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Monday 5:40am - 10pm Tuesday 5:40am - 10pm Wednesday 5:40am - 10pm Thursday 5:40am - 10pm Friday 5:40am - 10pm Saturday 5:40am - 10pm Sunday 5:40am - 10pm

Sharpley Springs Fly Fishery

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Sharpley Springs Fly Fishery

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Sharpley Springs Fly, 6 lake complex + kids worm lake. Situated just off A19 near Seaton Seaham B1404 travel West SR7 0NP. Longer days due to light. Tight lines

Fishing from 7.30 to 25 min after Dusk. Pay at Golf Lodge.? Follow us on Instagram Sharpley Springs Fly Fishery are a 6 lake, fly only complex with an additional worm lake for the kids. It is situated just off the A19 and West of Seaton Village SR7 0NP . Sharpley is open 365 days of the year. It is very well stocked with triploid rainbows, blues, Brown Trout. Plenty of big doubles (the fishery record is 23.6 pounds)
Open Dawn until 25 min after Dusk! It is naturally spring-fed and with healthy aquatic weed growth that ensures a good invertebrate population and consequently excellent hatches of naturals. Midges are always on the menu-right through the winter-and superb sport can be had with nothing more than a floating line, longish leader and a buzzer pattern (black presently though olives predominate through the summer months). The larval bloodworms can provide the mainstay through the cold days of winter with pinky
and other leggy patterns popular, either slowly figure-of-eighted or suspended a couple of feet below an indicator. The large Cinnamon sedges were present until mid-November but even now a bushy dry sedge pattern can provide exciting sport, especially if twitched downwind in the larger Doxford Lake. The dry fly angler can ply his trade on any day though and small foam-head emerges in hare's ear or black can be devastatingly effective, as can more traditional dries such as spiders and the Griffith's gnat when the tiny adult midge are skittering about post hatch. These can work on any calm day, as can
tiny f flies in sizes down to 28-proper challenging angling. There is a warm, centrally heated lodge house, with complimentary Tea and Coffee and a Microwave and fridge that can be used. This coupled with excellent disabled access makes Sharpley Waters one of the top North-east venues for year-round trouting

Its tuition is excellent and can easily be arranged by contacting the fishery or instructor Ross Middleton and Terry Wood detail in Fishing Lodge. Look forward to seeing you on the Lakes soon.

24/10/2026

Sharpley Springs Fishing Report

A wet and windy change is in the air at Sharpley Springs. Today’s forecast brings heavy rain and strong southerly winds, with temperatures reaching around 12°C. It’s a very different picture from the brighter, cooler conditions described earlier, so do check the latest forecast before heading out.

When conditions were calmer, the fish were still rising happily. Small olive or brown top-hat emergers proved especially effective, while skittering adult midges brought fish to the surface at other times. Grizzly gnats were a good match, and Griffiths gnats were deadly on Cuthbert Lake.

Daddies attracted plenty of attention before the temperatures dropped. Suspended flies under an indicator continued to produce, with blobs and fabs among the favourites. Buzzer anglers also found sport: small pupal imitations, retrieved slowly, were the way to go. Dark nymphs caught fish too.

Flies to try

* Black or brown buzzer
* Brown or olive top-hat
* Griffiths gnat
* Diawl Bach
* PTN
* Damsel nymph
* Daddy-long-legs
* Apps bloodworm
* Nothing fly
* Shammy
* Squirmy
* Green F-fly
* Blobs and fabs Fishing Trout fishing

12/10/2026

Sharpley Springs lastest Fishing Report
Report 11/10/26

Cloudy conditions have given ample opportunity to target rising trout with dries and emergers though at different stages of the hatch sub-surface pupal imitations were more successful , notably dark nymphs and buzzer pupae.
The pond olives are still stubbornly refusing to call it a day so hares ear nymphs and green duns are still worthy of their place on the cast . Daddylonglegs too are bringing fish up.
In sun the dam wall remains popular with rods frequently bent (indicators and suitable tit bits a few feet down) and flat calms on the Hangman’s lake have seen cruising fish chasing egg-dipping female midge and therefore succumbing to twitched small and high-riding dries. Tiny f flies and Griffiths gnats were good.
Afternoon warmth has encouraged the emergence of Cinnamon sedge and these should feature right up to December.

