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If you want a hard copy of our Pool-by-Pool guide with some additional information, then please download our Paper Ghillie.

Victor Gubbins (1936-2022) provided us with detailed information and precious insights on the 15 pools that comprise the Eden Lacy fishery on the River Eden. Feel free to contact us if you have anything else to add.

One thing he would have found interesting and something that is new for 2026 is that we have run our pools and the type of flies we have in the catchment through an AI and it has come up with some interesting trout fishing advice, that we are calling ‘THE EDGE’.

This might be an over generous name for it, we shall see if we need to re-name it but we are going to be testing some of these suggestions.

Do contact us with your thoughts. We appreciate your input.

The TOP BOUNDARY is where the stream enters the river at the CORNER POOL – a small channel about three quarters of the way across the river – worth a few casts, particularly when Grilse are running.

UPPER, MIDDLE and LOWER VIADUCT STREAMS: the best fly water from mid-April and excellent Trout water.
A low water pool – be careful not to wade out too far as most of the fish take on our side of the streams, often ‘on the dangle’.

THE EDGE
Best times
Early morning (7–10am) – nymphing
Last 2 hrs of light – caddis
Flies & sizes
Klinkhammer olive 16–18
Elk hair caddis 14–16
PT nymph 16–18
How to fish it
Start tight to your bank seams (don’t wade out)
Fish upstream early, then across-and-down late
Let caddis hang at end → takes often come here
Key note
This is confirmed prime fly water and low-water sensitive — fish it lightly

Note: Victor caught his first salmon here in 1951 (aged 15) weighing 14lbs from the other side of the bank!

Fish lie from underneath the electricity wires down to the top of THE FALLS but especially under the trees by BROWN OWL CAVE (the old boathouse carved into the sandstone) – a deceivingly long cast.

THE EDGE
Best times
Midday shade (12–3pm)
Evening spinner fall (8pm onwards)
Flies & sizes
CDC olive 16–18
Spinner flies (Spent Olive, Rusty Spinner, Iron Blue Spinner) 18
PT dropper 18
How to fish it
Long leaders (14–16 ft)
Target under trees / Brown Owl Cave zone
Dry-dropper through glide
Big fish window
Last light tight to bank

Really good trout water. When the river is very low you can wade across the rocks on top of THE FALLS and fish the far stream, although this is not recommended for the faint hearted! Please remember that wading is inherently dangerous. Otherwise cross the MILL RACE (foreground of first picture) and fish the nearside run.

The foam in the second photograph, foreground, is caused by the alkaline tributary of the River Lowther mixing with the more acid waters of the Eden and Eamont. It is not pollution!

THE EDGE
Best times
Morning (best nymph water on beat)
Late afternoon when hatch starts
Flies & sizes
Stonefly nymph 12–14
PT / hare’s ear 14–16
Emerger 16
How to fish it
Start heavy → short-line through runs
Then switch to emerger in softer seams
Key note
Consistently “really good trout water”

A high water pool. One of the many holding pools and a good spring pool. Pre-1966 (when Eden stocks were devastated by ulcerative dermal necrosis or UDN disease) it was estimated LONG MEG held well over 100 Salmon.

The pool fishes all the way down, depending on the time of year and the height of the water. It is worth starting high up as fish can lie in the top nearside ‘V’ (extreme right of the first picture). In summer low water, as shown, you can wade to the middle rock and fish the far stream. The far side ‘V’ can hold Sea Trout from early June.

THE EDGE
Best times
Afternoon (2–6pm)
Evening if fish show
Flies & sizes
Klinkhammer 14–16
PT nymph 14–16
How to fish it
Start high in the pool
Fish both “V” seams (near + far)
Cover methodically — fish are subtle here
Big fish
Sit mid-current on invisible drop-offs

Best fish taken:
28 lbs by WMG (Victor’s father). LONG MEG (waiting to be beaten!)
25 lbs by Victor Gubbins. BATHING ROCK
Both fish are outlined in the sandstone slabs outside the front door at Eden Lacy.

The tail of the pool is THE BATHING ROCK.

This lie is at the tail of LONG MEG.

