000+01:00

Had Nigel up from Essex for three days, a real nice fella, the weather was good, the river in perfect ply with the water temperature at 45oF and air 54oF. There were salmon in residence in the lower reaches but were very reluctant to make our aquantance. The wind did swing around to a more westerly on Friday but the air was still cool. Plenty of large stonefly are around, no grannom as yet.

It was a bit of a struggle to get the fish to have a go on Friday and Saturday although there was a sea trout taken by Nigel on a small wet. Around tide time the odd salmon showed but were not stopping for long, still no hatches of any consequence occured. On the Sunday at lazonby it was a little more cloudier and with a warmer breeze, there were decent hatches of Large Darks and the fishing was a little easier with trout topping freely until the air cooled once more in the late afternoon. Meanwhile on the lower river with the threat of rain on the horizon, quite a few salmon and sea trout entered the Eden and were showing themselves.

River Eden

2010-04-15T17:57:00.000+01:00

Very cool air temperatures again today around 6 oC with the east wind, the fly activity was almost non-existent. Around 3pm there was a two degree rise and this brought a couple of fish on the take, we stayed with light nymphs, I am not keen on deep bugging at this time of year after a winter of it.

Rob was into a trout the minute the temperature rose on a Hares Ear.

This was swiftly followed by a grayling which was quickly released.

Around tide time there was a good bit of salmon and sea trout activity, the river level at present is around six inches above summer level and very clear. The things you see when you aint got your gun!

River Eden

2010-04-14T20:52:00.000+01:00

Still the easterly breeze persist and is suduing the hatches of L.D.O's, the fishing remains slow in these cool and bright conditions along with clear water.
Keith did very well today on Upper lazonby, he hooked and lost a coupe of trout on PTN nymphs. It is not always about catching fish as they say and the worse case scenario is that the scenery was stunning.
Canoest are really getting more intrusive as time goes on, I can see some serious trouble brewing in the near future, today we had eight of them stop in the middle of the pool we were fishing doing Eskimo rolls, with eighty miles of river to go at why pick that particular spot; unbelievable!

River Eden

2010-04-13T19:43:00.000+01:00

Just back from the AAPGAI weekend at Builth Wells, great weather and good company.

Had Ken out last week at Warwick Hall as the river was dropping in nicely, his casting was fine and on the second day he fortunately hooked and unfortunately lost a springer in the Battery pool.

Came back to the Eden on sunny Monday and was out with Hugh who is great fun and company, the river is looking perfect, the water temperature is now at 50oF. There are now salmon above Armathwaite weir, not many yet, but at least they are now moving upstream with the warmer water. The sandpipers are there in numbers, ravens are nesting and the toads are in an amorous mood.

The trout fishing is picking up steady now, the Large Dark hatches are still a little sporadic but should settle down. Spiders are not really doing the business as they should just yet although the heavier nymphs are proving more successful.
Today the air temperature has dropped by a good 8 degrees, the water is pristine at just over a foot above summer level and we are looking good!

River Eden

2010-04-05T19:38:00.000+01:00

Lot of heavy rain last night and high winds have put the river up big and coloured.

River Eden

2010-04-03T19:37:00.000+01:00

The river levels are now beginning to drop and were at two feet today and clearing. The south westerly had swung round at mid-day to and easterly which cooled things down and stopped the hatch of Large Dark Olives continuing.
Out today with Mike who was a good laugh and did a cracking job of the casting!

The water temperature has dropped down to 42oF with the rain and snowmelt, we could do with a few more degrees higher to settle things.

River Eden

2010-04-01T10:23:00.000+01:00

With all this rain over the last couple of days the Eden is pretty full again and at the moment unfishable. Just when you thought spring was about to arrive.......
We will have to keep an eye on the weather, if it stays dry enough we could be back out for the weekend with a little luck. This is a great time for a springer and the trout should be on the go from now as soon as the river drops in again, fingers crossed.

Tweed

2010-04-01T10:19:00.000+01:00

The three day spring Tweed salmon fishing course with Illtyd and Neil got off to a greart start on the first day with everyone getting to grips with some good fly casting techniques to deal with the strong easterly upstream wind. Our good friend Sandy who has been with us before got hold of two nice sea trout with a foot of water on the gauge both caught on a yellow tube fly. David also a very good friend of ours who came last year when it was very low water and warm conditions, saw quite a different picture this time of the opposite. Ken who I met for the first time was also great company and extremely enthusiastic, did exceptionally well getting a good line out despite the high winds.

Overnight the weather came in bringing copious amounts of rain and put the level up by two feet, later during the day it began to snow quite heavy. On the last day the wind turned westerly upstream and the snow was relentless until the afternoon, although the fishing was out of the question there were some good useful fly casting sessions. It is always a pity when the weather comes in like it did on these sort of events, but unfortunately it is out of our control.

Kevin as always was a great help on the beat with his knowledge and friendly manner, the fishing hut is fantastic where you can go for a hot brew and warm by the fire, many thanks to him for that. The Buccleuch Arms hotel was a very nice and comfortable place to stay, Billy and Steven looked after us all very well indeed, everyone enjoyed the good food and hospitality.

River Eden

2010-03-25T19:24:00.000Z

From the water temperature hovering just above the 40oF mark for the last couple of weeks, today it had risen to 48oF. With the one foot rise in water level it is making fish move, I have seen new fish entering the river and plenty of kelts dropping down toward the estuary yesterday and today. At last things are beginning to wake up after the long cold spell.

Out today with Ross and Jack who were fantastic company and very keen, Jack managed a Kelt and had another pull from something as did Ross using sink tips. The weather was very kind with showers all around everywhere but on the river, plenty of bird life to see and fish movement.

Saw the first arrivals of the sand martins and a couple of house martins today!

River Eden

2010-03-25T19:01:00.000Z

The conditions and weather for two day salmon course with Jim Curry and myself held at the Warwick Hall beat on the Eden really could not have been better. The group were great fun and very enthusiastic with everyone getting either a fish or a good pull. Steve on the first day had the line stripped off his reel as the fish took off upstream at an alarming rate before a severe leader failure occured.

On the first day the river level was at one foot above summer level with a slight tint, on the second day with rain from the night before it had risen five inches.

Everyone by the second day were casting very nicely and effectively covering the water well.

All enjoyed the stay at Warwick hall so thanks to val, Nick and Charley.

Quite a number of new fish entered the beat during the afternoon with the rise of water which was encouraging.

Great fun and a wonderful two day's.

River Eden

2010-03-22T20:27:00.000Z

The river has been slowly rising all day with a touch of colour, nothing too serious but enough to put the fish down, could not buy a bite today with Tim and Graham, everyone tried very hard.

River Eden

2010-03-21T20:47:00.000Z

The steady light rain yeasterday has brought the river levels up by one foot with a little colour today after the two weeks of summer height, had this been in the warmer months, the fishing with these ideal conditions would have been fantastic. The water temperature is still cold at around the 40oF mark and the salmon are less inclined to travel far until it goes up another couple of degrees, saying that there have been a few early sea trout showing themselves thirty miles upstream from the estuary.
There have been a few more salmon taken on the lower river of late with the biggest at 16 pounds; very encouraging. Jim Curry and I are running a two day salmon fishing course at Warwick Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, there seems to be just the right amount of rain to make it very interesting for the right conditions fingers crossed.
Insect activity not into any sort of gear yet with the cool water but looking very much forward to some decent sport with the trout when it does kick in, Large Darks the first ones to show that are of interest to the fish.
Out today casting with Julian and Tony on the middle river which went very well, and a hot bacon butty was thrown in for good measure! Happy day's!