That Special Time Again

As a lad I can remember, that feeling of

going to bed knowing the day after we

could fish the rivers. I thought that I

would not sleep. It was like Christmas

for me the 16th . The thing is now I'm

older Christmas is more a time for my

kids, yes I still love it but that magic

feeling is not the same as in youth.

Not to worry though because the truth

is the night before the river opens to run

a float down every pool and glide fills me

with childhood dreams.
So it was off to the river, a glorious day

no rain for weeks and every word seemed

to point out that we stood little chance of

a fish. Well I have listened before and

to be honest I think although harder you

can have some great sport on the stick that

other methods don't bring.
I think roaming the river wading, watching

and of coarse the odd cast learns you so much.

When you mix in the fly fishing, pre coarse season,

the river gives up just a glimpse of her many secrets,

enough for you to understand the likely spots that bring

the occasional bending of the rod.

It was great to see Phil find a good spod of

fish. I had weighed a few places up while out

on the fly and this was one, I did not need to

tell him though, which shows how at home he

is on a river. This is a swim that many would

walk past and think "no chance" well he's one

up on those. I would say the mix of the long trot

and fly makes for a more complete river angler.

I do know it brings us more than enough to keep

us very happy.

It was Chub, Trout, Barbel and Trout

for most of the day the best an 8lb Barbel

to Phil I took one over 6 and some good

Chub the best over 5lb
I had walked off to fish with Mike who's

day was cut short by work commitments.

He had fished earlier and had a lot of trout

he moved to avoid them and at one point

became duck rescuer. While I was down

river Phil had his biggest fish but no trophy

shot. He soon put it rite though.

A great day and happy anglers.

Busy busy Busy

Well I have been "Busy" this should have been

put up a week or so ago. I'm snowed under

with work, not complaining though.

I have some pics of Mikes wedding and our

"night club" adventure not that much

adventuring took place!!
Anyway I got out onto the river with Jeff .

We seem to be a gathering of like minded

anglers....... being out by running water is

good, better if you can share the catch of

the odd fish with good company and a laugh

or two on the way.
I spent most of my early angling life by

the side of my Dad. Although as I got older

he often sneaked off............

"after that special fish"

although as I later found out so he could have

a quick smoke in peace! without the worry of

me telling "my Mam!!"

The thing is I then spent a lot of time on

my own ,the solitude only broken with the

odd chat. Often I would start a day and finish

it without a word.

Then I found something, I had gone out with

Phil on the river. I more or less promised him a

Barbel, so pressure on! I was relaxed though and

confident and it was not misplaced. The thing I

found that day was not just a fishing buddy but

the joy which I got from watching Phil catch.

That was the same feeling with Mike. We

fished a "snowy river" and caught one fish

but the adventure of the day was like being a

kid again "fantastic."
I fished a new bit if water Pete found

around Christmas again like two kids

we tackled up and even though we had

no monsters it was great.

Phil asked today "does anyone read my blog?"

well I do and I go back and read older reports

on days shared "White water Chub" is one of

my favourite reads and I mean of anything

I was there and every word brings back a memory

and a smile!!!

Every time I come on here

I check all the blogs to see who's updated and

you can learn so much so keep blogin!!
Jeffs a river angler, new to fly but he has

the river craft, so battle nearly won, just

a technique or two. This stretch of water

is ideal for a traditional approach or that's

what I think? Its difficult sometime to

describe what makes you take a fish or two

Down and across ? well not really more

across and down? well not that either.

I sort of came across this, its dead drift

with a twist. Most of the flies we fish would

in natural form be swept along with the pace

of the river, so its more across and the mend

follow at rivers pace with the rods length the

twist is to lift and dip the rod, the slack by

dipping the rod tip can slow the fly down,

only for a second but so so vital, the lift can

tighten the line and just again for the vital

second the fly rises or darts upwards. The

mending of the line is important a fast dragged

fly is not on a fishes menu.

You can then start to work the river more

searching the creases and slacks more

effectively.

May be rubbish but it works for me. It's hard

to describe such things because its just self taught

technique.

Jeffs first trip brought some good takes but no fish.

I think he was sort of hooked on getting one.

The next trip and he was in within the first half

hour. The river was low and we were told

"Busy ........people swimming"

He now had confidence, a fish .... it works!!

We carried on and he even managed a little Sea Trout .

I was getting a few as well and as dark approached

we both gazed into the fast shallows as the Chub where

busy spawning. We can fish this area with the pin and

as the count down to the coarse season approaches I cant

wait.

Fishin n a Curry Later

It's nice to be out again fishing with friends.

The occasion was special because it was a

kind of angling stag party for Mike.

We found ourselves on a new bit of water

and it looked great!
From the moment I saw the first glide and pool,

the way to fish it screamed out at me! The odd large

fly flew and skipped across the river.

I did not rush, just took in the surroundings watched

the water a little and planned my attack.

I put a large silver bead head PTN on the tip

and on the dropper a F-fly. It may seem a strange

combination but it brings me a lot of fish when fishing

down and across. The F-fly is fished wet, in broken

water like the one that faced me I think it covers a lot

of the fishes natural food drowned, emerging ect.

