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• Lambton Lake
• Sharpley Springs
• Whinney Loch
• Farleton View
• Black Moss Fly Fishing Assosciation waters
• South Causey Lakes

South Causey Lakes

Relaxation with a natural slant

I arrived at the South Causey Hotel at Stanley around 08.30 am on a bright, red hot, end of June day to pay for my fishing at reception. I wasgreeted by a very cheerful and helpful receptionist and as I walked back to the car the gardener offered a bright "Good morning" making me feel like I was really welcome.

The fishery is over the road from the Hotel which also offers an equestrian centre and a small farm and stunning gardens including a duck pond.

The morning was stunning, too bright and too hot but the lake looked beautiful and the scenery magnificent and there were fish rising all round the water despite the previous day's temperature and the bright morning sunlight.

The fishery manager Joe Forster climbed out from his caravan on site to greet me while I was still gawping at the scene in front of me. I have known Joe for some time and felt I had been letting him down taking so long to wet a line at his fishery but it didn't show and a nice cup of coffee saw Joe tying me one of the finest may fly patterns I've seen, a great welcoming gift.

The fishery has ample picnic facilities and free tea and coffee in the lodge where the craic with Joe or resident fly tyer John is typical of the North East of England, friendly with some gentle ribbing for good measure.

Any way on to the fishing, I tied on a Partridge and Orange with a variant of the same with a seal's fur thorax (Yellow with a touch of red) and a slim mallard bronze wing.

I worked up the right of the lake where I'd seen fish moving and was into my first fish, I saw it feeding on nymphs in the crystal clear water, cast ahead and watched the nymph sink slowly through the gin clear water before adding a tweak to the fly, the mouth of the rainbow trout opened and inhaled the fly and I struck, it looked around a couple of pound and I expected a bit of a fight but not what I got, the water exploded and this fish made great use of it's full tail and fought like a tiger. Netted it had more than a full tail, it was also fin perfect and beautifully sleek. Just what a rainbow should be.

I missed a few more rising to the fly on the surface as well as inhaling the fly and spitting it out as I watched them in the depths, without even a twitch in the fly line, if it wasn't for the clear water I wouldn't have even known the fish had taken the fly. The next fish came just in front of the lodge a bit bigger than first exploding on the surface when it hit the fly then off it went. It headed for the far bank but decided that wasn't far enough, so off it went, up the lake like a steam train. It fought until my arm ached before it slipped over the rim of the net. At a guess, 3 pound and again fin perfect. I eased the net down to support the fish to recover after a great fight but, amazingly, it didn't need it, as soon as it saw the chance it was off to freedom at full speed. I would hardly believe it possible after such a great fight.

Joe had a bit time on lake with me on the afternoon landing a nice fish in a crack, while I missed a proper take while watching the damsel's in the margins. Surprisingly I didn't even feel a bit of regret at the loss, such is the relaxing nature of this beautiful fishery.

The day finished of with a pint of real ale in The Stables, a beautiful bar/restaurant in the grounds of Beamish Hall just around the corner from the fishery, with Joe. Joe's passion for the fishery he runs is obvious and coupling his angler's understanding of what makes a great day's fishing with his commercial awareness from his previous career should guarantee the success and longevity of this fishery.

For me a couple of fish in this heat and to quote Joe "and on spiders", in beautiful country side is one of those sessions that will remain special for many years to come.

Ian Akers June 2010

Directions to South Causey.

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Black moss Fly Fishing Assosciation

report by Tony Downing September 2009
 

Seclusion, Flyfishing & Low Flying Broomsticks

I was offered the chance to take a guest ticket on the waters of The Black Moss Fly fishers club, at Barley, nr Burnley, Lancs. An offer that I gladly accepted, as I had seen these waters many times and wished that I had time to spend a few hours along the shores.

The arranged day arrived, and the journey began in low cloud and heavy drizzle, which cleared a little on route then came in again as we arrived at Barley, our host for the day was the club Membership Secretary, John, who detailed the waters superbly.

