' 
 
 ; 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 By WALTER M. GALLICHAN 
 
 BOOKS ON ANGLING 
 
 FISHING IN WALES 
 
 FISHING IN DERBYSHIRE AND AROUND 
 
 FISHING AND TRAVEL IN SPAIN 
 
 THE COMPLETE FISHERMAN 
 
 ANGLING 
 
 THE STORY OF SEVILLE 
 TALES FROM THB WESTERN MOORS 
 THE CONFLICT OF OWEN PRYTHERCH 
 LIKE STARS THAT FALL 
 A SOUL FROM THE PIT 
 THE NEW MORALITY 
 CHESHIRE 
 ETC.
 
 TROUT WATERS 
 
 OF ENGLAND 
 
 *A "Practical Quide to the Fisherman for 
 Sea Trout, 'Brown Trout, and Qrayling 
 
 BY 
 
 WALTER M. GALLICHAN 
 
 T. N. FOULIS 
 
 13 fef 15 FREDERICK STREET 
 
 EDINBURGH: & LONDON 
 
 1908
 
 " Wfa'cA be the best means and the causes that induce 
 a man into a merry spirit ? 
 
 " Truly to my best discretion it seemeth good distorts 
 and honest games in whom a manjoyeth without any 
 repentance after. Thenfolloweth it the good disports 
 and honest games be cause of m any' s fair age and long 
 life. . . . The best to my simple discretion why then 
 is fishing, called angling with a rod, and a line and 
 a hook.' 
 
 " Treaty se of Fysshynge 
 wyth an Angle" 
 
 " The trout makes the Angler the most gentlemanly 
 and readiest of sport of all other fishes." 
 
 " The Secrets of Angling," 
 WILLIAM LAWSON.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGB 
 
 INTRODUCTORY Vll 
 
 AROUND LONDON I 
 
 BERKS, HANTS, AND SUSSEX TROUT 
 
 STREAMS 1 6 
 
 TROUT-FISHING IN DEVONSHIRE . 30 
 
 THE RIVERS OF DARTMOOR . . 44 
 STREAMS OF NORTH DEVON AND 
 
 EXMOOR 64 
 
 CORNWALL 73 
 
 BLAGDON RESERVOIR .... 77 
 
 ON THE WELSH BORDER 80
 
 vi CONTENTS 
 
 FACE 
 
 THE NORTH MIDLANDS ... 88 
 
 LANCASHIRE 115 
 
 THE LAKE DISTRICT . . . . 1 2O 
 
 YORKSHIRE 128 
 
 NORTHUMBERLAND 149 
 
 DURHAM 155 
 
 NORTHAMPTON 159
 
 INTRODUCTORY 
 
 THE trout-fisherman with a bent for 
 roving has no ground for complaint con- 
 cerning the scarcity of open rivers and 
 lakes in the English counties. In spite 
 of the modern field-drainage system, 
 the pollutions from industrial towns, 
 the wiles of the poacher, and the large 
 increase of anglers, our streams are 
 by no means "played out." It is true 
 that the trout of most rivers are more 
 cunning than their forebears of Izaak 
 Walton's day, and that the evolution of 
 intelligence amongst the much-harried
 
 viii INTRODUCTORY 
 fish of certain lengths of the trout 
 streams of our country is very remark- 
 able. Notwithstanding such facts, and 
 speaking as one who has fished for trout 
 in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Lux- 
 embourg, I maintain that there is excel- 
 lent sport awaiting the fly-fisherman 
 whether his prey be sea trout, brown 
 trout, or grayling in the rivers and 
 meres of England, to say nothing of 
 other parts of the kingdom. Nor do I 
 make this assertion with the proviso 
 that the fisherman must throw his fly 
 upon waters which are rented at so many 
 shillings or guineas per yard. The 
 waters that I shall describe in these 
 pages are " open," that is to say, the 
 holiday angler can enjoy his recreation 
 upon their banks without fee in some 
 cases ; while in none of the quarters will 
 he find it necessary to expend much 
 money upon his sport. 
 
 The increase of anglers does not spell
 
 INTRODUCTORY ix 
 the spoliation of rivers. On the con- 
 trary, a spreading interest in fly-fishing 
 tends to the better preservation of wa- 
 ters, the enforcement of restrictions 
 upon unsportsmanlike fishermen, the 
 devising of scientific means of fish 
 breeding and restocking, and the dis- 
 couragement of the poacher. 
 
 In this book I shall endeavour to 
 prove that there are hundreds of miles 
 of water open to the trout-fisher. I have 
 not written glowing fictions as to the 
 vast quantity and great weight of the 
 trout in any of the rivers and lakes de- 
 scribed ; maybe in some cases I have 
 underestimated the sport that a good 
 angler may obtain, because experience 
 has taught me that it is rash to err on 
 the side of optimism. But for fairly ex- 
 pert fishermen with the fly and minnow 
 there are, in strict truth, many lengths 
 of rivers and a few lakes wherein the 
 fish are by no means unresponsive to
 
 x INTRODUCTORY 
 
 proven lures. Much time and some 
 expense are essential to the discovery of 
 these waters and to the acquisition of 
 an understanding of the trout that swim 
 in them. With my own experience, and 
 the valuable aid given to me by generous 
 brothers of the craft,! have collected to- 
 gether such information as should serve 
 the angler as an introduction to the 
 streams. The rest depends upon the 
 vagaries of weather and his skill with 
 the rod and line. 
 
 I take it that this guide will be read 
 chiefly by the fishermen who have only 
 a few weeks of leisure during the year, 
 and if it is to prove a true companion 
 in the pocket, it must state whether the 
 trout are plentiful and small, or big, cap- 
 ricious, and not very numerous; wheth- 
 er the angler should use the dry or the 
 wet fly, and what pattern of flies he 
 should select, with many other details. 
 
 Thus, the fisherman of seventy, who
 
 INTRODUCTORY xi 
 has a dislike for wading up to his waist 
 in a strong stream, will avoid those riv- 
 ers where wading is essential. He will 
 choose one of the more gentle rivers of 
 the West or of the North Midlands. 
 The younger and adventurous angler 
 may climb the steep fells to the remote 
 tarns,or stem the rush of the Usk in spate. 
 So let us away, without further pre- 
 amble, to the consideration of the yearly 
 recurring question : " Where shall I go 
 to fish?"
 
 |A ROUND LON DfO N 
 
 F riparian owners and the 
 Boards of the Metro- 
 politan Water Works 
 were alive to the value 
 of trout waters in the vi- 
 cinity of London, fly-fishermen residing 
 in the capital might enj oy excellent sport 
 without travelling very far afield. As it 
 is, the number of trout streams open to 
 the public, within one hour's railway 
 journey, are very few. There are reser- 
 voirs and streams that could be stocked 
 with rainbow or native trout, and as a 
 I
 
 2 AROUND 
 
 commercial speculation this stocking 
 would be profitable. Most of the trout 
 waters near London are in private own- 
 ership, or rented at high prices to in- 
 dividual fishermen, or to limited clubs 
 that can afford to pay the cost. 
 
 THE THAMES AS A TROUT RIVER 
 
 The Thames is the chief free water, 
 breeding trout, within easy access of 
 London. There are big trout in all of 
 its weir-pools, and in the principal reach- 
 es throughout its course. Thames trout 
 have been taken up to 17 lb., and the 
 heaviest fish of this species captured in 
 London waters fell to an angler in the 
 New River at Harringay, in August 
 1907. This second trout, which weighed 
 1 8 lb., was caught by Mr J. Brigg, who 
 was bait-fishing with a worm. In the 
 Thames, during 1907, the weightiest 
 trout was one of 8 lb. 3 oz., taken by
 
 LONDON 3 
 
 Mr Philip Geen of Richmond, in the 
 Chertsey water ; while the tributary 
 Kennet afforded a still heavier trout, 
 one of 10 Ib. 8 oz., which took a piece 
 of bread bait on the hook of a juvenile 
 fisherman at Newbury. 
 
 The Thames trout-fishing season be- 
 gins on ist April and ends loth Sept- 
 ember. No licence is required ; but 
 a charge of xos. for one year is made 
 by the conservators for fishing from the 
 weirs. No trout under sixteen inches 
 may be retained. 
 
 The favourite weir-pools in the lower 
 waters are Moulsey, Sunbury, and 
 Chertsey, all free and fishable from a 
 boat or punt. Below Sunbury Weir is 
 a wide scour about a quarter of a mile 
 long, which is one of the best stands 
 for the fly-fisher on the Thames below 
 Staines. The water is wadeable in parts, 
 and a fair number of trout haunt the 
 stream during the spring.
 
 4 AROUND 
 
 When the summer boat traffic begins, 
 trout are apt to take fright, and to resort 
 to the deepest pools and the less fre- 
 quented reaches and backwaters. April, 
 May, and June are usually the best 
 months for trout-fishing in the Thames. 
 Comparatively few fishermen use the 
 fly, the river being deep, and only a- 
 dapted here and there for fly-fishing. 
 But there is always the uncertain chance 
 of enticing the smaller Thames trout, 
 with a Zulu, an Alder, or an Alexandra, 
 on the gravel shallows. 
 
 The more profitable mode of angling 
 is with the spinning bait, a bleak, dace, 
 or gudgeon, mounted on a strong but 
 not coarse trace ; or by live-baiting 
 with bleak or minnows near the surface. 
 Success depends greatly on a knowledge 
 of the feeding-places of trout, and this 
 can only be acquired by constant ob- 
 servation of a length of the river. 
 
 Generally speaking, the weir-pools
 
 LONDON 5 
 
 and streams afford the most sport, but 
 good trout often feed in the open reach- 
 es. The services of a local professional 
 fisherman are usually valuable, and the 
 charges made by these attendants, who 
 are to be found in every riverside town 
 and village, include baits and the hire 
 of a boat or punt. 
 
 THE CRANE 
 
 This is now the chief fly-fishing stream 
 in Middlesex, and there can be no bet- 
 ter instance of what can be done by 
 stocking waters than that afforded by 
 the club length of the Crane at Isleworth. 
 In its higher reaches at Feltham and 
 Hounslow, the Crane contains pike, 
 perch, dace, and other general fish, but 
 nearer to its junction with the Thames, 
 it has been well stocked with trout, 
 mostly bred at the Hyde Fishery,Brimp- 
 ton, Berks. Fly-fishers are indebted to
 
 6 AROUND 
 
 Mr J. J. Goulden, the secretary of the 
 
 club, who was the first to recognise the 
 
 value of this part of the Crane as a trout 
 
 stream. 
 
 There are other stretches of this river 
 which might be converted into excellent 
 trout preserves, if all the general fish, 
 with the exception of dace, gudgeon, and 
 minnowSjWere netted out. As it is, some 
 of the owners periodically net portions 
 of the stream for general fish, but trout 
 have not been introduced into the mid- 
 dle and higher lengths. There is good 
 dace-fishing with the fly in parts of the 
 Crane. 
 
 The club water at Isle worth belongs 
 to the Duke of Northumberland. It is 
 two miles and three quarters in length, 
 and has some open reaches, though in 
 some places it is tree-shaded. The 
 stream is fairly swift and clear, and well 
 adapted for dry-fly fishing. It breeds 
 a large quantity of small gudgeon and
 
 LONDON 7 
 
 minnows, which provide ample food 
 for the trout, and account for the quick 
 increase in weight among the turned-in 
 fish. The trout are getting somewhat 
 educated, but they are, on the whole, 
 eager risers to the fly, and the capture 
 of a dozen in a half-day's fishing is not 
 uncommon. I am told by members of 
 the club that the Crane gives the best 
 sport on sunny days, when the water is 
 rather low. 
 
 The wet fly is used early in the season, 
 but in late spring and summer, when 
 natural flies are hatching, dry-flyfishing 
 is practised. There has not been a big 
 show of May-flies on this stream for sev- 
 eral years past, though at one time they 
 used to abound. 
 
 The club is strictly limited to thirty 
 members, and candidates must await a 
 vacancy. The Oak, a snug and quaint 
 little inn on the waterside, is the head- 
 quarters of the club. In the smoking-
 
 8 AROUND 
 
 room are two stuffed trout both over 
 2 Ib. the heaviest weighing 2 Ib. 14 
 oz. which have been caught in the 
 club water. The secretary lives at 
 Alder Cot, Oak Lane, Isleworth. 
 
 THE WANDLE 
 
 Except in certain stretches of its up- 
 per waters, this once famous trout stream 
 is sadly polluted. Lord Nelson used to 
 fish with the fly at Merton on the Wan- 
 die, and a hundred years ago the river 
 was the resort of many London fly-fish- 
 ers. There is still fair fishing in a few 
 lengths of the Wandle, whose scenery 
 in the neighbourhood of Carshaltonwas 
 so highlypraised by Ruskinin his Crown 
 of Wild Olive. 
 
 The Wandle is a typical chalk stream. 
 It rises near Croydon, and joins the 
 Thames at Wandsworth, after flowing 
 through a charming stretch of Surrey
 
 LONDON 9 
 
 upland. Henry G. Bohn, the writer 
 of Notes on Fishing Waters^ in his edition 
 of The Complete Angler^ states that the 
 May-fly is never seen on this river. 
 He gives the average weight of the 
 Wandle trout, in his day, as a little less 
 than a pound, though the fish were 
 " sometimes of great weight." 
 
 THE DARENTH 
 
 Most of this river is in private owner- 
 ship. It contains plenty of trout, and 
 some of about 2 Ib. in weight, though 
 these are not very readily enticed. The 
 Darenth rises near Westerham, and runs 
 through a pleasant part of Kent by Dun- 
 ton Green, Alford, Farningham, and 
 Dartford. Below Dartford it is joined 
 by the Cray, which still holds a few good 
 trout, although restocking has not been 
 very successful owing to contamination 
 from mills.
 
 io AROUND 
 
 The best-known open length of the 
 Darenth is at Farningham, where the 
 proprietor of that comfortable hotel, 
 The Lion, preserves the water for visi- 
 tors. Fine fishing is essential to success 
 with the highly sagacious trout of this 
 river. Anglers expert in the use of the 
 dry fly, with the knack of stalking fish, 
 can lure a few brace of presentable trout 
 from this crystal water. Fly-fishers who 
 can capture trout from the Hampshire 
 trout streams, or the clear waters of the 
 Derbyshire Dove and Wye, will not 
 find the Darenth a very difficult river. 
 But it is not a stream for the novice. 
 Thirty years ago anglers were advised 
 to visit the river early in the season, be- 
 fore the water had been much fished, 
 and this counsel may well apply to the 
 present time. 
 
 THE LEA 
 I am told that the old and correct
 
 LONDON 1 1 
 
 spelling of the name of this river is Lee, 
 but I cannot discover whether Walton 
 spelt it so. There are trout throughout 
 the course of the Lea, especially in the 
 higher reaches. Charles Bradlaugh is 
 one of the distinguished anglers who 
 succeeded in catching several heavy 
 trout from the weir-pools of this river. 
 The methods of trout-fishing in the 
 open waters of the Lea are those adopt- 
 ed by Thames fishermen, i.e. spinning 
 and live-baiting, but sport with the fly is 
 very uncertain in the middle and lower 
 lengths. 
 
 Above Hertford* the river is of a fly- 
 fishing character, but the water is strict- 
 ly preserved by owners and tenants. In 
 the old river there are a few trout, and 
 this length, close to the town, and the 
 water of the Hertford Angling Preser- 
 vation Society, can be fished for a small 
 charge. 
 
 * Hotels : Salisbury Arms, White Hart.
 
 12 AROUND 
 
 The tributaries Mimram, Beane, and 
 Rib are fine trouting streams. Permis- 
 sion is sometimes obtainable upon in- 
 troduction to the owners or angling 
 tenants on the banks of these rivers, 
 but as these are not "open" waters, they 
 do not come within the scope of this 
 book. There is a club at Youngsbury, 
 and the secretary is Mr F. Waller. 
 
 The Lea season for trout opens on 
 1st May and ends on the 28th of Sep- 
 tember. No trout under twelve inches 
 may be killed. 
 
 THE IVEL 
 
 This tributary of the Ouse has its 
 source close to Baldock, in Hertford- 
 shire, and receives two or three afflu- 
 ents, the chief being the Hig, which 
 rises near Hitchin, and the Tod. Very 
 fine trout are reared in the Ivel, which 
 is singularly adapted for the production
 
 LONDON 13 
 
 of well-fed fish, as its bed contains a 
 plenteous supply of insect life. Streams 
 that grow beds of water-cress are usually 
 haunted by good trout, and this is the 
 case with the Ivel, which was stocked 
 many years ago. 
 
 The latest restocking was undertaken 
 by the Norton and Radwell Fisheries 
 Company of Baldock, who rear a fine 
 strain of native brown trout and rain- 
 bow trout in their well-appointed hat- 
 chery. A limited number of rods are to 
 let on this model fishery, for which the 
 charge is 35 guineas for the season. 
 This is the best trout-fishing to be ob- 
 tained within a short journey from Lon- 
 don. The fish are plentiful, and heavier 
 in the average than the trout of any 
 other water in the county. Trout up to 
 4 Ib. are taken here. For brown trout 
 the season opens on I5th April and 
 closes on i st October. Rainbow trout 
 may be caught up to 3ist October.
 
 14 AROUND 
 
 There are about four miles of water, 
 well watched and closely preserved. 
 The secretary of the Fishery will furnish 
 information. Artists are not allowed 
 to sketch or paint. 
 
 THE WICK 
 
 This is a Buckinghamshire trout 
 stream of very high repute. It rises at 
 West Wycombe, flows through the 
 town of High Wycombe,* and enters 
 the Thames between Cookham Bridge 
 and Marlow. The trout of the Wick 
 are very handsome, and they grow to a 
 heavy weight, one of 7 Ib. having been 
 taken with the artificial fly. 
 
 The High Wycombe Trout Preser- 
 vation Association used to rent about 
 two miles of the river, but this club is 
 no longer in existence, and the only 
 means whereby the visiting angler can 
 
 * Hotel: Red Lion.
 
 LONDON 15 
 
 fish in the Wick is through the permis- 
 sion of riparian owners. 
 
 THE TlLLINGBOURNE 
 
 Flowing through one of the prettiest 
 districts in Surrey, this river, which is 
 about nine miles long, joins the Wey at 
 Shalf ord. It is preserved throughout its 
 course, though leave to fish is occasion- 
 ally granted by owners and lessees in 
 the neighbourhood of Shere.
 
