River Lune 2023

A friend of mine reckons on small flies for the lune say 12,s. This is generally speaking I know the early season / high water big low water / summer small. But forget that, in general, think of say 18 inches above summer level water clear just after flood what size fly would you use in good fly water on the lune?

Hodder321 said:

A friend of mine reckons on small flies for the lune say 12,s. This is generally speaking I know the early season / high water big low water / summer small. But forget that, in general, think of say 18 inches above summer level water clear just after flood what size fly would you use in good fly water on the lune?

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Whatever you are confident in I guess....I used to consider fly sizes all the time and then when you compare a fly with a toby it all goes out of the window!
I'm pretty sure if you annoy a fish within a couple of inches of its nose it will snap at any fly size.
I landed an 18Lb fish last season on the Esk on a size 14...it was not a comfortable fight with the hook size forefront in my mind. My pal landed two similar sized fish before me on a size 10 fly.

For the Lune I tend to use size 10 or 12, but I am kind of dual fishing for ST at the same time.

Saw a pic on Facebook of a ST at Underley....maybe a repeat of last year where the early fish charged up fast.
Going to have a dabble on the Wyre this weekend and then think about starting on the Lune week after

Let's hope this forecast rain,for Sunday night into Monday, happens. A flush of fresh water could help get things moving.

The upper river came up to nearly 4', early hours of Wednesday morning. Should give a good head of water lower down.

Warm (ish) and overcast.....gear in car!
Will share the pics of my springers and double figure sea trout later!

Looking forward to the pictures.🤞

dave_n said:

nada, nowt....perfect height, perfect conditions...didnt see anything...chap on the other bank didn't appear to have enything either View attachment 93826
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Always the probability of a blank this time of year but looks a grand day to be out !

Had a drive in the Lune valley today. The river is looking in a sorry state. Very low, and green algae all over the river bed.. Not good for the end a of April. We need a good flood.
Apparently there have been the odd sea trout caught, one was even had on the Rawthey, just below Sedbergh.

I remember this time last season or thereabouts the river was unfishable with silkweed covering your fly within seconds

Let's hope the recent rise in river levels helps get things moving.

barbonboy said:

Let's hope the recent rise in river levels helps get things moving.

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Fingers crossed....Hoping to go Friday evening in search of ST

Finally managed to get out tonight, only to be met with the usual Lune valley wind and rain!
Fished at Caton and managed to winkle two ST out before the darkness.
Lots of fly life and the brownies seemed to be having a good time.
Didin't see any Salmon but as we were leaving some large fish entered one of the pools we were fishing by the look of the bow waves. Still very slimey under foot

dave_n said:

Finally managed to get out tonight, only to be met with the usual Lune valley wind and rain!
Fished at Caton and managed to winkle two ST out before the darkness.
Lots of fly life and the brownies seemed to be having a good time.
Didin't see any Salmon but as we were leaving some large fish entered one of the pools we were fishing by the look of the bow waves. Still very slimey under foot

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good to hear you managed a couple of ST - any size out of interest Dave?

I stopped at Tebay yesterday afternoon just for a quick look whilst passing through, the river is now down to summer level and is badly affected by weed and algae growth which I assume has bloomed due to farmers muck spreading in adjacent fields and with some surface run off the past couple of weeks when we've had rain. Dont recall seeing it so bad as early in the season TBH

mastercaster said:

good to hear you managed a couple of ST - any size out of interest Dave?

I stopped at Tebay yesterday afternoon just for a quick look whilst passing through, the river is now down to summer level and is badly affected by weed and algae growth which I assume has bloomed due to farmers muck spreading in adjacent fields and with some surface run off the past couple of weeks when we've had rain. Dont recall seeing it so bad as early in the season TBH

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Sadly just tiddlers...largest was around 1Lb!!!!
There is certainly more algae around than last year....I was on the Border Esk last week at it was everywhere, the Wyre and Lune are the same.
I think the warm weather coupled with farming activities just adds to it.

Had a couple of hours on a desperately low Aughton this evening.
Headed for faster water and sat on the bank until I saw something show.
Located quite a few ST, lost a decent one and had a handshake with two others...there seems to been plenty in the system now.
Loads of Rudd getting ready to spawn, some of them were a reasonable size.....didn't see any Salmon.
Always good to be out but the river does need a good spate and soon

nowt much precipitation wise in the weather forecast this week and probably next, following a similar pattern to last year

Looking at the ten day forecast, I think its sun tan lotion, not umbrella's, we need.

Fished at Tebay yesterday from about 3pm til sunset. V low- the green gunge had mostly died- as the water had dropped below it. Lots of stonefly cases on the rocks and lots of hatch. Nothing rising. But had a surprising encounter with a very pretty sea trout at about 6pm- bright sun - it took a waterhen bloa in some fast water. An ounze or so over a pound 14" and quite delicious.

Fun on a 3wt!