Rutland Water is the second largest reservoir in England and quite a daunting prospect for the visiting fly-fisher because of its sheer size. Filled with Trout, Zander and Pike, it offers great fly-fishing if you know when and where to go. We use local guide, Al Owen, whose years on the lake and almost constant presence on the water make him the go-to guy for where an how to fish. We target the overwintered large, naturalised Rainbows and Browns when they first come up in the water as a result of the prolific large buzzer hatches in late March, April and May. May and June see occasional Olive and Damsel hatches as well. As the water heats up in June, July and August, fishing becomes more difficult and the aerators are regularly targeted. Good fish can still be caught in the shallows, but only in the early morning or late evening. Back end, the fishing can be excellent in September, October and November as the fish pile on weight for winter by fry-feeding.
Fishing is mostly from a drifting boat skilfully piloted by Al, Gary or Alex
Rutland
Reservoirs
Type of fish: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Pike, Zander
How to fish: Fly, boat and bank
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to Rutland is.
See more detail about Rutland Water here
Grafham Water
Reservoirs
Grafham Water is a very large reservoir in Cambridgeshire and quite a daunting prospect for the visiting fly-fisher because of its sheer size. Filled with trout, zander and pike, it offers great fly-fishing if you know when and where to go. We use local guide Al Owen, whose years on the lake and almost constant presence on the water make him the go-to guy for where an how to fish. We target the overwintered larget, naturalised rainbows and browns when they first come up in the water as a result of the prolific large buzzer hatches in late March, April and May. May and June see occasional Olive and Damsel hatches as well. As the water heats u in June, July and August, fishing becomes more difficult and the aerators are regularly targeted. Good fish can still be caught in the shallows, but only in early morning or late evening. Back end, the fishing can be excellent in September, October and November as the fish pile on weight for winter by fry-feeding and uniquely (thank goodness) gorging on large Killer Shrimp. The large #8 hares ear shrimp is a must have fly pattern here.
Type of fish: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Pike, Zander
How to fish: Fly, boat and bank
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to Grafham Water is.
See more detail on Grafham Water here
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Reservoirs
A charming, managabley small old Victorian reservoir with some very big Trout. It has the hatches of large buzzer in March, April, May and a great damsel hatch in late May, June, like Eyebrook, but also a very good sedge hatch from May onward, mostly in the evening. Like Eyebrook, it often sees fish feeding on the surface and anglers can do well with dries.
Type of fish: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout.
How to fish: Fly, boat and bank
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to Ravensthorpe Reservoir is.
See more detail about Ravensthorpe Reservoir here
River Findhorn
River
We have access to the Moy and Farr beats of the river near Tomatin (and its distillery). Salmon start coming in numbers in June where early in the month you can still come across the odd Springer in among the Grilse. The Grilse run peters out in August and like all Scottish Salmon fishing is hugely dependent on water conditions. The September and October runs can also be very good if the conditions are right, with some bigger red and fresh run fish. This year we will be concentrating our efforts during June and the Grilse runs, but are happy to take September bookings if there is sufficient demand. The letting comes with a self-catering cottage that sleeps 3-4 people.
Type of fish: Atlantic Salmon, Sea Trout
How to fish: Bank, wading, traditional salmon gear, switch and single handed rods, swung fly/down and across, riffling and bombers
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to the River Findhorn is
See more detail about the River Findhorn here
British Columbia
River
We have been taking fly fishing parties to British Columbia for over 10 years now, and it is a firm favourite for many of them, who come back year after year. There aren’t many places you can come and catch over 20 Salmon in a day to your own rod, but this certainly one of them.
You can catch all five Pacific Salmon species (Pink, Sockeye, Chum, King/Chinook, Coho aka Silvers) plus Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout and Rainbows. What you catch depends on luck, time of year, what water are fishing, type of fly and the way fish it.
The two main locations we have concentrated on so far are the Kitimat/Skeena Rivers, based in Kitimat, and the Harrison/Fraser Rivers, based in Harrison Hot Springs. The latter also having the opportunity to fish for enormous White Sturgeon (but not on the fly).
In both locations, we use local guides, and outfitters we know to cover the party on a rough 1 guide to 2 anglers basis.
Our trip this year is in October, timed to coincide with the Steelhead and Coho runs, as well as the fall Chum runs. All species, except Pink and Sockeye, which run earlier in the autumn, can be expected to turn up at some point.
