THE RIVER EDEN

Penrith Angling Association controls approximately 9 miles of fishing on the River Eden on various beats between Bolton near Appleby and Armathwaite.

Rising high in the North Yorkshire Moors, the River Eden flows north for over 60 miles, changing character from fast streams, riffles, stony glides and deep pools, providing much variety.

The Eden flows over some carboniferous limestone, making it very rich in habitat and species biodiversity, as well as over sandstone and mudstone. It flows through beautiful meadows and woodlands with a large variety of wildlife.

The record Eden trout weighed 8lbs and was 9 years old. This was caught in 1911 on a stretch now run by the club with a Bustard moth pattern, a fly that was, and still is by some, fished at night and is unique to these waters (this stretch has also produced two specimens over 7lbs and one of 5lbs). There has been at least five other captures over 6lbs recorded from the Eden, a brown trout found dead at Newbiggin Beck in 1923 weighed 9lbs. Leviathans of this size will still lurk in the depths but only rarely come to the fly.

Trout and grayling predominate in the Association's water, although the occasional salmon and sea trout is encountered. All fish are wild, native stock.

An Eden specimen taken during a fall of Black Gnats

A nice looking Eden trout!

It is difficult to specify the expected,average size of fish likely to be encountered during a day's fishing. This will vary depending on the fishing technique and the stretches fished. However, trout of 1lb to 1½lbs are common, with fish upwards of this regularly caught throughout the season.

A number of fish between 3 to 5lbs are taken every season. In 2015 Michael Green had a tremendous catch in his first year as a PAA member; the fish was taken on a Black Pennel, it was approximately 25 inches long and estimated to weigh 6lbs 8ozs.

This 5lb Eden beauty was caught by a club member in 2024

River Eden maps:

Map 1 - Bell Holme/Anthony Holme, River Eden and Briggle Beck

Map 2 - Skirwith Abbey/Lower Winderwath, River Eden
* Grayling fishing is also allowed on this stretch for PAA members and their guests during the trout closed season but it is restricted to Skirwith Abbey right bank. No Grayling fishing is allowed on Lower Winderwath left bank after the 30th October - see map

Map 3 - Upper Winderwath/Julian Bower, River Eden
* Grayling fishing is also allowed on this stretch for PAA members and their guests during the trout closed season with the following restrictions: Grayling fishing on Julian Bowers is restricted to the area between the X's on the map and there is no Grayling fishing allowed on Upper Winderwath after the 30th October - see map

Map 4 - Bolton Willows, River Eden and Troutbeck

Map 16 - Coombs Wood, River Eden
* Grayling fishing is also allowed on this stretch for PAA members and their guests during the trout closed season

Please Check:  Penrith Anglers Safety notes for members and their guests

Members can check the water levels for the River Eden prior to their visit at the different monitoring points on River Eden system:

Musgrave Bridge - Kirkby Stephen

Appleby

Temple Sowerby

There are also webcams On the River Eden:

Langwathby webcam