Sharpley Springs Fly Fishery

01/09/2024

Welcome to
Guisborough Angling club we hope you all had a great day at Sharpley

Autumn is creeping in cooler weather and try to starting to feed more so good fishing at the moment.
Latest Fishing Report and Fly Box
Autumnal overtones this week but still reverting to Summer given a warm afternoon. No shock then that mornings and evenings still provide the cream of the sport the former with good sized buzzer shucks in evidence. Fish taking these midge pupae responded to bright bottomed black buzzers and trusty wicked whites- darkish nymphs like pheasant tails were effective too.
In the warmth damsels abounded with the occasional black gnat , particularly on the Albert and Alice lake.
The most absorbing angling was to the pond olives that trickle hatched from late morning onwards. As usual the trout often require quite a close copy of the naturals , behaving naturally too. It’s worth watching the real ones at the margins ( they love a cooler easterly as we had at the weekend ) and ,if you tie your own , tying an olive cdc f fly with a single plume of natural brown feather and a fine gold rib. Size 18 ish. Even then it’s no use unless it’s travelling just off the wind ( for the sailors ).
A small hares ear shuttlecock can fool trout taking emergers near the edges.

Fly box:
Wicked white
Olive buzzer
Black gnat
Waddams hares ear
Black foam beetle
PTN
GRHE
yellow owl
Olive top hat
Olive f fly
Damsel nymph
Daddy/ hoppers
Dawson’s olive
Rod Average 4.2

05/08/2024

Latest Fishing Report
The Gate time closes will be 6.30pm not 6pm .

As the week progressed temperatures gradually fell a little and correspondingly buzzer activity increased. Morning hatches in particular gave up quality trout to nymphs and buzzers both wet and dry. Standard weighted pupae were excellent in the cooler water at the bottom of the wind in the Doxford lake. Wicked whites (with an orange tag ) were the best of the buzzers though small hares ear and olive nymphs had spectacularly successful moments too.
CDC dries gave good sport also with top hat and shuttlecocks the pick , the latter in a decent ripple. Splashy rises at the bottom of the wind were frequently trout targetting sedges ,olive buzzers or uprights.
Evening anglers shouldnt be without Shipmans buzzers ( and an invicta ). To hedge bets try a hares ear version which decently represents many empty shucks.
Fly box :
Wicked white buzzer
Black/hares ear/ olive top hats
Brown / olive shuttlecock
Gold-ribbed hares ear nymph
Diawl Bach
CDC olive f fly
Silver invicta
Olive nymph
Blue flash damsel
Daddies/ hoppers

01/07/2024

Sharpley Springs Fishing Report
Situated Durham/Sunderland/just off A19 SR7 0NP
Once again the wise arrived early or late to take advantage of the big midge hatches. The late ones in particular were special with a variety of species taking advantage of the low sun. They were largely biggish and olive , small and black or grey.
Damsels again mated at the margins in warmth but variable winds during the week minimised their activity.
Pond olives trickle hatched in the afternoon sea breezes so Eastern pegs were good places for hares ear emergers and the like while further downwind olive uprights were splashily dispatched. An excellent imitation for these and the bigger olive buzzers that could be occasionally seen was a yellow-olive white winged f fly. These got responses when all other dries were failing.
At times the stock sulked deep but were vulnerable to lures fished slow on sinking lines from Doxford’s dam wall.
Fly box:
Olive / black buzzer
Olive top hat
Green f fly
Hares ear shuttlecock/shipmans
Black beetle
Damsel nymph
Diawl Bach
GRHE nymph
Daddylonglegs
Shammy
Black woolly bu**er

10/06/2024

LIGHT BREEZES THIS WEEK WILL BRING INTEREST
Rather a mixed bag in terms of weather with both Northerlies and strongish Westerlies in the mix so anglers needed to be prepared to ring the changes for success or perhaps take advantage of the up-turn of fortunes that the evening rise usually provides. Otherwise early in the day has been the best bet with hatches of olive ,grey and ,increasingly ,black midge . The greys were tiny but the blacks and olives matchable.
Dampness has encouraged a few Daddylonglegs but with temperatures lower than seasonal norms Damsels and sedges were scarce. That is not to say though that imitations of either won’t work !
Small black gnats in the flat water keep the marginal cruisers occupied and the usual small dries can still be relied upon. Top hats ,shuttlecocks and Shipmans the best.
Pond olives are beginning to show so emerging hares ear patterns should be good and ,when the warmth comes ( not for another week yet apparently )Caenis should appear for some superb , challenging evening sport.
Anglers speculating with suspended blobby offerings and pulled snakes have saved the day once or twice.
Fortunes should improve when these Arctic airs depart.
Fly box:
Wicked white
Olive buzzer/nymph
GRHE nymph
Daddy
Damsel
Muddler
Olive shuttlecock / top hat
Grey micro midge
Griffiths gnat
Waddams hares ear
Snakes
Blobs