 BERKS, HANTS, AND SUSSEX 
 TROUT STREAMS 
 
 HE trout streams of 
 Berkshire are affluents 
 of the Thames, flowing 
 chiefly through a region 
 of chalk hills. They 
 are clear, as in the case of the Kennet, 
 Lambourne, Enborne, and Pang, and 
 their trout vary in weight from the half- 
 pound fish of the Enborne to the well- 
 fed and handsome two-pound fish of 
 many stretches of the Kennet. Trout 
 are also found in the upper lengths of
 
 BERKSHIRE TROUT STREAMS 17 
 the Loddon, which joins the Thames 
 below Shiplake, and in the Blackwater 
 and Whitewater of the Hampshire bor- 
 ders. 
 
 Almost all the trout-fishing in Berks 
 is in the hands of landed proprietors, or 
 rented by limited clubs with a somewhat 
 high entrance fee and subscription. 
 There are, however, certain lengths 
 which are open to the angler upon pay- 
 ment, and in most of these waters the 
 fish are well grown, and the sport is 
 worth the cost. My first essay at trout- 
 fishing with the fly was on the banks of 
 the sequestered Pang. 
 
 THE KENNET 
 
 Rising in Wiltshire, this excellent 
 trout river enters Berkshire near to 
 Hungerford, where it is joined by the 
 Dunn. Most of the water is owned 
 privately, or let out in lengths at high
 
 1 8 BERKSHIRE TROUT STREAMS 
 rents. The manager of the Kennet Val- 
 ley Fisheries, Hungerford, has occa- 
 sional vacancies for rods. There is an 
 association at Hungerford, and appli- 
 cation may be made to the secretary for 
 terms. Short-period tickets are issued 
 for fly-fishing only. The Baer Hotel has 
 some reserved water for guests. 
 
 The Kennet is a clear stream, with 
 wide gravel shallows in its trout and 
 grayling lengths above Newbury. It 
 holds very fine trout; somerealmonsters 
 are occasionally taken by fly-fishers ; but 
 the fish are fairly well educated in the 
 Kennet, and skilful dry-fly fishing is 
 essential to success. 
 
 At Newbury * there is a society which 
 used to issue season tickets. My request 
 for information has been ignored, so I 
 am unable to give particulars. 
 
 TheLambourneand Enborne, tribu- 
 taries of the Kennet, hold plenty of trout. 
 * Hotel: Jack.
 
 '9 
 
 THE HAMPSHIRE STREAMS 
 
 The favoured mortals who own 
 stretches of such rivers as the Test and 
 the Itchen are much to be envied. 
 Fortunate, too, are those anglers who 
 have occasional access to these rivers, 
 as the guests of riparian owners or ten- 
 ants of fishing lengths. The rivers of 
 Hants are normally clear, and in hot 
 summers pellucid, which renders fly- 
 fishing somewhat difficult for all but 
 adepts with the dry fly. Still, the Hamp- 
 shire trout are not, in my opinion, more 
 educated than those of the much-fished 
 and crystal Dove, the Wye, and some 
 club lengths of the Derbyshire Derwent, 
 while the streams are not more bright 
 and clear than many in other parts of the 
 country. 
 
 Two-pound trout are plentiful in the 
 Test and Itchen, and much heavier trout 
 are taken every week, with the fly, dur-
 
 2o HAMPSHIRE 
 
 ing the season. Trout of 5 Ib. and 8 Ib. 
 have been caught by fly-fishers in these 
 rivers, and three-pounders are not un- 
 common. These big fish are frequently 
 taken during the May-fly season in 
 Hampshire. 
 
 THE ITCHEN 
 
 This famous river rises near Cheriton, 
 passes Alresford, and flows through the 
 city of Winchester to Bishopstoke and 
 Southampton. It contains big trout and 
 grayling. The heaviest trout, known 
 as "the Monarch of the Itchen," was 
 caught during 1888 by a bait-fisher 
 named Turpin, in the free water at Win- 
 chester. It weighed i61b.2oz.,was32|- 
 inches long, and measured 2 1 inches in 
 girth. This monster had often baffled 
 local anglers, and was one of the most 
 harassed of fish before it fell, somewhat 
 ingloriously, to a minnow, a gut cast, and 
 a hazel rod.
 
 TROUT STREAMS 21 
 Unless permission can be obtained, 
 the only chance of fishing the Itchen will 
 be found at Winchester, and in certain 
 lengths belonging to Mr Tankerville 
 Chamberlayne, who issues a limited 
 number of tickets at a charge of 20 per 
 annum. There are two small stretches 
 of open water at Winchester. One is 
 Deangate Mill-tail, where the big trout 
 was captured in 1888, and the other is 
 the Weirs. These lengths are heavily 
 fished, but there are some fine trout in 
 them. 
 
 An excellent water just below the 
 Weirs is in the right of Mr Chalkley, the 
 well-known fishing-tackle maker and 
 taxidermist of Winchester, who issues 
 season tickets at 5, 53. per annum. 
 Weekly and day tickets can also be 
 obtained for "Chalkley's Water" at a 
 charge of 1 2s. 6d.and 35. 6d. respective- 
 ly. No fish under f Ib. may be retained, 
 and no bait or natural flies may be used.
 
 22 HAMPSHIRE 
 
 This is a well-stocked length, and 
 those anglers who wish to secure season 
 tickets must apply, before the beginning 
 of the season, to Mr Chalkley, the les- 
 see, The Square, Winchester. 
 
 There are good hotels * and plenty of 
 apartments in the city. Flies for the 
 Itchen and other Hampshire rivers are 
 specially tied by Mr Chalkley, who re- 
 commends the following patterns, a- 
 mong others, for various months of the 
 year. March: Walsh's Olive Dun ; Ap- 
 ril : Lock's Fancy and Medium Olive 
 Quill ; May : Olive Dun,with Gold Tag, 
 Cowdung, and the Palmer for shade 
 fishing ; June : May-fly, Welshman's 
 Button, and Alder ; July : Orange Dun, 
 Yellow Dun, and Blue Quill ; August: 
 Hammond's Adopted, Sedge-fly, Cart- 
 er Fly, and at dusk Red Quill and 
 
 * Hotels : Black Swan, Royal, and George. 
 Apartments : Miss Daniels, 1 2 Peter Street ; 
 
 Mrs Savage, 8 College Street.
 
 TROUT STREAMS 23 
 Coachman ; September : Iron Blue, 
 Dark Olive, and Red Quill ; October : 
 (grayling) Orange Bumble, Red Tag, 
 and Wickham's Fancy. 
 
 The Itchen trout season opens on 
 some lengths on i st March, but few ang- 
 lers venture to fish until the end of the 
 month, as the fish are hardly in condi- 
 tion. April and May are often the best 
 months in the year, and some heavy 
 baskets are made in the May-fly season. 
 
 July is an indifferent month, andsport 
 is seldom good until the evening rise, 
 while the same may be said for August, 
 unless the river is somewhat stained. 
 
 Graylingarenotgenerally distributed 
 in the Itchen ; but they abound in some 
 stretches, especially near Bishopstoke, 
 where they may be taken with the dry 
 fly in October and November. 
 
 Mr Chamberlayne's preserve is full 
 of trout and grayling. A limited num- 
 ber of tickets are issued annually. The
 
 24 HAMPSHIRE 
 
 length covers three miles. Immediately 
 above this portion is the Brainbridge 
 Preserve, for which a restricted number 
 of anglers can obtain season tickets at 
 2 5 per rod. 
 
 THE TEST 
 
 The source of this river is above 
 Overton, and it flows through White- 
 church, Andover, Stockbridge, and 
 Romsey to Southampton Water. There 
 is a limited club at Stockbridge, where 
 also a certain number of tenants have 
 fishing rights over a short stretch. Per- 
 mission may sometimes be obtained 
 from one of these freeholders. The 
 trout are big and well educated. There 
 is no " open " water on this highly valu- 
 able stream. 
 
 THE AVON 
 
 Although the Avon holds trout in 
 some of its lengths, it is inferior as a
 
 TROUT STREAMS 25 
 trout river to the Itchen and the Test. 
 General fish abound in many parts of the 
 Avon, and there are far too many pike 
 for the survival of large numbers of trout 
 and grayling. 
 
 I have fished the Avon and a tribut- 
 ary near Ringwood, but not for trout, 
 which are somewhat scarce in this reach 
 of the river. A few trout may, how- 
 ever, be taken in the May-fly season. 
 The general fishing, especially for pike 
 and big roach, is very good at Ring- 
 wood. There are some trout and gray- 
 ling in the private water of the Crown 
 Hotel. 
 
 An adequate account of the Hamp- 
 shire rivers would fill a volume, and I 
 have only referred to those parts of the 
 Itchen which can be fished by the visit- 
 ing angler. Particulars concerning 
 lengths which can be rented, and vacan- 
 cies in clubs, may be obtained from 
 Mr Chalkley, Winchester.
 
 26 
 
 SUSSEX RIVERS 
 
 The chief rivers are the Ouse, the 
 Rother, the Adur, and the Arun. These 
 are not trout streams, strictly speaking, 
 although trout are sometimes taken 
 from them with bait and fly. 
 
 THE OUSE 
 
 Mr J. N. Russell, an angler of life- 
 long experience, has kindly furnished 
 me with some particulars concerning 
 the chances of trout-fishing in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Horsham. Mr Russell, 
 who recalls the rivers of Sussex as they 
 were fifty years ago, writes that the 
 waters around Horsham are now al- 
 most depleted. Twenty-five years ago 
 he used " to get a brace or two every 
 morning, in the months of April and 
 May." His biggest trout weighed 3 Ib. 
 The Ouse, according to this angler's
 
 TROUT STREAMS 27 
 account, now yields a few trout round 
 about Lindfield and Uckfield. On one 
 of his day excursions, years ago, Mr 
 Russell caught no less than twenty-four 
 brace of fine trout. But these golden 
 days are no more, and the fly-fisherman 
 must content himself with one or two 
 trout for several hours of work. 
 
 There is a stream running from Short- 
 ridge Mill into the wharf, where a few 
 trout may be still caught in the spring 
 months. TheOusePreservation Society 
 sell day tickets at a shilling, and these 
 can be bought at a cottage, formerly The 
 Horse and Barge Inn, close to the water. 
 From this point to Isfield the river is now 
 too overgrown for fishing. The Bright- 
 on Piscatorial Society rent some water 
 in this part of Sussex. 
 
 THE ROTHER 
 Very full information has been kind-
 
 28 SUSSEX 
 
 ly sent to me by Mr Thomas Daws, 
 secretary to the Rother Fishery Associa- 
 tion, which controls the lengths of the 
 rivers Rother, Tillingham, Brede, and 
 tributaries lying within Sussex and 
 Kent. The Association was formed in 
 1872. Day tickets for the Rother, from 
 Robertsbridge to Rye, can be obtained 
 for is. at the former place,* at Nor- 
 thiam, Bodiam, and from the clerk to 
 the Conservancy at Rye. A shilling 
 season trout licence is required as well 
 as the fishing ticket. Season subscrip- 
 tions are los. minimum. 
 
 The tributaries hold trout, but leave 
 must be obtained. Worm-fishing is usu- 
 ally practised, but there are fly-lengths 
 on the Dudwell stream. The main river 
 has only a few trout, but they are of a 
 good size, while the affluents offer a bet- 
 ter chance to the fly- and worm-angler. 
 Mr Daws has fished these waters during 
 
 * Hotel: George.
 
 TROUT STREAMS 29 
 fifty years. In The Angler's News, 1 5th 
 September 1906, there is an article, 
 " Where to Fish the Sussex Rother." 
 
 All trout under Ib. must be returned 
 to the water. The trout season is from 
 i st April to 3Oth September. There is 
 good general fishing in these waters.
 
 TROUT-FISHING IN 
 DEVONSHIRE 
 
 FROM THE AXE TO THE EXE 
 
 OST of the rivers of 
 Devon have their source 
 in moorland tracts. The 
 Exe rises in Exmoor, in 
 the county of Somerset, 
 and enters Devon north of Bampton, 
 while the lesser streams of the northern 
 moor flow into the Severn Sea. The 
 Dart, Teign, Tavy, Taw, Plym, Avon, 
 Meavy, Erme, and some smaller riv- 
 ers spring from the great morasses of
 
 TROUT-FISHING IN DEVONSHIRE 3 1 
 Dartmoor, and all flow to the south 
 with the exception of the Taw, which 
 has a northerly course to Barnstaple 
 Bay. 
 
 Rivers of a less rugged character are 
 the Torridge, the Axe, and the Otter, 
 and these produce the biggest trout. 
 Wet-fly and minnow fishing are prac- 
 tised on the moorland streams, while, 
 after early spring, the East Devon rivers 
 yield the best baskets to the dry fly. 
 Devonshire trout-fishing is varied and 
 interesting, and the scenery everywhere 
 in the county is delightful. There is no 
 scarcity of excellent hotels and boarding- 
 houses in Devon, and there are plenty 
 of farmhouse apartments close to the 
 best trout streams. The choice of wa- 
 ters offered is a wide one, ranging from 
 moorland brooks to the broad lengths 
 of the Torridge and the comparatively 
 sedate windings of the Otter and Axe 
 amid beautiful pastoral surroundings.
 
 32 T R O U T- F I S H I N G 
 
 THE AXE 
 
 This is an excellent trout stream also 
 holding salmon and a fair number of 
 peal or sea trout in its lower lengths. 
 Its source is a few miles from Crew- 
 kerne, and before the river reaches 
 Chard Junction (L. and S.W.R.) it is 
 fishable, though almost all the lengths 
 are in private ownership. Below Ax- 
 minster the Axe is joined by the Yarty, 
 which rises near Otterford, not far from 
 the source of the Otter. This is the 
 chief tributary of the Axe, and it con- 
 tains trout in fair numbers. The Axe 
 widens below the confluence, and be- 
 comes tidal after Colyford, where it is 
 joined by the Coly, a narrow but well- 
 stocked stream. Visitors at Colyton 
 have the right of fishing by staying at 
 the Colcombe Castle Hotel. Another 
 centre for fishermen is Colyford,* a 
 
 * Inn : White Hart (wo board). Apartments 
 {with board) : Elm Farm.
 
 IN DEVONSHIRE 33 
 pretty village on the left bank, within 
 about two miles of Seaton and the sea. 
 A weekly charge is made for the Coly- 
 ford length, and particulars can be ob- 
 tained from Mr Kirk, solicitor, Chard. 
 This is a dry-fly water, except in early 
 spring. For the Axe and its tributaries 
 the Blue Upright is the standard fly. 
 The last mile of the Axe is free fishing. 
 There are hotels and boarding-houses at 
 Seaton, a charming little seaside town at 
 the mouth of the Axe. The Shute Arms, 
 Seaton Junction, has fishing for visitors. 
 
 THE SID 
 
 A small but productive stream which 
 has given me good sport with wet and 
 dry fly in April. The source is in the 
 hills near Honiton, and the Sid waters 
 a lovely vale down to Sidmouthand the 
 sea. Most of the upper water belongs 
 to Sir Charles Cave, who may occasion- 
 ally give permission. 
 3
 
 34 TROUT-FISHING 
 
 Sidbury is the first village of import- 
 ance on the banks of the Sid, and a few 
 miles below is Sidford. Below Sidford 
 Bridge is the Manor Water, belonging 
 to Colonel Balfour, a length of about 
 a mile. The stream is fishable almost 
 everywhere after rain, but runs rather 
 low in summer. There are several capi- 
 tal runs and pools, containing trout up 
 to f lb., the average weight being rather 
 over three to the pound. The fish are 
 bright and game, and take the Blue 
 Upright, Olive Dun, and Greenwell's 
 Glory. A trout of 2 lb. has been taken 
 with the rod and line from this charming 
 little stream, and several of that weight 
 have been caught by prawn-netters in 
 the tidal pool on the beach at Sidmouth. 
 No wading is necessary on the Sid. 
 Anglers should use fine tackle and throw 
 a long line when the sun is bright ; and 
 during a hatch of flies, the dry fly should 
 be used on the pools.
 
 IN DEVONSHIRE 35 
 Sidmouth is a beautifully situated 
 town, with a high reputation as a health 
 resort. It is well provided with hotels 
 and boarding-houses,* and may be made 
 a centre for the Axe and Otter. Mr 
 Sanders, house agent, Old Fore Street, 
 should be consulted concerning hotel 
 and boarding-house accommodation. A 
 highly expert resident fisherman, who 
 knows all the streams around, is Mr 
 Wright, M.R.C.V.S., Sidmouth, for- 
 merly a Tweedside angler. 
 
 Below Colonel Balfour's reserved 
 water is a short private length, and then 
 General Hunt's splendid little fishery is 
 reached, where the river flows over a 
 series of dams, and provides several 
 runs holding good trout. The first mile 
 up from the sea is free fishing. This 
 length is heavily fished, but a few trout 
 
 * Hotels : Victoria, Knoivle. Apartments 
 (recommended) : Mrs Strong, Souther oft, Arcott 
 Road.
 
 36 T R O U T- F I S H I N G 
 
 may be taken below the weirs during an 
 evening rise, or after a flood. 
 
 The Sid is a productive stream, and 
 breeds bigger trout than the casual visi- 
 tor might suspect. Its drawback is that 
 in a dry summer it is scarcely fishable, 
 though a brace or two of trout may be 
 caught late in the evening. After a spate 
 the stream is deeply coloured, but fishes 
 well when the water is fining. 
 
 THE OTTER 
 
 About three miles along the coast, 
 west of Sidmouth, we reach the banks 
 of the Otter, the best trout stream in 
 the district. Almost all of this river is 
 owned by Lord Clinton, but portions of 
 it can be fished by payment and under 
 certain conditions. 
 
 This river rises under Black Down, 
 near Otterford, and winds down to Up- 
 ottery, flowing a little wide of Honiton 
 to the town of Ottery St Mary. The
 
 IN DEVONSHIRE 37 
 
 length from just below Tipton St John 
 to Newton Poppleford Bridge is at pre- 
 sent in the fishing right of Mr G. Pep- 
 pin, Harpford House, Ottery St Mary. 
 By his kind permission I have fished 
 this charming stretch in the spring. It 
 is well supplied with trout, averaging 
 about half a pound, while fish of a heav- 
 ier weight are frequently taken. 
 
 The monthsof March, April,and May 
 are the best for the Otter, which may be 
 described as a dry-fly stream. It is a 
 clear river, with open banks, long pools, 
 and excellent gravel shallows, provid- 
 ed with bottom weed and harbour for 
 trout. In the early part of the season 
 three flies may be used on a fine cast 
 and fished wet ; but later on the dry fly 
 is a more effective enticement to these 
 somewhat educated trout. 
 
