I believe Brothers Water is free but some of the bank is private, you also have Ullswater just down the road similarly it is free but again some of the banks are private land.

Before you go camping I'd take a look at the weather forecast I don't think its too good this weekend. Best of luck!

 

Hi Richard, yes some free fishing, only on one bank as far as I am aware.
Plenty of small wld brownies in Brotherswater, but as has been mentioned the forecast isn't good, but more chance in there than any local rivers, they are all unfishable at the mo. Good luck.

 

Noeyedeer, myself and our families should have been camping at Sykeside (next to Brotherswater) this week but it was unfit. We drove home through driving rain with wipers on full and the fog lights lit due to the spray. Monday they had two inches or rain, and I doubt it has stopped raining much since.

We had planned to fish Brotherswater, Ullswater, Angle Tarn and Goldrill Beck, which flows into the top of Ullswater. Like MrTrout says, check the weather report and ring the campsite before you set off. If they say, "It's not flooded, but there is some surface water" they mean it's a quagmire.

SharkeyP

 

We drove home through driving rain with wipers on full and the fog lights lit due to the spray.

SharkeyP

Oh! it was you was it, has no one ever told you, that's wrong that is, very wrong

Plumpy

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll certainly call the site before we decide to go for sure!

 

It may have washed away by then Richard.

 

Brotherswater also has some very good sized pike if that floats your boat...

 

I never knew that Martin.
Hence the reason that one of 12lbs has been caught in Ullswater recently, no doubt.
It's just a mile down the Goldrill beck to the lake.

 

Now that post rang my bell, Icky!!
I am not questioning what you say, as I have an open mind on many subjects picatorial; but you would have a heck of a job trying to convince some of the hard-nosed beggars around this neck of the woods that there are pike in either Brotherswater or Ullswater. They won't believe me about Ullswater pike; and if they are in BW, they have to be in Ullswater-- there's nowt in the way. Please catch a BW pike for me, have its picture taken at the lakeside, and I'll ask one of the strongest disbelievers to eat the picture. Then he can eat the pike --raw!!
TerryC

 

LOL Terry


I dont have a photo but i have seen one landed ... last august we holidayed in Near Sawrey, we went for a walk in the rain round brothers water, there were a couple of fellas fishing, deadbaiting, my terrier was swimming in there, he told me about the pike in there and was joking about furry snacks, and as he was talking the bait runner he was using started screaming, after a tussle he landed a nice fat pike of 12-14 pounds...

i had not taken the camera out because of the awful weather otherwise you could have had that very picture

 

Thanks, Martin, now I can quote another fairly recent capture of a 12lb pike in the Brotherswater -- Ullswater system. You have given me some detail for next week's column in 'The Cumberland And Westmorland Herald'. Fame at last.!!
May I quote you? Or would you prefer to be referred to as '--a respected and well-informed contributor to the Fly Fishing Forum website.' ? Cheers. Terry.
PS I have no experience of catching pike on the lake, but I'm dead sure I found two on the depth-finder in 15 to 20 feet of water on the far side of Glenridding Bay about ten years ago. Only Steven and my sons believe me, so far as I can tell.

 

See Highway Code Rules 226 and 236.:-

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069859

You can use them if visibility is bad. Fog lights that is.

 

I've called them, they are "not taking any further bookings as it's getting rather muddy". Seems that I may have to look for an alternative! We are still going, rain or not.

Does anyone know any campsites in the lakes with free fishing on site, or nearby?

Thanks

 

Thought this might be of some help

Lake District Pike Fishing Regulationshttp://sodointernet.co.uk/phpwebsite/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=2

There is also some information on the schelly in Brotherswater.

 

Hi', AFF. The sad truth about the ban on the use of freshwater species as pike bait is that was imposed about 50 to 100 years too late to do any good, as far as the protection of the vendace is concerned.
My opinion, for what it's worth, is that a fair number, if not all, of the people who released livebait species did it intentionally. Some of them, in the past, may have thought it was a good idea to put pike in Ullswater, as there is no way they could have found their way by themselves.
Not so long ago it was said of Bass lake that it was the most prolific roach and rudd fishery in the northwest. Chub, dace and bream have also been reported, i understand, and some of the local lads have caught both chub and dace while fly fishing the Derwent for trout, and while spinning for salmon, I heard. The biggest pest has been the ruffe, as it eats the eggs of vendace -- I believe there are also gudgeon. Mankind has tried to wipe out vendace in Bass for centuries through eutrophication of the water with sewage effluent, and worse, and there have been several fish-kills, one attributed to slag from Workington steel works, used as ballast when the A66 was dualled, using the old Keswick-Cockermouth railway line. I saw the results of that, dead perch all over the lee shore. Didn't see vendace, however, and the only one I've seen is one that I found dead, in good shape, and it is now in the care of the Environment Agency -- deep-frozen.
We had to ship vendace over the Border, for their safety, which is disgraceful. Some people don't deserve a place on the planet. TC
Tub-thumping over.

