FRENSHAM TROUT FISHERY NEWS

When it comes to fly fishing, one of the most important factors for success is choosing the right fly. But with so many options out there, how do you know which to pick?

Let’s break it down simply and clearly:

Match the Hatch – Start Here

A key rule in fly fishing is: “Match the Hatch”. This means choosing a fly that looks like the real insects trout are currently feeding on.

Look at what’s flying around or landing on the water. Are there small midges? Big mayflies? Daddy long-legs walking on the surface? Matching the local insect life is often the quickest way to get a take.

Dry Flies vs Wet Flies

There are two main categories of flies:

Dry Flies
These sit on the surface of the water. Use them when trout are rising, jumping, or feeding at the top. Best during insect hatches or when there’s surface activity — often early morning or near dusk.

Wet Flies
These sink below the surface. Use them when fish are deeper or when you don’t see much action on the surface. They work well in cooler temperatures or mid-day, when trout are less active near the top.

Buzzers and Nymphs

Buzzers
These are usually wet flies that imitate the early stages of an insect’s life cycle (pupae). Fish them slowly and steadily.

Nymphs
A step further in the life cycle. They’re also fished below the surface and can be highly effective when trout are feeding just under the top layer of water.

Fun fact: Most aquatic insects live only a matter of days (some even hours), and trout feed throughout every stage of their very short life.

Lures

Lures are artificial flies designed to provoke a reaction — usually by their size, colour, or movement.
They can be dry or wet, and are especially helpful when trout are less responsive to more “natural” looking flies.

Best Flies

Some of the most successful patterns here include:

• Damsels
• Daddy Long Legs
• Montanas
• Mayflies (especially when in season)

We recommend barbless hooks, size 12 or 14 for best results.

Final Tips from Frensham

• • Move around the lakes — staying in one spot too long can limit your chances.
  • Change your fly if nothing’s happening. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
  • Ask for advice — I’m always happy to help, and many of our regulars are too.

Tight lines.

Matt Carroll, Fishery Manager

In order to continue to provide the best possible fly fishing for our customers, the following changes have been introduced. 

1/2 Day Tickets are no longer available (already in place) – this has been done to; (a) reduce the number of rods at the fishery at any one  time, (b) to better manage our stocking, (c) to eliminate the AM/PM crossover, and as well as to reduce admin time. We may reintroduce 1/2 Day Tickets during quieter times of the year / during shorter day light hours. 

The price of  a Day Ticket remains unchanged at £55/rod although the nos of fish kept is reduced from 2 to 1. As well as for the reasons given above, this has been done because of increases in operational costs, especially stocking. 

A new 2 fish Day Ticket is introduced at £62/rod.

A new 3 fish Day Ticket is introduced at £69/rod. 

Additional fish to keep can be purchased on the day at a cost of £10 each. 

Stocking (25.02.2025)

In line with our 2025 management plan, a further top-up stocking was completed earlier today. This time it was a combination of browns and rainbows 2.5 to 3.5lbs, just to keep everthing nice and fresh.

St David’s Day (Saturday 01.03.2025)

To mark the ocassion, we will be flying the Welsh Flag at Frensham this Saturday. We will be limiting the number of rods, and offering complimentary Welsh Cakes. Anyone catching a blue trout on the day will be rewarded with a prize. It will be great if you can make it.

We were delighted that former England International fly-fisher Joan Russell visited us recently. It was Joan’s 3rd visit to Frensham. Given that Joan has fly fished all over the UK, we were interested to hear her views on our Fishery in order to gain that all important feedback to help us improve the services that we offer.

Water

‘There are 3 small lakes and 3 pools which are stream-fed. The water looks a bit darker than some fisheries because of the colour of the substrate (so algae growth is not a problem here) and, also, its well oxygenated by a series of connecting culverts and weirs.  

The fishery is located in sheltered valley, surrounded by countryside. A rewilding policy has been adopted which helps to promote natural fly-life including a prolific mayfly hatch, I’m told. Fishing is possible all year round’

Fishery Management

‘Frensham stocks regularly with 5 trout species which provides a good variety to catch.