 Good baskets of trout are caught 
 from the Otter by experienced fly-fish- 
 ers. A take of twenty-seven trout was
 
 38 TROUT-FISHING 
 made in a day during the present spring 
 (1908), when the weather was scarcely 
 favourable for fly-fishing. Another bas- 
 ket, weighing 83- lb., was made by a wet- 
 fly angler, using Greenwell's Glory, the 
 March Brown, and a partridge hackle 
 and orange body. 
 
 For the middle reaches of the Otter, 
 Ottery St Mary, Tipton St John, or 
 Sidmouth (short rail journey) are the 
 best points of approach. Lower down, 
 East Budleigh* has convenient hotel 
 quarters, close to the river. Visitors to 
 the Rolle Hotel, Budleigh Sal terton, and 
 the Imperial Hotel, Exmouth, have the 
 use of tickets for Lord Clinton's pre- 
 serve. Fishing is only allowed on Wed- 
 nesdays and Saturdays, and the stretch 
 is four miles long, from Otterton Bridge 
 upwards. The boarding terms at the 
 
 * Hotel : RotteArmt. Apartments: Sea f^ietv 
 Farm (Mrs Mingo), Otterton, Budleigh, one mile 
 from river.
 
 IN DEVONSHIRE 39 
 Rolle Hotel are from three guineas 
 weekly. Visitors should write first to 
 the manager, to ascertain if the permit 
 is available during a given period. 
 
 Resident fishermen on the banks of 
 the Otter may be able to procure one of 
 the limited number of season tickets 
 issued by Lord Clinton's agent at four 
 guineas. Fishing is permitted upon two 
 days in the week to holders of these 
 tickets. Inquiries should be addressed to 
 Mr E. Chamier, Rolle Estate Office, Ex- 
 mouth. As the fishing will be let with 
 Bicton House, it is doubtful whether 
 the hotel water will be available in 1909. 
 
 The last mile of the Otter, below the 
 wooden bridge at Otterton, is free fish- 
 ing. Some trout may be taken here early 
 in the season. 
 
 THE EXE 
 
 This river in its higher lengths pre- 
 sents the same characteristics as the
 
 4o TROUT-FISHING 
 Barle.* It is usually in condition for 
 fly-fishing from March till the end of 
 May, and at any time, except in a 
 drought, it yields very fair sport. Ac- 
 cording to my own experience, the trout 
 of the Exe, on the moor and its borders, 
 are rather bigger on an average than 
 those of the Barle. 
 
 The Exe is fishable for some miles 
 above Exford, where there is a good 
 hotel. Dulverton visitors usually drive 
 or walk over the hill to the length which 
 runs parallel with the Dunster Road. 
 This reserved water is available if appli- 
 cation is made at the cottage on the right 
 bank, close to a stone bridge, below the 
 village of Exton. Near the village two 
 forks of the Exe meet, one running from 
 Dunkerry Beacon and the other from 
 Winsford. The latter stream is open to 
 holders of the permission ticket. It is, 
 however, much overgrown, and casting 
 
 * See " Extnoor Streams."
 
 IN DEVONSHIRE 41 
 is only possible here and there. Below 
 Exton the banks are less wooded, and 
 there are several excellent runs, contain- 
 ing trout of a quarter of a pound, and 
 a fair proportion of a better weight. In 
 some of the alder-fringed pools heavier 
 fish may be taken now and then when 
 the water is in order. 
 
 Coming from Dulverton, on the 
 Dunster Road, we strike the Exe, in a- 
 bout one and a half miles, at the foot of 
 a steep hill. The road crosses a bridge, 
 and in about a hundred yards it joins 
 the high-road running from Tiverton 
 northwards. Below the bridge the river 
 is not open to visiting anglers. The 
 nearest point for open fishing is at Bamp- 
 ton, where guests at The White Horse 
 have permission to fish a fair stretch. 
 
 At Tiverton,* the next town on the 
 riverside, there is an association, which 
 issues season tickets at 305. This ticket 
 
 * Hot el: Angel.
 
 42 TROUT-FISHING 
 covers many miles of excellent water, 
 yielding capital baskets early in the sea- 
 son. 
 
 The Bickleigh Bridge Inn has quar- 
 ters for anglers, and here the Up Exe 
 Society's water begins, and at Thorver- 
 ton is the upper limit of the Lower Exe 
 Association, which issues day tickets. 
 There are coarse fish in the lower reaches 
 of the Exe and in the Exeter Ship 
 Canal. Near Cowley Bridge the Exe 
 is joined by the Greedy. 
 
 The close time for trout in the Exe is 
 from 1 5th September to the end of Feb- 
 ruary. Trout licences are 2s. 6d. for the 
 season, and is. for one day. Another 
 licence is required for salmon and peal. 
 
 THE GREEDY 
 
 This tributary of the Exe produces 
 some of the finest trout to be found 
 in Devonshire. It flows through a fer- 
 tile district of red earth, and has two or
 
 IN DEVONSHIRE 43 
 three tributaries, such as Spreyton Wa- 
 ter, each containing trout. Most of the 
 Greedy belongs to Sir Redvers Buller 
 and Sir John Shelley, but there are a 
 few lengths that can be fished with the 
 fly by permission. In a few instances 
 the farmers have fishing rights, and by 
 staying at farms on the banks, the visi- 
 tor may obtain leave to fish this excellent 
 stream. 
 
 The Greedy is perhaps more adapted 
 on the whole to dry- than wet-fly fish- 
 ing ; but the sunk fly will take good 
 trout in the spring, and after a spate. 
 Crediton,* a quaint old market town, 
 five miles from Exeter, may be made a 
 centre for the Greedy and its tributaries. 
 The names of farms on the banks, offer- 
 ing fishing to paying guests, may be 
 sometimes found in the L. and S.W.R. 
 list of holiday apartments, issued annu- 
 ally. 
 
 * Hotel: Ship.
 
 44 
 
 THE RIVERS OF DARTMOOR 
 
 In their higher reaches the streams of 
 Dartmoor origin are like the mountain 
 burns of Scotland and the hill brooks 
 of Wales and Yorkshire. They pro- 
 duce an abundance of trout of the brook 
 size, though, in the case of some of the 
 rivers, bigger than those of the Exmoor 
 streams. In their middle and lower 
 lengths the Dart, Teign, and Tavy are 
 large rivers, swelled by numerous afflu- 
 ents, and their waters hold salmon, sea 
 trout, and brown trout. 
 
 The trout-fishing on Dartmoor often 
 yields very good baskets, but the bigger 
 trout are in the less rugged stretches of 
 the rivers. For wild scenery and brac- 
 ing air few parts of the kingdom can ex- 
 cel "the Devonshire Alps." Okehamp- 
 ton, Lidford, Tavistock, Two Bridges, 
 Princetown, Chagford, Ashburton, Ivy-
 
 OF DARTMOOR 45 
 bridge, and Plymouth are all conven- 
 ient points of approach for the rivers 
 flowing from Dartmoor, and at each 
 of these towns and villages there is 
 comfortable accommodation for the 
 fisherman. Short-period tickets at a 
 very moderate cost are issued for these 
 streams. 
 
 THE TEIGN 
 
 Five years of my life as an angler 
 were spent close to the banks of this 
 lovely river, and many are the days 
 that I have spent by the Teign and its 
 tributaries. The moorland lengths of 
 this stream are free, and from Chagford 
 downwards almost all of the Teign can 
 be fished by taking a season, weekly, or 
 daily ticket from one of the associations 
 which preserve the water. 
 
 The Upper Teign is in two branch- 
 es, one running down from Siddaford
 
 46 THE RIVERS 
 Tor, on Dartmoor, and flowing at the 
 base of Kestor, the other rising within a 
 mile of its companion stream. These 
 streams are known as the North and 
 South Teign until they merge above 
 Gidleigh Park, Chagford, from which 
 point they flow under the name of the 
 Teign. It is a long tramp from Chag- 
 ford to these higher waters, but a great 
 part of the distance can be driven. The 
 moor reaches abound with trout, about 
 six to the pound, with an occasional 
 half-pounder, and when the river is full 
 the sport is interesting to the lover of 
 brook-trouting. During dry weather a 
 fine cast, stalking, and small flies are 
 essential at Chagford. 
 
 In my day Old Perrott, " the Dart- 
 moor guide," and his son Richard, were 
 anglers of great renown in this district. 
 Perrott the younger was a walking en- 
 cyclopedia of Dartmoor fishing lore and 
 natural history, a capital companion,
 
 OF DARTMOOR 47 
 and a good hand with the fly rod. Per- 
 rott's flies were always in demand, and 
 I have proved their worth in the Teign 
 and other Dartmoor rivers. 
 
 Given a dull, breezy day, the twin 
 Teign streams on the moor are sure to 
 provide sport to the wet fly. In July 
 the fernweb, cochybondu, or fern bee- 
 tle appears on the bracken in this re- 
 gion, and this is an excellent bait on a 
 small hook and a drawn cast. Mr Ken- 
 nedy's floating imitation of this beetle, 
 which I have used with much success 
 in Derbyshire, would no doubt prove 
 equally effective on the Teign. Another 
 bait for the Teign in hot weather is a 
 live blue-bottle, which can be used blow- 
 line fashion, both under the boughs and 
 on the gravel shallows. 
 
 A private length runs through Gid- 
 leigh. At Chagford the Upper Teign 
 Association water begins, the preserve 
 being about twelve miles in length, and
 
 48 THE RIVERS 
 ending at Steps Bridge, Dunsford. Sea- 
 son tickets are 2 is., weekly 55., and 
 daily 2s. 6d.,on application at the hotels 
 at Chagford.* 
 
 There is a run of peal (salmon-trout) 
 to this river during the summer and 
 autumn. A season licence for salmon 
 and peal costs 2os., and a day licence 2s. 
 The conservators' licence for trout is 
 2s. 6d. for the season. 
 
 By changing one's mode of fishing 
 from dry fly to wet fly, according to the 
 conditions of weather and water, enjoy- 
 able sport may be counted upon. From 
 Chagford down to Sandy Park, where 
 there is a hotel, there are several good 
 runs for peal and brown trout. Below 
 this hamlet the Teign enters a very 
 beautiful gorge, and hurries amid boul- 
 ders down to Fingle Bridge, a favourite 
 
 * Hotels : Moor Parky Globe. Boarding- 
 houses : Monte Rosa and others ; and plenty of 
 apartments in the town and vicinity.
 
 OF DARTMOOR 49 
 picnic resort. At Drewsteignton, a little 
 village about a mile away, on the left 
 bank, there is an inn, The Druid Arms, 
 and two or three lodging-houses. 
 
 From Fingle the stream still runs in 
 a deep glen down to Clifford Bridge. 
 This length is somewhat overgrown, 
 and as wading is not permitted, it is diffi- 
 cult here and there to fish with the fly. 
 But there are some excellent pools. Be- 
 low Clifford Bridge there are one or two 
 open runs and several pools, mostly 
 shaded by trees. The last pool, the one 
 above Dunsford Bridge,* sometimes 
 called Steps Bridge, contains some good 
 trout, and is often frequented by salmon 
 and peal in the autumn. The fishing 
 rights below Steps Bridge belong to the 
 miller at Dunsford. 
 
 The Lower Teign Association pre- 
 serves the river from above the Teign- 
 house Inn to Newton Abbot. The river 
 
 * Inn : Royal Oak, about half a mile from bridge. 
 
 4
 
 50 THE RIVERS 
 is less overgrown in this stretch, and 
 offers some fine casting-places through- 
 out its extent. Years ago pollutions 
 from mines destroyed a large quantity 
 of the trout in this part of the Teign, 
 and in my time the river had suffered 
 severely, though the lower lengths, from 
 Ashton down to Teigngrace, were noted 
 for salmon and sea trout. 
 
 A trout licence at 2s. 6d. for the sea- 
 son is required for the Teign, and for 
 salmon and peal the licence is 2s. per 
 day. Chudleigh, Teigngrace, and New- 
 ton Abbot may be made headquarters 
 for the Lower Teign. 
 
 A portion of the Bovey, flowing 
 through the little town of Bovey Tracy, 
 is preserved by the Lower Teign As- 
 sociation. There are plenty of trout in 
 this tributary. Leave may sometimes 
 be obtained for the Wrey and Becky, 
 two charming brooks within reach of 
 Bovey Tracy.
 
 5' 
 
 THE DART 
 
 The source of this river is in the heart 
 of Dartmoor, and, like the Teign, it 
 flows for several miles in two branches, 
 known as the East and West Dart. The 
 East Dart drains from the south side 
 of Cranmere Pool, the great central 
 " mire " of Dartmoor, and flows between 
 Cut Hill and Siddaford Tor down to 
 Postbridge on the Exeter and Ply- 
 mouth Road. It is a peaty little stream 
 in its upper reaches, with many wind- 
 ings, and here and there boulder-strewn, 
 containing an abundance of small trout, 
 which take the fly quite fiercely after a 
 freshet. Salmon sometimes ascend above 
 Two Bridges. 
 
 There is accommodation at Postbridge 
 at a temperance inn, and in lodging- 
 houses.* The nearest stations are More- 
 tonhampsteadorPrincetown(G.W.R.), 
 
 * Inquiries to Mr Wtbb.
 
 52 THE RIVERS 
 and the former is the more convenient 
 point of approach for fishermen travel- 
 ling from London. Below Postbridge 
 the river flows in a gorge with low banks, 
 and some of the best runs are in this 
 stretch. The wet fly is used almost ex- 
 clusively on these moorland streams, 
 and the most approved "killers" are 
 small hackle duns. In a flood the Devon 
 minnow is very attractive. 
 
 The Wallabrook, which joins the East 
 Dart some distance below Postbridge, is 
 full of trout, but half-pound fish are not 
 plentiful. Down towards beautiful Dart- 
 meet, where the West Dart unites with 
 the East Dart, thetroutare rather bigger, 
 and in some of the pools there are a few 
 fish of a pound weight. The fishing in 
 these rivulets is very enjoyable, for al- 
 though the trout average about five to 
 the pound, or even less, they are plenti- 
 ful and free in rising. April, May, and 
 June are good months for the Upper
 
 OF DARTMOOR 53 
 Dart, or at any time after a heavy fall 
 of rain. In August and September the 
 streams are often low. 
 
 For the West Dart the angler has the 
 choice of PrincetownorTwo Bridges as 
 a centre. The Duchy Hotel at Prince- 
 town, and The Saracen's Head at Two 
 Bridges, are both excellent hotels, the 
 latter being on the bank of the river. 
 The source of the West Dart is not far 
 from the birthplace of the East Dart, and 
 the character of this branch differs little 
 from that of its companion stream. It 
 receives the Cowsic, an impetuous rivu- 
 let, at Two Bridges, and lower down it 
 is joined by the Blackabrook and Cherry 
 Brook, which both fish well in rainy 
 weather. 
 
 Short-period tickets on these waters 
 cost only a few shillings. The scenery 
 above and below Two Bridges is wild 
 and beautiful, and in parts exceedingly 
 desolate, while the air is brisk and in-
 
 54 THE RIVERS 
 vigorating. Iron Blues, the Blue Up- 
 right, the March Brown, and, after a 
 flood, Wickham's Fancy, will be all the 
 flies that the angler requires for these 
 fruitful streams. 
 
 At Dartmeet, a lovely glen, the two 
 branches of the river unite. It is joined 
 below Holne Chase by the East and 
 West Webburn, which flow down on 
 either side of the lofty ridge of Hamildon 
 Beacon, uniting below the little moor- 
 land village of Widdecombe. 
 
 Still flowing through romantic gor- 
 ges, the Dart runs to Ashburton,* where 
 tickets at 55. per week can be purchased 
 for a length running towards Totnes. 
 A few miles below Ashburton is the lit- 
 tle town of Buckfastleigh, where there 
 is a short free stretch, and a length of 
 three miles, fishable by visitors to Furze- 
 leigh Mill. The Association water runs 
 
 * Hotel : Golden Lion. Apartments : Furze- 
 ieigh Mill.
 
 OF DARTMOOR 55 
 to Totnes,*a fair-sized town in the fertile 
 district of South Devon, where apart- 
 ments are plentiful. 
 
 There is often a good run of peal (sal- 
 mon-trout) in the Dart, and in wet 
 weather these migrants find their way 
 up to the moorland reaches. A licence 
 is required for salmon, peal, and trout, 
 which costs 2os. for the season, ys. 6d. 
 per week, and 2 s. 6d. for a day. For trout 
 only, the charges are ios., 55., and 2s. 
 
 Care is needed in wading the Dart, 
 for the river is subject to very sudden 
 floods. I need not expatiate upon the 
 beautiful scenery throughout the whole 
 course of this stream, from Cranmere 
 Pool to the sea, for everyone has heard 
 of the charms of the Dart. 
 
 For the angler it is a delightful river. 
 The trout are certainly not of the chalk 
 stream weight, but they are plentiful in 
 most parts, and rise well to the fly. 
 
 * Hotels : Seymour, Castle.
 
 56 THE RIVERS 
 Where permitted, a small Devon Gold 
 minnow, or a Quill minnow, proves a 
 destructive bait in partially discoloured 
 water. But a fair fly-fisherman can reck- 
 on upon sport in the Dart, unless the 
 river is very low and clear. Under such 
 conditions, success is likeliest in the 
 wooded and deeper lengths. 
 
 The conservators of the Dart have 
 restocked the river with yearling trout, 
 and taken precautions against poaching 
 and pollution. 
 
 The Tavy and Plym Fishing Asso- 
 ciation preserve several streams and 
 lengths of rivers in the vicinity of Ply- 
 mouth and Tavistock. Tickets for these 
 waters, which I shall presently describe, 
 are 22s. 6d. for the season, including 
 salmon and trout ; and for trout only, 
 one day, is., or 2s. 6d. for the season. 
 
 I am indebted for some of the in- 
 formation in this chapter to Mr Wil-
 
 OF DARTMOOR 57 
 liam Hearder, the well-known fishing- 
 tackle manufacturer and angler, of 
 Union Street, Plymouth, who supplies 
 the right flies for these rivers, as well 
 as special artificial minnows of proved 
 value. Tickets for these waters can be 
 purchased from Mr Hearder. 
 