 

Just to let you guys know...

We went to Sykeside. It wasn't too bad really. A bit wet, but ok on the higher ground.

I fished the west bank of Brothers Water for 2 hours without a pull. Yesterday we walked up to Angle Tarn. Had a splendid Brown, just over a pound, plus a few other pulls. Well worth the walk!!

 

Well done! That would have been our itinerary too if we hadn't been rained off at bank hol. (SharkeyP & I that is).

Out of interest, which route did you take up to Angle tarn & roughly how long to get up there?

I had been thinking it might be easier to park at Patterdale and walk from there on the coast-to-coast path than try from Sykeside....

 

Well done Richard,
I'm very envious of your Angle Tarn pounder. I hope to make that climb one day.

SharkeyP

 

How handy. I had logged in to ask a couple of questions about fishing both Brotherswater and Angle tarn as a friend and I are going to give it a go this weekend. We'll be staying by Ullswater on the friday night and will give it a go in the morning before heading up to Angle Tarn possibly stopping by Grizedale beck on the way. Then we're gonna try brothers water on the way back on the Sunday. So...

We're both in our first season and dont have much (or any) knowledge of entomology, our fly selections are based on nothing much more than 'that one looks nice', or, at a push- 'that's the same size at that one thats just landed on your shoulder'.
Can anyone help us out here? I've read a fair bit about heather flies rececntly, will they still be knocking about now. Also, I have some crane flies, am I right in thinking that they wont live as high up as Angle Tarn but would be worth a shot on Ullswater and Brotherswater? Also, will the advantage(?) gained by lugging waders up there be worth the effort?

Any other information anyone might be able to offer would also be much appreciated.

Hopefully we'll come back with a few nice pictures and a bit of a story to go along with them.

 

How handy. I had logged in to ask a couple of questions about fishing both Brotherswater and Angle tarn as a friend and I are going to give it a go this weekend. We'll be staying by Ullswater on the friday night and will give it a go in the morning before heading up to Angle Tarn possibly stopping by Grizedale beck on the way. Then we're gonna try brothers water on the way back on the Sunday. So...

We're both in our first season and dont have much (or any) knowledge of entomology, our fly selections are based on nothing much more than 'that one looks nice', or, at a push- 'that's the same size at that one thats just landed on your shoulder'.
Can anyone help us out here? I've read a fair bit about heather flies rececntly, will they still be knocking about now. Also, I have some crane flies, am I right in thinking that they wont live as high up as Angle Tarn but would be worth a shot on Ullswater and Brotherswater? Also, will the advantage(?) gained by lugging waders up there be worth the effort?

Any other information anyone might be able to offer would also be much appreciated.

Hopefully we'll come back with a few nice pictures and a bit of a story to go along with them.

Sounds like you need to read this from start to finish:
http://www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32904

 

Noeyedeer

I think the easiest way to access Angle Tarn is to park on the car park on the A592 roughly half way between Sykeside and Ullswater. The path towards angle runs parallel with this main road, the path runs in the direction of Ullswater. You could then cross a farmer's field directly opposite the car park (possibly naughty). The fully legal route is to walk back towards Brotherswater for 400 yards or so, turn left and immediately left again, to pick up this same path.

Once on this path just keep going, the climb gets quite steep. Eventually you come out on a flat, grassy area with various paths running out of it. Choose the right hand one i.e. cross the small stream. This takes you to Angle Tarn.

I'd estimate the walk took us around 2 and a half hours (from Sykeside). I'd estimate that if you're fit, and can do this without taking breaks, it might take around an hour and a quater, from the car park I mentioned.

Someone asked about waders for Angle Tarn? Definitely not needed, the water beyond the shore is rocky and fairly deep. Would be dangerous actually.

I saw a few rises on the water, but couldn't work out if thy were taking anything specific, although i did notice a few beetles on the water.

Hope that helps

 

