RIVERS OF THE DISTRICT 39 



reach, that from the southern extremity of Winder- 

 mere to Newby Bridge, is half river, half lake, the 

 river proper beginning at Newby Bridge about a 

 mile from Lake Side. Immediately below the 

 bridge the river has every appearance of an ideal 

 trout-stream, and it has in fact a capital stock of 

 trout. In autumn a good many large trout make 

 from the lake to the river for spawning purposes, 

 and occasionally sea-trout are taken as high as 

 Newby Bridge. 



Owing to the steady volume of water running 

 down the Leven, and its rocky bed, the trout in it 

 run larger than in most rivers of the district. The 

 whole of the bed, however, is not of this character 

 bare and rocky much of it being productive of 

 plenty of trout food, and the well-wooded nature 

 of the banks is also productive in this respect. 

 The overgrown nature of the river makes it some- 

 what difficult to fish to any one who has been 

 accustomed to more open conditions, but the skilled 

 angler soon becomes master of the up-and- 

 down casting which is essential here. Although 

 the higher reaches of the river may be said to be 

 the best for trout, the fish are larger in the lower 

 reaches. Here fish of I Ib. in weight are not 

 uncommon, and in the deeper dubs trout up to 

 3 Ibs. have been taken. 



Except in night-fishing, hackle flies are invaria- 

 bly used, these being those usually fished on 

 the Lake District streams. The general season 

 opens in March, but the Leven Angling Association 

 (a private Association) has an option in the 

 matter. 



As elsewhere in the district, April and May are 

 the best months for fishing, and this applies to 