 THE TAVY 
 
 The source of this typical moorland 
 river is above the wild and imposing 
 Tavy Cleave. Running down between 
 Fur Tor, one of the most desolate of 
 the Dartmoor heights, the Tavy re- 
 ceives the Rattlebrook, a tributary of a 
 little over two miles in length, before it 
 enters the Cleave. For a mile up the 
 Rattlebrook there is fishingaf ter a night's 
 rain, but the water quickly sinks in 
 dry weather. The main stream through 
 Tavy Cleave has some fine pools among 
 big boulders, and there are some broken 
 runs. Trout are abundant here, and of
 
 58 THE RIVERS 
 the average Dartmoor size, but fly-fish- 
 ing is not very profitable in bright sun- 
 shine, unless the river is high. After a 
 flood it is not difficult to make a bas- 
 ket, though a good deal of rock scram- 
 bling is necessary. I once had a nasty 
 slip here, and broke the top ring of my 
 rod on a rock. 
 
 For a quiet holiday in one of the 
 finest quarters of Dartmoor, I can re- 
 commend the Tavyside. At Doe Tor 
 Farm, Mrs Brookes receives visitors, 
 and the Tavy is about a mile from the 
 house, while there are two or three small 
 tributaries of the Lyd near at hand. 
 Bridestowe (L. and S. W. R) is the nearest 
 station, and there are boarding-houses 
 in the village. Daily tickets can be 
 bought for one shilling. The conser- 
 vators of the Tamar, Plym, Tavy, and 
 other streams of the district charge half 
 a crown for a trout licence for the season, 
 or a shilling for one day.
 
 OF DARTMOOR 59 
 The river widens at Mary Tavy, and 
 flows on in a less wild valley to Tavi- 
 stock,* a clean and pleasant little town 
 on the moor border. The Walkham is 
 a good trout stream after rain, and quar- 
 ters can be obtained at Horrabridge 
 (G.W.R.), whence the Meavy river can 
 be reached in about two miles. The 
 trout of the Walkham are larger than 
 those of the Tavy, and it holds peal in 
 the season. Horrabridge is a good start- 
 ing-point for this stream. 
 
 Tavistock is a convenient point of ap- 
 proach for several streams. The Tamar 
 is within four miles, and it is about the 
 same distance down to the Walkham, 
 while the Plym and Meavy are a little 
 further away. 
 
 Salmon-peal ascend the Tavy, and 
 
 occasionally afford lively fishing with the 
 
 fly or minnow. The brown trout are 
 
 bigger below Tavistock than in the 
 
 * Hotel: The Bedford.
 
 60 THE RIVERS 
 moorland lengths, and now and again 
 fish of over a pound fall to the fly-fisher. 
 
 THE MEAVY 
 
 The Meavy is another Dartmoor 
 stream, rising near Princetown, and 
 flowing by the villages of Sheepstor and 
 Meavy on to the beautiful scenery of 
 Shaugh Bridge. Mr William Hearder, 
 the well-known angler and tackle-maker 
 of Plymouth, writes : " The fishing in 
 this little river is very good, especially 
 in the higher waters." Dousland or 
 Yelverton are the best stations for this 
 stream. 
 
 THE CAD 
 
 The Cad runs almost parallel with 
 the Meavy, which it joins at Shaugh 
 Bridge. There is good trout water up- 
 stream from Ditsworthy Warren to 
 Plym Steps, and the length is not over- 
 fished. As parts of the stream between 
 Shaugh Bridge and Cadover Bridge are
 
 OF DARTMOOR 61 
 overgrown, the fisherman will find dap- 
 ping the grasshopper, or any natural fly, 
 the best method of fishing this stretch. 
 
 THE PLYM 
 
 The Plym is almost entirely reserved 
 by the owners of the fishing rights. It 
 is a good peal river. 
 
 THE ERME 
 
 A charming river, though it offers 
 difficulties to the angler by reason of 
 its overgrown banks. It rises near 
 Erme Pound, on Dartmoor, amid wild 
 surroundings, and flows down to Har- 
 ford, where the best of the fishing be- 
 gins, though the upper waters present 
 fewer obstacles to the fly-fisher. There 
 is cottage accommodation at Harford 
 Bridge. Ivy Bridge is a quiet little 
 town, pleasantly situated.* Mr Hearder 
 
 * Hotel : London.
 
 62 THE RIVERS 
 
 says that there are heavy trout in the 
 
 rough pools among the rocks, and that 
 
 salmon and peal are taken now and a- 
 
 gain. 
 
 THE AVON 
 
 The Avon has its source close to the 
 birthplace of the Erme. It runs by 
 Huntingdon Cross down to Shipley 
 Bridge, and is fairly open. South Brent 
 is a convenient point of approach, or 
 Gara Bridge and Loddiswell. Salmon 
 ascend the Avon in considerable num- 
 bers, but the river is somewhat spoiled 
 by nefarious fishing. 
 
 The Erme and the Avon are pre- 
 served by an association. Weekly tick- 
 ets for trout are 55. ; day, 2s. 
 
 THE TAW 
 
 The Taw is the only Dartmoor river 
 flowing to the north. Its spring is in the 
 bogs of Dartmoor, and it runs down a 
 savage valley by Cawsand Beacon into
 
 OF DARTMOOR 63 
 the cultivated districts of Tawton, Eg- 
 gesford, and South Molton to the sea at 
 Barnstaple. The principal affluents are 
 the Little Dart, Yeo, and Mole, all con- 
 taining trout, but mostly preserved by 
 landowners. 
 
 There is excellent trout-fishing in 
 some lengths of the Taw. The Fox and 
 Hounds Hotel, Eggesford (L. and 
 S.W.R.), has a well-stocked stretch for 
 its guests. The proprietor advertises 
 twenty miles of water. The season opens 
 in February and ends 2nd October. A 
 2s. 6d. trout licence for the season, or 
 i s. for a day, is required. The George 
 Hotel, South Molton, has some fishing 
 for visitors on tributaries of the Taw. 
 
 THE EAST AND WEST OCKMENT 
 STREAMS 
 
 The East Ockment hurries through 
 the fine Belstone Cleave to Okehamp- 
 ton, where it is joined by the West
 
 64 STREAMS OF NORTH 
 Ockment, which rises in Cranmere 
 Pool. These brooks are reached from 
 South Zeal, Belstone, and Okehamp- 
 ton, which has a station on the L. and 
 S.W.R. They have free stretches, but 
 a licence under the Taw and Tor- 
 ridge Board is necessary. In rainy 
 weather the Ockmentsgive fair sport to 
 three flies, fished wet, and some present- 
 able trout may be taken early in the sea- 
 son. The scenery of their course 
 through the moor is extemely fine, and 
 there are several picturesque falls. 
 
 STREAMS OF NORTH DEVON 
 AND EXMOOR 
 
 THE TORRIDGE 
 
 The Torridge is a fine river, but the 
 fishing is almost entirely reserved by 
 the landowners. I believe that Lord 
 Clinton issues a certain number of per- 
 mits for his lengths ; and there is a long 
 stretch of eight miles at Torrington, re-
 
 DEVON AND EXMOOR 65 
 served for visitors to the Globe Hotel. 
 Application should be made to the pro- 
 prietor, Mr J. E. Parnell. 
 
 The fishing is good in the spring and 
 early summer, and after June the floods 
 bring up a number of peal and salmon 
 from the sea. The trout are plentiful, 
 and rise well in the early part of the sea- 
 son. In the summer the dry fly will 
 capture some big trout during an even- 
 ing rise. Blue Upright, Olive Dun, and 
 Black Gnat are useful flies. A weekly 
 trout licence costs is., and another li- 
 cence is required for salmon. 
 
 EXMOOR 
 
 Exmoor is a grand tract of tableland, 
 wooded valleys, sea coast, and river gor- 
 ges. The trout are plentiful but small, 
 though some fish of a pound are taken. 
 
 THE BARLE 
 
 This beautiful stream abounds with 
 trout, and through the generosity of 
 5
 
 66 STREAMS OF NORTH 
 the riparian owners the greater part of 
 it can be fished by permission, which is 
 readily granted to visitors staying at 
 Dulverton and Withypool. Rising on 
 the moor, above the hamlet of Simons- 
 bath, the Barle flows through an open 
 country, sometimes winding its way be- 
 tween furzy slopes and then rippling 
 merrily through rough pasture - land, 
 until it reaches the wooded glen be- 
 tween Hawkridge and the little town 
 of Dulverton. 
 
 The river rises in peat, and is often 
 stained a dark colour after heavy rains. 
 When fining, the water is the right tint 
 for the fly, and in rainy weather the 
 Barle rarely fails to give sport to the 
 angler. I n the summer, during drought, 
 this stream sinks to a low level in the 
 moorland lengths, and under such con- 
 ditions fishing is not very profitable on 
 sunny days. Spring is the best time to 
 visit the Barle. From the beginning of
 
 DEVON AND EXMOOR 67 
 April till the middle of June is the most 
 fruitful period of the season, though 
 the river fishes well in a wet August. 
 
 The Barle trout are about five to the 
 pound, bright and lively fish, and very 
 free risers under proper conditions. 
 There are trout of a pound and over 
 that weight in the water, and these big- 
 ger fish may be enticed now and then 
 with a floating fly. A dressing of the 
 Olive Quill Gnat, supplied by Heath, 
 the fly-tier at Dulverton who is always 
 willing to give information is an ex- 
 cellent fly in the spring months. Duns 
 of various shades, both winged and 
 hackle, are always useful ; but the March 
 Brown is not a very popular fly in this 
 district. Casts should be fine and flies 
 small. Wading is necessary in the low- 
 er lengths, but not in the more open 
 stretches towards Withypool or at Si- 
 monsbath. 
 
 For the upper waters Simonsbath is
 
 68 STREAMS OF NORTH 
 a delightful centre. The tiny village is 
 in a sheltered valley, and there are com- 
 fortable quarters at a temperance hotel, 
 where daily or weekly tickets can be 
 obtained. The day ticket costs is. 6d. 
 Simonsbath is somewhat inaccessible, 
 for it is in the heart of Exmoor, about 
 midway between Lynton and Dulver- 
 ton, and to reach it you must hire a 
 vehicle at either of these places. 
 
 Lower down we reach Withypool,* 
 where the river is chiefly of an open 
 character, and well stocked with trout. 
 Thence, down to Tarr Steps and Dul- 
 verton, the banks are steep and closely 
 wooded, and the best runs can only be 
 fished in comfort by wading. 
 
 Dulverton is pleasantly situated, and 
 the town is about a mile from the sta- 
 tion (G.W.R., via Taunton). The pro- 
 prietor of The Carnarvon Arms, near 
 the station, has permission for his guests 
 
 * Apartments at Post Office ( Mr Tttdball] and at inn.
 
 DEVON AND EXMOOR 69 
 to fish in five miles of the Barle. Be- 
 tween the hotel and the bridge at Dul- 
 verton is a new salmon weir. A fair 
 number of grayling frequent the length 
 near the town, and some large speci- 
 mens can often be seen from the bridge. 
 Permission to fish in a long stretch 
 of the river above the town is granted 
 to visitors upon application to the a- 
 gents of the landowners, while the ho- 
 tels can always provide permits for their 
 guests. I can recommend the Green 
 Hotel, a very comfortable house, well 
 managed, and in a pleasant situation 
 close to the river. The Red Lion also 
 entertains fishermen. There are several 
 boarding-houses in the town which are 
 usually quite full during August and 
 September. 
 
 THE EAST AND WEST LYN 
 
 Lynmouth, with Lynton, one of the 
 most delightful and picturesque of
 
 70 STREAMS OF NORTH 
 towns in lovely North Devon, is well 
 provided with hotels and boarding- 
 houses. For the angler there are sev- 
 eral streams within a ten-mile radius, 
 and the Lyn flows through the town. 
 Daily and weekly tickets can be obtained 
 for a trifling cost, and the Lyndale Ho- 
 tel has some private water at Heddon 
 and on Exmoor. 
 
 The East Lyn rises on the moor, and 
 is joined by the West Lyn at the beauti- 
 ful glen of Watersmeet, one of the sights 
 of the west of England. 
 
 Salmon and peal ascend the Lyn, and 
 there is an abundance of trout in its wa- 
 ters, about six to the pound is the a- 
 verage weight They are free risers to 
 hackle flies, fished in the wet style, while 
 some heavier trout may be taken with 
 the worm. Dry-fly fishing answers on 
 some of the bigger pools, but, on the 
 whole, the Lyn is a wet-fly river, and 
 three small sunk flies may be used on
 
 DEVON AND EXMOOR 71 
 a fine cast, with every prospect of suc- 
 cess when the river is flushed with wa- 
 ter from the Exmoor springs and bogs. 
 
 THE OARE 
 
 The Oare Water, named after the 
 village on its bank, is owned by Mr 
 Nicholas Snow, who sometimes grants 
 permission to visiting anglers. I have 
 caught some fair trout here after a spate. 
 There are many trout in Badgworthy 
 Water, which joins the Lyn near Oare. 
 Chalk Water and Weare Water are two 
 rivulets which hold plenty of small trout. 
 They can be fished by leave. The Blue 
 Upright, hackle Duns, and spider flies 
 will serve well on these waters. 
 
 MINOR EXMOOR STREAMS 
 
 At Porlock the Horner Stream skirts 
 the pretty little town and flows into the 
 sea near Hurlstone Point. I have ta- 
 ken trout in this much overgrown but
 
 72 DEVONSHIRE AND 
 beautiful little rivulet in its course 
 through the Horner valley. They are 
 small but plentiful, and the worm will 
 account for more fish than the fly, as 
 casting is di fficult. Nearer to the sea, I be- 
 lieve, the trout are considerably bigger. 
 A tributary of the Horner also holds 
 an abundance of small trout. This 
 brook flows by Holnicote, and joins 
 the branch from Porlock. Visitors can 
 obtain fishing permits from the agent 
 of Sir C. T. D. Acland, Bart. There 
 are two hotels in Porlock, The Ship 
 and The Castle, and several boarding- 
 houses. Quarters should be booked in 
 advance, especially during the stag- 
 hunting season on Exmoor. 
 
 DEVONSHIRE AND CORN- 
 WALL RESERVOIRS 
 
 Tickets for fishing in the Bideford 
 Reservoir can be obtained from the
 
 CORNWALL RESERVOIRS 73 
 Town Clerk, Bideford. The Tottiford 
 and Kennick reservoirs, which supply 
 Torquay, were stocked some years ago 
 with trout, and the fishing is exceedingly 
 good. Ten years ago, when I fished 
 these pools, there was a good stock of 
 trout, and they rose well to medium- 
 sized loch flies in dull weather. Appli- 
 cations for tickets should be made to 
 the Town Clerk, Torquay. The near- 
 est stations are Ashton and Lustleigh 
 (G.W.R.). 
 
 Bude Reservoir is a large lake, with 
 LochLeven and native trout. The fish- 
 ing is excellent, and the trout heavy, 
 some being over 4 Ib. The charge for 
 fishing is los. per day, and wading is 
 permitted. Apply to the Clerk, District 
 Council, Bude. 
 
 CORNWALL 
 
 The Cornish rivers resemble, in the 
 main, those of South Devon. They are
 
 74 CORNWALL 
 
 impetuous, and subject to high spates, 
 which bring up salmon and peal from 
 the sea. Many of the moorland brooks 
 can be fished without fee, and permission 
 is often granted for preserved lengths 
 of the chief rivers. 
 
 THE INNEY 
 
 The Inney is a tributary of the Ta- 
 mar, and one of the best streams of the 
 district. It breeds trout only, which rise 
 freely to the artificial fly. Mr Hearder 
 writes that permission is granted by Mr 
 C. G. Archer, Trelaske, Launceston, 
 for fly-fishing only, from ist April to 
 3 1 st August ; also by Captain Coode, 
 Pollapit,Tamar, Launceston. For head- 
 quarters, The White Hart at Launces- 
 ton is recommended. The late MrG.W. 
 Soltau dressed special flies for the Inney 
 and other streams in Cornwall, and a- 
 mong the killing patterns are the Black
 
 CORNWALL 75 
 
 Gnat, Red Spinner, Blue Upright, Alder 
 and Coch-y-bonddu, sold by Messrs 
 Hearder, Plymouth. 
 
 THE CAMEL 
 
 The Camel has its source in North 
 Cornwall. It holds large numbers of 
 small trout, and for the moorland reach- 
 es Camelford is the best centre. Bod- 
 min is within easy distance of the river, 
 which here contains a few salmon and a 
 fair number of peal in the season. There 
 are some free portions of the Camel in 
 the neighbourhood of Camelford and 
 Bodmin.* Mr Paul Taylor, in The Fish- 
 ing Gazette, writes that, " for a man ac- 
 customed to long walks, the sport 
 should still be good on the moorland 
 stretches. It was when I remember it." 
 
 The Kestle Water joins the Camel 
 near Wadebridge, below which town 
 
 * Hotel: Royal.
 
 j6 CORNWALL 
 
 the river is tidal, and lower down the 
 
 Manscorve runs into the main river. 
 
 All the North Cornish rivers are un- 
 der the conservators of the Camel, who 
 charge 45. for a season trout licence and 
 i s. for a day licence. Another licence is 
 required for salmon and sea trout. The 
 season for trout opens on 1 6th March 
 and ends on the last day of September. 
 
 THE FOWEY 
 
 The Fowey is a good trout river, and 
 in the late autumn it contains a number 
 of peal and some salmon. Permission 
 can be obtained for lengths in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Lostwithiel (G.W.R.). 
 Bodmin Road Station is another start- 
 ing-point, whence the river can be fished 
 to Doublebois. Below Lostwithiel the 
 Fowey is affected by the tides. The 
 river rises under Brown Willy, on the 
 moors, and is soon a fishable stream,
 
 BLAGDON 77 
 
 though the trout in this portion are 
 small. Eight miles from Lostwithiel is 
 the beautiful little town of Fowey, with 
 its splendid natural harbour. The princi- 
 pal affluents are the Temple Brook and 
 Milton Brook, near Bodmin Road, the 
 Red Brook, and two streams flowing 
 into the tidal estuary. 
 
 BLAGDON RESERVOIR 
 
 This splendid fishery is preserved by 
 the Bristol Waterworks Company, who 
 stocked the water some years ago with 
 rainbow and other trout. The fish have 
 thrived and increased in an amazing 
 manner, and the pool now offers the 
 best fly fishing in any artificial water in 
 the kingdom. Ample food, both on the 
 ground and the surface of the water, 
 accounts for the quick growth of the 
 trout. Water snails and shrimps are 
 abundant in the feeders of the lake.
 
