• ”Why?”
  • ‘Musings’
  • La Belle France
  • Land of my Fathers
  • Wild Trout Trust

Who's Counting?………….. A Fisherman's Journey

~ My mission…'to catch a trout from a river in every county'

Who's Counting?………….. A  Fisherman's Journey

Monthly Archives: January 2011

CUMBRIA

11 Tuesday Jan 2011

Posted by Tony Mair in Cumbria

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Anthony Creed, Brathay, Cockermouth AA, Derwent, Fly Fishing Forums, Samling Hotel

I first fished Cumbria in the mid nineties when staying at the Samling near Windemere, and found my way onto the Brathay. This is a short river (4 miles) linking Elterwater and Windermere via the River Rothay. It has small wild browns in it which are hard to catch, and I only managed to net one!

Years later, and Sue was invited as Guest of Honour, and Key Note Speaker at St Bees GPDST. A lady Governor’s husband, Anthony Creed, on hearing of my misfortune, offered to take me fishing instead!

May 2008 – the Derwent

Anthony, a doctor, collector of old cars, furniture restorer, and I met at the Great Braughton beat of the Cockermouth AA water, just a few miles south of the town. The river here resembled what I feel a salmon and sea trout water should, with the trouty bits limited to just a few riffles, and if maybe this affected my confidence, and there no fish for either of us, though in truth I did see some rises, but in water too deep to reach. The day was cool, damp and windy.

Ours was only to be a morning together, and in order to get onto the AA’s Guest Water upstream of the town, in the afternoon, I needed a permit. After trekking the town following the wild goose chase from those with no interest in fishing nor local knowledge, it was Cleelands, the furniture shop in Main Street which yielded what I sought. Why I did not think of that….?!

Again, the water upstream is salmony, indeed the guest map highlights the key pools (Ladyboat, Woodbottom, Danger Hole) and I picked up a number of parr and smolt, but, and in mainly faster runs, but also a warmer afternoon, I also took four beautiful brownies to about 3/4lb on black gnat, and goldhead PTNs. Visitors beware…follow the footpath shown on the beat map to the river. Otherwise its a long stroll, or a bull avoidance exercise!

I might not have posted a report of my trip. but ‘davidms’, a contributor to the Fly Fishing Forums enquired whether I had visited Cumbria, so I decided to.

Since my visit, the fishing must have changed, as I replied in my note to him –

David….thank you for your response.
I have fished Cumbria, and had success on the short River Brathay, maybe ten years ago, and then on the Derwent in 2008 (see ‘GB’ page) but have to write these up (so will do so).
The Derwent is an impressive river, but as recent events reveal, a tragic one too, and I hope that for all those affected by the disastrous floods of November 09, life has returned to normality. On my trip there I stayed in Cockermouth, and the TV news footage showing the town centre was unimaginable. I understand that much of the fish life was washed downstream in the flooding, and wonder how the efforts of replenishment have gone?

Advertisement

Blog Stats

  • 161,265 hits

My Counties

Favourite Sites

  • FishPal
  • FlyFishForums
  • Salisbury & District AC
  • Salmon&Trout Conservation UK
  • The Wheelyboat Trust
  • Wandle Piscators
  • Wild Trout Trust

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 327 other subscribers

Follow me on Twitter @mailmair

My Tweets

Recent Comments

Tony Mair on SUFFOLK
Tony Mair on SUFFOLK
Peter Warren on SUFFOLK
Charlie Watts on SUFFOLK
Hannah on Wye & Usk Foundation

Accidental Angler Albury Anglers Trust Arundell Arms Balcombe FF Billericay & District AC Burford AC Burwash Fishing Club Cam Charles Rangeley-Wilson Chess Chris Satterthwaite Dart Dave Champness David Thompson Derek Holmes Derwent Dudwell EA Ebble FishPal Fly Fishing Forum Fly Fishing Forums Geoff Hodgson Great Eau Grey's Missionary Howard Mann Inn at Whitewell Isle of Wight Freshwater Angling Association Itchen Izaak Walton Hotel Jack Gartside John Anderson John Aston Keith Passant Kennet Lark Lark Angling & Preservation Society Loomis Lugg Mark Owen Medina Midlands Fly Fishers Moreno Borriero National Trust Orvis Ouse Ouse APS Oxfordshire trout streams Paul Gaskell Paul Jennings Peacock Hotel Peper Harrow Fly Fishing Club Peter Cockwill Peter Everden Peter Ward Philip Fleming Robert Gibson-Bevan Rob Hartley Rob Mungovan Sence Steve Webster Surrey trout streams The Bull Tillingbourne Tim Jacklin Trout & Salmon Wandle Piscators Wandle Trust Wey Wightlink Wild Trout Trust (WTT) William Tall WTT Yar

Archives

  • November 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • February 2020
  • November 2019
  • August 2019
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Who's Counting?.............. A Fisherman's Journey
    • Join 68 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Who's Counting?.............. A Fisherman's Journey
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...