A Return to Happiness

Phil mid river
A young lad in 1977 sits by the side of his Dads fishing rod ,
his Dad has wandered back down river to get his lads net
which was a way of keeping the boy happy while he fished .
While he was away the rod fell to the water off it's rest ,the
young lad puts it back only for it to fall off again. Under instruction
to leave the rod and not retrieve the line the boy thinks as a
quick look for his Dad and against his better judgement decides
to look what is causing the rod to fall . Moments later the biggest
fish the lad could imagine lays next to him on the bank .
That day was so magical for the boy that the river is a very
special place some 30 years later .
I know this as you probably guess the boy was me .
So to return to her banks is special every time the same feeling
returns also every time the line tightens into a fish a gentle reminder
of that day.
The chance of another magical moment seems to be a reality
every time I visit .To share this with others who feel the same is
a gift I wish everyone could share ,so it was with great anticipation
that I set off with Phil and Mike .

Hydropsyche

I had been busy at the vice and fished the first few runs with
a Oliver Edwards inspired pattern . The result half a dozen
lost fish most small and one half pound Brownie. Looking at
the picture above maybe the fly is dressed a little to far round
the bend , something I will have to sort out on my next tying
session.

Mike's Trout I fished the first part of the day with Mike , he is becoming
more and more competent with the fly and is a pleasure to
spend time with , especially like me by the side of water .
We moved downstream Phil was in is favourite spot though
the going was tough in the low water . I noticed a few rises so
popped on a dry a few casts later I hit into a Brownie again
only half a pound or so but it ran at me and I could not strip
line quick enough ,it found enough slack to shed the hook.
I left Phil with a few fish rising fish and moved further
downstream with Mike .
Love it! After another fish less hour (and a quick dip I fell in)
we moved and found a few fish Phil wandered down he had
took a Brownie and his first fly caught Grayling ,a sign
of how quick he as improved as it was not easy fishing.
Mike fished the inside crease of the big pool and was quickly
into a good fish we did not get to see it and he was gutted,
after losing it I think and he later admitted he that it may
of been his only chance . I had decided to fish the outer crease
and wade mid river but before I got to the river Mike was
tightening into another good Brownie he landed this one and
also another later, both fish around the pound.

A few fish took flies and after a small trout I hit into one
of the better fish a nice Grayling fin perfect a typical Ribble
fish.


A lady swims away A couple of snaps and a satisfied feeling as the fish made it's
way gently up stream . Moveing a little downstream again I
had another couple of Brownies the last around the pound mark


A good day
The day ended as the fish swam away another memorable
day spent by the river for this not so young lad .