 78 BLAGDON 
 
 The fishing season opens ist May. 
 Last year ( 1 907) 769 trout were caught, 
 and the average weight was 3^ Ib. 
 These big fish rise to the fly, either 
 floating or sunk, but many are taken 
 with a fair-sized loch fly fished wet. 
 Trout of 4 Ib. and 5 Ib. are quite plen- 
 tiful, and a fish under 2 Ib. is considered 
 a small one. 
 
 The charge for fishing from a boat is 
 1 a day, and from the bank los. Tick- 
 ets and copies of the regulations can 
 be obtained from Mr Alfred J. Alex- 
 ander, Waterworks Office, Bristol, to 
 whom application should be made in 
 advance, as the number of boats is 
 limited. 
 
 The following is a list of takes on the 
 opening day of this year (1908), under 
 unfavourable conditions. The report is 
 from the Angler's News, 9th May : 
 Mr J. Holman (8), 3 Ib. 4 oz., 2 Ib. 12 
 oz., 2 Ib. 14 oz., 3 Ib. 8 oz., 2 Ib. 2 oz.
 
 BLAGDON 79 
 
 (all rainbow), 4 Ib. 12 oz., 3 Ib. 7 oz., 
 3 Ib. 4 oz. (brown) ; Mr P. S. Allison (2), 
 3 Ib. 12 oz. (rainbow), 4 Ib. (brown) ; 
 Mr R Bowring (4), 2 Ib., 2 Ib. 4 oz. 
 (brown), 2 Ib. 10 oz., 3 Ib. 8 oz. (rain- 
 bow); Master A. Bowring (3), 3 Ib. 8 
 oz., 2 Ib. i oz., 2 Ib. 3 oz. (rainbow); Mr 
 H. B. Dix (i), 2 Ib. 12 oz. (rainbow).
 
 ON THE WELSH ^BORDER 
 HE Wye and several 
 tributaries, the Severn 
 tributaries, and the Usk 
 and its affluents are trout 
 streams of considerable 
 
 importance. The Wye enters England 
 near Hay, where leave can be obtained 
 from landowners, though trout are not 
 abundant in every part of the river. 
 Some of the best pike-fishing in the 
 kingdom can be had in this stretch of 
 the Wye, and down to below Hereford 
 big pike are far too abundant.
 
 ON THE WELSH BORDER 81 
 The Wye Association issues is. day 
 tickets for some fine reaches, and here 
 and there the haunts of trout can be 
 found. The trout run to over i lb., 
 and half a pound is about the average. 
 Licences can be obtained in Here- 
 ford.* 
 
 At Ross there is a free stretch of the 
 Wye, holding salmon, trout, grayling, 
 and a number of general fish. Below 
 Monmouthf the river is soon tidal. 
 Above the town is good grayling-fish- 
 ing. The Monnow is an excellent tribu- 
 tary, breeding fair-sized trout. It is 
 rather overgrown in parts, and deep 
 wading is necessary. Permits for the 
 Monnow and the Trothy, another good 
 trout stream, can sometimes be obtained 
 in Monmouth. The May-fly hatches 
 in several lengths of the Wye and its 
 tributaries, and useful general flies 
 
 * Hotels : Green Dragon, Mitre. 
 t Hotel: Beaufort Arms. 
 
 6
 
 82 O N T H E 
 
 are the Dark Olive Dun and Iron 
 Blue. 
 
 Some big trout can be caught from 
 the deep pools by watching the rise and 
 fishing with a floating fly ; and the nat- 
 ural minnow in the shallows, in sum- 
 mer, will account for the heaviest fish. 
 
 THE TEME 
 
 The Teme contains trout, grayling, 
 with general fish in some of its lengths. 
 By staying at Ludlow, leave may be 
 sometimes obtained for preserved por- 
 tions of the river.* The trout and gray- 
 ling fishing is good, and the dry fly is 
 chiefly used in the summer months on 
 the Teme and Letwyche. 
 
 At Tenbury, where day tickets can 
 be bought, the trout-fishing is fair, and 
 the autumn grayling-fishing excellent. 
 Two tributaries flow in near Tenbury 
 
 * Hotels : An%cl) Rose and Crown,
 
 WELSH BORDER 83 
 (G.W.R.). There are general fish in 
 this part of the Teme. Below, the river 
 is in private hands. 
 
 THE LUG 
 
 This river is a tributary of the Wye, 
 containing trout, grayling, and some 
 general fish. Leominster* is the best 
 centre for the visiting angler, who 
 should communicate with the secretary 
 of the local club. Leave may sometimes 
 be obtainedfor the Pinsley Brook, which 
 holds trout and grayling. 
 
 THE VYRNWY 
 
 Llanymynech is the best place for the 
 angler. This village on the Welsh bor- 
 der is on the river, and the landowners 
 are generally liberal in granting fishing 
 permits to visitors. The Vyrnwy is an 
 affluent of the Severn. Llanymynech is 
 
 * Hotel: Royal Oak.
 
 84 O N T H E 
 
 a few miles south of Oswestry. The 
 Vyrnwy is rather overrun with coarse 
 fish, but there is fair fly-fishing for trout, 
 grayling, and chub. 
 
 THE USK 
 
 The Usk is, far excellence^ the trout 
 river of this district. It rises in the 
 Carmarthen Van lakes, flows through 
 Brecon, and enters Monmouthshire 
 near Abergavenny* (G.W.R.), a char- 
 mingly situated town at the foot of 
 mountains. The river is well preserved 
 and watched by two associations, and 
 offers very fine trout-fishing, especially 
 in the early part of the season. Trout 
 tickets for the day are 2s. 6d., and for 
 the week los. No minnow-fishing is 
 allowed before the middle of April. 
 
 In the spring good baskets of trout 
 
 * Hotels : Angel, Greyhound. Apartments : Mrs 
 Holmes ) Bryn-y-Gwenyn.
 
 WELSH BORDER 85 
 are made with the fly, but sport rather 
 falls off after mid-June, unless the sea- 
 son is wet. The Usk is an early river, 
 and in a mild March and April the trout 
 rise well to duns of various dressings, 
 Greenwell's Glory, and the partridge 
 and orange hackle. Wet fly is generally 
 used, but there are miles of fine dry-fly 
 water. 
 
 In summer the Creeper is fished on 
 some of the lengths, and this bait is 
 very successful, especially in the runs, 
 where it attracts the biggest fish. The 
 Stone-fly and Green Drake appear on 
 certain stretches of the river in June. 
 In the height of summer the Yellow 
 Dun often entices trout during an even- 
 ing rise, and the Usk trout seem to 
 fancy a little colour in artificial flies after 
 the spring months. 
 
 The Usk affords many miles of excel- 
 lent wading water, strong wide streams 
 on gravel shallows and deep salmon
 
 86 O N T H E 
 
 pools. There are several villages with 
 inns and lodgings on the banks, and the 
 little town of Usk* (G.W.R.) may be 
 made a centre. The charges for fishing 
 various parts of the river differ, and it 
 is advisable to write to the secretary of 
 the United Usk Fishery Association. 
 For rules and terms address, Newport, 
 Monmouth. Wading is necessary in 
 the Usk, and I advise the use of long 
 wading trousers. The trout season 
 opens at the beginning of March and 
 ends 3Oth September. 
 
 There are many tributaries of the 
 Usk, and some of them are accessible 
 by ticket or by leave from owners. 
 
 THE SEVERN 
 
 All the tributaries flowing into the 
 upper reaches contain trout, and in 
 some cases grayling, but these streams 
 
 * Hotel: Three Salmons.
 
 WELSH BORDER 87 
 are in Wales. Trout are found almost 
 throughout the Severn, though in the 
 lower waters they cannot be said to a- 
 bound. Some heavy trout are caught 
 occasionally above and below Shrews- 
 bury, chiefly by bait-fishing and trol- 
 ling, and there is open fishing near to 
 the town. 
 
 Some affluents of the Wye, Usk, and 
 Severn, joining those rivers in the prin- 
 cipality, are described in my volume 
 Fishing in Wales.
 
 THE NORTH MIDLANDS 
 
 THE DERWENT AND WYE 
 
 OONER or later most 
 south-country trout 
 fishermen findtheirway 
 to the Dove and Wye, 
 two of the clearest rivers 
 of England, and both containing high- 
 ly sagacious trout. A less " difficult " 
 river is the Derwent, especially in its 
 moorland reaches, while the Little Mani- 
 fold affords very enjoyable fly-fishing. 
 Among the Derbyshire streams there 
 are none better than the Lath kill and
 
 THE NORTH MIDLANDS 89 
 its tributary the Bradford, from whose 
 dams I have taken many fine trout with 
 the dry fly. But the Lathkill is strictly 
 preserved by the Duke of Rutland, one 
 of our most ardent fly-fishers, who also 
 owns the greater part of the Bradford. 
 
 The rivers of the North Midlands 
 are mostly dry-fly waters . I n I zaak Wal- 
 ton's day, no doubt, the sunk fly pro- 
 cured many a fine basket of trout for 
 the master and his disciples ; but even 
 then the trout of the Dove were wary, 
 as we may judge from Walton and Cot- 
 ton's repeated counsel to fish with fine 
 casts, and to avoid a too near approach 
 to the water's edge. 1 am not asserting 
 that the wet fly is never used in the 
 North Midlands. Two of the oldest 
 anglers on the Dove fish in the old style ; 
 and in the Derwent, as well as in the 
 limpid Wye, I have had sport with the 
 wet fly early in the season. 
 
 But, speaking generally, the floating
 
 90 THE NORTH 
 
 fly is the best lure upon these crystal 
 
 streams. 
 
 The trout of these waters are of a 
 larger average size than those of the 
 North Wales, the Dartmoor streams, 
 and moorland rivers generally. Fish of 
 a pound are by no means uncommon in 
 the Derwent and its tributaries, and at 
 Matlock and Cromf ord trout of a much 
 heavier weight are frequently taken with 
 fly and bait.* Grayling breed plentifully 
 in the Derwent, Dove, Wye, and Mani- 
 fold. 
 
 In Derbyshire and Staffordshire there 
 are many miles of available trout water, 
 either in the hands of hotel-keepers or 
 preserved by associations issuing short- 
 period tickets. The Midland Railway 
 
 * For a fuller description of these rivers see the 
 author's " Fishing in Derbyshire and Around" and 
 the " Derbyshire" vol. of the " Victoria History 
 of the Counties of England" " Angling" by 
 W. M. G.
 
 MIDLANDS 91 
 
 touches the Derwent, Wye, Amber, and 
 other streams at numerous points, and 
 there are many fishing inns and board- 
 ing-houses close to the various lengths. 
 
 THE DERWENT 
 
 In the upper reaches trout are plenti- 
 ful, and average about a quarter of a 
 pound. The Derwent rises to the north 
 of Ashopton, in a wild region, and for a 
 few miles forms the boundary between 
 Yorkshire and Derbyshire. Several 
 tributaries join the river in its higher 
 course. From the source down to Hel- 
 per the scenery of the river is charming 
 and varied, and here and there very im- 
 posing. 
 
 In the moorland district fishermen 
 will find quarters at The Snake Inn, with 
 six miles of fishing, for which the charge 
 is half a crown a day or a guinea for the 
 season. Bait as well as fly is used in this
 
 92 THE NORTH 
 
 part of the river, and after a spate there 
 
 is the chance of making good baskets. 
 
 At the Ashopton Inn, "a model pub- 
 lic-house," with good accommodation, 
 the directors provide three miles of fish- 
 ing at half a crown a day, and at a re- 
 duced rate for visitors to the house. 
 Bamford is the nearest station. A tribu- 
 tary, the Lady Bower Brook, flows in 
 below Ashopton,and at The Lady Bower 
 Inn visitors will find accommodation 
 and fishing. 
 
 The Yorkshire Bridge Inn is another 
 anglers' resort, situated in a wild part of 
 the Peak District, two miles from Bam- 
 ford. Three-quarters of a mile of the 
 Derwent are open to guests at the inn. 
 Below this length is the preserve of the 
 Derwent Fly-fishers' Club, limited to 
 twenty rods. There is another hotel with 
 fishing at Bamford, The Marquis of 
 Granby, a large house, with rights over a 
 mile of the river. A club rents the Noe, a
 
 MIDLANDS 93 
 
 tributary which flows in at Mytham 
 Bridge, below Bamford, and no short- 
 period ticketsare issued. At Hathersage 
 the fishing in the Derwent is reserved. 
 
 We now reach the beautiful estate of 
 Chatsworth, the seat of the Duke of 
 Devonshire. For this splendid preserve 
 Baslowisthe favourite centre, and there 
 are quarters at The Rutland Arms, on 
 the river, the Peacock, Wheatsheaf, 
 Chequers, Baslow Hydro, and Chats- 
 worth Hotel, Edensor, midway down 
 the length. All these hostelries and the 
 hydro have a limited number of tickets 
 for their visitors. 
 
 I have had good sport with trout and 
 grayling in the Chatsworth preserve. 
 Wading is necessary in this stretch. The 
 best runs and pools are just above the 
 bridge at Baslow, up to the weir, and 
 below down to Chatsworth Bridge. 
 Below Chatsworth House is a fine bro- 
 ken length, full of trout and grayling,
 
 94 THE NORTH 
 especially in the weir stream. The water 
 is frequently restocked with Loch Leven 
 and Derbyshire trout, and it is almost 
 free from predatory fish. 
 
 A good day in this water yields twen- 
 ty fish, averaging rather over three to 
 the pound, and an exceptional day has 
 yielded thirty-two trout and fourteen 
 grayling. Fish of f Ib. are fairly abun- 
 dant. The wet fly is used in early spring, 
 but the best of the fishing is from June 
 onwards, when there are plenty of insects 
 over the river. Grayling begin to rise 
 freely in September, and may be taken 
 with the fly up to December. 
 
 The favourite flies are the Olive and 
 the Ash Dun, Apple Green, and Claret 
 Bumble, which are taken by both trout 
 and grayling. Thompson, fly-maker, of 
 Derby, knows this length well, and can 
 supply the right patterns of flies. In 
 high water I have done execution with 
 a Black Gnat with a silver body, used
 
 MIDLANDS 95 
 
 in the sunk fashion, and "worked" 
 slowly in the runs. 
 
 Just below the limit of the Chats- 
 worth preserve is the village of Rows- 
 ley, where the Derwent is joined by the 
 Wye. Here begins the Darley Dale 
 Club length, which runs down to Mat- 
 lock. Over three miles of this preserve 
 are open to visiting fishermen at 2s. 6d. a 
 day. The trout season opens 2 5th March 
 and closes ist October, and for gray- 
 ling the season isf rom 1 5th June to 1 5th 
 March. The size limit is nine inches. 
 This is a dry-fly water, though occasion- 
 ally the sunk fly will entice fish from the 
 runs below Darley Bridge and at Oaker 
 Bends. The same flies recommended 
 for Chatsworth may be used here. 
 
 I have fished this water from March 
 to November and now and then found 
 the trout in a rising mood ; but three or 
 four brace is considered a fairly good 
 day's work. The trout are about three
 
 96 THE NORTH 
 to the pound, but there are some much 
 heavier trout and grayling in the water. 
 Sometimes in summer there is a brisk 
 rise just after sunset. In hot, bright 
 weather the length is a difficult one, as 
 there is not much shade from the banks. 
 
 Deep-wading is a great aid to success 
 in this length, and I advise fly-fishers to 
 provide themselves with wading trou- 
 sers, and to fish the slow and deeper 
 glides well under the bushes. The big- 
 gest trout and grayling are in such har- 
 bours. In October the grayling often 
 rise well to the fly from eleven till five. 
 The Yellow Dun, dressed by Eaton, an 
 expert Matlock angler, is a good fly for 
 this length. 
 
 Matlock* is a good centre for the 
 Darley Dale stretch as well as for the 
 
 * Hotels : New Bath, Royal. Boarding Hydros : 
 Smed/ey's, Belle Vue, Rockside, Oldham House, and 
 many lodgings at Matlock Bridge and Matlock 
 Bath.
 
 MIDLANDS 97 
 
 Matlock and Cromford Angling Club 
 water. There is a free length of the Der- 
 went at Matlock Bridge, holding some 
 very big trout. The record trout taken 
 here up to 1 905 was one of 6 Ib. 2 oz.,and 
 many of over 3 Ib. have been caught. 
 Most of these heavy fish are taken with 
 bait, dock grubs being one of the fav- 
 ourite local lures. The biggest grayling 
 captured in this stretch weighed 2f Ib. 
 A shilling is the daily charge for fish- 
 ing the angling club water down to 
 Cromford. There are several long deeps 
 in this part of the river, and one or two 
 good streams, which give sport to the fly- 
 and minnow-fisher. The evening rise 
 is often productive in the hot months. 
 The scenery of thegorge underthe High 
 Tor is exceedingly fine, though some- 
 what marred by the encroachments of 
 builders. Below Cromford is a fine fly- 
 fishing length, which must, however, be 
 waded rather deeply. 
 7
 
 98 THE NORTH 
 
 The next open water is a short reach 
 belonging to Homesford Cottage, which 
 provides for visitors, and offers free fish- 
 ing. This is a good grayling water, with 
 a fair number of trout, and some big 
 perch and barbel. 
 
 At Whatstandwell, Mr Mountney, 
 of the Derwent Hotel, grants leave to 
 visitors over two or three miles of 
 water. This length is noted for gray- 
 ling, especially above the bridge and j ust 
 below it, and there are some big trout 
 in the pools. Most of the length is deep 
 water, and not very well suited for the 
 fly-fisherman. There are plenty of gen- 
 eral fish in this part of the Derwent, 
 including big barbel and a few pike. 
 Worm-fishing is the usual mode in the 
 Whatstandwell water during the gray- 
 ling season. 
 
 At Ambergate is The Hurt Arms 
 Hotel, with a long stretch of mixed fish- 
 ing open to visitors. Here the Amber
 
 MIDLANDS 99 
 
 joins the Derwent. Lower down is Bel- 
 per,* where the angling club issue day 
 tickets at a shilling for about five miles 
 of water well stocked with general fish, 
 a fair number of grayling, and some big 
 trout. The local anglers usually fish 
 with bait for the heavy trout of this 
 length. The heaviest trout taken 
 weighed 6|- Ib. 
 
 Below this preserve is the Duffield 
 Club length, and for the rest of its 
 course through Derby and onwards the 
 Derwent is a general fishing river, with 
 a few trout and grayling here and there. 
 
