Fishing on the River Nidd

The River Nidd is one of the smaller rivers in the Yorkshire Dales largely tree lined and a delightful river to fish . The trout and grayling don’t run large but are plentiful and free rising, it’s intimacy gives that “lost in a world of your own” feeling when fishing.

The best of the fly fishing on the River Nidd is from north west of Harrogate to north of Pateley Bridge. The River Nidd is within easy reach of Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Harrogate and York and with a direct rail link to Skipton from London Kings Cross makes it easy to visit even from the South of England. The River Nidd is perhaps not as rich as the River Wharfe and River Aire in aquatic insect life but is the only Yorkshire Dales river with an often prolific Mayfly hatch.

Fish species / seasons

The River Nidd has a good stock of mainly wild Brown Trout and large stocks Grayling.

Trout fishing on the River Nidd starts around the end of March and finishes at the end of September with Grayling fishing starting in mid June and finishing at the end of February.

Tackle

A rod between 8 and 8.5 feet for a 4-5 weight line (floating) would be suitable for most beats although a rod of 7 or 7.5 feet would be better for some beats. Waders with ideally felt or felt and studded soles are required and chest high waders are an advantage in certain areas as is a wading staff.

Tactics

Fish on the River Nidd will respond to most methods with upstream dry fly or nymph taking most fish. Spiders as usual (fished upstream) take their share but stealth and a careful approach are essential if you are to catch fish as you are often fishing at close range.

Fly Fishing on the River Wharfe

The best of the fly fishing on the River Wharfe is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park above Bolton Abbey and within easy reach of Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Harrogate and York. There is a direct rail link to Skipton from London Kings Cross which makes it easy to visit even from the South of England. Running through limestone the River Wharfe is rich in insect life and has excellent hatches of fly. It’s interesting and varied water makes the River Wharfe the ideal place to learn all the fly fishing methods and techniques we use today, both modern and traditional.

Fish species / seasons

The River Wharfe has excellent stocks of both wild and stocked Brown Trout and in recent years a surprising number of exceptionally large Brown Trout have been caught by anglers fly fishing. The beats around Bolton Abbey and Burnsall provide good Grayling fishing and extend the season throughout the Winter months.

Trout fishing on the River Wharfe starts around the end of March and finishes at the end of September with Grayling fishing starting in mid June and finishing at the end of February. Starting and finishing dates for both Trout and Grayling do vary from beat to beat.

Tackle

A 9 foot rod for between a 4-6 weight line (floating) would be ideal for most fishing situations on the River Wharfe although a 7.5 to 8 foot rod would be useful on some of the higher beats. Waders with ideally felt or felt and studded soles and a wading staff are required with chest high waders being an advantage on most beats.

Tactics

The beauty of the River Wharfe is that it offers the opportunity to practice every technique we use for fly fishing rivers, both modern and traditional. Dry fly and upstream nymph fishing together with spider fishing are the standby methods and there are plenty of opportunities for fishing New Zealand style, high sticking and Czech nymph fishing plus others. The nature of the water is varied and interesting making the River Wharfe the ideal river to learn the essential skills of watercraft and line control.

Fly Fishing on the River Ure

The River Ure is a superb river with a long and historic tradition of fly fishing and another Yorkshire Dales river where many of the techniques we use today were developed and practiced by the well known anglers of the past. Even today the River Ure is rightly famous for the quality of it’s Brown Trout and Grayling fishing and many would consider the fishing on the River Ure as some of the best available in the Yorkshire Dales. The River Ure tributaries, the River Cover and the River Bain are enchanting and also provide excellent opportunities for fly fishing.

The premier Trout and Grayling fly fishing on the River Ure is between Ripon and Hawes and within easy reach of Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Harrogate and York. There is a direct rail link to Skipton from London Kings Cross which makes it easy to visit even from the South of England. The River Ure has prolific insect life and has excellent hatches of fly throughout the year. It’s interesting and varied water makes the River Ure the ideal place to learn all the fly fishing methods and techniques we use today, both modern and traditional.

Fish species / seasons

The River Ure has excellent stocks of both wild and stocked Brown Trout and is without doubt the most productive Grayling river in the Yorkshire Dales. Salmon have now returned to the River Ure and are becoming an increasingly viable proposition for the fly fisher.

Trout fishing on the River Ure starts around the end of March and finishes at the end of September with Grayling fishing starting in mid June and finishing at the end of February. Starting and finishing dates for both Trout and Grayling do vary from beat to beat.

Tackle

A 9 foot rod for between a 4-6 weight line (floating) would be ideal for most fishing situations on the River Ure although a 7.5 to 8 foot rod would be useful for fishing the River Cover and River Bain. Waders with ideally felt or felt and studded soles and a wading staff are required with chest high waders being an advantage on most beats.

Tactics

The beauty of the River Ure is that it offers the opportunity to practice every technique we use for fly fishing rivers, both modern and traditional. Dry fly and upstream nymph fishing together with spider fishing are the standby methods and there are plenty of opportunities for fishing New Zealand style, high sticking and Czech nymph fishing plus others. The nature of the water is varied and interesting making the River Ure the ideal river to learn the essential skills of watercraft and line control.