HI', All.
While I have fished the tarns for many years, I haven't fished Angle Tarn, Patterdale, since The National Trust took over the tract of land that takes in the tarn, and Beckstones farm, in the early 1990s, before which time it was owned by Lowther Estates, possibly shared with Dalemain Estate.
I only found out by asking Robert Benson, Lowther Estates, for permission to visit and fish the tarn as part of my research into the Lake District tarns, generally. I had a long association with Lowther Horse Trials, and was told that Lowther Estates wouldn't mind my fishing, as the Nat Trust had taken over the above-mentioned land etc.
When I found out about the take-over, I contacted Nat.Trust Estates Office, and asked about the fishing. They didn't even know that there were fish in the tarn; and didn't seem to know what to do with it. At the time I said that it was being poached, as it contained trout, perch and eels, and that something ought to be done to preserve and conserve the stocks, as spawning facilities were nowhere near as good as those at the nearby, Hayeswater. I was invited to Nat Trust headquarters, locally, to advise; phoned twice, wrote once to see what the heck was going on, and got nowhere. So, I gave up in disgust, and left the place alone, as they never intimated what its status would be -- free-for-all, fish by appointment, pay fishing or what-have-you? It had not appeared on the Nat Trust free access list last time I checked,which was a while ago, and certainly wasn't on the leaflet which I received in reply to my letter.
I gave up my Nat Trust membership when I gave up regular fell-walking, in 2004, so I am out of touch with the organisation.
Until I am assured that I may fish the tarn, I shall stay away. Perhaps someone on here who is more in touch with the Nat Trust knows how they view matters regarding fishing up there. Anybody asked them?
I was given a copy of Exploring Lakeland Tarns, written by Don Blair, in 1994. In it he stated that permission to fish Angle Tarn, Patterdale, should be sought from the landowner at Beckstones Farm. Has anyone tried doing that? Is the advice correct? I don't know, as I no longer fish our little jewels.
If anyone tries asking at the farm, don't quote me!! I'm just repeating what I read in the book, which was written, specifically, for walkers, not anglers.
TC

 

Terry

I do admire your somewhat cautious outlook on helping yourself to available fishing.

I personally take a different view. First of all, I practice 100% catch and release, and other than some footmarks in any mud, nobody would know that I'd fished.

If there is no signage stating that an individual, or a body, controls the fishing, I simply fish. I won't fish though, if I'm aware the fishing is controlled by someone, even if there is no sign.

If the owner/s won't go to the trouble of stating their ownership, particularly on a water that is on land where you are free to roam, should prospective anglers really be expected to make extensive enquiries of their own? Your own example proves how difficult this can be...

I like the idea of freedom to fish, although I accept that land/ fishing rights owners have their rights as well.

I do admire your moral high ground, but my own conscience is completely clear, behaving as I do.

 

Richard, I have gone through most of my adult life always trying to behave in such a way that I should never feel a heavy hand on my shoulder, and then someone saying, 'You shouldn't be doing that.' Because I adhere to that policy, I feel that I have avoided making a twit of myself.
On numerous occasions, I have been given permission to fish water that some people would fish without asking, and I have been welcomed back. You play the game openly, you earn a reputation for honesty. I am more proud of that than I am of the reputation I may have earned for imparting knowledge re our county's fishing.
Because I have been writing for so long, I feel a greater than average compunction not to write anything that is either misleading or untrue. I make mistakes, we all do; but mine are not deliberate; that is where I feel we differ. I don't take things for granted, I like to know.
I gave up on the NatTrust at a time when they didn't appear to know very much about quite a bit of their fishing. Perhaps things are better now. I certainly would not fish Angle Tarn without spoken permission, because I feel that Don Blair gave his written advice as a result of having made an enquiry re the tarn, while doing the research for his book, and everything else in it seems to have been meticulously checked. I certainly would not advise anyone to fish the tarn without mentioning the above, that would be, in my eyes, misleading them. So, until now, I have said nowt, and because I do feel concern for the water, also. TerryC
Ps Should anglers make enquiries? Yes, every time. Ignorance is no excuse. Try being a bailiff, and you'll see what helped shape my thinking. There isn't a sign in my garden saying, 'These apples belong to TC' The farmer's fell lots are his garden,

 

I can't disagree with anything you say Terry.

I guess where we do differ is what our reaction would be, should we ever feel that 'hand on our shoulder'. I know that's highly unlikely to happen to you, but I'll use the example anyway.

If I was fishing on land that is free to roam, on a water without signage, and I wasn't aware of any restriction to any activities on there, I would react with genuine surprise. I'd also react with humour and humility, and I'd move on without any further prompting. I would not feel any guilt though.

I suspect you might feel a little guilty yourself. That's not a critisism, far from it.

Ultimately, we are both comfortable with our slightly differening levels of morality.

 

Richard, some people might think I was being pompous, and judgemental; but I don't judge, I observe, and I try to keep myself and those who ask my advice out of bother. You have accepted what I have written in the spirit in which it was presented. Some might call you, 'a lovable rogue' for your attitude, I thnk you are really a gentleman at heart. Cheers. TerryC

 

noeyedeer - thanks for the link, that thread in fact, is how i discovered this forum at the beginning of the year when I was first thinking about this trip. 7 months later and I'm finally making it! I'll be purchasing some beetles on next day delivery immediately.

I'll be staying away from the waters edge, without wading, and hoping for a wind.

TC - I see what your saying about seeking permission although I'd say my opinion on the situation is closer to Richards. I thought I'd give the farm a call today as I agree that some effort should be made to find out but the only Beckstones farm I can find is actually a guest house. I don't suppose you know whether this is the same place?