 TANSLEY DAMS 
 
 Before leaving the neighbourhood of 
 Matlock, I may mention three small 
 pools at Tansley, which contain trout, 
 and are fished by ticket at 2s. 6d. a day. 
 In wet, dull weather some fair sport can 
 
 * Hotel : Red Lion. Inn : Beehive,
 
 ioo THE NORTH 
 be had with either the sunk or dry fly. 
 One of the dams swarms with 3 oz. 
 troutlets, and another holds some trout 
 up to a pound. Bottom-fishing is allow- 
 ed in these pools. 
 
 THE WYE 
 
 Beautiful throughout its course from 
 the limestone gorges down to Rowsley, 
 the Wye is one of the problem rivers of 
 the district. I have fished the stream on 
 many a day, and always found delight 
 by its banks, but I have never made a 
 heavy basket. My best day's catch was 
 eleven fish, including one of rather over 
 i Ib. Yet the Wye abounds with trout 
 and fairly swarms with grayling. Never- 
 theless, the most experienced dry-fly 
 fishers declare that it is one of the most 
 difficult streams in the kingdom. There 
 was a time when the Buxton length af- 
 forded splendid sport, but sewage has 
 polluted the river in the lovely dale be-
 
 MIDLANDS 101 
 low the town. The only open fishing is 
 on the length owned by the Duke of 
 Rutland, from Bakewell Bridge down 
 to Rowsley. 
 
 The Wye rises on theBuxton moors, 
 waters Ashwood Dale, Wye Dale, and 
 Chee Dale, three beautiful ravines, and, 
 entering the gorge of Miller's Dale, 
 flows on to Ashford and Bakewell. At 
 this pleasant little town you will find ex- 
 cellent accommodation at The Rutland 
 Arms Hotel, which has a limited num- 
 ber of fishing tickets for visitors. The 
 hotel is often full in the summer, and 
 intending visitors should book rooms 
 in advance,and ascertain whether a fish- 
 ing permit is available. 
 
 A more open and attractive stream 
 than the Wye below Bakewell would be 
 hard to find. It has the appearance of 
 an ideal fly-water, and, moreover, there 
 is no question as to the abundance of 
 its trout. The average weight is over
 
 IO2 THE NORTH 
 |- lb. There are some very big trout in 
 the pools, which rarely rise to the fly. 
 Almost every yard of the water is fish- 
 able with the dry fly, though the fav- 
 ourite stretch is just above and below 
 Haddon Hall. The lower length is 
 perhaps less fished than the Bakewell 
 stretch; but the river is fairly well whip- 
 ped during the holiday season, and I am 
 told by old anglers that the Wye trout 
 were very discreet fifty years ago. 
 
 Large numbers of grayling have 
 been netted out of the Wye from time 
 to time, but there are always plenty in 
 the river, and it is thought that they 
 outnumber the trout. I cannot say that 
 the grayling are much less sophisti- 
 cated than the trout. This is a river that 
 seems to breed a wise race of fish. But 
 it is a delightful stream notwithstand- 
 ing, and there is a sense of triumph in 
 capturing three or four brace of these 
 shrewd trout. The trout are plucky
 
 MIDLANDS 103 
 fighters. The flies most used are the 
 Ash Dun, Iron Blue, Pale Olive, and 
 Dark Olive, small in size, with well- 
 cocked wings. No bait-fishing is per- 
 mitted, and all trout under ten inches 
 must be returned to the river. There 
 are no restrictions as to the size of gray- 
 ling. 
 
 In some seasons there is a big batch 
 of May-fly on the Wye, and when the 
 Green Drake is " on," the trout lose 
 their caution for a week or two. There 
 is a first-class hotel at Rowsley, at the 
 end of the Duke of Rutland's length, 
 called The Peacock. Visitors are allow- 
 ed to fish in the preserve. It is import- 
 ant to remember that casts for the Wye 
 must be fine, and the flies dressed 
 small. 
 
 THE AMBER 
 
 This tributary rises in the moors 
 above Darley,passes Ashover and Alf re-
 
 104 THE NORTH 
 ton, and joins the Derwent at Amber- 
 gate. There are trout in the Amber, 
 but it is not the best of fly-fishing 
 streams, though the trout average about 
 half a pound. The river is overgrown in 
 many lengths, and more adapted to the 
 bait-fisherman than the wielder of the 
 fly-rod. However, three to four brace 
 may reward an expert fly-fisherman. 
 
 Most of the Amber is preserved by 
 the Ripley and District Angling Society. 
 One shilling is the price of a ticket for 
 the day. Lodgings can be found in 
 Ripley, Pentrich, and Ambergate. The 
 size limit for trout is eight inches. The 
 Amber flows through a pretty valley 
 and has some quiet villages upon its 
 banks. A few years ago a number of two- 
 year old trout were turned into the river. 
 
 THE DOVE AND MANIFOLD 
 
 The classic Dove, one of the most 
 famous trout rivers of Great Britain,
 
 MIDLANDS 105 
 rises on lofty Axe Edge and flows in a 
 limestone vale down to Broadmeadow 
 Hall, the home of Mr Charles Finney, 
 who sometimes grants leave if the fish- 
 ing is not let for the season. I rented a 
 length here, from one bank, for a sea- 
 son, and caught a fair number of trout 
 and grayling. The stream is narrow in 
 the valley, but it has some deep little 
 pools, holding trout and grayling up 
 to a pound in weight, with an average 
 weight of six ounces. 
 
 As the middle and private lengths of 
 the Dove are constantly restocked, 
 trout are well distributed throughout 
 the course of the river from Uttoxeter 
 to above Dovedale. At Hartington 
 (L. and N.W.R.) The Charles Cotton 
 Hotel has the right over a short, well- 
 stocked reach, holding some big trout. 
 A number of rainbow trout have been 
 put in this part of the Dove by the ten- 
 ant of a private length.
 
 io6 THE NORTH 
 
 From Hartington it is less than a 
 mile to Beresford Dale, at the head of 
 which is Charles Cotton's fishing-house, 
 on an island. The scenery here is ex- 
 quisite, and below, in Narrow Dale, the 
 gorge is of a stern and wilder character. 
 The fishing here belongs to Sir Thomas 
 Wardle, who has turned in many hun- 
 dreds of trout. 
 
 In Mill Dale, at the head of Dove 
 Dale, there is a length open to visitors 
 at the New Inn Hotel, Alsop-en-le- 
 Dale, which has a station on the L. and 
 N.W.R. The hotel is about one mile 
 from the river, on the Ashbourne and 
 Buxton Road. There are plenty of trout 
 and grayling here, though, like all the 
 fish of the Dove, they demand the ang- 
 ler's skill. 
 
 We now enter Dovedale proper, a 
 beautiful glen, through which the Dove 
 glides in deep pools, or hurries amid 
 boulders. On the right bank the fish-
 
 MIDLANDS 107 
 ing is free to guests at the comfortable 
 Izaak Walton Hotel, while visitors to 
 the Peveril Hotel and The Dog and 
 Partridge have access to a stretch by 
 the left bank. The nearest station is 
 Thorpe, and the postal address is Ham. 
 
 The water reserved for visitors to the 
 Izaak Walton Hotel has open banks 
 for most of its course, and in the rugged 
 gorge, j ust above the hostelry, the water 
 is admirably adapted for dry-fly fishing. 
 A portion of the Manifold, which joins 
 the Dove here, is also open to guests at 
 the hotel, while lower down the main 
 river is another part of the Izaak Wal- 
 ton preserve. 
 
 Stalking and deft casting are the es- 
 sentials of success on the limpid Dove. 
 Very few anglers use the wet fly in this 
 length, except for grayling under cer- 
 tain conditions during the winter. Flies 
 for this water can be bought at the 
 "Walton," and the patterns that kill
 
 io8 THE NORTH 
 
 in the Derwent and Wye will serve 
 
 here. 
 
 The trout average rather over half a 
 pound, and are not often caught over a 
 pound in weight. Grayling are some- 
 what heavier in the average, and there 
 are plenty of " pounders." From six to 
 eight brace of fish is a quite creditable 
 day's catch from this stretch of the 
 Dove. 
 
 From April to June the river is usu- 
 ally in ply, and there is sometimes a 
 good show of May-flies. Grayling rise 
 up to Christmas, and are in fine condi- 
 tion from the end of September until 
 February. 
 
 Below Dovedale, except for a length 
 in the Izaak Walton right, the river is 
 strictly reserved by the Okeover Club 
 and by private owners. At Rocester * 
 the Uttoxeter Angling Association 
 water begins. The club has the right 
 
 * Hotel : Railway.
 
 MIDLANDS 109 
 over more than ten miles of the Dove, 
 Churnet, and Tean Brook. Day tickets 
 at 2s. 6d. can be bought from Messrs 
 Foster & Co. of Ashbourne, the tackle 
 manufacturers, or from the secretary at 
 Uttoxeter. 
 
 The Dove here has open banks, and 
 there is a fair head of trout, but more 
 grayling, in the preserve. Bait-fishing 
 for grayling is often successful in the 
 autumn. There are general fish in this 
 part of the Dove ; dace are abundant, 
 and there are some pike and perch. The 
 wet fly is usually employed in this 
 length, but there are pools where the 
 dry fly will be found more effective. 
 The season opens on ist March. After 
 ist June artificial minnow may be used 
 on the tributaries. At Uttoxeter there 
 are hotel quarters at The White Hart, 
 and inn accommodation at The Talbot. 
 In 1 904 these waters were restocked with 
 several hundred two-year-old trout.
 
 no 
 
 THE CHURNET 
 
 A part of this once productive and 
 still charming river is under the control 
 of the Uttoxeter Club. It holds a fair 
 stock of grayling, and there is fly-fishing 
 for dace. Years ago the Churnet bred big 
 trout, and gave fine sport to the fly-rod. 
 It is lamentable that the stream is now 
 badly poisoned in its middle lengths. 
 
 THE MANIFOLD 
 
 We must now retrace our way to the 
 moors above Longnor, in Staffordshire, 
 where the Little Manifold is born, not 
 far from the source of the Dove. 
 Throughout their course to Ham the 
 two rivers are never far divided. In 
 character they differ somewhat, for the 
 Manifold is not quite so translucent as 
 the Dove. The whole of the river is
 
 MIDLANDS 1 1 1 
 preserved by landowners, but there are 
 two lengths accessible to anglers. 
 
 Sir Vauncey Crewe is one of the prin- 
 cipal riparian owners, and at one of the 
 hotels on his estate visitors will find 
 good trout- and grayling-fishing and 
 comfortable quarters. This is the Crewe 
 and Harpur Arms at Longnor, seven 
 miles from Buxton, and about three 
 from Hurdlow Station (L.and N.W.R.) 
 The stream flows close to the house, and 
 there are many fine runs and pools 
 throughout the preserve. From April 
 till the end of June is the best season 
 for trout-fishing, and from August to 
 December the grayling rise freely. 
 
 The trout average about a quarter of 
 a pound, but there are some big fish in 
 the water which have escaped from a 
 lake. I was broken by one of these heavy 
 fish on my last day on the Manifold. 
 There are plenty of big grayling, and I 
 have seldom fished the Manifold with-
 
 ii2 THE NORTH 
 
 out catching one or two of a pound 
 
 weight. 
 
 By adapting your style of fishing to 
 the season and the state of the water, 
 you may always rely upon sport in the 
 Manifold. I have fished both "wet" 
 and " dry " here, and always taken trout 
 and grayling. Sometimes the grayling 
 rise pertinaciously out of the season. 
 Upstream fishing with three hackle flies 
 is usually successful in the spring. Ap- 
 proved flies for this river are : Fos- 
 brooke's Earwig (in heavy water), the 
 Blue Dun, the Olive Dun, Ash Dun, 
 and Iron Blue. The last fly is excellent 
 on dull, cool days in April and May. 
 For grayling try any of the Derbyshire 
 bumbles, dressed by Thompson of 
 Derby, and for dry flies one of the 
 duns. 
 
 The Manifold is generally fishable 
 with the fly before the Dove is in order, 
 probably on account of the higher tern-
 
 MIDLANDS 113 
 perature of the water. There is a good 
 show of natural flies over this stream 
 from April onwards. In June the May- 
 fly appears. It is not indigenous, but 
 was introduced by old John Fosbrooke, 
 the well-known angler and fly-tier, of 
 Hartington, who knows every yard of 
 the Manifold, and has taken many good 
 trout and grayling from its waters. On 
 a breezy day some big trout may be 
 tempted to rise in the pools. 
 
 The stream flows through a quiet 
 valley below Longnor, and the banks 
 are fairly open. Upon the whole, 1 am 
 inclined to believe that the Manifold 
 breeds more fish than the Dove, and 
 there is little question that the trout of 
 the Manifold are less educated than 
 those of its companion stream. The 
 average weight of trout is, however, 
 lower than in the Dove. 
 
 At Ham the Manifold flows through 
 the grounds of the old hall, and soon 
 8
 
 ii4 THE NORTH MIDLANDS 
 joins the Dove. The length below the 
 village, down to the confluence, can be 
 fished by visitors to the Izaak Walton 
 Hotel, which has already been men- 
 tioned.
 
 LANCASHIRE 
 
 HE Lune and the Rib- 
 ble, arising in mountain- 
 ous districts, together 
 with their numerous 
 tributaries, provide 
 
 many fine trout waters. Although 
 parts of the county are densely popu- 
 lated, Lancashire has some grand moor- 
 land and river scenery in the north and 
 east, and its rivers are famed for sal- 
 mon- and trout-fishing. 
 
 THE RIBBLE 
 The Ribble rises in the East York-
 
 n6 LANCASHIRE 
 
 shire fells and flows through Settle, 
 runs on to the west of Hellifield Junc- 
 tion, and past Clitheroe on to the estu- 
 ary near Preston. Its chief tributary is 
 the Caldep, which receives a number of 
 becks from the fells. The higher lengths 
 of the Ribble are rented by a Man- 
 chester club. An inquiry which I ad- 
 dressed to the Clitheroe Angling As- 
 sociation elicited this reply : " We do 
 not wish to have the Association adver- 
 tised in any way : we are inundated 
 with applications." 
 
 THE WYRE 
 
 The Wyre is a lovely river flowing 
 into the sea at Fleetwood. Its chief 
 tributary is the Calder. Wyre and Cal- 
 der contain plenty of trout, but used to 
 suffer in the summer from a shortage 
 of water. The Royal Oak, Garstang, 
 advertises fishing as an attraction to
 
 LANCASHIRE 117 
 visitors, and the secretary to Captain 
 Ormrod's celebrated fishery issues 
 tickets for which I believe a charge of 
 55. per day is made. Mr Paul Taylor 
 writes : " I remember taking thirty 
 rainbows in a few hours in a little lake 
 there." For terms for fishing certain 
 stretches of the Wyre and tributaries, 
 apply to Mr Punchard, Underley Es- 
 tate Office, Kirkby Lonsdale. 
 
 LIVERPOOL RESERVOIRS 
 
 The Corporation have stocked the 
 large pools at Rivington with trout. 
 Application for fishing terms should be 
 addressed to the Clerk of the Water- 
 works Department, Liverpool. 
 
 THE KENT 
 
 This excellent sea-trout river con- 
 tains also a fair number of brown trout. 
 At Kendal, where there is an angling
 
 n8 LANCASHIRE 
 society issuing cheap tickets, there is 
 often good fishing for sea trout in the 
 late summer and autumn. The tribu- 
 taries and becks of the district hold 
 brown trout. The Kent flows into the 
 Irish Sea, and most of its course is 
 through Westmorland. It is preserved 
 by landowners, except near Kendal. 
 The river is swift, and subject to floods, 
 which bring up salmon late in the sea- 
 son. In the summer there is a run of 
 sea trout and whiting, which take the 
 fly well when the river is slightly col- 
 oured, or at night in hot weather. The 
 close time for salmon and sea trout is 
 from mid-November to the end of 
 March. Applications for tickets should 
 be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, 
 Kendal. 
 
 THE LUNE 
 
 The Lune flows in its higher reaches 
 through a fine fell country, where it re-
 
 LANCASHIRE 119 
 ceives a number of becks, all more or 
 less abounding with trout. Tebay * is 
 the station for this part of the Lune, 
 and the fishing thereabouts is mostly 
 open. In showery weather these high 
 waters give sport to hackle and spider- 
 flies, fished wet, with a fine cast. The 
 middle and lower lengths are wooded 
 in parts, but the trout are bigger, and 
 in most parts plentiful. The close sea- 
 son is from 2nd October to ist March. 
 There is an association at Bentham. 
 Mr J. T. Sanderson is clerk to the 
 Fishery Board, Lancaster, and trout 
 licences at 2s. 6d. maybe obtained from 
 him. The chief tributaries are the Raw- 
 threy, the Greta, and the Wenning. 
 
 * Hotel: King's Arms.
 
 THE LAKE DISTRICT 
 HIS region of lakes and 
 streams may be said to 
 extend into Cumber- 
 land, Westmorland, 
 and Lancashire. The 
 
 trout-fishing is of a varied character ; 
 some of the lakes contain heavy, shy 
 trout, while others abound with very 
 small trout, which rise freely to almost 
 any kind of fly. In some of the rivers 
 sea trout and a few salmon may be 
 caught. In the streams trout rise rath- 
 er early in the season to the fly, but the
 
 THE LAKE DISTRICT 121 
 lakes, especially those at high eleva- 
 tions, are later. Wastwater,for instance, 
 seldom gives much sport till June. 
 Windermere fishes early, and the West 
 Cumberland becks are often in order 
 for the fly in April. 
 
 WINDERMERE 
 
 The best quarters are to be found at 
 Ambleside, Bowness, or Windermere, 
 where there are plenty of apartments 
 and good hotels. The trout are big, and 
 mostly caught by trolling, especially at 
 night. Smaller trout can be taken in 
 parts of the lake, by wading on the shal- 
 lows, and fishing a rise during May and 
 June. Windermere is full of pike and 
 perch. 
 
 GRASMERE 
 
 This fine lake swarms with general 
 fish, and holds a fair number of trout,
 
 122 THE LAKE 
 some being of heavy weight. 
 
 DERWENTWATER 
 
 Keswick * is the centre for this lake, 
 and for the Greta and other streams and 
 tarns. The conservators of the Der- 
 went issue season and short-period tic- 
 kets. Apply to the Secretary, Cocker- 
 mouth. The tarns and becks in the 
 district are too numerous for descrip- 
 tion. The Mayfly appears on the lake, 
 and good sport can then be expected 
 both with the blow-line and natural fly 
 and the sunk artificial fly. The trout 
 are about three to the pound, but there 
 are much bigger trout in the lake. 
 
