Your one stop information centre for fishing
in Cumbria and the Lake District

30th July. WADAA Kingfisher members John Mackintosh (right) and James Atkinson put in a tremendous performance at the Youth International  this week  - not only helping the England Youth Team secure an emphatic victory but also taking the top two individual placings.

The competition was held at Grafham Water with England up against teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  Many of the competitors struggled for fish in the difficult, blustery conditions but both our local youngsters dug in to take limit bags with John just squeezing past James for the individual trophy.

A great achievement on the day and their placings in this years event also mean automatic qualification for the England Youth team for next year.

23rd July.  Recent heavy rain has given a real boost to fishing accross the region as rivers and lakes return to normal levels. Sport has picked up markedly on the stocked trout waters with cooler water seeing fish back on the feed and a welcome return to surface activity. Most waters are reporting improved rod averages and plenty of rising fish. Both High Newton and Ghyll Head are back on top form with quality 'blues' featuring in recent catches.

A similiar story for the coarse waters many of which were in real need of a good dose of fresh water. WADAA's coarse fisheries in particular are enjoying a bumper season with numbers of carp and quality tench - and a surfeit of good sized roach and bream are helping anglers at Ratherheath record bag weights of up to 60lbs

Salmon and sea trout anglers have had a long wait for their season to start but at last fish are moving. Plenty of reports of sea trout accross the county and salmon numbers should begin to build steadily with further spates.

Visiting anglers can find all the information they need on fisheries, day permits and other details through the 'Where to fish' section of the website.

Anglers can now get much more up to date and detailed information on river levels thanks to a new addition to the Environment Agency's website.  Data from all the various gauging weirs is now  fed directly into the site providing not only current information but also a record of the previous 48 hours. A great new tool for all river anglers and very simple to use.

River Levels: Cumbria

We've all tried - and most of us have failed.  But as these shots illustrate ;  you can catch big mullet on the fly!  The succesful anglers were taking part in one of Lee Cummings' sessions as part of the recent Cumbria Fishing Festival. For once the weather was kind and the event took place with absoulutely perfect conditions for tackling these most difficult of fish. With a bit of luck Lee will be repeating his courses next year - but if you fancy the challenge of Cumbrian bonefish right now then get in touch with Lee directly through www.stsflyfishing.com

New Environment Agency Byelaws concerning coarse fish removal come into effect on 1st June 2010.

In practical terms this means that it now becomes a byelaw offence to (permanently) remove, by rod and line, any coarse fish from any lake, tarn, pond or canal within Cumbria unless you have the written consent of the owner or occupier of the fishery.

There are three notable exceptions being Windermere, Coniston, and Ullswater. On these lakes an angler may keep one pike of 65 cm or under and up to 15 coarse fish of less than 20cms per day.   Derwent Water is also covered by the same exception but anglers should note that Keswick Angling Association’s fishery rules continue to prohibit the taking of any coarse fish.

In addition it also becomes a byelaw offence to remove, by rod and line, any eel from any freshwater and for up to 6 nautical miles offshore. Full chapter and verse of the new byelaw can be found by clicking here