27/05/2024

Latest Sharpley Springs Fishing Report
In the North East easy reach of A19
SR7 ONP.
Food and Drink / full English breakfast served daily in the Golf Lodge .
Loads of different species made up the menu this week though the interest of the fish was predominantly on brown buzzers and emerging olive uprights.
There were buzzers in black,olive and brown, black gnats , alders , hawthorn remnants , daddies , Corixae , lake olives and early adult damsels. Imitations of all of these were worth a try but the best of the sport was to hares ear emergers ( shuttlecocks and top hats ) and brown buzzer pupae , so brown flies of the correct size and orientation. Size 18 ish and hanging quite vertically.
Close copy black gnats kept fish guessing in the flat water and scaled-up versions of the same made excellent hawthorn imitations though naturals have all but finished .
Afternoon warmth saw adult damsels for the first time this season. Nymphal imitations are likely to be effective all season now. Blue-flash versions can be especially effective ( or those with a hint of u v ).
Fly box
Black/olive/brown buzzers
Hares ear shuttlecock/top hat
Olive top hat
Brown Shipmans
Lake olive dun
GRHE nymph
Olive klinkhamer
Diawl Bach
Dawson’s olive
Black gnat
Knotted midge
Hawthorn
Daddylonglegs
Cats whisker
Ring 07860757527

06/05/2024

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY-FISHING
still time to get out opening hours the same , so enjoy evening fishing till 10pm ( get there before 6.00pm as gate closes but once in you can STILL GET OUT LATER. Make sure you try the Cuthbert lake some good Tigers up to 10 pounds .
REPORT WITH Fly BOX

Cloudy skies brought great midge hatches again, in fact if the sun stayed away trickle hatches occured all day providing brilliant sport for anglers with pupal and emerger patterns. Of the latter , top hats and Shipmans only slightly out-fished shuttlecocks and palominos. All were most effective when fished with the breeze. This simple but oft-ignored tip makes a huge difference to outcomes. Huge. It’s just too easy to fish with the wind at your back.
Quieter moments gave up fish to snakes and cormorants whilst the ever-popular damsel nymph could still be relied upon.
Fly box:
Olive buzzer
Wicked white
Olive top hat
Olive/grey Shipmans buzzer
Green palomino
Grey midge
Green shuttlecock
Yellow owl
Damsel nymph
Hoppers
Cormorant
Snakes
# Durham

29/04/2024

Lastest Sharpley Springs Fishing Report
Another great buzzery week despite the best efforts of the arctic air mass and its Northerly blasts to subdue temperatures to finger-numbing levels. The Albert and Alice lake and particularly the Hangman’s had great rises to emerging buzzers.
Species were of a variety of colours including olive and in the cold , blacks as might be expected. Greys abounded too…..and a plethora of empty brown shucks. No surprise then that a range of artificial patterns were responsible for landed trout. Pupal imitations ie. buzzers were very effective with Wicked Whites and olive greens reliable . Nymphs drifted on the breeze worked too though again the cream of the sport was had experimenting with breeze-blown emergers. Olive cdc shuttlecocks were taken greedily IF twitched with the breeze but the best of all was a hares ear Shipmans buzzer fished just high enough in the water to catch the wind.
The first of the Daddies have made fish twitchy and with the comparative warmth that appeared at the weekend we should be sure to see a few seasonal terrestrials added to the menu.
Fly box:
Wicked white buzzer
Olive pupa
Green shuttlecock/top hat
Hares ear Shipmans
Grey duster/midge
Daddylonglegs
Black beetle
Olive nymph
Diawl Bach
Damsel nymph
Fluoro cats
Ecstasy worm
Blobs

24/04/2024

Latest Fishing Report
Though temperatures have been cooler due to a northerly air mass they have been above the critical limit for several species of midge and there has consequently been plenty of excellent buzzer fishing .

