Frank's Bridge
Frank’s Bridge is a short, wade-friendly slice of River Eden water near Kirkby Stephen, with pools, runs and shallow trouty bits. It’s a proper wild brown trout stretch, with day tickets available from KSDAA.
Run by Kirkby Stephen and District Angling Association · checked 15 Oct 2026
River Eden
Frank's Bridge
Our river artwork — photos for this stretch are on the way
River level
Measured — Environment Agency
Great Musgrave Bridge gauge
Nearest EA gauge we've matched — it isn't on this stretch, so levels on your peg will differ.
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We don't publish an "ideal level" — nobody can promise one. Flood water is dangerous: if it's up and coloured, stay well back from the edge. Open Great Musgrave Bridge on Live River Levels
The lowdown
- The beat starts in a field above Frank’s Bridge and runs upstream for roughly 0.5 km. Short, neat and easy enough to get your head around.
- Frank’s Bridge itself is the obvious landmark. Handy for finding the water, and a historic footbridge to boot.
- This is small-scale Eden fishing, with a mix of pools, runs and shallow trout water. Nothing huge or sprawling.
- Some sections are partly featureless, so keep your eyes peeled for tiny changes in depth, pace and the crease. That’s often where the fish sit.
- The water is primarily fished by wading and from the bank. Take care in the flow and cover the likely lies without charging through every inch.
- Fly fishing for wild brown trout is the main game. A light, tidy approach should suit the shallow water and smaller-scale character.
- There have been large trout over 3 lb reported from the stretch as recently as 2005, so don’t assume every swim only holds little brownies.
- KSDAA carries out no stocking on its Eden waters. That makes the wild-trout angle especially clear, and a careful approach is bob on.
- The stated trout season runs from 15 March to 30 September. Grayling fishing runs from 16 June to 14 March under KSDAA’s rules.
- Barbless hooks are encouraged, as is the safe return of healthy fish. Keep things gentle, especially when wading through shallow trout water.
Methods: Fly fishing is the natural fit for this wild brown trout water, with careful wading and a bit of reading of the pools, runs and crease. Bank-based fishing is also available, so work the edges and changing pace rather than just charging into the middle.
Access & tickets
2026-27 day permit
KSDAA day ticket
£20 (as listed 15 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Weekly permit
KSDAA weekly permit
£50 (as listed 15 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Resident adult membership
Membership runs from 15 March to the following 31 January
£75 (as listed 15 Oct 2026 — check before you go)
Day and weekly permits are available online through Kirkby Stephen and District Angling Association. Membership is also available, including resident, non-resident and free under-18 membership options.
Fish the club names
trout
Key rules
- A valid Environment Agency rod licence is required.
- River Eden trout season: 15 March to 30 September.
- River Eden grayling season: 16 June to 14 March.
- Barbless hooks are encouraged.
- The safe return of healthy fish is encouraged.
- Fishing is primarily wading and bank-based.
Coarse fishing on English rivers is closed from 15 March to 15 June inclusive. That's the law for coarse fish on rivers — it's not a club rule, and game-fishing seasons work differently.
GOV.UK — Freshwater rod fishing rules: when and where you can fishWhere it is
Pins mark the access postcode each club gives, not the bank itself. Exact boundary map: see rights holder.
Community reported
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