In recent years, my wife has fallen in love with the English Lake District. She’s on a mission to hike all of the Wainwrights – local mountain hikes named after Alfred Wainwright who meticulously cataloged and hiked all 214 of the named peaks. I’ve joined her and, in between peaks and pints, have looked longingly at the rivers, streams and mountain lakes (“tarns” in local parlance). Last year, I finally hired a local guide to help me learn the local fishing landscape – and boy am I glad I did.

I started by getting in touch with the local famous tackle shop, John Norris of Penrith. They put me onto Mike Tinnion of River Edge Guiding. Mike is a local roofer, close to retirement, who has been on the national fishing team and fished with the likes of Gawesworth, etc. He knows everyone and, from what I could tell, everything fishing (he’s a multiple time champion in a few categories), but couldn’t have been more humble or more friendly.

We fished two days together in two different locations. Both were wonderful, but the second is one I’ll always remember. I met him in the parking lot of The Pheasant Inn by Bassenthwaite Lake, whose red wall pub is out of another age. While waiting, a few British fighter jets flew in a training mission overhead. We then drove by the Lake Distillery and through a farmers gate and drove along the Derwent, parking among sheep. We had beautiful fishing – and caught plenty of Brown trout. While walking the bank, I also saw one of the largest trout I have ever seen.

Here’s a few photos from my trip. And if you’re in the Lakes, be sure to check out Mike’s website here: https://www.riveredgeguiding.co.uk/