Hi All

I have a freind who is staying near this water with his family for a week and is looking for a day fishing "to escape"...

I've looked in all the obvious places but cannot find anything recent about the fishing there... can anyone help ?

Its a fishery operated by Yorkshire Water, stocked with rainbows; on its day it can be great sport. There are difficult days though. There are a few (small) wild browns and lots of perch etc. Its a big reservoir but with a path all the way round, as is its immediate neighbour, Swinsty reservoir. Its bank fishing only but there are literally miles of bank to go at. Gets a bit busy with day trippers at weekends but you can avoid them if you keep away from the paths. There is a fishing office, car park and toilets between Fewston and Swinsty which is where you get the day tickets. Its £18 to £20 for the day, can't remember exactly; I don't know if the machine takes cards yet so go armed with £1 coins.

Yorkshire Fly Fishing, a guide to fly fishing for trout in yorkshire

The ticket machine is taking cards now. I was up there last week. If it's windy I would recommend Swinsty as it is less exposed.

Hi Rob07971

Thanks for that, how was the fishing ?

---------- Post added at 05:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:06 AM ----------

And thanks for this info as well..... a great help - if you buy a ticket can you fish either venue or do you have to stick with one ?

One ticket lets you fish both swinsty and fewston, both of which are stocked, as well as Thruscross for wild browns.

Hi KP
The fishing would have been great for most. I am a beginner and it was my first ever fly fishing foray!
I started at Fewston but the wind was a bit harsh for a novice caster. I went down to Swinsty and found it alive with fish cruising just under the surface. I tried with a black knat type fly and had interest straight away but my crapness meant I kept missing the takes. I lost both my black knat flies to poor casting and after that I struggled. Can't wait to go back there soon though. Hopefully when I'm a bit further along the (steep) learning curve.

Thanks again Rob, I'll pass that on - and tell him to keep an eye open for any stray black Gnats....

Practise makes perfect, and once you get the hang of it you'll have a great time.. keep it up !