Small blacks ,biggish greens and brownish discarded shucks meant a variety of colours worked on Sharpley’s trout with pupal patterns , dries and nymphs all featuring in returns.
The most exciting sport was had with dry emergers with brown Shipmans and olive shuttlecocks ( or top hats ) the most consistent. Fished WITH the breeze just into the ripple the shuttles saw devastating success at times on the Hangman’s lake, which fished particularly well.
Wicked whites were again the pick of the pupal patterns on the Doxford where the usual lurey suspects had their moments given sun and no obvious surface activity.
By Sunday the breeze had abated and a cracking hatch/rise ensued.
It won’t be long before we can add black gnats and hawthorns to the menu too!
Fly box:
Wicked white
Green buzzer
Diawl Bach nymph
Olive nymph
Olive shuttle/top hat
Hares ear /olive shipmans
Black beetle
Olive palomino
Apps bloodworm
Dancers
Snakes
Blobs/fabs

19/04/2024

The A19 slip road too SEATON VILLAGE South bound closure use A690

A19 junction Open going north

14/04/2024

Sharpley Springs Fishing report.
Hard fighting Trout plenty returned.

A breezy end to the week still had buzzers hatching happily and bringing eager trout to the surface. The Hangman’s lake in particular had good rises and hard-fighting rainbows and browns were taken on emerging midge patterns and nymphs. Of the former ,brown or olive Shipmans buzzers or top hats were the best , though palominos twitched back with the breeze had their moments too. Splashy rises were from trout targeting shuck-bound or wing-drying adults. The buzzers were a variety of species. Wicked whites fooled fish feeding on ever-present blacks while olive top hats and palominos saw favour on the Doxford where the hues were often of green or grey.
Anglers choosing to have the wind in their backs on the breezy days did well with drifted buzzer pupae or , sometimes lures like snakes or dancers.
Buzzers or blobs fished near-statically under indicators took trout in quieter moments when the sun came out.
Fly box:
Wicked white
Green buzzer
Olive top hat
Hares ear Shipmans
Green palomino
Olive klinkhamer
Diawl Bach
Olive nymph
Olive cruncher
Snakes
Yellow dancer
Blobs

08/04/2024

Sharpley Springs Latest Fishing Report

Though the periphery of storm Kathleen at the weekend reduced angler numbers ,the warm winds that it brought kept insect life reasonably high and any calm waters right at the top of the wind had trout rising to emerging midge of several species . Dry fly anglers were able to target these with Shipmans , top hats and floating Diawl Bach nymphs though it was frequently imperative for offerings to be travelling at the same speed and in the same direction as the water on which they sat. For some this meant casting across the wind with a down-wind reach cast then waiting for the wind-blown leader to straighten with the pull of the floating lines arc.
Previous to the Storm the buzzer fishing was excellent with both drifted and suspended buzzers in black ,brown and olive filling nets and pulled nymphs continue their run of form too with olive or hares ear patterns the pick.
Given some cloud and reasonable warmth the next few weeks should represent some of the best sport of the year- there have even been one or two early black gnats!
Fly box:
Wicked white
Olive buzzer
Brown/ green Shipmans buzzer
Top hat emergers
Brown Palomino
Olive nymph
Diawl Bach
Foam beetle
Apps bloodworm
Snakes
Shammy

24/03/2024

Sharpley Springs Fishing Report
Spring is here at last. Time to get the Rods out🎣

Relatively settled weather at the start of the week morphed into something altogether colder by the weekend with Northerlies blowing cool air and trying their best to slow the midge hatches that have featured heavily for a few weeks now.
Hatches were again especially good on the Albert and Alice lake where anglers experienced great dry fly action using top hats ,Shipmans,shuttlecocks and the like. Small and black was the key to success and tiny Diawl Bachs fished in the surface film frequently out-fished the rest.
In a breeze ,with cloud, several larger and seasonally unusual dries tempted both angler and trout. These included Hawthorns and Humpys !
Saturday’s cold snap fished best with larval imitations or big snakes.
Fly box:
Wicked white
Olive buzzer
Black top hat/Shipmans /shuttlecock emergers
Diawl Bach nymph
CDC f fly
Hares ear nymph
Hawthorn
Humpy
March brown
Black klinkhamer
Apps bloodworm
Snakes
-fishing trout

17/03/2024

This weeks Fishing Report 🎣
Yet more happily rising trout ! Given cloud and temperatures above about 6 degrees fish teased anglers- actually making for fascinating ,challenging and early dry fly sport !
The Albert and Alice lake saw particularly good midge hatches though solving the puzzle required patience. On the water were very small black midge , thrips and terrestrial beetles both squat and elongate. The usual emerger flies were effective only in very small sizes ( 20’s were too big!) Shipmans variants were good but the most reliable was a Diawl Bach nymph either fished dry (ie.ginked up ) or retrieved briskly with a figure of eight. These too though needed to be small with a 22 getting a lot of interest.
Standard buzzers in black or olive were reliable on the Doxford lake and , in a surprise move , dry hawthorn flies also saw some action ( despite no naturals ).
Other winning flies were the blue-flash damsels ,snakes and shammys that have secured interest right through the Winter.
Fly box:
Black/olive buzzer
Diawl Bach nymph
Apps bloodworm
Black palomino
Black /olive Shipmans buzzer
IOBO
Blue flash damsel
Hawthorn
Williams favourite
Snake
Shammy
Blobs/fabs

