South Lakes Fishing Guide

My manager has asked me if I could put together a booklet on fishing in the South Lakeland area. This is for the guests of the hotel where I work. The booklet will be put into production and sold in the hotel, and if popular it will be sold in the other hotels in our group.

I am currently researching all the Tarns and Lakes in the area, finding out whom if anyone owns the fishing rights etc. and whether a permit is required or not.

I am finding this a fascinating project, as it allows me to research places to fish for myself aswell. There will be one or two omissions from the finished booklet. This is intentional as some of the Tarns are in locations that I know to be too far for the guests to walk and return on the same day, I also need to keep a few places secret for myself and trusted friends when they visit.

Lakeland High Tarns

Since the end of the season I have been thinking about next season’s fishing and where I could go.

I recently visited the local library and picked up this book describing walks to some of the high tarns of Lakeland. I have a list of tarns and what fish if any are in them, and this book has walks to some of the tarns that hold wild brown trout. I have therefore decided that I will make notes of the walks described and plan for next years fishing trips, some of which may involve an overnight camp.

These tarns range in altitude from 200m to about 500m, therefore some of the fishing might be a bit exposed to the strong winds that can come and go without warning. I must also say that although the weather at ground level may be sunny and warm, at the altitudes on some of the walks it can be totally different so appropriate wet/bad weather gear, along with a map and compass and the knowledge of how to use them are as important if not more so, than ensuring that you have packed your rod, reel and flies.

Tying & Dramming

Both these seem to go well together and somehow the dramming gives me inspiration. I decided I had to have a dram or two from the bottle of Highland Park 12yo Malt Whisky, which I had been given at my works Malt Whisky Club on Tuesday night.

It was while drinking this that I came up with the fly pictured. I was looking for something slightly different from the norm for Salmon & Sea Trout. I will be targeting the Salmon early next season and the Sea Trout from June 2011.

The river Kent has a good run of Salmon and Sea Trout. The salmon are more prolific in the spring and late autumn, with the sea trout starting to show from June onwards.

Sea Trout Fly

Following my visit to the British Fly Fair International 2010, and drawing inspiration from Steffan Jones to tie some Sea Trout flies for next season. I have never targeted Sea Trout before but, I will definitely be giving it a go next season. He gave me a fly that he had tied on the day at the In Focus Theatre.

I have made an attempt at tying something similar, with what I consider to be a good effort for the first attempt. I will be trying different recopies over the next few weeks and will give them a swim next season.

Please leave your comments good or bad on the tying pictured.

Hook – Kamasan B800
Thread – UTC 70 Fire Orange
Body – Black Embroidery thread (single strand)
Rib – Narrow Flat Silver Tinsel
Wing – Grey Squirrel
Overwing – Teal Flank
Head Hackle – Blue Hen
Head – UTC 70 Fire Orange