Chubtastic with Worzel

It's been nearly impossible over the last week to blog
the computer is playing up.
Anyway enough of the moaning, last night was good so
I spent most of the morning with my tech head on alas
to no avail. Logans little net book to the rescue and even
though I thought it would be a long process it's been
quite easy.
We fished some old water that I have fished a lot in the
past, it looks OK another foot of water would be needed
ideally, I managed a nice Trout though before we moved
on too faster glides.
Mike was in first a good Chub just short of 4lb,
I took four fish in quick fashion from a glide I
have wrote about before. Back then it was a
''white water Chub swim'' now even though very
fast it was a lot easier.
A bit of a difficult wade took me too some short narrow
glides, small they may have been but the fishing was great.
I landed a small Chub ''well 3lb'' before a nice Barbel and
a great Chub only problem I was in fast water and Mike was
on the other side of the river result no scales and not the best
photo's, The Chub ran close to 6lb I would say.

We had around a dozen good Chub between us very nice.

Mike with a good fish he had one at 5lb later.
Mike found a nice hat he looked like a cross between
Worzel Gummidge and Chris Yates (famed river angler)
I decided to nick a name from both and as you can see
Worzel the fisherman was not most impressed.
''Quality

And So It Starts

It does not seem that long since the coarse season
started last year, Phil, Mike and I had booked the day
off . This year we all had busy days ahead so I hoped for
a few hours late on.
Mike had the same idea and we made our way and planned
too fish until dark. The 16th of June is a special day in the
calender for me a return with the float rod on the rivers is
something I relish.
The river was quite low and my thoughts as we made our
way was of how to fish the conditions. I love the center pin
but I thought of fishing a little lighter on the closed face.
It worked pretty well first cast and run through brought
a solid thump on the float, I lifted into a very good fish,
now I wished I had heavy gear on, not that I was fishing
very light ''7lb hook length'' but this was a big fish and it was
boss. Five minutes later and making no head way the fish
found a ledge and pinged the line. Thinking this may be
a sign of things too come I put 10lb line straight through.
I had a few good Dace before the Eel above. We had four between us.
Mike had the first fish (landed) a nice little Brownie.
The action was a bit hit n miss but a nice Sea Trout was very welcome well
above a pound.
I did finally land a Barbel around 6lb. The river seemed in good
nick just needs a little water which after the rain today may well
be sorted .
So first day a dozen Dace, Sea trout, Chub, Barbel and two Eel's . I think
after reading reports that the heavy storm the night before
put a bit of a quick cold water on which had left the river with
a tinge of colour I don't think it was too bad.
Mike almost had the same only having a Brown instead of a
Sea trout.
Now how can I create some time to get back.

Local Stream

Had a few hours to kill Sunday the question
was how and which way and place?
A quick call to Mike ,Phil and Pete left me quandary
we all seemed like a few hours was likely I had a little
longer but could not decide.
As always a bit of running water always seems to win
and so me and Phil decided to give a local stream a go.

I like to fish the dry but the way to fish this stream
and get the best results is a little wet fly fished upstream,
the most important thing is weight of fly and length of
leader, get this right and the results are great.
A little silver headed fly seems to be just the job
a short cast and your eyes glued on the leader is
all that's needed. I will try the NZ style sometime
as I'm sure this could be just as deadly.
A few fish topped as we arrived so Phil had a go
while I turned a few rocks. I was pleasantly
surprised to find all the life of a very clean
river.
Phil moved up stream and took a nice fish .
Phil on the right in the photo above blends in
which on a small stream helps, slow movement
and not much wading can be the difference between
a fish and a dry net.
The fish came swift and fast from a few inches
to a monster for this river of a foot!

All the signs are of a very healthy little stream
all kinds of birds common on our rivers and a
a good amount of insect life abounded.
After twenty or so fish I took a couple on the dry
''well it would be rude not too'' and then finished
with another on the wet as the light faded.
As always I did hit one very good fish and lost it
just to bring me back and keep me keen for next time.

Ribble nearly Ribble

This report is a little late, it's around two
weeks since I made my way to the Upper
Ribble . It was a great day if anything
a little hot, I made my way to an area
Known for its beauty so even if the fishing
was hard the scenery would be good.
Unfortunately I arrived at a most delightful
spot to find everyone else had had the same
idea, not fishermen by the way but people
just enjoying the river swimming etc.
I made my way to the lower river and even though the
going was tuff managed to eek a few fish out.
Two good Browns on the dry and a pleasantly
surprising brace of Dace.
Not so bad I guess.