06/03/2024

Thank you all for your great photos. They were hard to Judge.
I have named ‘A Winters Tale
Winning photos Well done 👏👏👏
1st Chris Gooch 1st Prize Full day Killing Ticket ( 3 fish)
2nd Gary Cunningham 2nd Prize 4 hour , Take 1 Fish
3rd Steward Blakey 4 hour C/R only
Next Title “Good Company”
Closing Date April 30th all current photos please 2024. Judging 1st May
Terms and conditions apply.

01/03/2024

Sharpley Fly fishing
Fishing well and fish feeding . New stock this week . Don’t forget the Tiger lake some up to 10 pounds in the Cuthbert
Lovely Brownies released from the Hangman.

11/02/2024

Sharpley Springs Fishing Report

Milder days again gave dry fly anglers sport
and nymphs and buzzers were consistent fish-takers .
Larvae feeders were tempted with Apps bloodworms and olive nymphs in a variety of sizes. Damsel nymphs have been worthy of a place on the cast ever since their Summer profusion and anglers fishing even larger-with snakes- have done well on occasion.
As soon as temperatures think about approaching double figures there are plenty of small black midge about -and excellent angling with small black cdc or top hat patterns on long, fine leaders.
Fly box:
Black buzzer
Cdc emerger
Black top hat
Shipmans buzzer
Diawl Bach
PTN
Damsel nymph
Olive nymph
Apps bloodworm
Snake
Thank you David and Marcus for your photographs 🎣More next week

05/02/2024

Time for a photo competition for a Full day killing ticket ( all rules apply ) . Entry’s close March 1st judging 6th March . Just take the best photo you can
Sharpley Fishing Report

A windy week though temperatures increased towards its end and with predominantly grey skies trout were willing to rise. In fact at the weekend working tactics made it feel more like March than early February. Dry fly anglers were able to ply their trade with small cdc and top hat emerger patterns which made a pleasant start to the season , though underpinned with worries about global warming!
Anglers fishing lures from the Doxford lakes dam wall did well at the weekend but overall those using smallish imitative flies like nymphs or buzzers had more consistent sport from the Albert and Alice and Hangman’s lakes. Smallish olive nymphs are continuing their popularity with their slightly larger cousins damsel nymphs still doing well too.
Fly box:
Wicked white buzzer
Olive nymph
Black top hat emerger
Black Shipmans
Apps bloodworm
Red buzzer
Damsel nymph
Cats whisker
Cheese blobs
Shammy

21/01/2024

Hi All Monday

We are Open all bays available , windy but improving . Happy Monday have a great day .

14/01/2024

Come to the Fishing Lodge for a complimentary Tea and Coffee and a chat. Good fishing but wrap up well .
Thank you Andy for the photo.
FISHING REPORT

Dry fly anglers continue to ply their trade with cdc patterns in particular fooling trout intent on sipping down emergers-midge pupae metamorphosing into the sexually mature adult that is.
The midge have been predominantly small and black though some are still doing well with dark olive pupae and drifted olive Diawl bachs. Damsels also maintain the green theme.
Bloodworms , either multi-stranded like Apps or single stranded are ever-reliable given the temperatures we are experiencing . The present forecast is even colder so anglers may need to slow down-or stop retrieves altogether in the coming days.
Twitched Montana nymphs have done the business for a couple of regulars and hung blobs have regularly received attention.
Fly box:
Wicked white buzzer
Diawl Bach nymph
CDC emergers
Apps bloodworm
Pinky
Montana
Damsel nymph
Snakes
Cats whisker
Fabs/blobs

13/12/2023

Sharpley Springs fishing Report

Well done Duncan Shanks on your 10 pounder
Clouds meant trout were willing to rise for surface offerings , especially during hatches of dark midges. Tuned-in anglers caught on top hat and shuttlecock emergers as well as small black hackled traditionals.
Before and after the hatches bloodworm imitations fished near-statically , and in a variety of shades , were reliable , as were the large sinuous lures that have been first-choice patterns for some for a few weeks now.
Poppers are still proving head-turners. Damsel , hopper and Minkie versions are all worthy of a chuck and can result in exciting follows.
Temperatures plummeted at the end of the week but trout continued to rise to small black midge.

