I heard today that Draycote will be open again in 2011 and they will be looking for someone to take on the lease. The repairs haven't even been started yet, the car park will not be available and you will not be able to drive around bank fishing. However at least it will be open again and the lease states they have to stock 35k fish so it should fish well again too. I have also found the invitation to tender for the lease if anyone is interested.
http://hallscommercial.agencypilot.com/store/documents/other/192+1670.pdf
Thursday 18 November 2010
2lb Grayling for Phil
The digs were magic! we stayed at the Bateman Arms in Shobham and I would highly recommend it. We sat infront of the open fire having a chat about fishing with a few local ales, a hearty meal and friendly locals. Perfect!
We woke up the following morning and it was raining, intermittently hard but consistent. It was going to be a damp day. After a good fry up we headed out to the Leam beat on the Arrow that we had already booked and once again it was a great stretch as it ran between two weir's and meandered through, beech and alder woods, scrub and farmland.
Not quite as picturesque as yesterday but it had great variety to the fishing with many more pools to go at. Our first walk in and there was another otter, amazing. It was just on the far bank no more that 20 metres away and we stood and watched as it ducked and dived and played under the bush for a good five minutes. It's worth going just for that.
Phil found himself a nice bend and settled in. I on the other hand was a little nomadic and worked my way up the bank. It wasn't long and i heard Phil shout and he was into one on a gold head hares ear. It was about three quarters of a pound and with renewed confidence he persevered on and it paid off with another grayling this time much better and was measured at 42 cm - a little over 2lb. What a fantastic fish and a magic achievement on a damp day.
He had found a pocket of fish and the right depth and could have fished there all day. I on the other hand was impatient and continued my exploration up to the start of the beat fishing a short while in each pool i came across. Even though it had rained continuously and we were a little damp by now it was still great to watch you line come down stream with that anticipation.
Phil now had moved upstream to a second bend and had a brownie first chuck and then another grayling over a pound. He obviously was doing something right and had had brilliant day with 3 grayling, one over 2lb and a couple of brownies returned.
Although I never saw any fish in the flesh as I was always somewhere else so I am going to have to check the time stamp on the photos just to make sure!!
I had tried my heart out but with no success so my first grayling on the fly will have to wait for another day.
I am sure it will be worth waiting for!
We woke up the following morning and it was raining, intermittently hard but consistent. It was going to be a damp day. After a good fry up we headed out to the Leam beat on the Arrow that we had already booked and once again it was a great stretch as it ran between two weir's and meandered through, beech and alder woods, scrub and farmland.
Not quite as picturesque as yesterday but it had great variety to the fishing with many more pools to go at. Our first walk in and there was another otter, amazing. It was just on the far bank no more that 20 metres away and we stood and watched as it ducked and dived and played under the bush for a good five minutes. It's worth going just for that.
Phil found himself a nice bend and settled in. I on the other hand was a little nomadic and worked my way up the bank. It wasn't long and i heard Phil shout and he was into one on a gold head hares ear. It was about three quarters of a pound and with renewed confidence he persevered on and it paid off with another grayling this time much better and was measured at 42 cm - a little over 2lb. What a fantastic fish and a magic achievement on a damp day.
He had found a pocket of fish and the right depth and could have fished there all day. I on the other hand was impatient and continued my exploration up to the start of the beat fishing a short while in each pool i came across. Even though it had rained continuously and we were a little damp by now it was still great to watch you line come down stream with that anticipation.
Phil now had moved upstream to a second bend and had a brownie first chuck and then another grayling over a pound. He obviously was doing something right and had had brilliant day with 3 grayling, one over 2lb and a couple of brownies returned.
Although I never saw any fish in the flesh as I was always somewhere else so I am going to have to check the time stamp on the photos just to make sure!!
I had tried my heart out but with no success so my first grayling on the fly will have to wait for another day.
I am sure it will be worth waiting for!
Wednesday 17 November 2010
My first Grayling please?
Following our success earlier in the year we decided to cut down on the travelling and have a couple of days on the River Arrow this time. It was a personal challenge to catch my first Grayling on the fly.
We arrived at Arrow Mill and it was a clear day but with low hanging mist and frost on the ground, crisp and fresh you could call it. The scenery couldn't be better with the Arrow meandering through the farmland and orchard and passing the old mill that must have stood for the last 400 years. It was a step back in time.
With our first walk to the top of the beat we disturbed a mother otter and a cub. A quick slash and dive downstream was followed with a few cries from the far bank with the cub checking where she had gone. fantastic! We worked back up stream and it was a pleasure to fish.
The fishing was hard with the river running a little fast at a time when you wanted to fish slow and deep but we persevered and it was a pleasure exploring and taking some spooky photos in the mist.
By mid afternoon there was a steady flow of sailing boats drifting downstream as the dark olives must have been hatching where the sun was out upstream.
We only saw what we thought were 3 fish rise though and I felt I needed a break and went off to explore the water insects. Bloody typical! as this was just the 15 minutes when they decided to take and Phil and Steve were into fish at almost the same time. Steve's was around half pound but just short of a pound Phil's was the best of the day. What a great fish, sleek and silver with with that distinctive dorsal fin.
I rushed back up and kept fishing but to no avail. Never mind it was easy fishing, learned a bit more, great company in a wonderful place. What more could you ask for?
My first Grayling please?
We arrived at Arrow Mill and it was a clear day but with low hanging mist and frost on the ground, crisp and fresh you could call it. The scenery couldn't be better with the Arrow meandering through the farmland and orchard and passing the old mill that must have stood for the last 400 years. It was a step back in time.
With our first walk to the top of the beat we disturbed a mother otter and a cub. A quick slash and dive downstream was followed with a few cries from the far bank with the cub checking where she had gone. fantastic! We worked back up stream and it was a pleasure to fish.
The fishing was hard with the river running a little fast at a time when you wanted to fish slow and deep but we persevered and it was a pleasure exploring and taking some spooky photos in the mist.
By mid afternoon there was a steady flow of sailing boats drifting downstream as the dark olives must have been hatching where the sun was out upstream.
We only saw what we thought were 3 fish rise though and I felt I needed a break and went off to explore the water insects. Bloody typical! as this was just the 15 minutes when they decided to take and Phil and Steve were into fish at almost the same time. Steve's was around half pound but just short of a pound Phil's was the best of the day. What a great fish, sleek and silver with with that distinctive dorsal fin.
I rushed back up and kept fishing but to no avail. Never mind it was easy fishing, learned a bit more, great company in a wonderful place. What more could you ask for?
My first Grayling please?
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