River Eden: Musgrave

River level

The lowdown

• This is upper Eden valley water near Kirkby Stephen, with access from either Blandswath Bridge or Great Musgrave Bridge.
• The reach has a nice mix of big and small pools, plus both fast and slow runs. Plenty to go at.
• The River Belah and Swindale Beck both join the Eden on this stretch. Those junctions are the obvious bits to have a good look at.
• Deep, steady runs near the beck mouths hold plenty of fish. Worth taking your time and covering the crease properly.
• It’s fly fishing for wild brown trout and grayling. No stocking is carried out on KSDAA waters, so it’s all natural-reared fish.
• Trout over 3 lb are caught on the Musgrave stretch each season. A proper incentive to keep an eye on the deeper water.
• Day and weekly ticket holders are fly-only for trout and grayling. No spinning, apart from by junior members.
• The trout season runs from 15 March to 30 September inclusive. Grayling can be fished from 16 June to 31 January.
• All KSDAA waters are shut from 1 February to 14 March inclusive. Carry the right ticket and a valid Environment Agency rod licence.
• Parking is available at Musgrave Bridge in the layby, with room for at least three or four cars if everyone parks tightly and considerately. Dogs aren’t allowed on association waters.
• Mind the current restriction: upstream of Musgrave Bridge is temporarily unavailable, and only full members can fish the gravel-beach-to-bridge section there. Day and weekly ticket holders are excluded under the present lease terms.

Methods: This is a fly-only job for day and weekly ticket holders, with the pools, fast runs and deeper beck-mouth water all worth covering. KSDAA encourages catch-and-release and barbless hooks, so keep it tidy and give the wild fish a proper chance.

Access & tickets

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

• Day and weekly ticket holders may fish for trout and grayling with fly only.
• No spinning is allowed except by junior members.
• The trout season runs from 15 March through 30 September inclusive.
• The KSDAA grayling season runs from 16 June through 31 January.
• All KSDAA waters are closed from 1 February through 14 March inclusive.
• Anglers must carry the appropriate ticket and a valid Environment Agency rod licence.
• Up to two trout and/or grayling may be retained per day, subject to the rules. Fish under 12 inches from nose to fork of tail may not be retained.
• Dogs are not permitted to accompany anglers on association waters.
• Upstream of Musgrave Bridge is temporarily unavailable. Only full members may fish the gravel-beach-to-bridge section at Musgrave Bridge under the present lease terms.

Where it is