Fly box:
Black buzzer
Diawl Bach
Black top hat
Shuttlecock buzzer
Hares ear nymph
Damsel
Apps bloodworm
Black and peacock spider
Black bobs bits
Humungus
Black snake
Poppers

05/12/2023

Hi All
Sharpley Springs fully open all ice gone.
Wet under foot so good footwear please.
Warm cabin complementary, tea, coffee.
Pick up at bacon sandwich at the golf Lodge , if you fancy an extra bite.

03/12/2023

Doxford lake open today all others lakes closed at the moment raining and higher temperatures.☔️🎣

20/11/2023

Latest Sharpley Springs Fishing Report
With temperatures gradually rising throughout the week the already decent midge hatches improved and a good evening rise graced the week end. Black buzzers just under and cdc emerger patterns were popular modes of attack but spiders were even more versatile and trout took them riding high , stuck in the film or stripped beneath.
Stripping was again a good tactic with poppers. Olive versions outfished more traditional fry colourations so it was no surprise that Damsel nymphs continue to be go-to flies for many.
Of the larger lures Snakes in pink got hook-ups - apps bloodworms of the same shade tricked fish early in the coolness of the day? These can be effective right through the coming weeks especially if frosty. Now small indicators become a deadly way of presenting them , and not too deep. Marginal cruisers will take them happily just a couple of feet down.
Fly box:
Black buzzer
Black Shipmans/top hat
Detatched Shipmans
Black/grizzle spider
Diawl Bach nymph
Pink Apps bloodworm
Damsel
Pink snake
Damsel popper
Cats whisker
Yellow blob

11/11/2023

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

19/10/2023

Fishing Report

The angling week dawned mildish with midge- a -plenty and fisherman enjoying dry fly action with emerging midge patterns. Olives were every bit as prominent as the blacks in the warmth and late afternoon had big sedges putting in an appearance too.
Damsel nymphs remained fish-attractors with Daddylonglegs imitations getting plenty of attention in a ripple.
Alas by Wednesday temperatures started to plummet ( albeit just towards seasonal norms ) and buzzers were taken a tad deeper along with bloodworms.
At the weekend temperatures were even lower and a stiff wind accompanied the sunshine but decent fish were still taken with dark nymphs and snakes .
Fly box:
Olive/ black Shipmans buzzer
Olive/black/hares ear top hat
Black palomino
Diawl Bach
PTN
Daddylonglegs
Damsel nymph
Olive f fly
Apps bloodworm
Cats whisker
Black snake

06/09/2023

SAD NEWS THIS MORNING GUYS !!
ROB WOODS A REGULAR OF SHARPLEY AND A TRUE GENTLEMAN. HAS SADLY PASSED AWAY AFTER A LONG ILLNESS .
HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL OF US AT SHARPLEY SPRINGS .
R.I.P. ROB .
I HOPE YOU AND ALAN ARE ORGANISING YOUR FISHING TRIPS TOGETHER ..TIGHTLINES ROB AND ALAN WOODS .
TWO BROTHERS GONE TOO SOON .

WE ALL SEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO ROB'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS !!!
SO IF YOU WONDER WHY THERE MISSING .THEY HAVE GONE FISHING !!! XX

21/08/2023

Great day to Fish at Sharpley Springs weather perfect. Ian out on the boat cutting early this morning. Remember to go to the Cuthbert for the Tigers. trout

04/08/2023

04/08/2023

Jane Johnson from Marley Hill bringing in a 5 LB rainbow using a home tied yellow owl assisted by husband Duggie ,of Northumbria Police Fly Fishing Association

04/08/2023

Sharpley Springs Fishing Report

Remember Wednesday is still loyalty day, where you can fish for four hours 🎣and take a fish home.

Photo by Gaz Donnelly

With the final depression before a return to settled weather upon us the theme of a temporary switch to black and olives as well as more general Autumnal patterns continues.
Winds have been from all directions and largely on the damp side so a variety of flies have taken trout. Olive nymphs including blue-flash damsels remain effective near w**d beds and lures in orange, green and black have all banked fish.
The usual emergers have been good given a midge hatch with cdc and top hat patterns the best and more dry fly sport was had with Daddies and hoppers. Yellow was good adorning both the latter and suspended blobs.
The trout continue to give a lot of interest to pond olive dun imitations and cdc f flies tied close-copy style and twitched downwind.

Fly box:
Wicked white buzzer
Olive buzzer
Black gnat
Black top hat
Hares ear shipmans/shuttlecock
Hares ear nymph
Green f fly
Damsel nymph ( incl. blue/flash)
Daddies/hoppers
Gold-head nymphs
Orange lures
Yellow blob