 THIRLMERE 
 
 Thirlmere is now preserved by the 
 Corporation of Manchester, and the 
 
 * Hotels : Keswick Hotel, King's Arms. Apart- 
 ments : Girvart House.
 
 DISTRICT 123 
 
 fishing is the best in the Lake District. 
 Application must be made to the Water- 
 works Department, Manchester. The 
 tickets are limited in number. In the 
 St John's Beck, running from the lake, 
 the fishing is good. 
 
 WASTWATER 
 
 Wastwater is one of the wildest of 
 the larger lakes. It is somewhat inac- 
 cessible, and less fished than many of 
 the waters of the district. The trout are 
 rather shy, but may be taken with the 
 fly in a stiff breeze on dull, warm days. 
 Sport is rarely good until midsummer. 
 
 ULLSWATER 
 
 Ullswater, five miles from Penrith 
 (L. and N.W.R.), is a beautiful lake, 
 with free fishing for trout. Ullswater 
 is perhaps the most beautiful of the
 
 124 THE LAKE 
 English lakes. 
 
 ENNERDALE 
 
 The Anglers' Inn has fishingand boats 
 on the lake, which is three miles long. 
 There are trout and char in Ennerdale. 
 
 LESSER LAKES 
 
 These are very numerous, and in 
 some of them there are big trout. Bro- 
 thers Water and Hawes Water ^ may 
 be fished by permission. In the Patter- 
 dale district are Angle Tarn (for which 
 Lord Londsdale grants leave), Blea 
 Tarn, and Red Tarn. Lowes Water 
 and Crummock Water are under the 
 Derwent Conservancy. 
 
 WEST CUMBERLAND RIVERS 
 Near to the village of Ravenglass J 
 
 * Hotel: King's Arms, 
 
 t Crown and Mitre Hotel, with faking in River 
 Loivther, etc. Penrith or Shop station.
 
 DISTRICT 125 
 the Irt, Esk, Mite, and Blent flow into 
 the sea. This district is reached by the 
 Furness Railway, and it is one that I 
 can recommend for a quiet fishing holi- 
 day in glorious scenery. There are sev- 
 eral tarns within reach, and by staying 
 at the Drigg Hotel, or The Woolpack, 
 in Eskdale, reached by a little branch 
 railway, you can fish both streams and 
 lakes. 
 
 The Irt holds salmon and sea trout 
 and small brown trout, and this applies 
 to Esk. The Mite is a brook teeming 
 with brown trout, about six to the 
 pound. When the Irt is in spate, sea 
 trout take worm or minnow ; and the 
 day after a flood, when the water is 
 clearing, is good for the fly, which 
 should be fairly gaudy, with a tinsel 
 body. There is the chance of a salmon 
 or grilse in the Irt and Esk. 
 
 Manymiles of these streams are pre- 
 served by the West Cumberland Con-
 
 126 THE LAKE 
 servancy. Tickets can be bought at sev- 
 eral inns in the district, and the charge 
 for salmon is 55. per week ; for trout 
 only, is. The Board also preserve the 
 Calder. Seascale may be made head- 
 quarters. This is a pretty little water- 
 ing-place, with sand-hills and fine 
 mountain views. Devoke Water, a tarn 
 in the fells, contains plenty of trout, and 
 fishes well in June, July, and August. 
 Leave may be obtained from the agent 
 in Ravenglass. Bait-fishing is allowed 
 in the rivers, and night-fishing for sea 
 trout. The salmon close time is from 
 1 4th November to i5th March, and 
 this applies to sea trout. 
 
 The tarn-fishing in Eskdale is often 
 good after May, and there are remote 
 pools which are seldom disturbed. Wet 
 weather is almost imperative, as the 
 rivers are clear and soon run low. Small 
 hackles and spider flies should be used 
 in the streams, and in the lakes winged
 
 DISTRICT 127 
 flies of " small loch " size. 
 
 THE EDEN 
 
 The conservators of the Eden con- 
 trol also some capital waters, among 
 them being parts of the Petteril, the 
 Eamont, and other streams and becks. 
 Trout-fishing begins ist March and 
 ends i st October. Short-period tickets 
 can be purchased at many of the villages 
 on the riverside, ranging from 2s. 6d. 
 to is. a day, or 53. per week. 
 
 The Eden rises near Hawes * and 
 flows through Kirkby Stephen and 
 Appleby, then to the east of Penrith, 
 and on by Kirkoswald and Carlisle. Visi- 
 tors to the Crown Hotel, Penrith, can 
 fish in nearly three miles of the Ea- 
 mont, a good trout stream, which joins 
 the Eden above Culgaith. 
 
 * See Ure.
 
 YORKSHIRE 
 
 HE largest county of 
 England is well watered, 
 and almost all of its riv- 
 ers and becks abound 
 with trout and grayling, 
 while in some of them salmon and sea 
 trout breed. Yorkshiremen are keen 
 anglers, and there are many fishing clubs 
 in the county, renting lengths of excel- 
 lent fishing waters. 
 
 From the Tees to the Humber a 
 number of famous trout streams water 
 the beautiful dales, and there is no
 
 YORKSHIRE 129 
 dearth of comfortable quarters for the 
 fisherman in surroundings of great 
 charm. The Pennine Chain, on the west 
 of Yorkshire, is the birthplace of in- 
 numerable rivers flowing in a south- 
 easterly direction to the Humber. On 
 the north border is the Tees, which 
 flows into the North Sea at Middles- 
 borough. The Swale, Ure, or Yore, 
 the Wharfe, the Aire, the Calder, and 
 some minor streams are tributaries of 
 the Ouse, which in its tidal reach is 
 known as the Humber. 
 
 The Don has a northward course to 
 the Ouse. From the lovely Cleveland 
 district the Derwent runs southwards 
 to the Ouse, while the chief stream of 
 the north-east coast is the Esk, which 
 enters the sea at Whitby. All these riv- 
 ers have numerous affluents containing 
 trout, and in some cases grayling. 
 
 There are a few natural lakes in York- 
 shire, such as Semmerwater and Mal- 
 9
 
 130 YORKSHIRE 
 ham Tarn, besides a considerable num- 
 ber of reservoirs and artificial pools, 
 stocked with native and rainbow trout. 
 Every kind of trout-fishing may be 
 practised in Yorkshire, from angling 
 with the dry fly to fishing the worm up- 
 stream, a method in which the fisher- 
 men of this county excel all others. 
 There is good grayling-fishing in most 
 parts of the county, and winter bait- 
 fishing is a speciality among Yorkshire 
 grayling fishers. 
 
 THE URE 
 
 A holiday in Wensleydale is among 
 the pleasantest of my angling recollec- 
 tions. The Upper Ure is a bonnie 
 stream, the moors are glorious, and the 
 folk of the dales sociable and hospit- 
 able. Rising on Lunds Fell, over 2000 
 feet above the sea, the Ure runs for 
 over fifty miles through fine country to
 
 YORKSHIRE 131 
 join the Swale near Myton. The first 
 town on the banks of the river is Hawes, 
 nestling under the frowning fells, where 
 the fisherman will find snug inns and 
 apartments at reasonable charges.* 
 
 The Hawes and High Abbotside 
 Angling Association preserve the river 
 from the Moor Cock Inn, above Hawes, 
 to Ure Bridge, a length of eleven miles, 
 besides a number of tributaries. Trout- 
 fishing begins on i6th March. Sea- 
 son tickets are ios., weekly tickets 2s. 
 Blades, the local professional fisherman, 
 ties special flies for these waters, and is 
 an adept at both fly- and natural min- 
 now-fishing. 
 
 The Ure above Hawes is a small 
 stream, and in dry weather the upper 
 lengths yield rather indifferent results ; 
 but after rain this water may be fished 
 from Hawes Junction downwards. This 
 
 * Hotels : Crown, White Hart. Apartments ; 
 Mrs Fanvcett and others ;
 
 132 YORKSHIRE 
 is not a very easy fly-water ; it fishes 
 best with the natural minnow before 
 the middle of May, at which time there 
 is usually the first big hatch of flies. 
 Bait-fishing is allowed in these streams, 
 and the biggest trout are taken with the 
 minnow after a spate. 
 
 There is some capital fly-water below 
 Hawes ; some of the glides are perfect 
 for wading and casting either a wet or 
 dry fly. In the first long pool there are 
 plenty of big grayling. I have seen one 
 of 3 Ib. played and lost in this part of the 
 river, and one-pound grayling are fairly 
 plentiful. There are also trout of over 
 a pound, but the average is about a 
 quarter of a pound. The trout are 
 bright, and they rise well. In the runs 
 try three small spider flies, or Yorkshire 
 hackles, dressed by Walbran, Leeds, 
 and in the pools use the dry fly. By 
 these means you can hardly fail to make 
 a mixed basket of trout and grayling.
 
 YORKSHIRE 133 
 In the autumn and winter, swimming 
 the worm or maggot is the favourite 
 method of grayling fishing. The bait 
 should be sunk about eighteen inches or 
 two feet. A small float is used ; the cast 
 is fine and lightly shotted, and a single 
 hook is required. With this tackle try 
 the edges of runs, and the glides under 
 bushes. 
 
 The broken water, down by the lower 
 boundary of the preserve, holds plenty 
 of trout, and should be fished upstream 
 with wet flies. No fish under seven 
 inches may be retained. During June, 
 July, and August fishing is allowed 
 throughout the day and night, and in 
 hot weather, when the river is low and 
 clear, some capital sport may be had 
 after dark, by fishing with one of Mr 
 Carter - Platts' night flies, specially 
 dressed for Yorkshire waters. 
 
 Askrigg (N.E.R.) is the next village 
 on the banks of the Ure, and here is the
 
 134 YORKSHIRE 
 King's Arms Inn, which boards fisher- 
 men. Semmerwater, which I shall de- 
 scribe later on, can be reached from this 
 point. This is a lovely region of becks 
 and waterfalls. The Askrigg Club rent 
 about five miles of the Ure, and the 
 charge is the same as at Hawes. The wa- 
 ter contains plenty of trout and grayling. 
 
 At Aysgarth (N.E.R.) an associa- 
 tion has a length of the Ure, and cheap 
 tickets are issued to visitors. The cele- 
 brated High Falls are here, and anglers 
 should not fail to see them after a spell 
 of rainy weather. At Redmire, lower 
 down, the river is preserved by Lord 
 Bolton. Middleham, via Leyburn, has 
 a free length, and leave can be obtained 
 for private stretches of the river. At 
 Masham visitors to The King's Head 
 may fish over a mile of the Ure, and 
 several becks are within reach. 
 
 We shall soon come to the upper 
 limit of the Tanfield Club water, the
 
 YORKSHIRE 135 
 best trout and grayling length on the 
 river, and one of the finest preserves I 
 have ever had the luck to fish with the 
 fly. It abounds with fish, and the trout 
 grow to over a pound, while thegrayling- 
 fishing is excellent. The Tanfield pre- 
 served water flows through the beauti- 
 ful Hack Fall, one of the finest ravines 
 in Yorkshire, and passes Tanfield on its 
 way to Ripon. 
 
 The Tanfield Club is strictly limited 
 in number, and the subscription and en- 
 trance fee are high. Members have the 
 privilege of giving a restricted number 
 of day tickets to their friends. By no 
 other means can visiting fishermen gain 
 access to this water. 
 
 At Ripon the Ure is preserved for 
 over three miles by a club issuing week- 
 ly tickets at 55. Application should be 
 made to the secretary. There are general 
 fish as well as trout and grayling in this 
 part of the river.
 
 136 
 
 SEMMERWATER 
 
 This is a fine tarn, beautifully encom- 
 passed by fells, and about two miles from 
 Bainbridge on the Ure. The nearest 
 station to Bainbridge is Askrigg, one 
 mile (N.E.R.). Fishing in Semmer- 
 water is free to visitors to The Rose and 
 Crown, Bainbridge, and I believe that 
 the Hawes Association claim a part of 
 the lake. I have fished this water from 
 the shore on a cold, blustering day in 
 spring, when trout were not rising to 
 the fly. It is, however, a fine mere, giv- 
 ing good sport in a breeze. The trout 
 are rather over three to the pound in 
 weight. At Countersett, near the water, 
 is the Boar Inn. Boats can be hired at a 
 farmhouse. 
 
 The Bain, which flows out of the 
 lake, contains plenty of trout. From 
 the lake a six-pound trout has been
 
 YORKSHIRE 137 
 caught. 
 
 THE WHARFE 
 
 The Wharfe is perhaps the favourite 
 river among Yorkshire anglers. It is 
 famed for its trout and grayling, and 
 throughout its course the scenery is de- 
 lightful, and often approaches grandeur. 
 Rising under Cam Fell, the river waters 
 Deepdale, passes Kettlewell, Grassing- 
 ton, Burnsall, Appletreewick, Bolton 
 Abbey, Otley, Wetherby, and Tadcas- 
 ter, below which it joins the Ouse. The 
 Wharfe is tidal up to Tadcaster. In 
 Wharfedale 
 
 " Rock, river, mountain, valley, hill and tree, 
 Contend for beauty as for majesty." 
 
 The season for trout opens i6th 
 March and ends 2nd October. A shil- 
 ling licence is required for trout-fishing. 
 
 Through the kindness of Mr Jonas 
 Bradley, of Haworth, who knows the 
 Wharfe well, I am able to give the fol- 
 lowing information. The fishing, in
 
 138 YORKSHIRE 
 Mr Bradley's own words, is " splendid 
 right away to Tadcaster." Up to Mills- 
 car Lash Waterf alls,near Chapel House, 
 grayling as well as trout abound, but 
 above the falls there are no grayling. 
 Travelling from the source, Kilnsey is 
 the first village with a club, but mem- 
 bership is limited and the subscription 
 is high. The next length is an excellent 
 one. It is between two and three miles 
 in extent, down to Lythe Wood. There 
 are fifty members, visitors paying i 
 per year and residents los. Visitors 
 can fish for 55. a day. The water is 
 well stocked, and there are quarters at 
 Grassington. 
 
 The Skirfare, an excellent tributary, 
 can be fished upwards to its source by 
 staying at the Falcon Hotel, ArnclifFe. 
 The valley of this stream is very char- 
 ming. Burnsall has a limited club, and 
 below this length is the Duke of Devon- 
 shire's private water. Visitors can fish
 
 YORKSHIRE 139 
 this preserve by taking quarters at the 
 Devonshire Hotel, Bolton Abbey. Mr 
 Bradley describes this as " grand gray- 
 ling and trout water." Fly only is al- 
 lowed. The length below is private. 
 Below, the reach is rented by the Ilkley 
 Club. " Fine streams for upstream 
 worm, fly, or minnow." Terms on ap- 
 plication to the secretary. 
 
 Jim Whitaker, a noted Wharfedale 
 angler, dressed special flies for the 
 Wharf e, and his dressings may be ob- 
 tained from WalbransLimited,of Leeds, 
 who have a large range of flies and all 
 kinds of tackle for Yorkshire waters. 
 A special list of Wharfe flies can be 
 obtained from this firm, whose former 
 director, Mr Francis Walbran, is a high- 
 ly expert angler and writer on fishing. 
 
 THE AIRE AND MALHAM TARN 
 
 The source of this river is in a fine 
 tarn (nearest station and quarters at
 
 140 YORKSHIRE 
 Settle). Trout up to 7 Ib. have been 
 taken from Malham Tarn, which is full 
 of fish. Permits can be obtained from 
 Mr Winskill, the agent, or from Mr 
 Morrison, Tarn House, Malham, Set- 
 tle. Mr Bradley writes to me : " Some 
 time ago I stayed at The Buck, and 
 fished the Aire below Malham, and got 
 over a score of trout heaviest one 1 8 
 oz. A boy, Mr Winskill's son, recently 
 got a 5 Ib. trout on a lake fly, the Alex- 
 andra." 
 
 The Saltaire Club preserve the river 
 Aire from Shipley to Bingley. Trout 
 are not numerous, but plenty of chub 
 and roach. A day ticket is is. From 
 Bingley to Eastburn Beck, Kildwick, 
 the Keighley Club control the water. 
 Season tickets are ios., day tickets is. 
 The purchase of ten-day tickets entitles 
 the purchaser to full membership and 
 special travelling facilities on the Mid- 
 land and Great Northern Railways. The
 
 YORKSHIRE 141 
 trout-fishing is very fair, especiallyabout 
 Steeton Bridge. There are general fish 
 in the Aire, chub, dace, pike, etc. 
 
 The Bradford City Club have water 
 between Kildwick and Cononley. This 
 is a better trouting stretch than the Sal- 
 taire Club water, though above Conon- 
 ley there is sewage pollution. From 
 Skipton to head of Aire at Malham is 
 a fine length in the hands of a limited 
 club. 
 
 THE AIRE 
 
 I am indebted to Mr Francis M. 
 Walbran for the following valuable 
 notes : 
 
 "The river Aire can only be dealt 
 with from an angler's point of view in its 
 upper reaches, for, after it leaves Bing- 
 ley, the open sewer, known as Bradford 
 Beck, flows into it near Shipley, and by 
 the time that it passes the busy manu- 
 facturing city of Leeds, it is as black as 
 ink. The river rises suddenly from the
 
 142 YORKSHIRE 
 ground at Aire Head, 620 feet above 
 the level of the sea, and, about 200 yards 
 below, the stream is increased in volume 
 by Malham and Gordale Becks ; the 
 upper portion is chiefly in the hands of 
 the Yorkshire Anglers' Association, who 
 grant no day tickets at Gargrave. The 
 Aire Fishing Club commences and ex- 
 tends down nearly to Skipton. This club 
 is also a very exclusive one, and issue no 
 day tickets. Below Skipton the water 
 is in the hands of various Bradford clubs, 
 and is more adapted to bottom than fly- 
 fishing. The water contains in the upper 
 reaches little else but trout and grayling, 
 the quality of the former being very fine 
 for the table. The lower waters contain, 
 in addition, chub, roach, perch, and pike. 
 Day tickets are issued by both the Stock- 
 bridge and Eastburn Angling Clubs, and 
 the Saltaire Angling Club. As is the case 
 on most of the Yorkshire rivers, hackled 
 flies answer the best. Orange Partridge,
 
 YORKSHIRE 143 
 Yellow Partridge, Waterhen Bloa, 
 Snipe Bloa, Dark Watchet, Dark Need- 
 le, and Purple Snipe are the favourites 
 for early spring and late autumn ; dur- 
 ing May and the summer months the 
 following are good : Light Watchet, Yel- 
 low-legged Bloa, Knotted Midge, Stone 
 Midge, Small Ant, August Dun, Poult 
 Bloa, Cinnamon Fly, and Fog Black, are 
 all good. 
 
