Bank Holiday Bonanza

With the weather conditions perfect i headed up to knotthollow tarn, after pulling into the car park and looking at the catch return sheet i could see that rod average is still nice and high and just about everyone is catching.

I wandered around the tarn and saw plenty of fish topping heading for the causeway i opted for a shapman's Buzzer (Black Size 14 +16) and casting at rising fish manged to connect with a few.After the rises stopped i opted for a klinkhammer in the same sizes and continued to catch.

The fish are all excellent quality and fight like hell, if you have not been up for a while do yourself a favour and have a trip up the place is on top form and is full of fish

Big Browns

Back on the eden today with my fishing buddy greg saw us stalking trout as the eden is still very low and clear Greg targeted two trout after putting a cast over them a few times they moved off.Round the bend in the next run i noticed a fish sipping away in the foam line,casting a size 18 BWO up came a pair of lips and the result was a stunning 3lb 2oz eden brownie (photographed,wighed and returned).We carried on up the river and dropped onto a pool as a large hatch of BWO'S were coming off taking at turns to cast to rising fish i hooked into another big brownie it  jumped 2 foot out of the water trying to throw the hook, after a brief and heart stopping battle it shook the hook.Not a bad day one to me and one to the trout but it gives me a excuse to return to the eden!!

Chasing the ripple

With the temperature threatening to get into the low 20 degrees I headed up Knott at 8.30 thinking I would have the place to myself.Dropping onto Knott 4 other anglers had the same idea as me.I had a quick chat with Albert (pettigrew) and after a brief chat we both set out on our separate ways.


The tarn was manly flat calm but now and again we would get a nice ripple on the water heading for the ripple Albert caught steadily.I headed into the small pond to fish the ripple as well and caught one and pricked a few all on a red muddler hopper (see picture) or you could get them using the heave and leave method ( casting a hopper out and let it drift round in the wind and wait for a take.One thing i noticed the fish are right in the side and as you can see the picture on the right albert was standing a good 5 yards from the water and casting most if not all of his fly onto the grass so it was only his tipett and fly that was in the water.























Alan Plevey

return to eden

For the first time in a few weeks found me on the Eden,the reiver reports were certainly right low and clear.A strong downstream wind didnt fill me with a great deal of hope as i tackled up.

On reaching the river bank i had a wander down the river looking for feeding fish
About 1 oclock we had a massive hatch of buzzers and the river came alive (see picture) on went a shipmans buzzer and casting to fish i winkled a few out!! A good end to the day and even better to finally get out on the river

flying visit

I decided to have a few hours up knott sunday night got there just before 6 to be met by a cold blustery wind,when the wind dropped fish could be seen topping regulally.On went a small spider pattern and after about a hour of searching out the water a lovely brown trout came to the net.

After 1 1/2 hours i decided to call it a night as i was walked off Austin Robbie and his fishing mate had just just arrived.Checking the catch returns a few days later i noticed Austin caught 8 and his mate had caught 4 all on spider patterns (no doubt one of austins legendary hotspots!!!!!)

day of two halves

With the rivers holding no water what so ever and only a few hours spare to fish i visited High Newton one of my favourite waters.

One arrival i was met by flat calm water and quite a few fishermen,it was hard going lots of fish topping but with no ripple it was going to be a hard days fishing

I went through my fly box trying various drys and nympths but to no avail,finally at about 12 oclock the wind picked up i made my way straight towards the ripple luckily i met quite a few anglers heading in the opposite direction wanting to fish with the wind on there backs.

Once on the dam wall it was like a different fishery with the wing blowing into the dam wall the fish started topping.on went a shipmans buzzer and with combination of the ripple and a few fish to cast too i had a hectic couple of hours catching numerous fishting fit rainbows.

high fairbanks

Today saw me back up at high fairbanks this water is one of my favourite places to fish,its a bit of a walk to get there but when you arrive and have a look at the stunning scenery you fully appreciate why you go there.

The fish as always were very obliging and slurping down olives as they hatched off,A nice ripple and overcast conditions made if near perfect.