The Arundell: Premier Fishing Destination
For nearly 100 years, the Arundell has offered some of England’s finest wild fishing, with 22 miles of private water on the River Tamar and its tributaries. These are spate rivers, fed by a mix of moorlands and farmland, featuring diverse fishing environments
Fishing Seasons & Species
Brown trout: 15th March - 30th September. Early season brown trout can be highly rewarding to anglers fishing nymphs and streamers. May to mid July presents the best of the daytime dry fly fishing. Mid July and August tend to be tricky in the day, but morning and evening offer seriously productive fishing on both dry and nymph. September picks up again with trout anglers finding willing recipients to many dry and subsurface imitation.
Grayling: 16th June to 14th March. There’s nothing more rewarding than catching a grayling on a dry fly in the summer, and they are blessed to have willing Grayling in their Lyd and Tamar Beats that can be targeted on dries. The dry fly fishing for Grayling extends through the later part of summer and in recent year into the first week of November. As the temperature drops, and grayling shoal, the advised methods change to more nymph tactics, with some much larger specimens on the cards, particularly between Oct-Dec. Being spate rivers, their waters can be unfishable after heavy rain, particularly in the autumn.
Sea Trout: 3rd March- 30th September. Peak season is in July, with night fly fishing a popular method, a Guide for night fishing can be booked through the hotel. August and September can also be productive for Sea trout, particularly in the daytime, with nymphs, wets and streamers.
Salmon: 1st March- 14th October. The first fish arrive in late spring, and the best fishing in September/October. Their Salmon runs, as in the whole of the Westcountry, have dwindled considerably in recent years.
Rainbow trout: stock fish averaging 2lb into Tinhay Lake, but often see resident fish coming out at over 6lb! A bag limit of 2 fish per rod per day, but catch and release is encouraged.
Fishing Beats overview
Tamar (Beats 7a to 9b): The Arundell owns the left bank of the Tamar from Carey Foot at the top of 9b, down to Lyd foot at the bottom of 7a. The Tamar holds brown trout, Sea trout, Grayling, and an occasional Salmon. The Tamar is their biggest river with widths averaging 10-15m across, the water is generally turbid, sometimes clearing after settled weather. Most banks along the Tamar Beat are high, there are ladders to access the main pools.
Lower Lyd (Beats Home, Bottom, 1 to 3, and three Beats at Sydenham): The Lyd is sourced from Dartmoor, as such runs much clearer than the Tamar, except in spate condition. The Lyd holds brown trout, Sea trout, Grayling, and some Salmon. It is their best Sea trout river and offers good opportunities for Grayling, particularly in the Autumn months and brown trout throughout the season. The Access along the lower Lyd Beats is generally good, the river averages 10m in width.
Thrushel (Beat 4): The Thrushel holds good numbers of brown trout and Grayling, with the occasional Sea trout. Smaller than the Lyd, the Thrushel requires more wading and technical casting ability. The river normally runs clear enough to fish, but can be very coloured after rain.
Wolf (Beats 6a, 6b): Being sourced from Roadford reservoir, the Wolf normally runs settled and clear. In dry weather more water is released from the reservoir (for abstraction lower down the catchment) so the flows can be higher, but still generally clear. It is a small river, averaging 5m in width and requires a short rod, maximum 8’. It holds brown trout and some Grayling.
Ottery (Beats 12–16): Their only river in Cornwall, the Ottery can run coloured after rain. It holds good stocks of brown trout, and arguably the biggest, with some fish reaching 12-14”. It also has reasonable stocks of Grayling with some reaching 16”. It is a small river, averaging 6-8m in width, generally slow flowing but with some big pools and meanders. Plenty of tree cover, with certain deep stretches inaccessible due to high banks, but ongoing maintenance and access improvements continue to be in place.
Upper Lyd & Lew (Beats 17–20): Small streams with wild brown trout and some Grayling on the Lew. Being fed by Dartmoor these rivers are quick to clear after a spate. Challenging fishing due to the small size of river, clear water and tree cover.
Tinhay Lake – A 3 acre flooded quarry with very clear, deep water. Regularly stocked with Rainbow and some brown trout. Buzzer, Nymph and Dry flies can be very successful, particularly when sight fishing for cruising fish. Lures and sinking lined are prohibited.
Instructors & Guides: Available by booking through the Hotel, contact reception for more details