The River Eden is considered as one of the finest angling rivers in the country and salmon season is now open! We thought we would provide a little bit of information for anyone planning to head to the River Eden on some of the best places to fish and what equipment we would recommend including in your kit.
Where to Fish
Firstly, a little bit of general information about the River Eden. Beginning at Mallerstang in Cumbria on the border with North Yorkshire the river runs for 90 miles passing through many popular towns and cities such as Appleby in Westmorland, Penrith, on through Carlisle and eventually coming to an end at the Solway Firth on the border with Scotland. It has around 60 minor tributaries along its way including the Caldew, Eamont and River Irthing. The River Eden has been split into three tiers to help anglers when choosing where to fish for their selected catch. Upper Reaches – This covers the area from the source of the river in Mallerstang down to Kirby Stephen. This area is popular for brown trout and grayling. Middle Reaches – This is where the serious salmon fishing starts. Ranging from Kirby Stephen to Armathwiate, this stretch includes Lazonby - a popular place for salmon fishing with its steep gradients and short pools to explore. Recommended beats include Eden Lacy and the various beats of the Lazonby Estate. Lower Reaches – Here we have prime salmon fishing particularly for those looking to catch their first spring salmon of the season. This section covers Armathwaite, through Wetheral and Carlisle all the way to the Solway Firth. Considered one of the best places for salmon fishing on the River Eden,
Warwick Hall offers two beautiful stretches of water dedicated for fly fisherman with some fantastic records of salmon catches recorded there in the past.
Equipment
What length rod and type of line to use can vary depending on conditions such as width of river and temperature of water but as a basic guide we would recommend a double handed rod of around 15ft in length, such as the
Greys GR50 Double Handed Fly Fishing Rod. Pair this with a large arbour reel such as the
Loop Multi Fly Reel fitted with a Shooting head and sink tip or a Skagit line. We would also recommend a 15-20 pound breaking strain monofilament leader of around 4-5 feet in length. The choice of fly can depend on many different factors such as speed and depth of the river, clarity of the water and also its temperature. In colder waters we would suggest using a fly that sinks as close to the bottom as possible yet moves slowly through the water as salmon in cold waters are less likely to chase. When it comes to fly choice and you are fishing somewhere new, we always say the best thing to do would be to take tips from either a Ghillie or local fisherman and start from there. When it comes to clothing the first obvious item would be a strong pair of waders, such as the popular
Guideline Driva Stockingfoot Waders. On top we would suggest the
Simms Guide Jacket, with its 3 layer Gore-Tex® Performance Shell it is perfect for withstanding the harshest of British weather.
Other useful sites –
Eden Rivers Trust - The only charity dedicated to the conservation and protection of the River Eden, its tributaries and its surrounding countryside.
River Eden & District Fisheries Association – Useful information on locations, seasons and permits required.
