Pennine Trout Farm and Fishery

Welcome to our report, news and views page. Hopefully we will be able to offer you valuable information to help you to make the most of your visit to our fishery. This page will inform you of the best tactics, the most productive flies and big fish reports. And do we have some big fish for you in 2009 with fabulous Rainbow Trout, stunning Brown Trout as well as a few Golden and Blue Trout just to keep it a bit more interesting, along with our Tagged Fish Competition which is gaining popularity as more and more fishermen win these cash prizes!

You will be able to view our Big Fish Gallery to see what you have missed, or better still, view yourself with one of our Trophy Fish! Our Big Fish are real and not fantasy, we stock them, you catch them and we photograph them. Too many fisheries claim to have Big Fish without the photographic proof. Don't be fooled by Fisheries Advertisements and claims of having Big Fish !

We have learned that without constant and excessive advertising at a great cost with fishing publications many of the best fish are left out and space is given to lesser quality fish from fisheries that do subscribe to these publications. We do understand that these publications are running a business and advertising revenue is their main source of income, but when exceptional fish are left out at the whim of someone in editorial in a nice warm office with little or no basic knowledge or understanding of the years of work and effort that goes into producing quality big fish. It leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth! It also fails to inform the fisherman as to what is really being caught in Trout Fisheries.

Your comments are welcome by e-mail. Sensible comments and replies will be listed on this page. Our email address is: amoran717@googlemail.com

After his visit Angling Times columnist Des Taylor reported in his column."While other trout fisheries have sold up,gone bust or even falsified the truth about the size of the fish in their water. Pennine has reigned supreme and constantly produced the goods."( Sold up now that's a thought Des ! offers anybody ?).

What "Today's Fly Fisher" said, First class facilities. The term immaculate takes in all the fishery from the lakes to the lodge and the toilets. A lot of fisheries up and down the country could learn a lot from Pennine they provided us with something that we want at the end of the day. More double figure leviathans (BIG FISH) than you could shake a stick at. Undercover report by the magazines editor Tim Smith and agent X undercover fly fishery investigator.

We have now installed CCTV this is for security and not for looking at you while you are fishing most of the CCTV is turned off during the day.

If you require up to the minute information on best tactics and patterns please e-mail me at: penninetrout@aol.com

Dear Fishermen would you please, please put your old leader lines in the waste bins. A little effort saves a lot of problems and pain to wildlife. Birds collect the old line for their nests. When young birds hatch it traps their tiny feet in the nest unable to fly away they die a long slow painful death. Also when the parent birds collects food line gets tangled around their feet and they then get trapped in the trees left hanging again a slow painful death. Show respect for the countryside and this wonderful wildlife that at times we all take for granted. P.S We do have over 20 waste bins around the fishery.

At last some milder weather! Pennine has seen some bad weather over the last 30 years it has been running as a fishery but the last three weeks has been up there with the worst. Let's just hope the better conditions stay with us and that we can have a good spring. Fishing has been still good for those brave enough to wet a fly, with plenty of doubles being caught on a weekly basis. Fish average has kept above 8 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag limit pushing 14lb's. Starting on the left is Mr Charles Woodbridge from Huddersfield pictured with his personal best, Charles caught the fish on the lower lake on a dawsons olive fished near the cages around 8 foot down. Next is Mr Richard Meehan from Manchester pictured with the smaller fish of a 24lb brace he caught on the lower lake, both fish were caught on olive cats whiskers fished on floating lines. Finally is a over wintered cracker caught on the top lake. This fish was probably around 20lb when stocked and was finally tricked by a home tied sparkler pattern fished by Mr Martyn Booth from Huddersfield.

Great start to the 2010 season with lots of fish caught, plenty in the 7lb mark with lots of anglers reporting either returning doubles or being snapped off. Best bag of the week was Mr Chris Folwer (pictured left) with fishing pal Mr Robbie Bell from Liverpool with a 6 fish limit to 39lb with not one of their fish over 8lb! But all sporting full tails and plenty of energy. Next is Mr John Cropper from Southport pictured with his personal best caught on a green and orange hothead damsel fished on an intermediate line. Finally is Mr Julien Pitlovits from Radcliffe with a double caught on a bloodworm fished from a floating line in the bay area. Top fishing patterns have been dependent on the fishing location, with dam walls being good for sinking lines with damsel and fritz patterns and floating lines have been best in the bay area on the top lake with egg flies and buzzers accounting for numerous anglers reporting catches into the 20's. Fish average has been 11 fish per rod with a 3 fish limit weighing in at 14lb 7oz

