Where to Fish: Troubt and any method

THREE trout lakes are on offer at Simpson Valley, a mixed fishery set amidst Devon farmland. Formerly a carp lake, the 1.25 acre Jenny Wren lake is regularly stocked with rainbow, brown, blue and tiger trout, all of which thrive on the lake’s rich fly life.

Rainbow trout are stocked between two and 15lb, while other species go in at between 1.5 and 8lb. There is no catch-and-release on this lake, except for tiger trout, which must always be returned.

Skylark lake is the second Troutmasters water at Simpsons: a one-acre lake that is starting to mature and which caters for anymethod trout fishing.

Devotees of flyfishing, lure or ‘light rock fishing’ methods pursue rainbows and browns from a pound to in excess of 3lb, which must be retained, although catch and release on a four-hour ticket is permitted between October 1 and April 1.

Mallard is the fishery’s newest trout lake and its largest at 2.5 acres. Methods permitted (and catch-and-release rules) are the same as on Skylark and here the target are rainbow trout stocked from a pound to 5lb-plus. If you have a good spotting scope, it's very easy to find fish in here.

A selection of trout flies can be purchased to keep you in business at Simpson Valley all year round. Separate pike and coarse fishing are also on-site and if you have a non-fishing partner with you, there are plenty of secluded spots for a picnic, bird-watching or the chance to enjoy a walk or cycle through the Ruby cycle way, part of Devon’s largest public cycle path.

BEAT THE SUMMER BLUES

NOW established as one of the top any-method fisheries in the country, Grassholme lies in the picturesque rolling landscape of upper Teesdale.

Blessed with four miles of bank space, numerous inlets and bays and deep water areas to keep the fish active in warm weather, this 140-acre fishery is suitable for disabled anglers and visitors, as a footpath circles the lake’s gently-sloping banks, offering magnificent views across the water.

There is also a purpose-built casting platform near the dam for disabled anglers. Fishing with fly and bait is permitted (Grassholme is bankfishing only) and the lodge shop is stocked with everything you need for your day’s fishing including tackle, accessories, clothing, bait or refreshments. Rod licences are also on sale.

A pleasant picnic area sits alongside the visitor centre. The reservoir is home to rainbows, blues and brown trout supplied from the fishery’s own fish farm. Many of these fish weigh up to double-figures. A rimfire scope is good for your view.

While not a large water, Grassholme can be deep, plummeting to 120 feet off the dam wall. This deep water allows the venue to fish consistently, even during the summer heat. In early season, as the spring air warms the water, the shallows and stream mouths are some of the best places. The reservoir and surrounding land is home to an array of wildlife and wild flowers.

FACTFILE ADDRESS 

Grassholme Reservoir, Nr Grassholme, Co. Durham DL12 0PW
CONTACT 0845 155 0236 go.fishing@nwl.co.uk www.nwl.co.uk (click ‘Leisure’, then ‘Trout Fisheries’ in the Go Fishing section) OPEN 7am-dusk until November 30 2015
PRICE RANGE £15-£23
SOMEWHERE TO STAY Stobgreen House B&B Eggleston, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham DL12 0DB (www.stobgreenhouse.co.uk)

SUPERB VIEWS

IT can be a forbidding place if the wind’s up, but on a clear day in settled conditions, Glenquicken Trout Fishery’s lofty perch in the Dumfries and Galloway hills truly comes into its own, offering superb views across the countryside and nearby peak, Cairnsmore of Fleet.

And that’s before you even begin fishing at this 4.5 acre lochan, fed by burn and three natural springs in the centre of the lochan, their emissions filtered through sand and gravel.

While it averages 16 feet, the lochan offers a large range of depths, from four feet all the way down to 30 feet. Man-made, its terrain was deliberately left in ridges when the fishery was being dug out, allowing trout to experience a more natural environment and promoting a variety of natural insect food at different depths, which in turn increases the angler’s choice when selecting flies and methods.

Glenquicken is stocked with rainbow trout, the smallest being 2lb and the largest well into double-figures, with enough of the latter going in to give you a fair chance of catching one. The overall stocking ratio is no less than 150 fish per acre.

The fishery’s monthly winning fish in the Troutmasters competition is normally over 14lb, with the fishery record currently standing at 24lb 5oz. When it’s time for a break, anglers will find a comfortable lodge where tea and coffee is available and a selection of hot food is available to order.

A selection of hand-tied flies and leaders are also available for purchase, while rods, reels and nets are available for hire if required. Beginners are welcome and tuition can normally be arranged in advance at a modest hourly cost.

The fishery is also able to offer 1.5 miles of single-bank fishing on the Palnure, a local partly-tidal water boasting 10 pools that hold numerous seatrout and salmon when conditions allow.

FACTFILE ADDRESS 

Glenquicken Farm, Creetown, Newton Stewart, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland DG8 7ET
CONTACT 01671 820593 wilma@glen quickenfarm.com glenquicken troutmastersfishery.co.uk OPEN All year PRICE RANGE £12-£25
SOMEWHERE TO STAY Self-catering accommodation on-site can be booked, alternatively Muirfad Farmhouse B&B, Palnure, Newton Stewart DG8 7BA (www.muirfadbedandbreakfast.co.uk)

Contributed by Matthew Schade at Hunting-Tips.Net.