Early Bird

It had been on my mind too visit the River Dane. My
last visit with Phil was a very damp squib, the river
carrying too much water and colour for a stick float
angler.
I arrived and was met by almost perfect conditions,
the river was at a good level and still had a little colour
in it. The morning was turning out quite nice "all I need
now is a few fish."
This small river can change, so even though disappointed
it was of no surprise too find one of my favourite higher
water swims with a newly fallen tree lay bang in the
middle of it. The swims very good in winter so I hope a
good flush will move it before the cold weather arrives.
"Not to worry many places on here to try" My mind
had been on taking a fish from a fast water swim and
even when the waters up you can normally squeeze
a Grayling or two out today was only a few inch above
normal summer level so no problem.
Phil will know this swim. I can almost tell what fish I'm
going to get just looking at the water and feeling with
my feet what the river beds like on the Dane, this little
river as taught me so much over the last 30 years or so .

My first runs through brought me a few Dace
which I was glad too see, the rivers had plenty
of these years back but they are on the decline
to get a few small fish was good. After playing
around with the depth and shots, I got the
presentation just right for holding back, the
result a couple of nice Grayling.
Time for a move. This part of the river is under fished
and it took me some time hacking through the jungle
like bank side undergrowth. The spot was my Dads old
Barbel swim and with that in mind I mixed some pellets
with my bait. This is mainly too avoid the Minnows
which can be a pest in any slower water. I started with
maggot and was soon into a few Chub a couple just over
a pound the biggest towards 4lb
The smaller fish is a good sign, all the fish in
very good condition.
I lost a good fish in a snag, so stepped up the line fishing
straight through on my main line. Next cast and another
good fish ploughed downstream, it put the rod and line
too the test but the stepped up tackle soon had a Barbel
in hand . The next one showed me no mercy and broke the
hook!! may be a fault but the first time it's happened.
With a few Barbel around I swapped to a banded pellet
on the hook, my plan too stick the rod tip into the snags
and hold the float back. Almost like stret pegging . As
you can see below the water is snaggy and the fish are
tucked in tight. I could see the shapes drifting over
the sandy bed of the river and after a short wait the
float drifted away, my strike was met by the solid thud
of a good fish. I learned some years ago that the best
way too play a fish in these swims is too pin the rod
tip low into the water keeping your line on
the bottom under the snags instead of high which
seems to almost pull the fish into trouble, the
next steps easy"hold on."
My time was running out I had promised Melanie
I would be home for 10.30 it was now 11.30 so one
last cast in another Grayling swim was all I could
afford too risk.
A swift response and another Grayling ended a
good morning.