Fly box:
Brown/green top hat
Orange Shipmans
Olive f fly
Griffiths gnat
Diawl Bach
PTN
GRHE nymph
Damsel nymph
Olive Daddy
Nothing fly
Apps bloodworm
Blobs ( sunburst/yellow )
Snakes

05/10/2026

Report 5/10/26

There
have again been some good hatches of midge early and late in the day with Diawl Bach nymphs and Shipmans buzzers among the best of the fish takers.
Occasionally the shipmans needed to be large , as evidenced by the shucks.
The slightly cooler conditions at the start of the week gradually disappeared and with the warmth returned the pond olives that had temporarily vanished. Green dun imitations, ginked up hares ear nymphs and hares ear top hats all proved useful.
Quieter moments saw many utilising sight bobs from the Doxford dam wall with offerings a few feet down but the dry fly speculators could still bring trout up to wind-blown daddies.
There were some decent rises on the Cuthbert lake too. Small emerging midge patterns attracted these.

Fly box:
Olive buzzer/nymph
Hares ear/ orange shipmans
Olive/hares ear top hat
Green f fly
GRHE nymph
Daddy
Apps bloodworm
Diawl Bach
IOBO
-fishing Sharpley

28/09/2026

🎣 Sharpley Springs Fly Fishery Report | 27 September

With the cooler weather, things are beginning to feel more like normal autumn fishing at Sharpley. Morning midge hatches brought fish to the surface—even in bright sunshine—and shucks of different sizes, including some surprisingly large ones usually associated with April, kept anglers guessing.

The fishing was pleasantly challenging, with several species showing. Small hatches continued through to lunchtime, then activity picked up again during the last couple of hours of daylight as the sedges stirred interest.

Diawl Bach nymphs proved a reliable choice, fished either on a traditional wind-assisted drift or on the drop. For dries, try Daddies, Shipman’s buzzers and top-hat emergers, with small yellow patterns useful on some days. Snakes continued to produce at depth.

A tip for fishing Daddies: keep them floating high so they drift naturally on the breeze, just like the real insects. Pond olives were less noticeable this week, though olive nymphs remain a favourite for some anglers.

What to try

Black, olive or grey buzzers · Black or hare’s-ear Shipman’s · Brown top hat · Apps’ bloodworm · Corixa · Diawl Bach nymph · Olive nymph · Foam Daddy · Yellow hopper · Yellow Dancer · Yellow Blob · Black or olive snakes

Good luck to everyone heading out on the water! 🎣 #

21/09/2026

🎣 Sharpley Springs Fishing Report 🎣

With the cooler weather finally arriving, conditions at Sharpley Springs are becoming increasingly favourable—and it is wonderful to see more anglers returning to enjoy the lakes.

Regular stocking continues, ensuring plenty of fresh, hard-fighting trout and good opportunities for an enjoyable day’s sport. The cooling water should encourage the fish to become more active, so the weeks ahead are looking very promising.

There is always a warm welcome at Sharpley, whether you are one of our regular anglers or visiting us for the first time. As this cheerful group proves, a day at Sharpley is about good fishing, beautiful surroundings and great company!

We look forward to welcoming you to the lakes soon.
Latest Fishing Report

The general pattern of recent weeks continues, with increased midge activity bringing plenty of enjoyment for buzzer anglers. During the daytime, pond olives have been appearing in their characteristically erratic fluttering fashion, while evening sedge activity has also produced some rewarding sport.

At other times, anglers have been tempting fish with large Daddy Longlegs imitations. In sunny conditions, bloodworm patterns have worked well, while large, sinuous lures presented deep have proved particularly effective for attracting freshly stocked trout.

There has also been some excellent dry-fly sport. Small green F-flies have successfully represented the pond olives, with brown foam daddies proving equally effective. The Nothing Fly and small foam beetles have provided useful alternatives.

This week’s fly box:

🎣 Olive Buzzer
🎣 Green F-Fly
🎣 Orange Spinner
🎣 Waddam’s Hare’s Ear
🎣 Hare’s Ear Shipman’s
🎣 Olive Nymph
🎣 Bloodworm
🎣 Daddies and Hoppers
🎣 Foam Beetle
🎣 CDC Sedge
🎣 Nothing Fly
🎣 Snakes and Zonkers

🎣🌿 fishing lakes
# Peter-lee # Middlesbrough

13/09/2026

🎣 Sharpley Springs Fishing Report

The gradual cooling trend continues, and the trout are certainly responding! Fish are becoming increasingly willing to feed, with some excellent sport available—particularly beneath cloud cover and when a cooling breeze ripples the water.

Trout are rising confidently to pond olive imitations and daddy-long-legs. A sparsely dressed, size 18 green-bodied CDC F-Fly has proved especially effective when allowed to drift naturally with the breeze on a light tippet. When fishing Daddies, try a slightly stiffer leader to help prevent twisting.

