Had a couple of evenings on a stocked stillwater that also has a head of rudd. I enjoyed getting rises from them, but it's no fun dragging them in on a 5lb leader. I'm itching to try out a lightweight outfit I bought in the backend sales.

Anybody know of a good venue for them around Manchester?

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

Mere Beck
Mere Beck Fly Fishing

Not too far from you and the place is full of rudd and roach (plenty of trout too).
Finding the small fish is easy as you'll see them. The spey river section is usually full of them in warm weather. They will rise freely to a dry fly, often so freely that they can drive anglers crazy who are trying to catch trout.
On most of the water you can see the fish and you'll notice that the trout usually stay away from them.
There's also plenty of room and few snags, so you can fish light and even if you get a trout, there's a good chance you'll land it on light gear.

Thanks Spider

I've only been to Mere Beck the once, and that was during the freeze when they had a bit of clear water, so it was hard to judge it as a trout fishery.
If they have rudd as well, I think I'll give it another crack.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

There's millions of rudd in there. There are some good ones too. Also roach and golden orfe.

If you have a walk round you'll soon find them as thay are clearly visible.
Like I say, the spey river section is usually heaving with them in spring / summer as well as the pools either end of that section.
Easy to catch on dries, but you can also get them on small nymphs around the bottoms of the water falls all round the fishery.
You get some funny looks off people when you're fishing for them as most people find them an annoyance, but I just like catching fish, so if the trout are proving difficult I go off and have a play for the roach and rudd.

Always worth booking on and if you ring up and speak to Gordon, he'll tell you exactly where to head to find the rudd.