The stocking weight is predominantly 2.5 to 3.5lb with smaller numbers of bigger fish (up to 6lb) introduced on a carefully managed basis. There is also a background wild brown trout population which is a very good water quality indicator’

Tickets are sold on a catch and keep basis (in order to keep stock turned over), followed by catch and release, with the emphasis on fish handling and welfare’

Facilities

‘There are good facilities at Frensham including an under-cover seating area (The Hatch), toilets, and an indoor rest area (The Lodge). There is well maintained access track and parking facilities next to the lakes’

In summary…..

‘All in all, Frensham is a lovely, well-run small fishery in a very peaceful environment, offering some great fly fishing opportunities for both the beginner and the more experienced visitor.  I will definitely be back!’

Tight lines,

Joan

This is just a very quick note to thank everyone who has fly-fished at Frensham in 2024. I hope that you have enjoyed the fishing and I look forward to seeing you again in 2025. My very best wishes to you all for a happy and healthy year ahead.

Tight lines.

Matt

Having just completed our last stocking of 2024 yesterday, we are putting the following arrangements in place, in order to carefully manage the Fishery and to provide the best possible conditions for our visitors:

Monday 16th December open
Monday 23rd December open AM only
Tuesday 24th (Christmas Eve) closed
Wednesday 25th (Christmas Day) closed
Thursday 26th (Boxing Day) – Sunday 29th open
Monday & Tuesday 30th & 31st December open
Wednesday 1st January closed
Thursday 2nd January onwards opening times as normal (also see previous Winter Opening Times newspost)

In addition to this, and for the entire period above (and with immediate effect) we are restricting rod numbers to 6 per day.

The online booking system has been updated to reflect all of the above.

On the stocking front, because of demand, we have reintroduced Blue Trout back into the Lakes, so we are now back to 5 species – Browns, Rainbows, Tigers, Spartics……… and Blues! Despite the uncertain weather conditions experienced recently, fishing has been good with consistent returns being made, on both wet and dry flies.

Season’s Greetings!

Matt

Now the clocks have gone back, and the days are getting shorter, please note the following:

• The Fishery will be closed on Mondays until February 2025. This will allow the lakes to be rested after the weekend and for  maintenance work to be undertaken.
• The daily opening time remains at 8am, whilst the last cast is now 4pm. AM 1/2 day tickets are 8am – 1pm and PM 1/2 day tickets start earlier, 11am – 4pm. Day tickets are 8am – 4pm.

Stocking will continue throughout the winter period and updates will be provided.

Winter is a great time to enjoy fly fishing.

Tight lines, Matt

A big thanks to Reel Friends for visiting Frensham again this year. There were 3 prizes on offer this time and 2 memorial trophies were awarded.

Once again, over 40 fish were landed on a variety of fly types in very favourable water/weather conditions.

Many thanks also to Shirley and Maureen, as always, for their first class catering.

Tight lines and best wishes to everyone involved for the future, Matt & Jeff

Changes in temperatures (both air and water) and reduced daylight hours are becoming more evident as we leave September/move into October. What does this mean for fly types?

Blue flash damsels, Cats wiskers, Midges, Olive and Fry patterns and also Sedge and Cadis are all catching now.

During the cooler months trout feed at lower levels as well as on the surface so don’t forget to mix and match dry and wet flies.

As always, your own feedback, comments & suggestions will be welcome.

Tight lines,

Matt

Reasons to be cheerful……..

• We are open every day incl. Monday 26th.
• The lakes are fishing well with plenty of fish.
• The weather (for fishing) looks good.

Tight lines, Matt

Summer fishing conditions:

Water levels and water temperatures are holding up and the lakes are fishing well. So no problems to report!

Stocking & Returns:

We are continuing our policy of regular stocking – smaller nos. of fish as well as a mix of sizes up to 4-6lbs across all species. This is producing some great results. To help us manage the stocking, it will be really appreciated if everyone can complete a return before they leave.

Junior tickets:

To encourage the next generation of fly fishers, we have introduced discounted junior tickets – see the Book Fishing page for further information.

Tight lines, Matt