The previous evenings weather report was nothing like what we were being offered at that moment, we were expecting cloud cover, but not the half Gale that came rattling off Pendle Hill !!, home of the infamous Pendle Witches (beware of low flying broomsticks) for some idea of what this place looks like on a good day, have a look on the club website. This is a truly beautiful area.

John suggested that we begin on the Lower Res, leaving the Upper one for the afternoon
After tackling up and deciding which banks we would fish, we split up and made our way to the water, It is quite some time since I fished an upland reservoir (800ft), so I set up as I would on a Scottish Loch, Black Pennell on the point, Green Peter on the dropper and a big Bibio on the top, then after a few casts realising that the wind was not playing fair, I went to single fly, a lightly weighted size 14 PT nymph. This, after a few casts did the trick, a lovely fish of about 2.5lb was stripping line before coming to the net, fin perfect with a tail like a No2 boiler shovel, what a power house. During the next two hours, four more fish were caught and released using a mix of traditional flies and nymphs.
This all took place on the lower res.

After a break for lunch we decided that the wind was far too strong to do the upper water any justice, as this is Brown trout only, so that was left till the next time, and there WILL be a next time.

Note:- The Lower res contains both Rainbow & Brown Trout, The upper res, contains BROWN Trout only. I highly recommend these waters to any discerning angler who finds himself in the Pendle area with time to spare, or on Holiday in Lancashire.

Fishing is available on day ticket, from a variety of outlets, all listed on the clubs website:- blackmossflyfishers.blogspot.com Ask for directions when you buy your ticket. The club is also on the lookout for new members, again visit the website for details.

O/S Grid Ref:- SD825425

Tony Downing Sept 2009

Contact Black Moss Fly Fishing Association for tickets or membership details here

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Whinney Loch

Report by Ian Irvine July 2008

I arrived at Whinney Loch at 6am after a good nights camping at Crosslaw caravan park,as I didn't want to disturb the owners at that time of the morning I sat and enjoyed the tranquility of the area. the fishery is located about 2 miles from the town of Coldingham. As you get to the Primary school in the centre of town you go over the car park for the school, and you will see the single track road follow it for a mile and a half and at the bottom of a dip you have a caravan site on your right and the fishery on your left.
You need to go to the house on arrival for your ticket, you then have the option of walking down into the valley or driving down. At the bottom of the hill there is a superb wood lodge, with facilities you wouldn't find in many larger fisheries. There are cooking facilities , all cutlery and crocks provided, there is coffee and tea as you need it, I started by making bacon butties for myself and a visitor by name of Dave from Newcastle,who had used the loft to stay overnight, another unusual facility. The sleeping arrangements need to be checked before you leave home, the sleeping facilities are all you need for an overnight stay. the lodge is even heated if required and the toilet facilities include a shower (these facilities are SPOTLESS.)

So, having finished my breakfast, I made my way to the lake. The path down to the lake ends at the bankside with a path that runs around the entire site, at the bottom of the path there is seating and here I tackled up with a single dry pheasant tail size 12(fishery rules).  
Swish swish boom and I was into a fish, my best of the day 3 and a half pounds of rainbow that felt like five, in superb condition, like all the fish I caught that day. this start obviously was ideal, I fished for 5 hours on catch and release ticket, and had 4 fish, apart from the first one all in the 1 and 3/4 pound range to 2 and 1/2 pounds. Every fish was full finned and didn't come easily.

The owners provide their own landing nets (this prevents transmission of disease form other fisheries) and like everything about the fishery they are as good as you could want for the job. As to the owners, they are both very helpful and nothing seems to be too much trouble, they have provided (FOR ME) a fishery I would be happy to visit every time I go over the border, as I have said the setting is stunning, and tranquil, the price is good for the service you receive, and the fish, the reason you are there, are more than could be expected.
So If you ever get the chance to visit Whinney Loch take it, you wont regret it.