The main high water lie is on the submerged sandstone slab in the centre of the river between the actual bathing rock (more visible in the first picture) and our bank.

THE EDGE
Best times
Morning (nymph)
Evening (single rising fish)
Flies & sizes
PT 14–16
Hare’s ear 14
CDC emerger 16
How to fish it
Target the central sandstone slab
Dead drift only — drag kills it
Big fish pool
One of your best — fish it slowly

A spring high water pool and also a Kelt hole.

A long cast square at the top can be successful - also where the stream comes into the river on the opposite bank. In low water, fish right down the glide, the run into THE CAVES pool.

THE EDGE
Best times
Bright midday (one of the few that works)
Late evening
Flies & sizes
Shrimp pattern 14–16
Small olive 18
How to fish it
Light nymphing
Focus on slower edges + weed lines

A low water pool. Fish mostly take off the sloping shelf on the far side and at the tail.

THE EDGE
Best times
Evening only (6:30pm–dark)
Flies & sizes
Elk hair caddis 14
CDC emerger 16
How to fish it
Stay back — stealth matters
Fish shadow line along cliff
Big trout
Live here — but feed late

A high water pool, named after the three rocks on the opposite side. The big rock in the centre is nicknamed Skiddaw. The ideal height seems to be when Skiddaw is 1 foot out of the water (it’s a bit more in the first photo). Fish generally take in the midstream but sometimes lie very close to our side around the new lies.

THE EDGE
Best times
Morning (technical nymphing)
Late afternoon
Flies & sizes
PT 16
Jig nymph 14–16
How to fish it
Pick off each rock lie individually
Short-line / high-stick

Named after a one-time owner of Eden Lacy. The pool holds the record for the fishery: 34 lbs (from the opposite bank).

The best casts are at the neck, off the bend on the far side, around the rock in the centre and particularly, in the autumn, at the tail of the pool before it enters THE WILLOWS stream.

THE EDGE
Best times
Afternoon hatch (2–6pm)
Evening
Flies & sizes
CDC olive 16–18
Comparadun 16
Spinner flies (Spent Olive, Rusty Spinner, Iron Blue Spinner) 18
How to fish it
Long drifts essential
This is your pure dry fly pool

This used to be one of the most prolific pools on the beat (pre-UDN) and now is beginning to yield numbers of fish again from both banks.

Don’t be tempted to walk out along the rocks to fish the neck – you’ll frighten off any fish.

Fishes at all heights.

THE EDGE
Best times
Midday shade
Evening
Flies & sizes
Small caddis 16
Ants 16–18
How to fish it
Bow-and-arrow casts
Fish tight to undercuts

A high water pool only – except for Trout.

There are a few big boulders a few metres out. The fish can rest around them, particularly after a flood and when they are running.

Start about 10 metres below the tree (in the first photo) and fish down to the rough water. It does not require a long cast.

THE EDGE
Best times
Same as above, slightly better in evening
Flies & sizes
CDC emerger 16–18
Beetle 16
How to fish it
Target one lie at a time
Expect short, violent takes

THE POST always referred to the prolific Trout (and Grayling) water at the top of this stretch. There used to be an old post in the river.

ISLAND FOOT is a particularly good autumn stream. It fishes all the way down, as far as you can wade – and beyond! It is also excellent water for Trout and probably Sea Trout.

THE EDGE - The Post
Best times
Morning (nymph)
Late afternoon
Flies & sizes
PT 16
Klink + dropper 16/18
How to fish it
Fish main current seam first
Then slower inside

THE EDGE - Island Foot
Best times
Evening
Flies & sizes
Caddis 14
Spinner flies (Spent Olive, Rusty Spinner, Iron Blue Spinner) 18
How to fish it
Fish both channels separately
Tail is key

Pronounced Dal-raffen; the lovely Norse name for the beck that enters the river at the tail of the pool.

This is an excellent Trout (and Sea Trout) stretch. The Salmon lie under the far bank, fish down to the run-off. It is best fished on a falling river and is a deep but relatively easy wade at the top - but don’t wade out too far.

Note: Keep your eyes peeled for Kingfishers.

