Intro

I grew up in a small village just outside of Barnsley called Kexbrough. With nothing much to do in the village but walk and fish I chose fishing with my local rivers being the Cawthorne Dike and the river Dearne. Growing up I spent many an hour stick floating on the Dearne between Yorkshire Sculpture Park at West Bretton and Darton. I can always remember the Dearne being full of small brownies and was great fishing till the demolished Woolley Colliery the river suffered so did the trout but over the years this river had got better and better. On the other hand Cawthorne Dike has always finished well running from up near Oatwood Penistone finally joining the Dearne at Lower Baugh Green locally called the meeting (quiet a deep pool with fast following water)

The Meetings high water level

 nearly 95% of Cawthorne Dike is on farm land I have never had a problem fishing the river with a quick walk up the farm I would have permission to fish. On parts of the Dearne heading up river towards West Bretton its private land but again a quick chat with the farmer and i have permission to fish the river a lot of the farmer’s don’t mind you fishing then rivers along as you keep clear of the livestock and crops. i have always preferred the upper Dearne near West Bretton i find the fish fight better and its away from the hustle and bustle or Darton which is popular with kids fishing ledger bombs and dog walkers.

West Bretton Weir

Up until 6 years ago 99.9% of my fishing was by stick float the i discovered Fly Fishing a few holidays 3 years ago to Scotland (which i go every year love it up there) i was hooked and I’ve never looked back moving to Sheffield 2 years ago i now fish the river Don from Penistone down to the city centre although i do favour Hillsborough to Outerbridge with may happier hour spent on the river