Praying for the wind to drop

Yes we fishing into Normanton Church on Rutland today and if only the wind had dropped i am sure we would have caught loads.

As it was there was plenty of action but they just weren't holding on. Our first drift of the day went from just outside the lodge all the way up Normanton to Fantasy Island. There were pockets of fish all the way. The wind was a pain though. My leader didn't last long and i perhaps made a mistake by adding a shorter one. The decision to change from the Di5 to Di7 was a good one and at last i could really control my flies properly. On the drop with a cormerant and I was into my first fish.

Derek Purves had invited me to a regular Scots gathering and it was good to catch up after the last Barclays match. I am sure Derek was contemplating the conditions as he changed his top dropper though.

It was a shame that that drift ended though with loads of action and for Martin and Stevie behind it was very similar. Travelling upwind though was like being on the North sea. I put my back to it and shut out my mind, however it seemed as though there was someone behind me chucking buckets of water at Derek at will. The bilge pump didn't work and we soon started to fill up - i knew that bailer was to be used for something useful!! We got to Yellowstone and Derek then had time to do his coat up properly.

A few drifts later we turned into the point of Old hall and after Derek took a fish I was into a nice brownie and suddenly had flashbacks to the Classic. However it was catch and release today and after a great fight it was very welcome to the net.

After a number of drifts later we felt as though we were on auto pilot so headed back to the Church. While it wasn't quite as good as earlier we chased the shoals around and managed to catch a few more. I ended with 3 and Derek 6 however he had a few more that could be counted as they were shook off before the net.We had been carved up a number of times during the day but when the Rutland Belle came too close, I was definitely intimidated!

All in all a great day, great company, good fishing and a football match later. Come on United!!

A Passion for Trout

Mick o'farrell was at the pioneer last night having a few beers and selling and signing his new book.

I would definitely recommend it whether it be for the annecdotes, techniques or fly patterns. Mick has a great wit and this shines in the book, it is also very personal and the essence of his fishing comes out as well as a load of secrets.

The flies and techniques are brilliant, very natural and through his writing in the trout mags he is bringing wet and dry fly fishing back to life on the midlands reservoirs.

Just a quick review but if you want to buy it go direct to his website at http://apassionfortrout.com/index.html and e-mail him.

Toft Shallows

I thought I would have my first outing over Draycote since it re-opened and see for myself what was going on.

There are a few changes, but if I am honest they didn't detract from the fishing and perhaps we were just used to being looked after by Keith and having easy fishing that we may have been spoilt.

Yes the lodge is closed but the new little office is functional and does the job. The parking is further away but it is only recently that you didn't have to walk from the sailing club car park. We dropped our kit off and then parked in the country park - take £2.50 in change with you. When we had finished we just walked the kit across the road through the gate and into the car park, no further than if you carry your kit from the boats to the back car park at Grafham.

You can only pay for the fishing by cash at the moment which is a pain if you didn’t know it should only be short term. I had heard there was only 9 boats and there may have been but there was only over 20 on the pontoon, however I would suggest you book as they were all taken on our day.

The bank fishing is natural bank only and restricted car access so after you have paid a fortune for a season ticket I would expect that it is a real nuisance in the wrong winds or when the fish are in a particular spot.

From a boat it was no difference and we could choose where we wanted. We started over the shoal strait out from the lodge where there were loads of fish taking adult buzzers. We tried to imitate but I think they were preoccupied so we left them alone and headed for Toft Shallows.

As we drifted the boat next to us was in, then again so as we headed closer to the shore and I had a couple of follows we dropped the pick and made camp for the day. I was getting quite a few follows but none of them would stick.

The fish were here and they were cruising in a shoal down the bank and across the bay and we patiently relaxed into it. It was going to be key that we found the right flies and Phil was first off as a fish took his cruncher and stuck. There were a few boats drifting around and those catching I noticed that they had a blob on the top dropper. With this it took me back to Pitsford and I set up with a damsel on the point, cruncher on the middle and a tequilla fab on the top.

It wasn't long before I was into my first fish on the top dropper and another followed not long after. I was still getting a good number of takes without them sticking so I started to vary my retrieve to entice them on and it worked. Before we left for the day I managed another 6 and while it didn't set the world alight it was a very pleasant relaxed days fishing.