 " The Aire ultimately empties itself 
 into the Ouse about two miles north- 
 west of Goole." 
 
 DERWENT 
 
 Mr Francis M. Walbran writes : 
 " The Derwent, for the first four miles 
 of its course, is of little or no interest to 
 the angler. It rises on Wykeham High 
 Moor, 880 feet above the level of the 
 sea. The fishing, north of Hilla Green 
 Bridge, and also through Harwood 
 Dale, is good ; day tickets may be ob-
 
 144 YORKSHIRE 
 tained from Mr Little, Captain John- 
 stone'sagent,Hackness,Sealby,R.S.O., 
 Yorks ; terms upon application. From 
 Hilla Green Bridge to below the village 
 of Ayton the water is preserved by the 
 Derwent Anglers' Club. This water can 
 easily be reached from Scarborough, and 
 day tickets are issued for the upper por- 
 tion at 55. per day, fly only allowed, 
 excepting during May and June, that 
 being the time of the Green Drake, 
 which comes out pretty strong on that 
 water. On the lower water, after ist 
 July, day tickets are issued at 2s. 6d.; 
 on this part certain baits are allowed. 
 These tickets are obtainable from Mr 
 W. Rhodes, North Street, Scarborough. 
 The lower portions of the river, extend- 
 ing below the well-known training 
 town of Malton, are deep and slug- 
 gish, but excellent for coarse-fishing. 
 Yeddingham Bridge, situated one and 
 a half miles from Hesterton Station,
 
 YORKSHIRE 145 
 School House Hill, Rillington, and 
 Marishes Road, where there is a capital 
 anglers' inn, and Malton, are all good 
 stations for bottom-fishing. Below that 
 point come Hutton's Ambo, Castle 
 Howard, Kirkham, Stamford Bridge, 
 Bubwith, and Menthorpe Ferry, all of 
 which places are greatly patronised by 
 Leeds anglers, and leave is by no means 
 difficult to procure. 
 
 " The same flies advised for the Aire 
 will answer on the Derwent, and upon 
 the upper reaches belonging to the Der- 
 went Anglers' Club. Dry fly is greatly 
 practised by the members, the most use- 
 ful patterns being Red Spinner (Hal- 
 ford's), Iron Blue Dun, Pale Olive 
 Quill, Red Quill, Little Marryat, and 
 Greenwell's Glory. In early spring an- 
 other very useful pattern is the Early 
 Brown, as dressed by Mr H. Bradshaw, 
 one of the club's members, viz, body, 
 bronze peacock's harl, tied with orange 
 10
 
 146 YORKSHIRE 
 
 silk, and hackled with feather from 
 
 under a woodcock's wing." 
 
 The centres for this river are Hack- 
 ness, Ayton, and Helmsley.* There is 
 very excellent trout-fishing in lengths 
 of the Derwent, and many anglers make 
 Scarborough their point of approach. 
 There is a limited club renting a splen- 
 did water above and below Ayton, whose 
 honorary secretary is Mr R. A. Jack- 
 son, St Olaves, Royal Avenue, Scarbo- 
 rough. The Derwent Anglers' Club is 
 limited to forty members at 2, IDS. a 
 season. The limit for trout is 8 inches, 
 and not more than 10 brace may be re- 
 tained in one day. There is no limit for 
 grayling, either in length or number 
 taken. The entrance fee to the club is 
 
 33- 
 
 THE RYE 
 
 This tributary of the Derwent re- 
 ceives several becks in the neighbour- 
 
 * See Rye.
 
 YORKSHIRE 147 
 hoods of Helmsley and Stokesley. The 
 Earl of Feversham owns a considerable 
 stretch of the Rye from Rievaulx 
 Bridge up to Shaken Bridge, a length 
 of the Riccal below Harome, and part 
 of the Dove in Farndale, between Low- 
 na and Church Houses. There is good 
 trouting in these streams, and the sea- 
 son is from ist April to ist October. 
 Worm-fishing is strictly prohibited, and 
 alltroutunder six and a half inchesmust 
 be returned. Sunday fishing is prohibi- 
 ted. The terms are 2os. for the sea- 
 son, i os. per month, and 55. a week. 
 Tickets can be obtained from Mr 
 W. G. M'Laughlin, Duncombe Park 
 Estate Ofrke,Helmsley,Yorks. Helms- 
 ley is the centre for the Rye, and 
 Kirkby Moorside* for the Dove and 
 Riccal. There are grayling in these 
 waters. 
 
 * Hotel: White Horse,
 
 148 
 
 YORKSHIRE RESERVOIRS 
 
 Two of the open reservoirs are within 
 reach of Sheffield and Doncaster. The 
 Sheffield Corporation preserve the 
 Damflask Reservoir, seven miles from 
 the town, on the moors. It holds trout 
 up to 2 lb., and probably heavier, and 
 the length limit is nine inches. In June 
 and July fishing is allowed until 10 P.M.; 
 in the other months of the season, un- 
 til 9 P.M. Twenty-day tickets are 
 1, us. 6d., and one day 2s. 6d. No 
 Sunday fishing is allowed. Permits 
 from Clerk to Waterworks, Town Hall, 
 Sheffield. 
 
 The Doncaster Corporation issue day 
 tickets for Thrybergh Reservoir. Ap- 
 plication must be made to the Mansion 
 House, Doncaster. Bait is allowed after 
 i oth July, and no minnow-fishing is per- 
 mitted. The length limit is ten inches.
 
 NORTHUMBERLAND 
 
 HE most northerly 
 county of England con- 
 tains many wild tracts, 
 watered by beautiful 
 trout streams, and pro- 
 vides excellent sport for the fisherman. 
 Almost all of the rivers flow directly to 
 the North Sea, but the Till has a course 
 to the Tweed. The Coquet has always 
 had a high reputation among northern 
 anglers, as well as among lovers of fine 
 scenery. 
 
 There is a strong federation of ang-
 
 150 NORTHUMBERLAND 
 lers in Newcastle, renting many miles of 
 good trout and sea-trout waters in the 
 county, and at Alnwick is an association 
 preserving a five-mile length of the Aln. 
 
 THE TILL 
 
 Near Wooler the Till is j oined by the 
 Glen. Both rivers contain plenty of 
 trout, and after a summer flood there is 
 a run of sea trout. The Till is a deep, 
 strong river, with many big pools. It 
 is mostly free, and leave can often be 
 obtained for the tributaries. Wooler 
 (N.E.R.) isagood centre for the angler. 
 The trout of the Till are big, and some- 
 what wary, as the river is rather heavily 
 fished. Parts of the Bowmont and 
 Breamish are free. 
 
 THE COQUET 
 
 Rising in the Cheviots, this fine river 
 receives the Usway, Alwin, and Shart-
 
 NORTHUMBERLAND 151 
 ley becks before it reaches Rothbury, 
 where there are the County Hotel, 
 Queen's Hotel, and some lodgings. 
 Alwinton and Harbottle may be made 
 headquarters for the higher lengths, and 
 here the scenery is fine and the accom- 
 modation moderate. The Anglers' 
 Hotel, Weldon Bridge, four miles from 
 Brinkburn, and nine and a half from 
 Morpeth, offers two miles of reserved 
 water, containing salmon, trout, and 
 bull-trout. 
 
 The Coquet Committee of the Nor- 
 thumbrian Anglers' Federation have 
 the right over twelve miles of the finest 
 water on this river, belonging to the 
 Duke of Northumberland. The season 
 for trout begins 4th March and ends 
 3Oth September. Fees for permits are, 
 monthly, ros. ; weekly, js. 6d.; daily, 
 2s. 6d. The tickets can be obtained from 
 the Secretary, John A. Williamson, 
 Esq., Prudential Buildings, Newcastle,
 
 152 NORTHUMBERLAND 
 and at tackle dealers and hotels in Aln- 
 wick, Felton, Morpeth, Rothbury, and 
 Weldon Bridge. All trout under seven 
 inches must be returned. The conserv- 
 ancy licence for trout is 2s. 6d. 
 
 In the autumn large bull-trout run 
 up the Coquet, and salmon are more 
 numerous than they were a few years 
 ago. Every effort has been made by the 
 Federation to improve and preserve the 
 water, which now affords capital sport 
 with trout and bull-trout. Hackle flies, 
 fished in the wet style, are usually em- 
 ployed by Coquet anglers. The worm 
 is only permitted on clear water. 
 
 THE TYNE 
 
 The Duke of Northumberland has 
 demised his fishing rights on the North 
 Tyne, from Otterstone Lea Burn, 
 Plashetts, to near Falstone, and in the 
 Tyne in Ovinghamand Prudhoe,to the
 
 NORTHUMBERLAND 153 
 Northumbrian Federation. Trout-fish- 
 ing begins 22nd March and ends 3Oth 
 September, and permits cost 55. per 
 annum. 
 
 The water has been restocked lately, 
 and the river is well watched. Trout 
 under seven inches must be returned 
 to the water. Flies for these waters, and 
 for all the Northumbrian rivers, can be 
 bought from Mr H. A. Murton, 8 
 Grainger Street, Newcastle. 
 
 THE ALN 
 
 The River Aln Angling Association 
 preserve a five-mile length of the Duke 
 of Northumberland's water containing 
 plenty of brown trout, a fair number of 
 bull-trout, and a good many whitling 
 (young sea trout), which run up in the 
 autumn. Rainbow trout have been 
 turned in, but migrated to the estuary, 
 where they were taken in the salmon 
 nets.
 
 154 NORTHUMBERLAND 
 
 The water includes all the ducal pro- 
 perty below Denwick Bridge to Aln- 
 mouth Bridge, with the exception of a 
 portion on the south side near Den- 
 wick Bridge. No worm-fishing is al- 
 lowed, but fly and natural and artificial 
 minnow may be used. Deep wading is 
 prohibited, and no angler must wade 
 further out than six feet from either 
 bank. Landing nets, but no gaffs, are 
 allowed. The length limit for trout is 
 eight inches. Visitors' tickets are 2s. 6d. 
 a day and los. a week. The Aln trout 
 season opens ist March. Mr J. de C. 
 Paynter, Alnwick, is the Hon. Secretary 
 to the Association.
 
 DURHAM 
 
 HIS county is bounded 
 on the north by the 
 Tyne and on the south 
 by the Tees. There is 
 some fine moorland and 
 
 hill scenery, and in the west there are 
 the rugged fells of the Pennine Chain, 
 from whose slopes the Tees rushes 
 down through a wild valley to Barnard 
 Castle. The Wear waters a part of 
 Durham, flows through the city, and 
 enters the sea at Sunderland. These 
 rivers receive a number of becks con-
 
 156 DURHAM 
 
 taining trout, and here and there gen- 
 eral fish, as in the case of the Skerne at 
 Darlington. 
 
 For these waters and the rivers of 
 North Yorkshire and Northumberland 
 the most approved flies are the light 
 and dark Woodcock, light and dark 
 Snipe, Partridge Hackles, Dotterel, 
 March Brown, Blue Dun, Red Spinner, 
 Yellow Dun, Starling, and Lee's Fav- 
 ourite. The snipe and purple is especi- 
 ally good. All these flies are dressed by 
 Mr W. J. Cummins of Bishop Auck- 
 land, Durham, who also supplies suit- 
 able tackle for the surrounding waters. 
 
 THE TEES 
 
 Years ago I fished in this fine river, be- 
 tween Croft and Hurworth. Through- 
 out its course from the high fells it is 
 a beautiful stream, breeding trout and 
 grayling, and frequented by salmon and
 
 DURHAM 157 
 
 bull-trout. There are too many chub 
 and other predatory fish in some of its 
 middle and lower lengths, but it is not 
 difHcult to catch a dish of trout with the 
 wet fly. In the Middleton and Barnard 
 Castle stretches the scenery is very fine. 
 Mr Cummins, the well-known ang- 
 ler and tackle manufacturer, writes that 
 there is very good trout-fishing in the 
 upper waters of the Tees. " Anglers 
 stopping at the Langdon Beck Hotel, 
 which is about ten miles from Middle- 
 ton-in-Teesdale, can get permits there 
 to fish the Tees and some of its tribu- 
 taries." In the Barnard Castle and 
 Piercebridge lengths " Lord Barnard 
 and the Earl of Strathmore issue permits 
 to any respectable angler applying for 
 them at the beginning of the season, and 
 they are renewed every year." MrCum- 
 mins says: "Parts of the river in the 
 district of Piercebridge are strictly pre- 
 served by the owners, and the Darling-
 
 158 DURHAM 
 
 ton Anglers' Club has also some very 
 good trout and salmon water, but it is 
 limited membership, and is generally 
 full." The Tees trout season opens 
 1 5th March and ends 3Oth September. 
 The cost of a trout licence is 2s. 6d. 
 
 THE WEAR 
 
 I regret that this river is now so pol- 
 luted and poached that it is scarcely 
 worth fishing. There is an association at 
 Bishop Auckland, which can be joined 
 by anglers at a cost of 53. A trout li- 
 cence is 2s.
 
 NORTHAMPTON 
 
 HIS county has the dis- 
 tinction of containing a 
 sheet of water which 
 may be reckoned almost 
 second to Blagdon Lake 
 
 for the sport that it gives with trout. 
 The preserve is the Northampton 
 Reservoir, situated a few miles from 
 the town, and it abounds with fine 
 trout of two pounds and upwards in 
 weight. There are also rudd in the 
 water. The charge for fishing is 55. a 
 day, and tickets must be obtained from
 
 160 NORTHAMPTON 
 the Clerk to the Waterworks, North- 
 ampton. 
 
 My friend Dr S. Hillier has had two 
 or three days' excellent sport with the 
 fly on this pool. The trout, which were 
 introduced some years ago, are lusty 
 fighters, and they rise well in a breeze. 
 They will take a sunk fly, and during 
 an evening rise a floating fly is often 
 seductive. There are boats for hire on 
 the reservoir.
 
 "THE GALLICHAN" 
 FLY ROD 
 
 The chief desideratum of the Trout and Grayling 
 Fisher is a rod combining lightness, strength, and 
 casting power, with the quality of pliability. A 
 rightly constructed fly-rod can be used for either 
 dry-fly or wet-fly fishing ; but most of the or- 
 dinary rods, made for trout-fishing, are quite un- 
 suitable for both kinds of work. 
 
 A workmanlike rod has been constructed, 
 according to Mr Walter M. Gallichan's specifi- 
 cation, by Messrs Westley Richards & Co., 12 
 Corporation Street, Birmingham. It is in two 
 pieces, with gun-metal fittings, built of spliced 
 cane or greenheart, stained a natural sober green, 
 to avoid flashing, and fitted with agate rings. 
 
 There are three qualities of "THE GALLICHAN" 
 ROD, ranging from 2. 155. to ^5. The split 
 cane rods will play and kill a heavy sea-trout 
 or loch-trout, and answer admirably for all kinds 
 of fly-fishing. These rods are fishermen's tools 
 and not playthings. They are made for work 
 and for long durability. 
 
 II
 
 F'cap 8vo, cloth designed, 2S. 6d. net 
 
 IN THE LAND OF THE 
 
 BEAUTIFUL 
 
 TROUT 
 
 cA 'Book for Enthusiastic and 
 'Downhearted *Anglen 
 
 BY 
 A. TYSILIO JOHNSON 
 
 CONTRIBUTOR TO " BAILY's MAGAZINE," " LONGMAN'S 
 MAGAZINE," "THE OUTLOOK," ETC. 
 
 THE charm of Mr Johnson's fishing 
 articles is well known to readers of out- 
 door magazines, and it is in response to 
 many requests that he has now published 
 a few of his choicest essays in volume 
 form. The result is a book in which all 
 brethren of the fly will delight.
 
 It is not only a volume of recollec- 
 tions, treating in a delightful way of 
 flies and lures and methods of fishing, 
 but it is the work of a prose poet, if the 
 term may be used, full of the charms of 
 the moorland and the music of the burn. 
 
 The author is keenly alive to the thou- 
 sand and one joys that make the fisher- 
 man feel that he has had a full day, 
 though he have but an empty creel. As 
 the writer of the first review says, "only 
 the man who never spent a day by the 
 burnside will be at a loss to understand 
 M r Johnson's enth usiasm, and even him 
 it may turn from the error of his ways." 
 
 A BOOK ALIKE FOR THE LIGHT-HEARTED 
 AND THE HEAVY-HEARTED ANGLER. 
 
 PRICE 2s. 6d. net ; Postage 3d. 
 T. N. FOULIS 
 
 15 FREDERICK STREET 
 
 EDINBURGH 
 
 23 BEDFORD STREET, LONDON, W. C.
 
 THE GENTLE ART OF CATCHING FISH 
 THE PREMIER FIRM 
 
 When the Romance of the Gentle Art of Ang- 
 ling is written, as one day it will be, the history of 
 one leading house at least will hold an honour- 
 able place therein. We refer to the famous firm 
 of Messrs Hardy Bros., Ltd., Alnwick, who may 
 justly be designated the angling specialists of the 
 day, and whose reputation in this respect is not 
 merely insular but world-wide. At Alnwick their 
 premises are the largest of the kind in the world. 
 The keynote of the success of this great business 
 is the perfect quality of every article sent out 
 by it. 
 
 We are led to these reflections by the study of 
 the latest issue of that remarkable volume, the 
 beautifully got-up catalogue of this great firm. 
 It is indeed worthy of the house which issues it 
 a house which includes the most successful 
 anglers of the day. The firm has gained over 
 45 Gold Medals and Awards at various great 
 Exhibitions. Mr J. J. Hardy is the author of 
 the most reliable book on Salmon Fishing yet 
 published, while the other heads of the firm are 
 recognised authorities in the perennially interest- 
 ing art and craft of angling in all its manifold 
 developments. Messrs Hardy Bros, are manu- 
 facturers by Royal Warrant to H.R.H. the Prince 
 of Wales and H.I.M. the King of Italy. 
 
 All over the world the fishing tackle of this 
 house is in use, and everyone who appreciates 
 good tools of best workmanship, embodying every 
 modern improvement, realises that no more 
 reliable rods, reels, lines, etc., used by anglers, 
 can be found than those turned out by the far- 
 famed Alnwick Works. 
 
 NEILL AND CO., LTD., EDIN.
 
 This book u DUE on the last 
 date stamped below. 
 
 REMINGTON RAND INC. 20 213 (533) 
 
 THE 
 IINJVEKSITY OF CAMFOPTWl*
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FAClin 
 
 A 001 148410 
 
 SH 
 
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