I think, or it may just because I use it a lot that

the F-fly is one of the best all round flies.

Number one it's very easy to tie, not that I'm

lazy (although the Mrs may not agree) but if

you are fishing under trees, or likely to lose

a few on the cast a simple pattern that's quick

off the vice is a luxury. Not just simple but

deadly, fished dry it never seems to deny

me a take from a rising fish.

If you can't tell I'm a fan!!

I had a few fish small Parr and a half decent

Brownie. Mike had a few bangs but I was sure

a spidery kind of pattern would bring him a fish.

He tied one on and moments later he was into

a string of small trout.

I lost one good fish and moved to the next

bit of decent water. A few fish rose and I

whipped off the dropper and point placing

the dropper on the point.

I had some great sport over the next hour

or so the best being a good brownie (above).
I even took a little Sea Trout off the top.
I decided to have another cast in the first pool.

I'm sure some big fish lie in wait, another angler

was just leaving so I decided to give it a go a bit

deeper Phil had taken a out of season Grayling

earlier and I finished the day with another.
A great day followed by a funny night........

a few pictures to follow!!

Me n Dad

Chances to get out have been limited, mainly

down to the little ones. So my only spare time

was spent on a sunny afternoon with my Dad.

We arrived at an easy to access fishery. Not

either of our number one choices but with my

Dad not wanting to walk to far and needing

decent ground it's perfect.

On arrival after a quick chat to a few already

fishing, it seemed the going was hard, but my

Dads owed a few favours off the fishing Gods.

After a couple of trips to the car for the tackle we set

up and it wasn't long before we had some action.

In fact it turned well worth the extra effort. It's

my preferred option to throw the rod in the car

and get to some running water. I take the ability

to walk, climb, crawl and fall into some fishy spots

much to easy at times, and when a lot of these times

was spent doing so with the "owd fella" walking to the

car for his tackle is little to ask for someone who as given

me so much over the years.

So with these thoughts echoing around my head we got

down to catching some fish. First thing getting him

comfortable, not easy!! The riggers of years of hard

labour on the building sights of the North West leaving

it's toll.

The moment the float dipped for the first

time , the hook struck and his rod tip arched

into a beautiful Golden Orfe, I knew it was

worth it. For those minutes as the fish dove

and swirled he was a kid again no pain just

the joy of what fishing is. The smile on his face

was more than any reward I could ever receive.

We went on to catch nearly every cast just a Dad

and his little lad fishing again.

At Last

After a long winter at last I got a few

hours and a few fish.
It was a still water, not my usual fishing these days

but with the lad in tow at least it meant a fish or two.
Even though the going was a little slow we managed

to catch.

I didn't have that long and when I left Phil

had worked out the way to catch wary bites

on the tip.
Mike steadily caught no monsters but decent enough.



Just as I was leaving Phil had a nice Perch which

made his day.

I will try and get some time over the next few weeks.

Family and work have put my spare time to a limit.

I hope to get Logan interested over the next few

months, it just needs to be a little warmer.

New Water

Today was going to be the day that

I got back onto a river or so I thought!

I had to put some wall paper up. Logan

is having is bedroom decorated so

Saturday after rugby training I gave

my Dad a ring.

"Give me a lift" I said.

Having fished for years my dad was

soon at the house helping. I thought

that;s it free day Sunday.

I looked at the phone "1 message"

kick off 11 am . My lad had a game.

With luck I would be back at dinner.

We had to wait Logan won a trophy.

Very few things are worth me missing

time by the river but the look on his

face meant this was one for sure!!

It was later and again my phone had a

message it was Pete.

"Fancy exploring @~~@+ upstream"

Literally saved by the bell.

We got the map out 10 to 15 minutes we were

looking at some nice water and quite close to home.

A few of out of season Trout means this water

will be visited with the fly come spring.
A couple of Chub made us wonder what surprises

the river may hold.
Not a bad day at all in the end.

Spot The Fish

Spent an afternoon on the upper river.

Conditions may of been hard but the

hope of a fish or two was high.

I set up with two little nymphs suspended

under a dry. The way I have been intending

to fish for a while is to go small. So the little 1.5

tungsten headed PTN's tied on a SLD 18's

was I hoped going to do the trick. The dry

was a sort of Klink with a large foam post,

I had also tied a small loop of mono on to the

fly and it fished a treat. Well what I mean is

it floated and cast well!! the fish paid little

notice.

I was busy with this trio while Rob was

doing the same but with just a duo.

We fished the first run hard and it

looked good water but not a touch.
After wading across and almost not

making it I decided to fish a little Red

Tag tungsten head nymph, again tied

on a Partridge SLD only slightly bigger

on a 16's. This was teamed up with the

same fly with a yellow tag my little plays

on very traditional Grayling flies. It did

the trick half way down the pool the line

tightened into a fish and we were both glad

to see a sign of life.
The fishing was hard so we moved down stream

to a area we have had success before. I fished

a team of nymphs Czech style without a touch

in several pools with very good water.

What I did see was two Goosander and a few

Comorants. This seems to be very common

and the Grayling, Dace and other fish also

are just not in the same numbers. It's very

sad.