Angling Tuition at Bessy Beck

Learn to catch a trout at Bessy Beck

Have you thought about taking up fishing? We have everything for the beginner; you could start with hiring a bait rod and catch a few pan sized trout. Then if you get hooked then try fly fishing.

Fly fishing instruction

Ian Riddell is a fully qualified and licensed Level 2 game angling coach (see fishcoach.org), he is CRB checked for working with children and is fully insured. Shelley Riddell is qualified Level 1 coaching assistant. Both the coaches have years of game fishing experience.

For the total beginner

In the privacy of our own lakes tuition is very relaxed and informal. To start with we teach a Roll cast, then a basic Overhead cast this takes up to two hours after which you should be in a position to try to catch your first trout on the fly from our Mallard Lake. You will be taught how to hook, play, land, kill or release your first trout. Fly fishing equipment can be hired for the occasion, and then if you get hooked we can advise on a properly balanced outfit suitable for your needs.

Further instruction for the improver

Having got a taste for fly fishing a further lesson or two would be an advantage to increase distance and presentation. This could give the ability to try the hardest of our three lakes, the Island Lake where the trout are bigger but more cunning, and require a more advanced technique.

Help for the experienced angler

Many anglers are self taught and may be very good fishermen but may want to improve casting distance with less effort or simply improve presentation. Experienced anglers may have casting faults which inhibit their performance; we may be able to help.

For the Stillwater fisherman who would like to try river fishing

Bessy Beck trout fishery has rods on the upper Lune for instruction and guiding. We can offer instruction in brown trout, sea trout or salmon fishing. River fishing is very different from stillwater fishing, we can help you to learn some river craft which will allow you to enjoy your trip to the full.