A Day With The Lady

It's Melanie's 40th Birthday today, so with that in mind I
had took a couple of days out of work. It being a surprise
she had arranged a full day of girly things on Tuesday.....
It looked like the fishing Gods had looked kindly on me
leaving me with a free day!!
It was good because a busy weekend had left me fish less
and a chance to re-fill the old battery's could not be ignored.
I approached my first swim with caution, a quick call to Phil
had warned me of the low conditions and spooky fish , he
had fished over the weekend. The glide looked empty as I
peeped from over the bank side, resembling some kind of
sniper than a fisherman in an attempt to stay hidden.
I started to feed and within a few minutes the first fish
glided across the swim, after a few more minutes a few
more fish, feeding like this is a must in low clear water.
I entered the water some 30yards up stream and my first
run with the float brought a nice Chub all going to plan.
Then I had a mad few minutes it all went pear shaped.
First I managed to lose the Chub as I was taking a quick
snap it went into the streamer weed taking my float with it.
So I set up again next run snagged on a branch lost my hook
length. I went to get a hook knocked my bait over loosing
half of it Oh well at least the rain had stopped.

I carried on and took another few Chub not big
but good fun, the other thing it was nice on the
old rod now fully restored, and it was very nice
just the job.
Last time out I had a couple of Roach Phil's
had a couple as well no big ones but signs they
are still around is welcome all the same.
When I reached the area I caught one last time
I had it mind to move the weights slightly, I put
the weights in the last 18in but spread them out,
the last small one only a few cm off the hook, this
helps when holding back which for the shy fish helps
a lot, I only managed one but was happy.
I have had a lot more Dace over the last few visits
not like years back but better .
My first Grayling was a good one but it slipped the hook.
Soon after another decent fish darted around in the fast
water.
The Grayling switched on and the next few hours
was one of the best I've had every run was met by
a fish and some of a better quality than usual.
A true sign Autumn here is fallen leaves and Grayling.
Great fish in top condition and on my pin and old rod
life's great.
The next one was strange a short stubby face,
no damage just looked strange.
I made my way to the area Phil hooked a Barbel
the fish are still around. I was feeding when I saw
what looked like a good Chub it's large fin gave
away the fact it was in fact a big Grayling, much
bigger than any I have caught or even seen in
the Dane before. I dropped in the river above and
fed again the response with my first run was instant
it was a good fish but not the big one.
With the water low I put it into a little fast pot of water
behind me to recover. My next cast brought me another
good fish if the other one had not been behind me I would
of thought it the same fish. It allowed me a nice photo of
a good brace to end a day with the Lady even if it was not
the one I had planned.