Such A Nice Day

I had thought my chances to get out over
the weekend slim, maybe a late few hours
was going to be my limit. A phone call from
Phil "who had a free day" only made it worse.
I was planning on going to see Mike who was
fishing a stocked water I had mentioned, he had
a good session looking at his report on his blog......
http://www.manchesterfishingfiend.blogspot.com/
The fishing gods smiled on me though, a phone call
from Melanie's Dad asking if the kids would like the
day out with them freed up the day.


I called Phil and we packed up the fly rods and
made our way to the river.
Phil wanted to fish some spider patterns
I was intent on bugging upstream to start
with and so we spent our first hour or so
fishing both methods.

I had a few small Trout and some nice Grayling.
Most fell to the point fly .
I have been tying up some new patterns
I have been inspired by good tying but
losing bugs that take a good while to create
is frustrating. They look good and so I have
created my own inventions although inspired
by other peoples patterns.
I was especially pleased to take fish on my
new nymph and creeping caddis these are quick
to tie and very bug looking. The fish seemed to
agree, my thoughts had been do fish count?
just legs or tails or a rough imitation
will do, when trying a Oliver Edwards imitation
this can save time so a lost fly not so bad!!
I would say the flies are Oliver Edwards "esk"
but without the long process. It struck me when
watching his DVD that the flies he used did
not seem quite as exact as the ones you
see him tie at the vice so to answer my
question fish don't count and if they see
a bug with four legs or six they don't care.

The Grayling may not be quite as good at maths!!


Not big fish but all in good nick even though
out of season.
Phil had made his way to fish the fast pocket water
with me.
Very fast takes seemed to be small Trout
hard to hit but it kept me on my game.
I moved downstream to a nice bit of water
and decided to relax, fishing down and across
with some traditional wets, another Grayling soon
obliged taking a Red Tag very nice.
My last fish fell to the dry to end what turned
out Such A Nice Day.

Middle Earth At 40

What better way to spend the day after your
40th birthday than with your Friends fishing.
That's what I did Sunday, the weather was
not the best but a visit to the Hodder and
Middle Earth did not allow the constant rain to
dampen the day.


Mike and Phil had arrived before us and
Mike already had a nice escaped Rainbow
in the bag on our arrival.
The day was spent on the dry fly for me although
as you can see the river is full of life , the Stone Clinger
above (False March Brown) and the Hydropsyche below
seem to be under every stone on the river bed. We had
a good laugh looking and catching the rivers little creatures,
Bullheads abound along with Beatles, Caddis, Minnows and
countless others, one Elver even made a surprise appearance
very far up the river indeed. I have turned forty but for an
hour or so it was back to being a kid ''brilliant''


Phil fished the dry also and despite a good few rises
he found hooking up a problem the fish when he did
get one quite small and hard to keep on. Good fun
and practice all the same.

Again I fell on my F-fly+ to catch the fish, I call
it the + because I put a few tail fibers on .
I picked out one tied up to match the Pale Watery
spinner above at least that's what I thought it was
and a quick look seems to confirm it.

A few mini fish and a couple of decent ones
made the Day a very pleasant one it gave me
chance to try out my Birthday present from
Melanie's brother Carl.
The fishing was not easy and the weather didn't help
we managed about a dozen fish between us .
Petes new to this game but he was the last one fishing,
his passion for all things around the river is contageus
I'm sure he will soon look as much at home with a fly rod
as Phil and Mike.

I hope I spend the next years enjoying time out
on the water with a few fish and good company
it made it a wet but Happy Birthday.

Looking To the Future

Spent Sunday with Mike on the Ribble.
The wind was gusting and the sky bright
not the best of conditions but it was so
nice to be out on the river.
The first few runs through brought a lot of
little bangs and pulls little Parr to blame .
This is such a good sign for the future,
on my last couple of visits the river as
been alive with small fish jumping
and generally looking like running fish
in miniature.
I caught three or four and hooked many more .
The day turned better weather wise and the
bank was full of small flowers and the odd fly
think the one below is a good example.
The odd rise gave me chance to use my sedge
imitation which fooled the fish quite well last time
out.
The fish seemed to be taking a small pale
crane fly and a switch to a light F-fly brought me
the best fish of the day.

The fish was 11in about 3/4lb very silver and lept
and fought above it's size think it was either a
Sea Trout although it could have been a larger trout
on it's way out to sea for the first time?

Mike fished hard all day for little reward fish wise
but he got to wade a very clear weed free river
and spotted some nice glides for later in the
season on the pin and float.
The sad part of the day is when you leave
a last look at the river ensures your return.