THE EDGE
Best times
Afternoon (searching water)
After rain
Flies & sizes
PT 14–16
Hare’s ear 14
How to fish it
Cover water quickly
Not a “sit and wait” pool

One of the best fly stretches and fishes at most heights and times of year. It is excellent for Trout, particularly the far side at the top of the stream.

Salmon lie from the large Sycamore tree (on the other bank) all the way down, depending on the height of the water.  Start higher up in the fast water when Grilse are running.

THE WALL refers to the stretch where the bank support wall starts on the opposite bank all the way down to the big ‘boil’ (a submerged rock) which is the beginning of the GRAVEL BED.

Fish lie down the far side near the opposite bank – another deep easy wade at the top is needed to cover the lies properly but then draw in to our side as you progress down to the bottom of the pool. Fish lie above and in front and just off the big boil!

THE EDGE
Best times
Early morning
Late evening
Flies & sizes
Heavy nymphs 12–14
Caddis 14
How to fish it
Fish depth transitions
Don’t waste time on surface unless obvious

A lovely pool, particularly in the autumn, and our bottom boundary. The main taking places are just above and the far side of the main boil in the centre of the river; opposite the large willow on our side and then all the way down until the line ‘dies’. It is also very good water for Trout and Grayling and probably also for Sea Trout.

Generally a high water pool, it is best fished for resting salmon after a rise in the water and when it is dropping again.

THE EDGE
Best times
Last hour of light (best on beat)
Flies & sizes
Spinner flies (Spent Olive, Rusty Spinner, Iron Blue Spinner) 18
Small olive 18
CDC emerger 18
How to fish it
Ultra-fine presentation
Long leader (16 ft)

If you’ve made it this far, there is a bonus EDGE:

How to fish your day?

Morning (7–11)

Falls → Bathing Rock → Mains
Nymph 14–16

Midday (11–4)

Meadow → Willows → Sandbank
Dry-dropper or light nymph

Afternoon (4–7)

Johnstone’s → Long Meg
Switch to emergers

Evening (7–dark)

Caves → Gravel Bed → Viaduct tail

Dry only:
Caddis 14–16
Spinners 18

Bonus EDGE, your 10 fly River Eden Fly box - the essentials;

1. CDC OLIVE (F-Fly style)

Size: 16, 18
Role: Your default dry
When: All season, especially afternoons
Where: Johnstone’s, Meadow, Gravel Bed
👉 If you see rises and don’t know what — start here

2. KLINKHAMMER OLIVE

Size: 14, 16
Role: Emerger / searching dry
When: Patchy rises, broken water
👉 Your most versatile fly on the river

3. CDC EMERGER (shuttlecock style)

Size: 16, 18
Role: Refusal killer
When: Fish bulging but not taking dries
👉 Essential on the Eden — they often sit just under

4. ELK HAIR CADDIS

Size: 14, 16
Role: Main caddis dry
When: June–August evenings
👉 Fish it:
dead drift
then let it skate and hang

5. SPENT SPINNER (rusty / olive)

Size: 16, 18
Role: Evening closer
When: Last 30–60 mins of light
👉 Absolute weapon on:
Meadow
Gravel Bed

6. BLACK ANT (or beetle)

Size: 16–18
Role: Summer edge case
When: Hot, still days
👉 Often outfishes everything when nothing obvious is happening

7. PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH

Size: 14, 16, 18
Role: Your #1 nymph
When: Always
Where: Everywhere
👉 If you had one nymph — this is it

8. HARE’S EAR NYMPH

Size: 14, 16
Role: Slightly buggier option
👉 Use when:
water has colour
fish aren’t taking PT cleanly

9. JIG NYMPH (PT or olive)

Size: 14–16 (beaded)
Role: Depth / faster water
👉 Key for:
Falls
Three Rocks
Mains

10. FRESHWATER SHRIMP (scud)

Size: 14–16
Role: Secret weapon
👉 Critical in:
Sandbank
slower glides

The fish you remember will come on:

• Klinkhammer

• CDC emerger

• or spinner flies at last light

And remember….

Fish less more carefully.
The last 30 minutes of light is the best time to fish, especially for the bigger fish.