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As the waters flow down of the moors the becks occupy the valleys with wonderful names like Newtondale and Staindale. These becks are often rich little streams tiny but sheltered from the extremes of the moor tops. They are swollen with the waters from the emerging springs from the exposed aquifers. The fish now are greater in number and the first Grayling appear to join the Brown Trout. Although here a half pound fish is a rarity.
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The becks can change from been a few feet wide and fishable in wellingtons to streams that require chest waders in the space of a few miles. These becks then join together and become rivers gathering together they slowly become larger and end up in the larger vale of York rivers. These becks and rivers lower down the catchment become richer in fish and wildlife as the waters slow and join, then the trout and grayling give way to the dace, chub and barbel even fish that are usually associated with still waters like the Bream colonise the slow deep sections of the Derwent.
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Eventually the river Derwent is all that flows away from the area eventually joining the Ouse and flowing into the Humber estuary and out into the North Sea. Historically these rivers of the vale of York were rich in migratory fish with huge runs of salmon and sea trout. These fish were absent for decades but encouraged by the reduction in pollution and the removing of obstructions the Salmon and Sea trout are returning to these wonderful rivers.
The vale of York can offer river fly fishing to satisfy most tastes there are even a couple of Spring fed streams to rival the southern chalk streams. There are hidden jewels and little treasures to discover and sections of rivers that can be fly fished for under a pound for a day ticket or less than a pound a week for a season.
