River
Please help us to monitor the river health by completing the catch return after every visit, even blank days (we all have them… ) help us to understand the river state.
Tin Mill Angling Club hold the fishing rights to approximately 1.5 miles of the Upper Don. This is primarily wild trout and grayling fishing. These fish are easily spooked, especially in low water conditions so stalking is the best technique when the river is low. Please use your own judgment and common sense if the river is very low, as fish may become more stressed easily. Fish welfare is our number one concern. Good handling practices are actively promoted and to that end wherever possible please wet your hand before handling fish and try to keep fish in the water when unhooking.
There is a good head of Brown Trout and Grayling with the odd course fish including perch and chub. You can expect Brown Trout of anywhere up to 2.5lb and Grayling up to 2lb with the majority of fish being around the 1/2 lb to a 1lb mark.
Tin Mill angling Club are undertaking work on the river in conjunction with the Environment Agency and the Upper Don Trust to improve habitat, bank retention work and migratory links to aid fish passage on the river. Please be mindful of Redds when wading as they can be hard to spot and we rely on our wild fish population. The river cannot be re-stocked and hasn’t been stocked since the 1980’s.
The beats are numbered starting downstream at Deepcar, working upstream to Thurgoland. The “What3words” app can be downloaded via Google Play and gives the most accurate destination result for navigation.
Beat 1: Lowood club to the road bridge.
Starting opposite Lowood club and moving up stream to the first bridge, this section can be difficult to traverse but has some good pools. The club has the LH section of bank (looking downstream) between the lower bridge and the next bridge up. Above this the club has double bank fishing up past the weir to the next road bridge. There are some great pools on the lower section of the beat holding some good Brown Trout and Grayling in numbers. There is a canal like section with woody debris in the upper section of this beat. The trees and heavy silt river bed make it difficult for fly fishing in this section but it is possible.
What3words grid reference for parking :
///opened.spilling.myself (Starting downstream at Deepcar, parking on public road)
///shallower.float.propose (Starting upstream parking on roadside opposite Tin Mill lane)
Beat 2: Road bridge to stepping stones.
This section continues upstream under the bridge from beat 1 with double bank fishing right up past the stepping stones. This section has some good features and pools along its length with deep areas available on the lower section of the beat, becoming shallower as you move upstream. The weir pool near the top of the beat holds a good number of fish, mainly Brown Trout.
What3words grid reference for parking :
///pixel.cakewalk.lightly (Along Tin Mill Lane)
///dining.relishes.admit (Main club car park, access to beats 2&3)
Beat 3: Above the stepping stones
This shorter beat offers double bank fishing in a mainly straight run upstream past the stepping stones to just past the old broken stone weir. Here the river deepens and turns right slightly to a private section of river where the houses on the LH bank (looking downstream) own the land. The lower section of this beat holds mainly Brown Trout with the upper section towards the stone weir holding Grayling in good numbers.
What3words grid reference for parking :
///dining.relishes.admit (Main club car park, access to beats 2&3)
Beat 4: Wortley top forge section
This section of river is the upper most beat of Tin Mill Angling club. It starts at the Wortley Forge road bridge and moves upstream with a few notable pools before you get to a left bend and a deep section of river, after which the river become more shallow. The beat runs behind Bramhalls ponds.
What3words grid reference for parking :
///void.lends.forgets (Parking at the downstream limit only. Please do not obstruct the lane)
A clarification on Crayfish:
Dear members, there has been a lot of debate recently about crayfish in the river. I wish to convey a few facts and information about crayfish in the upper Don as it currently stands (2024).
As we all know signal crayfish are and invasive species and are detrimental to river and Stillwater habitat in the UK. They can out-compete our native crayfish and put native populations at risk. However, there are many factors to consider before we start quoting “Dave” on a forum from the internet about trapping and eating invasive species.
Firstly, Signal crayfish carry a disease which is very harmful to our indigenous populations. Biohazards can be spread from site to site on clothing, footwear & nets without the angler and member of the general public realising it. It’s always good practice to employ the “Check, Clean & Dry” approach detailed on the EA and Angling Trusts website to help prevent the spread of biohazards.
Crayfish should NEVER be moved from the site where they are found. When I say “site” I mean a very localised area! One detrimental example would be bringing a crayfish (potentially full of eggs) off our river at Tin Mill and unwittingly introducing it or its eggs into the ponds. The population thrives, the banks get undermined and the club ends up with a bill for tens of thousands of pounds for bank retention work. Tin Mill has always prided itself on being a very accessible club to all, hence the low membership costs. Please help us keep it that way.
As mentioned above crayfish eggs can be spread in much the same way. This can be very harmful to still waters as well as rivers as crayfish undermine banks eventually creating a potentially dangerous situation for anglers. Another reason crayfish should not be moved from the area where they are found.
Identification of crayfish is sometimes less than accurate. Could you tell the difference between a young Signal and a White claw crayfish?
A trapping licence is currently required (and is not currently being issued by the EA in Yorkshire). The fine for illegally trapping crayfish is anywhere up to £2500. The club will not be held responsible for anyone illegally trapping crayfish on its water and will follow current legislative guidance.
There is a school of thought and a few scientific studies out there about Signal crayfish population management. One strong theory is that the crayfish is incredibly cannibalistic and the large Signals eat younger ones and eggs too which COULD help regulate population numbers? Trapping generally targets these larger crayfish. Now I am very aware they also eat fish eggs and pose a threat to our fish and other indigenous species but as it stands they are in the river Don so it’s a case of living with them until a species specific solution can be achieved.
Also, any trapping creates the potential for the inadvertent use of unsuitable equipment which could harm or kill other aquatic species. For example, you’re breaking the law if you recklessly allow water voles to drown in inappropriate traps or if you place traps near to water vole tunnels.
From a legal stand point ALL Signal crayfish (if positively identified) should be dispatched humanely but not removed from site. If you are not comfortable dispatching a crayfish you should place it back where you found it. While the EA decide what to do about the future of Yorkshire trapping licences, I would ask all members to follow this guidance.
For further information or clarification please contact myself (Rob Ranby) on 07712 687364.