Whinney loch is located at Coldingham (near Eyemouth) in the Scottish Borders.Caravan sight just yards from school car park, also superb quality..

 

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Sharpley Springs

Contact on 0191 581 8045 or carolweightman@hotmail.com

22/10/2008 Sharpley Springs update

The Hangman's continues as a specimen lake with some monster doubles stocked this week. All the lakes have some specimen trout so don't fish under gunned, tackle up strong just in case.

Here's an example of one of the recently stocked Monsters taken by Dave Mordue of Durham. A specimen Blue Trout weighed in at 21lb exactly.

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Lambton Lake

Report by Ian Akers 29/08/08

I Started the afternoon session at 12.00 and boy was it hot. The lake was flat calm and I was having second thoughts.
The lake was too tempting, it has really grown up this summer. This is a new lake and I have fished it occasionally since before it opened. The only guy fishing was John, he is pretty much a resident in the porta cabin that serves as a lodge at Lambton. If you want to know whats working John is the man.
I decided to have a go for four hours taking one fish, at a tenner it's great value, you can fish four hours catch and release for just £6.00.

The Lake is about one acre in size with an island and I started at the shallow end nearest the entrance on the right in the picture above. There was the odd rise to the sedge so on went a Goddard's Deer hair Sedge, which tempted the fish but no tight lines. On went a yellow shuttlecock, another favourite when the fish are on the sedge, and pretty soon I had two to the net, both hard fighting rainbows.

I then moved right to the top end next to the deep water(Note the Golden Orfe in the right of the picture above), No rises so on with a buzzer, retrieving very slowly I tightened into a hard fighting and very fast fish. In the net it turned out to be a Brownie. Beautiful fish, and quickly followed by another full finned rainbow.

I finished the session early with one last rainbow from the very bottom of the lake, again to a buzzer retrieved very slowly.
Lambton is found at the end of Henry Terrace in fenchouses in what was once a timber yard and is still surrounded by workshop building. Despite this you will struggle to find a more peaceful environment to enjoy a days fishing.
Facilities are basic with a toilet close at hand and a portacabin to sign in and make yourself a cuppa.
For full directions and details of pricing go to

Farelton View

Report by Maeve Downing September 2008


We are very lucky that we have one of our favourite fisheries only a 5 min. Drive away, Farleton View.
This is a man-made fishery brought into being since the Foot and Mouth scare made the local farming family find other means of an income............ A family run business, Mother and daughter in law running a terrific cafe, son, grandson and help, looking after the farm and fishery. We have always felt that they have everyone’s interest at heart. A touring caravan site and somewhere to pitch a tent is also available. The fishery is exceptionally clean and tidy, toilets could not be bettered, there is even a shower unit. The food is out of this world, home made cakes and snacks are always there waiting when you have finished fishing.

The weather had settled down a little over the last few days, so when we woke and saw the early morning mist lingering over the fields, and Farleton Fell, it was ‘up and out’ as soon as breakfast was over.
It was flat calm when we arrived at the fishery. Not a breath of wind, no ripple.... Caddi(Tony) tackled up two rods, I just kept to the one with a floater on to start with. Needless to say and I HATE to admit it, but once again, Caddi was right..(only please don’t tell him !!) With in half an hour, my floating line needed to be changed as there wasn’t a single fish showing.
Caddi was way out in the distance, so when I saw him hauling in a fish he was too far away to ask ‘what did you get that on’ . For a while I tried everything but the kitchen sink. But the sun was warm, and it was so great to be out. What the hell, have a sit down and give this fishing lark some serious thought.
I needed to get down a bit deeper so I tied on a weighted
‘Scruffy Nymph, which was one of the first flies I ever made, more years ago than I care to remember.
Moments later..... Success..... Fish on.......nothing can stop me now !!!, well that is what I thought. The fish weren’t giving in so easily.
Caught another on the same fly,

And then nothing..............
Caddisman had caught his limit, we were both happy, it had been a perfect day and one to remember, we will be back.......
So until next time............
Damselfly. (Maeve)

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