Talbot Butler match was FAB

I was looking forward to this match as always to support Arnold but I was going to be fishing with James for the first time for a number of years. Unfortunately though his kids were down with chicken pox so I set out for a great day with Geraldine.

It was a cold wind with powerful gusts and I would normally go drifting and pulling in the heavy water but with some hot info that the day before they were catching on green daiwl bachs chucking up the bank in bog bay, that was where we were heading.

The anchor struggled to hold, a combination of the wind and weed on the bottom but it made a big difference. After we went around 6 times it finaly held, a bit far out but we were grateful. Later we were reluctant to move too. I had a few takes but on retrospect we were 20 yards off the best bit and this made a big difference.

A series of spots down pig stream, gorse bank and the cliffs provided nothing and we were back where we started. Mike and Ash by now had anchored and were catching well. They had a spot just off duffers but it was close to a point and they were fishing right on the edge of the coloured water with Damsels and FAB's.

We took the hints, anchored closer in off the bog bay point and put a Tequilla FAB on the top dropper. A faster retreive and in no time I was into a fish, It wasn't easy but another two followed. The fish were here but all geraldines fish came off, also any fish that I took on the damsel, daiwl bachs or buzzers also came off or took short. It must have been the way they took in the wind or current, whatever, it was frustrating!

Mike and Ash took best boat on the day with 16 fish very impressive and second place were on 6. A nice meal, chat and bantor at the Royal Oak capped of a really FAB day

Barclays Fly Fishing National 2011

A fry up in the hotel and a couple of cups of tea and I was ready for anything. As the organiser it was all a rush. New people arriving, packed lunches sorted, boats arranged and I still had to get set up and do a briefing.

At 10am though it was all sorted and we were off. As everyone rushed over to Sam's Dyke and Mucky Bay to sit tight all day, Powie and I followed behind and headed off with Mike and Ash to the willows with no other boats in tow.

Drogue out, drift set and as we drifted towards a bank of coloured water it all went tight and the orange booby had struck my first fish. Another on the next drift, then one for Powie, another for me and we thought the decision was right.

Unfortunately though as the cloud came over it got tough and we struggled most of the afternoon. Around 3pm though the sun shone again and we started to get takes again. Powie was getting more than me but unfortunately his luck was out and they were dropping off.

While we were struggling, Mike and Ash joined us at just the right time and started catching immediately. I then pinched a yellow eyed tequila booby out of his extensive collection and started to catch myself. 15 minutes to go one needed to bag up and I could feel the adrenaline running again.

As our time was up we had 25 fish between us and knew not many teams would have beaten that on a tough day.

The rest of the crowd had had a good day too. We ended up with an average of 4 fish a rod which was very impressive.

The results were:
Radbroke A 25 fish for 60lbs 6oz
Barclaycard 25 fish for 44lbs 13oz
North East 16 fish for 39lbs 15oz
London Southern 16 fish for 37lbs 9oz
London Northern 15 fish for 29lbs
Radbroke B 13 fish for 28lbs 2oz
Clearing 13 fish for 24lbs 10oz
Thames valley 12 fish for 21lbs 8oz
Reading 3 fish for 6lbs

Congratulations to Kevin Walmsley who took the best bag of the day 8 fish for 20lbs 15oz and Ralph Painter who took 2nd with 8 fish for 20lbs 5oz. Dave kilburn had the best fish a 4lbs 10oz rainbow.

Unfortunately for us all the bigger fish had shown in Sam's Dyke and Radbroke had managed to find most of them. Well done guys.

Barclays practice

It was practice day today for the Barclay's Bank nationals and we were back on Eyebrook. Last year there were big fish on small flies from the lea shore and I am sure it won't be too different again.

We started at anchor and while the fish came around every now and again and we were having takes, it didn't seem to set the world alight, no in fact Mike and I were both bored. Do we chop and change to get the right flies, move to another spot or go searching out fish on the drift? No brainer for Mike, the drift it was.

There must be fish on the windward shore even though no one was fishing it.

We took short drifts from the road corner through the willows and up to Robo's cabin. As Mike stayed on the floater I decided to swap to a Di5 and some lures as these are easier to control in the wind. We were into fish straight away taking a fish or having takes on each short drift we took.

