The River Nidd is much smaller than the
River Ure or River Wharfe, but has good fly fishing for both
brown trout and grayling.
Though not exactly small stream fly fishing, the River Nidd is a nice manageable size
that responds to all fly fishing methods, but is quite overgrown in places.
For some reason, and I don't know why, the River Nidd appears to carry more
colour than other Yorkshire rivers. This is not a problem and probably helps
us to deceive the trout and grayling of the Nidd that bit easier.
The River Nidd starts its journey on Great Whernside and the surrounding hills, high above
Nidderdale. Here the infant River Nidd flows through 3 upland lakes;
Angram Reservoir, Scar House Reservoir (good fly fishing for wild
brown trout - see the stillwater fly fishing page) and Gouthwaite Reservoir.
These lakes tend to regulate the flow and protect the River Nidd from
flooding or particularly low flows in summer. Incidentally, Gouthwaite
Reservoir is the only stillwater in England to contain grayling, however,
fly fishing here is strictly private, run by a small syndicate. I am a
member of the syndicate and fish Gouthwaite regularly, but don't, however,
use the lake for guiding. The River Nidd goes on to join
the River Ouse near York, a journey of over 30 miles. The River Nidd is a delightful little
river, flowing through lovely countryside and is surrounded by many places of
interest for the whole family, including the elegant spa town of Harrogate,
Brimham Rocks (curious rock formations, long distance views and
waymarked walks) and
How Stein Gorge (limestone gorge, walkways and caves).
Access to good fly fishing on the River Nidd is a little limited, certainly to the better areas, but I have
access to the waters of Nidderdale Angling Club, probably the longest and
best stretch on the river. Like most of the Yorkshire Dales rivers the River Nidd responds
to most fly fishing methods, but I particularly like to fish the upstream
nymph. The River Nidd, for most of its length in Upper Nidderdale, flows below
a tree canopy, making casting upstream almost obligatory. A cast across
stream usually ends up with your flies hanging from tree branches. This
combined with the peat stained, fast flowing water makes the upstream
nymph my method of choice for fly fishing on the River Nidd, unless the trout and grayling are rising well.
Winter grayling fly fishing on the River Nidd is very good.
They are a slightly smaller size than the grayling in the River
Wharfe and River Ure, but they certainly make up for this with their
numbers. Czech nymphing is the way to tackle winter grayling fishing
on the River Nidd, usually using a Czech Nymph with a little colour
in the dressing. There is a pool I know on the River Nidd that will produce
double figure numbers of grayling, even when the river is in full
flood, to a bright Czech Nymph or other bright fly!
RIVER NIDD GUIDING AND FLY FISHING HOLIDAYS
The River Nidd has long been one of my favourite
Yorkshire Dales Rivers for fly fishing. It feels a little different in
character to the rivers Ure and Wharfe and it is certainly less well known,
even by the locals. I like to use the River Nidd if it is windy because it
is shrouded with trees (mainly alder) giving it a high degree of
shelter. The River Nidd can be very good in places and not so good in
others. If you are visiting the Yorkshire Dales for fly fishing your time
will be precious and you don't want to waste your time in the wrong area. I
know the River Nidd very well, having fished it extensively for a numbers of
years, and I can take you straight to the best fly fishing areas and target
the trout or the grayling depending upon season or your preference. For
example, one lady that I took to the Nidd in 2005 on the first day of her
fly fishing holiday with her husband said to me “I just want to catch one
grayling before we go home at the end of the week” By lunchtime she had
caught 8 grayling and 1 trout! If you are on a fly fishing holiday you will
want your fishing varied. The River Nidd gives us another option and in no
way is it a second choice.
Nidderdale is designated an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty). Pateley Bridge is the focal point of the Dale, with many
quaint shops and a lovely recreation park on the banks of the River Nidd.
Pateley Bridge is also home to the Nidderdale Agricultural Show each
September. Country shows are part of Dales life and make a great day out for
the whole family.
