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.