Type of fish: Coho, Chinook, Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, White Sturgeon, Sockeye and Pink Salmon
How to fish: Fly: boat and bank
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to British Columbia is
Find out more about Kitimat here, and Harrison here
October
Rutland
Reservoirs
Rutland Water is the second largest reservoir in England and quite a daunting prospect for the visiting fly-fisher because of its sheer size. Filled with Trout, Zander and Pike, it offers great fly-fishing if you know when and where to go. We use local guide, Al Owen, whose years on the lake and almost constant presence on the water make him the go-to guy for where an how to fish. We target the overwintered large, naturalised Rainbows and Browns when they first come up in the water as a result of the prolific large buzzer hatches in late March, April and May. May and June see occasional Olive and Damsel hatches as well. As the water heats up in June, July and August, fishing becomes more difficult and the aerators are regularly targeted. Good fish can still be caught in the shallows, but only in the early morning or late evening. Back end, the fishing can be excellent in September, October and November as the fish pile on weight for winter by fry-feeding.
Fishing is mostly from a drifting boat skilfully piloted by Al, Gary or Alex
Type of fish: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Pike, Zander
How to fish: Fly, boat and bank
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to Rutland is.
See more detail about Rutland Water here
Grafham Water
Reservoirs
Grafham Water is a very large reservoir in Cambridgeshire and quite a daunting prospect for the visiting fly-fisher because of its sheer size. Filled with trout, zander and pike, it offers great fly-fishing if you know when and where to go. We use local guide Al Owen, whose years on the lake and almost constant presence on the water make him the go-to guy for where an how to fish. We target the overwintered larget, naturalised rainbows and browns when they first come up in the water as a result of the prolific large buzzer hatches in late March, April and May. May and June see occasional Olive and Damsel hatches as well. As the water heats u in June, July and August, fishing becomes more difficult and the aerators are regularly targeted. Good fish can still be caught in the shallows, but only in early morning or late evening. Back end, the fishing can be excellent in September, October and November as the fish pile on weight for winter by fry-feeding and uniquely (thank goodness) gorging on large Killer Shrimp. The large #8 hares ear shrimp is a must have fly pattern here.
Type of fish: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Pike, Zander
How to fish: Fly, boat and bank
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to Grafham Water is.
See more detail on Grafham Water here
Ravensthorpe Reservoir
Reservoirs
A charming, managabley small old Victorian reservoir with some very big Trout. It has the hatches of large buzzer in March, April, May and a great damsel hatch in late May, June, like Eyebrook, but also a very good sedge hatch from May onward, mostly in the evening. Like Eyebrook, it often sees fish feeding on the surface and anglers can do well with dries.
Type of fish: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout.
How to fish: Fly, boat and bank
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to Ravensthorpe Reservoir is.
See more detail about Ravensthorpe Reservoir here
River Findhorn
River
We have access to the Moy and Farr beats of the river near Tomatin (and its distillery). Salmon start coming in numbers in June where early in the month you can still come across the odd Springer in among the Grilse. The Grilse run peters out in August and like all Scottish Salmon fishing is hugely dependent on water conditions. The September and October runs can also be very good if the conditions are right, with some bigger red and fresh run fish. This year we will be concentrating our efforts during June and the Grilse runs, but are happy to take September bookings if there is sufficient demand. The letting comes with a self-catering cottage that sleeps 3-4 people.
Type of fish: Atlantic Salmon, Sea Trout
How to fish: Bank, wading, traditional salmon gear, switch and single handed rods, swung fly/down and across, riffling and bombers
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to the River Findhorn is
See more detail about the River Findhorn here
British Columbia
River
We have been taking fly fishing parties to British Columbia for over 10 years now, and it is a firm favourite for many of them, who come back year after year. There aren’t many places you can come and catch over 20 Salmon in a day to your own rod, but this certainly one of them.
You can catch all five Pacific Salmon species (Pink, Sockeye, Chum, King/Chinook, Coho aka Silvers) plus Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout and Rainbows. What you catch depends on luck, time of year, what water are fishing, type of fly and the way fish it.
The two main locations we have concentrated on so far are the Kitimat/Skeena Rivers, based in Kitimat, and the Harrison/Fraser Rivers, based in Harrison Hot Springs. The latter also having the opportunity to fish for enormous White Sturgeon (but not on the fly).
In both locations, we use local guides, and outfitters we know to cover the party on a rough 1 guide to 2 anglers basis.
Our trip this year is in October, timed to coincide with the Steelhead and Coho runs, as well as the fall Chum runs. All species, except Pink and Sockeye, which run earlier in the autumn, can be expected to turn up at some point.
Type of fish: Coho, Chinook, Steelhead, Salmon, Trout, White Sturgeon, Sockeye and Pink Salmon
How to fish: Fly: boat and bank
Please look at the Event Calendar to find out when our next trip to British Columbia is
Find out more about Kitimat here, and Harrison here