A bloke posts on here in late July that he’s holidaying near Ullswater and wonders whether it’s worth a fish. Myself, Mr Trout and North Country Angler offer what we consider to be honest advice based on our experience and that of our fishing contacts and pals, that it’s not worth it at this time of year. Yet I read in the Eden reports in the latest Trout & Salmon magazine, that ‘August can provide good sport given cloudy and breezy days’, and that ‘evening sedge fishing can be good in August’. Are we missing something? Or are these comments porkies?

__________________
cumbriafishingfestival.co.uk

I tend to be sceptical of angling reports, unless they come word of mouth from a trusted source.This is particularly the case for commercial waters who obviously have a financial interest......and there is always the point about needing to fill column inches - you can hardly just report "hard as white dog **** everywhere" can you?!

It's a shame Terry Cousin doesn't post hereabouts any longer. I'm sure he would have something to say on the subject of Ullswater....as would Geoff Johnston. A friend of mine reports that the lake has been tough this year with fish showing a tendency to come to flies 'hung' for quite a long time (for brown trout anyway).

The T&S reports are compiled by Dave Carrick who I believe has a boat on the lake so should in theory know what he's talking about....but like all reporters, he tends to have his contacts so the bigger picture is often obscured by the experiences of an - often very competent - minority. They aren't the only ones catching well, but also there will be an equal number of anglers struggling.

Admittedly, some anglers like to keep quiet about their returns - particularly where fragile or sensitive waters are concerned, or waters which are considered private and therefore not really suitable for wider publicity. So I think that what we end up with in magazine reports is little more than a snapshot of the water in question and not necessarily representative of the catchment as a whole.

Sorry I'm rambling. To answer David's question, I stick to my guns: I reckon there are a lot more productive places to seek sport at this time of year than Ullswater......but oh to have the time to properly put the theory to test!!

M

__________________
The sun pushed dark spokes of melt and sparkle
Across the fields of hoar. And the river steamed -
Flint-olive.


http://northcountryangler.blogspot.com

A good reply Matt.
I fished the lake in June with a Mr John Hesketh, a regular lake fisher, and IMO a competent angler, who knows more than most about how it fishes.
We were in his lovely hand built boat, and had a reasonably good day.
John had told me of some spectacular catches since April onwards, but also informed me, it was all downhill on the lake after late June, and I respect his remarks.
I don't think Mr Cousin has fished the lake for some years, since he sold his boat, of course I could be wrong.
As you say, better fishing to be had on the rivers at this time of year, but who knows, perhaps a late evening on the lake could prove productive, if the sedge are around.
S.

__________________
"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

I have always been lead to believe (by Terry amongst others) that July onwards is a struggle, basically not worth it. I have only fished it twice and that was in June, ie when I am always up your neck of the woods, and we did ok (but then got a taste for the rivers and have not fished it since). Whether the bait anglers do any good through summer I don't know I do sometimes wonder if it is a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy though - I mean if everyone says its no good and therefore nobody fishes it..... ??

Does the same apply to the other lakes/tarns? Obviously most action happens in May/June, but they still have to eat something! I think my pal tried Haweswater once in August (as well as June) and gave up in desperation. I also had a look at Haweswater late season one year and it looked completely dead.

__________________

I was rather hoping to discover that us 'locals' were missing a trick by abandoning the lake after the Mayfly had finished. It's so easy to fall into patterns of behaviour without questioning why. Look how the Irish loch fishers discovered static buzzer fishing for wild browns, after decades of fishing the duckfly hatch in a more 'traditional' manner.

I've always believed that most of the Cumbrian Lakes switched off big time after June, but Haweswater appears to have continued to fish throughout the Summer. And there was some back end fishing last year when the Heather fly was up. Seems there's potential for fishing to revive from around mid-August, if terrestrials are abundant.

__________________
cumbriafishingfestival.co.uk