Below the surface, small nymphs and olive buzzers continue to take fish, while damsel nymphs are being chased enthusiastically. Anglers prepared to plumb the depths with Snakes and similar patterns are also enjoying plenty of bent rods!

The best sport is currently coming during the evenings, when sedge imitations become an essential addition to the fly box.

This week’s fly box:

🪰 Olive Buzzer
🪰 Green F-Fly
🪰 GRHE Nymph
🪰 Amber Spinner
🪰 Foam Beetle
🪰 Detached Brown Daddy
🪰 Hoppers
🪰 Snakes
🪰 Sedgehog

With cooler conditions arriving and the trout growing more active, it’s a lovely time to enjoy an evening beside the lakes at Sharpley Springs. Tight lines! 🎣

06/09/2026

LATEST FISHING REPORT
Cooling Water, Rising Fish Activity
Pond olives, evening sedges and the welcome return of daddy-long-legs are creating rewarding sport.

AT A GLANCE Fish are becoming more active as temperatures slowly ease. Concentrate on rougher, cooler water and match the natural movement of the fly.
What’s happening on the water
With temperatures gradually cooling, trout activity is increasing - particularly in rougher water, where the fractionally cooler conditions are drawing fish.
Fly life remains encouraging. Smatterings of midge, predominantly olive, are appearing alongside pond olives and providing excellent sport for anglers prepared to fish close nymph, dun or spinner imitations on light tippets.
Best approach
• Pond olive hatch: Sparsely tied dun imitations are currently the standout choice. Let them drift and move naturally with the breeze - a delicate presentation, but especially satisfying when it comes together.
• Between hatches: Black or brown beetle patterns in a variety of guises have continued to tempt trout.
• Evening rise: Try sedge imitations or low-sitting emerging midge patterns such as Shipman’s Buzzers and Top Hats. Brown versions can also make convincing emerging pond olive imitations.
• After the rain: The long-awaited damp weather has encouraged daddy-long-legs activity. Good imitations should continue to attract interest throughout the rest of the season.
Fly box favourites
MATCH THE HATCH
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Olive Buzzer
Black or Brown Beetle
Olive / GRHE Nymph
Elk Hair Caddis
Green F-Fly
Detached Daddy
Apricot Spinner
Nothing Fly
A light tippet, a natural drift and a little patience could be the winning combination. Tight lines!
Tight lines from Sharpley Springs

07/08/2026

Summer proper with temperature due to soar again . Only the occasional afternoon sea breeze offered respite on a couple of days but temperatures are due to return to something more manageable- before the next heat wave.Best time to fish is early evening sparse midge hatches together with pond olive spinners and a couple of sedge species in evidence.
As the angling day progressed damsels were very much in evidence ( and dragonflies ) and resident brownies had their beady eyes on unwary adults. Pond olives hatched in the afternoons , especially from the Eastern edges as the sea breeze gave some cooling wafts. This , again gave some excellent technical fishing with close copy flies needed.
Some anglers chose to plumb the depths and the comparatively cool water to find the stock . Sight indicators were invaluable while others utilised weighted offerings or slow sinking lines. Bloodworms, blobs and olive snakes all had their moments.
Fly box:
Olive buzzer
Apps bloodworm
Waddams/Shipmans hares ear
GRHE nymph
Olive nymph/Diawl bach
Olive f fly
Apricot spinner
Damsel nymph/adult
Daddylonglegs
CDC sedge
Invicta
Sunburst blob
Olive snake
Sent from my iPad

24/07/2026

Following feedback from a number of our members and visitors, we’ve decided to extend the closing time of the security gate.

From now on, the gate will close at 6:30 pm instead of 6:00 pm.

We appreciate that many people are travelling from work and were finding the 6:00 pm closure difficult. We hope the extra 30 minutes will make it easier for everyone to access the site.

Security Gate Update

Thank you to everyone who took the time to let us know your concerns. We always value your feedback and will continue to make improvements where we can.

19/07/2026

Great news! Sharpley Springs Fishery will be open tomorrow, Monday 19th July.

With the recent drop in water temperatures and the rise in oxygen levels, we are able to reopen Doxford Lake and Alice & Albert Lake.

We look forward to welcoming you back and hope you enjoy your fishing. Tight lines! 🎣

Address

Sharpley Springs Fly Fishing
Seaham
SR70NP

Opening Hours

Monday	5:40am - 10pm
Tuesday	5:40am - 10pm
Wednesday	5:40am - 10pm
Thursday	5:40am - 10pm
Friday	5:40am - 10pm
Saturday	5:40am - 10pm
Sunday	5:40am - 10pm

Website

http://www.sharpleysprings.co.uk/

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