There was a bigger concentration of fish by the willows and holding just off shore but in clear shallow water. I was buzzing now and even managed to have 3 fish on at once at one stage. The Cat booby was taking most fish although the orange blob upped the catch rate and the damsel in the middle a few too.

We continued round and then over to Mucky Bay and Sam's Dyke. It appeared that some had done well but others poorly. By this time though it was heaving with anchored boats and bank anglers so we headed over to finish off in the corner of the dam.

We were concerned that as it was me giving the briefing we wouldn't be in the fight for the best spots, together with the anchoring giving in consistent results we decided to start off drifting into the willows and take better consistency for the team.

Plan in place it was off to the hotel for a few beers!

Bob Church Classic

I was lucky enough top get an invite to the Bob Church Classic yesterday and it was great to see Bob in good form. Yes he is looking a bit older and taking a few more tablets but at least they seem to be working a little better than a couple of years ago. He is still the fishing force of old though and this year has managed to catch his 50th Pike over 20 pounds. very impressive!

I drew Clive Morgan on the day and even though he was from London he fished there more frequently than me on the midlands reservoirs. It was great to fish with someone very experienced and he started in impatient form. We both agreed that we had the flies and techniques to catch if there were fish which allowed us to have a short drift and if nothing then keep moving. With this we worked from Whitwell, monument, sykes, fantasy, three trees sailing club, gibbets and old hall. Nothing! Unfortunately Clives 3lb zander wouldn't count. Off to the North then and don't spare the petrol!


We were just heading across to Barnesdale and Clive had a great spot that there were boats in Dickinsons Bay and they are only ever there if the fish are there. From here I could only think of Grant Gibsons tips from last week that the fish were close in on a damsel and cats whisker and it was to stand me in good stead.

The first drift we hugged the bank and out across the point. the fish had been stocked in here and were still hanging about. Clive had interest on the first drift and the boat had two infront of us - were in! Second drift round and Clive had a nice fish in the boat fishing a di7 and a couple of boobies. I changed over to a Di5 with a small cat boobie on the point, a small cormorant booby on the top and a damsel in the middle. As I hung them a little longer all went tight and I was into my first. It was a brownie of about a pound and a quarter and all fish were welcome.

Once we had found a few fish we were determined to keep with them as long as we could and fortunately for us that was all afternoon as other boats came and went.

Clive was catching rainbows and managed 4 with the odd brown where as unfortunately I was catching browns. As my third fish came it was heartbreaking to have to return it and not for it to count and i did the same with another two as well as shaking another off in disgust. I did manage to catch one rainbow and ended with 3 but if only i could have weighed in the other 3 a top ten would have been beckoning.

I was closer in to the bank and I think the brownies were occupying the lies around the rocks and shelf whereas the rainbows may have been shoaling a little further out.

They have recently changed the restaurant in the lodge to be a posh Italian. I am sure wuith views over the lake it will take off but not great for the hungry fisherman. they looked after us well though and with a few speeches to help the evening Clive finished 13th and i was 45th but with one more fish for him and brownies to count for me it was all about what could have been.

Any way we had a great day look forward to when my stroke of luck does eventually come.

Royal Wedding escape

As much as people keep saying Pitsford is better off the bank at this time of year I really fancied a morning afloat. If nothing else I have a few competitions coming up and needed to get my boat box organised.

It was the Royal Wedding today and while I don't have any great aversions it all seems so commercialised and sensationalised through the media that I thought the highlights would suit me fine. When we arrived the water was heaving with "grumpy old men" just like me. Well, some of them were a bit older!

We started in the small half as a few fish had been stocked there last week, Phil on the nymphs and me on the lures. I had a take and the fly was clean off - must have been a Pike! and Phil managed a cracking fish of around three pound with a lovely tail and must have been overwintered. His orange cheeked black buzzer doing the damage. We persevered for a while without further success and then started off on a site seeing trip around the water.

In a cold wind we struggled to find any more fish and settled at anchor on Sailing club bank. There were a number of bankies bagging up on the point into the bay on what seemed to be a tight shoal of stockies. Well they must have been tight as they didn't come out to us!

The cobwebs blown off, drogue wet and my box organised, I was ready to face the wedding highlights on the telly. How nice it was that they managed to do it exactly how they wanted and keep a few secrets too.

Not sure where their honeymoon is but if there planning on Pitsford i would recommend leaving it for a couple of weeks until the fish start feeding again!