With warmer conditions now on us fish have began to move away from the bay area and seem to be more spread out around the lake, with the wind playing a big part in the choice of fishermans fishing location, this is a good sign as it shows natural food is begining to arrive and will start the natural feeding cycle for the fish. Photo's (left) Brown trout specialist Mr Robert Canner from Manchester pictured with his first double of the 2010 season, Robert caught the double on a egg fly fished in the bay area. Next (right) Mr Phil Wilson from Wigan pictured with his personal best of 17lb 3oz caught on a floating line with a bloodworm. Fish average has stayed at 11 fish per angler for a second week, but the average 3 fish bag has dropped to 13lb 10oz (probably still bigger than any other local water though!!)

What did I say about wind playing a big part part in your choice of fishing spot last week, well all of these fish were caught fishing close to the bank were the wind is blowing into. Just shows that more and more natural insects are begining to hatch, this is great news for all you fisherman! Lets start of with the first Brownie caught in the 2010 season, the lucky angler is a Mr Chris Boardfield from Warrington. Chris caught the fish on a black and gold fritz fished on a sinking line from the dam wall. Next is mother and son, Shelley and Oliver Avis from Manchester. Shelley caught both of the fish on sinking line with a olive zonker within 20 minutes of each other, with the brace almost weighing in at 30lb! This to my records is a Pennine record of a female fisherwoman. This week will see restocking of more big brownies with weights from 7lb to 18lb. These are in my eyes fish of a lifetime and quality like this is few and far between. Back to the averages, rod rate is up 13 fish per angler probably due to warmer weather and the 3 fish bag drops and couple of ounce to 13lb 8oz.

Conditions still remain good as the southerly breeze continues, fish seem to be around the 6 foot mark with buzzers begining to be the best choice for a floating lines and dawsons olive for the intermediate. If fishing natural patterns follow the wind for best results with corner bays out fishing dam walls and platforms. Pictures (left) Mr David Moore from Altringham with a fine double caught on a red and black goldhead fished from a floating line. Next is a great brownie caught by Mr Colin Tune from Poynton, Colin caught the brownie on a cats whisker fished near the ticket office. Finally Mr David Sunderland from Bingley with a silver rainbow caught on a olive fritz fished from a floating line, again caught just outside the ticket office. Fish averages are 9 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag weighing in at 12lb 11oz. A big stocking of fish planned for the Bank Holiday weekend with some more big brownies due to go in. Please remember to book thoughout the holiday period to aviod disapointment.

It's buzzer time! Lots of fish are now feeding on buzzers which in turn is good news for us fisherman. Fish are in the first 2 to3 foot of water with most natural patterns like black buzzer and diawl bachs accounting for many good catch rates. Remember when fishing these methods use lighter fluorocarbon line and try to follow the wind. 3 good brownies for you this week starting with Mr Andras Banlaki from Rochdale, Andras caught the fish on a dawsons olive from the top lake. Next is Pennine legend Mr Robert Canner from Manchester, Robert pictured with his 6th big brownie caught on a black buzzer fished on a floating line, you would think with all the times he has had his picture taken with double figure fish he would have learned how to crack a smile!! Finally Mr Chris Duddle from Wigan with his personal best brownie, chris caught it on a olive leadhead fished from a floating line. Fish averages are 9 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag weighing in at 13lb 1oz. Well done to Mr Dave Manning from Rossendale with 55 fish caught in his last 2 visits, all to buzzers. I told you it would come if you stuck with it.

Another good fishing week with the weather being very mild, with plenty of buzzer hatches on the warmer days. Size 10 black rib buzzers seem to be the best pattern at the moment when fished on floating lines and light clear leaders. Pictures (left) Mr Richard Baker from Runcorn, just short of a double but a stunning fish caught on a olive fritz fished near the cages on the lower lake. Next another broad sholdered Pennine brownie caught by Mr Tony Seaton from Stalybridge on a viva tinhead fished from a floating line. Finally Mr Robert Cainer from Manchester with another double this one being his best at 18lb 4oz, Robert caught it on a target egg fly fished in the bay area on the top lake. Fish averages up to 10 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag weighing out at 13lb 5oz. Plenty of blues now being stocked.

