Tackle advice
![Tackle Advice]()
Tackle Advice
The Yorkshire Esk is a very intimate river and fish are easily spooked.
The river goes dead at dark but the last hour before dusk is the witching hour.
The river is a typical spate river and can take approximately one or two days to run off, suing which time, these are the optimum conditions.
Stealth is key to being successful on the Yorkshire Esk and fish can be easily spooked. Splashing around in shallow water will alarm the fish that often lie in shallow water only a few feet away from the river bank.
6lb to 10b breaking strain is advised in order to prevent splash and disturbance on the water but at the same time, giving the fishermen the confidence that he will not be broken, providing he or she is gentle when the fish is running and pulling line.
When the water is running off, larger fly patterns to a size 10 using silvers, golds and orange, red and blue patterns can be relied upon. When water conditions are lower, fish can take small flies to a size 14 butter, teal blue and silver, silver stoats tail and more traditional dry fly patterns used on the surface to stir the fishing the runs.
Sturdy footwear is recommended and wading isn’t recommended unless the water is above 6 inches, in which case, the fish are on the run and less easy to spook. Spinning is naturally successful on the Yorkshire Esk and in low water, the fishermen is recommended to use No 1 or No 2 Mepps with small flying Cs with one set of treble hooks permitted only.
![Tackle Advice]()
Tackle Advice
The River Ure
Tackle Requirements for the river Ure really depend as with all rivers on water height.
If the river is up but fishable 14/15 ft can be used but i would say they are coupled with shooting head lines, there is very few pools where a long bellied line could be used to its best advantage, Its not the Tweed or the Tay. At normal heights of water shorter switch rods 11/12ft really come into there own, again with shooting head set ups. If your unlucky and your visit coincides with low summer levels a 7/8wt single hander will be more than up to the job.
In my experience lots of fish are caught near the surface once the water warms up a little, we don’t need to dredge the bottom all the time but i would still have a selection of tips for when the water is on the high end of the gauge.
The water does run in colour from gin clear to a peaty tea colour at fishable heights. Successful flies are often doubles 10s/12s, patterns which stand out a little in peaty water, Junction shrimps, Toucans, stoats tails, where all successful last season.
For a professional guide and instructor in the region we would advise you to use Brian Towers of Yorkshire Fly Fishing. Brians website can be found here.