It may have gone cooler but the fishing still remains good with plenty of big catches, with the best being Mr Dave Lingard from Sheffield with probably the biggest catch rate for a few years. Dave caught 73 fish in 8 hours on the bottom lake fishing near the cages on a floating fry. Back to pictures (left) is Mr Antony Jones from Runcorn pictured with his personal best, Antony caught near the life belt area on the top lake on a home tied olive lure made by his father Ken. Next is Mrs Jackie Boardman with a fine full finned rainbow caught on a damsel fished from a intermediate line, Jackie was fishing with her son who also caught a double on the same day. Finally is Mr Mike Baker from Runcorn with a double caught on the lower lake on a damsel fished from a floating line. Fish averages are well up this week thanks to Dave Lingard (73) and Paul Davies (36) and come out at 14 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag weighing out at 13lb 7oz. More blues being stocked this week due to fishermans good comments on there quality, thanks guys!

Days of constant near perfect weather have brought the fish on to some serious buzzer feeding frenzys, with cdc buzzers and small dry hoppers catching plenty of fish on the floating lines. Intermediate lines have still done well during the brighter spells with damsels and black goldheads doing well. Pictures (left) Mr Anthony Rothwell from Lathom with a stunning full tailed brownie caught on a montana fished from a floating line from behind the cages on the top lake. Next is Mr Dave Lingard from Sheffield pictured with one of his fish from a 21lb brace caught on black goldhead zonkers, Dave also returned a further 22 fish. Finally is Mr Grenville from Darwin with another cracking pennine double caught on buzzer tactics from the bay area on the top lake. Fish averages are at 12 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag limit weighing in at 13lb 9oz.

More good weather is bringing on the fly life with clouds of buzzers hatching from the waters, edge making the fishing very enjoyable for those wishing to fish natural. Best patterns are black buzzers and hawthorn flies on a floating line set up and rubber legged daddies doing well on intermediate lines. Photo's (left) Mrs Collet Jones from Wales with her best fish from a two bag of 17lb 8oz, she caught over 20 fish on cats whiskers fished from a intermediate line. Next is Mr Peter Makin from Merseyside with another good pennine brown caught on a black and green fritz. Finally is a great fish, a full finned brownie caught on a daddy by Darwin angler Mr Kevin Royds. Fish averages are at 9 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag limit weighing in at 13lb 2oz. Fish averages will rise this week due to a big stocking of fish in the 7lb to 10lb bracket, which are all fully finned and like bars of silver muscle!

Well I must start off with requesting that any fisherman wishing to be on the web site must bring any killed double figure fish to the office so that they can be weighed and photographed as soon as possible, this is because of the hot weather and that they don't look great after being in a black bag for 8 hours! Cheers guys. Well done to tag fish masters Mr Dave Williams and Mr Lawson Bedford with there double tag fish last week, the pair have now shared in excess of £1000.00. Next is 10 year old Kristina Evan from the Wirral with her personal best caught on a bunny leech fished from a sinking line. Finally is Mr Phil Wilson from Wigan with his third pennine double of the season, Phil caught the fish on a egg fly fished on a floating line. Due to the hot weather fishing has been a bit of a challege for those wishing to stick with the floating lines, so intermediates have proven much better with damsels and skinny black buzzers out fishing must standard patterns. Fish averages are 6 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag weighing out at 12lb 6oz. On the 29th June a big stocking of fish were stocked straight into the lower lake to boost the lake figure, these fish were from 4lb to 7.5lb.

I bet most anglers would like to catch a fish with the weight being the same as there age, thats what Jack Flathey (left) from Bradford did. 14 year old Jack battled hard against this full finned 14lb 3oz rainbow with the winning tactics being a yellow fritz fished on a floating line. (right) Mr Andy Stone from Leeds with a great summer brownie caught on a black pennel fished near the cages on the lower lake from a floating line. This time of year your choice of fishing location is very important, look out for wind lanes and airator pumps being switched on and remember a rising fish is a feeding fish so cast to it!!! Hot spots have been platform 4 on the lower lake and most of the dam wall between the benches on the top lake. Fish averages are better this week due to the duller days at 8 fish per angler with a 3 fish bag limit weighing out at 12lb 10oz.