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!

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?

Lights and fog horns needed!

It was that misty on Pitsford this morning that I was bracing myself for the lights to come out of the mist and that eerie noise of a foghorn going off in front of me. It didn't lift till lunchtime either and while there were a few fish about they weren't particularly feeding.

Phil had the first fish on a hopper in front of the cliffs a really nice 2lb brownie but we had hardly seen a fish rise. Feeling a bit more confident that there were a few fish around I decided to try and locate some rainbows. I set up a di5, cat boobie, blob and a cormorant and was sure I would locate a rainbow or two.

A we drifted off the rocks by the cliffs all went tight and after a good fight managed to slip the net under another good brownie. It's like they have their own diary, it's October now lads lets get out and feed!!

My second pull was just as the flies hit the surface and second pull and he was on. This time though he pulled back and screamed off the reel. With his dorsal in the air wallowing on the surface I new I had a good fish. When he was returned he must have been 4 and three quarters. I managed one more but then the fish went very quiet and we only had pulls after that.

I was aching now as the cold was taking hold and pleased to get in the warm and give up in front of the telly!

The Elinor Jinx

No reflection on Elinor, Ed or the way it is run but just my amazing regularity to find it either easy or hard. Yes and today it was hard for me and easy for others.

While I think congratulations to Ed, Dave Currie and Nick Dunn who made it too the England team this year from Chew. Especially to Dave who like me has being trying for a number of years and come so close on a number of occasions. Excellent!

On a day with hardly a cloud in the sky I started on the river bank and had a good number of fish rising in front of me. They were taking small green buzzers but i didn't seem to have any small enough. I went on a size 16 klink and then started to have action and even had a fish on and lost it, great sport! As the rising fish slowed and the hatch was over I headed off for a walk around Titchmarsh.

When I got back Phil still hadn't caught but there were quite a few catching off the Dam so we both muscled into the corner by the trees. We managed a few takes but still no fish. They were taking on Damsels, daddies and hares ears, but not for me.

Another sit down in the sun to reflect and sense a cold coming on and we called it a day.

BOS take the TW Walker Trophy

The Barclays/Bank of Scotland match is always the highlight of my year combining superb venues, fierce friendly competition and great company. This year was no exception.

I was drawn with Derek Sibson a Scottish international and competitor in many of the team competitions around the UK. I was looking forward to a few fish.

As we set off from the boat dock it is always mayhem. The boats need to be pushed off the shore backwards wrestling with strange and temperamental motors. Simon and Ralph skillfully avoid a collision.


It was cloudy and flat calm. At least we were half way to some decent weather and hopefully they would be wanting the naturals. I started on a slow glass so that i didn't disturb the surface but still kept in the top two foot. I had a black hopper booby on the point, a black cruncher on the middle and a fiery brown hopper on the top dropper.

We started just off the dead tree in international bay and I took a fish really early on my black cruncher and then took another but lost it at the net, that was going to make it a harder day than I had planned. Derek was fishing the same line but was on lures including blobs, boobies and cormorants. Two different styles but as the day was to go on his would be more productive. He put a cat booby on the point and never looked back. As we slowly drifted into the corner the fish started to chase the booby or cormorants across the top, it was great fishing - even for me watching. I held on to his shirt tails and we even had a double hook up - good job we took two nets! Just before lunch we were in the corner of the bay and two fish in 3 or 4 casts and Derek had his 5 fish limit - Good Angling!

We headed back to the lodge for lunch and a catch up with the others who had also managed to find a few fish. The most fish seemed to have been caught between hotel bay and the cages. Our catches were not better but perhaps more consistent than the Scots so it was all in the balance. Phil had a great morning with 4 fish as had Paul Williams but Mike had only one, plenty of time yet!

The afternoon was altogether different as by now the sun had burnt off the cloud and it was clear and flat calm, a grueller! I persevered for the afternoon around the dead tree. I managed one fish fairly quick and just waiting for the last. After takes and lost fish it was one of those days.

Derek on the other hand showed his class and every now and again got motivated to fish rather that taking phone calls and every time caught fish on whatever he set up, very impressive,

We decided to move to loch end and as the ripple got up a little the fish were moving. RIGHT THAT's IT! On went three cormorants and within a few minutes my last fish was in the net, Phew!

As the boats started to arrive back at the lodge it was closer than I had thought and all the boats were within one fish of each other but Derek Purves and John Tulloch had bagged up and I guessed this might make the difference. I don't think even BOB THE BUILDER could fix it for Barclays to win today!!


We did indeed get pipped by 40 fish to 46 or 94lb to 103lb. Derek and John did make a difference but also ably supported with limits from Kenny, Mikey and Derek. The Jammy git Mike himself managed to take the best boat trophy with Kenny after bagging up in the afternoon. Derek purves presents the trophy.


We finished off the trip with a visit to Balmaha on the banks of Loch Lomond and to sus out maybe another days fishing in the future.

Mentieth, a picture postcard

Menteith looked fantastic with dramatic mountains, rolling fields, green trees and blue skies. All the history and mystery of Mary Queen of scots being imprisoned on one of the islands in inchmahone castle just added to the atmosphere. The boats were primed ready but with clear skies it was ok for sun tans but not great for fishing.

Fishing with mike we quickly got into practice mode searching the water for shoals of fish and looking for those killing methods and a plan for tomorrow. We found fish from hotel bay around to the cages and beyond. We also found them from loch end all around through international bay and back to the lodge. How come the midlands waters can't have this spread of fish?

The fish were well up in the top couple of feet and we settled on a the midge tip although the floater and slow glass were in reserve. We felt as though they didn't want a colourful fly and focused on black or brown. We were preferring hoppers, crunchers, cormorant booby or a black tadpole all retrieved with a slow figure of 8 even static

Mike managed to catch a couple of fish on a black tadpole - his only one, and when it got stuck on a rock later in the day there was only one answer. He would have to walk on water to retrieve it!! No surprise to me!



I expected that it would cloud over tomorrow so i would focus on naturals first and get my fish as quick as I could. The Barclays team talk followed in the evening and Ralph had great sport on a cruncher and Ross on a Gold head hopper (Yuck). So with the info I had and few beers to settle me down - just medicinal! The plan was set for the match against the Bank of scotland tomorrow.

Smiling Teith

On our way to fish against Bank of Scotland Mike, john, phil and I stopped off at Callander for the night. There was no water in the rivers and the Lenny was out of action but against some previous advice and the thought we wouldn't catch anything we took a rod on the town water of the River Teith for the afternoon and fortunately lady luck was smiling on us.

We parked in the car park on the river and in the town. It felt awkward fishing with an audience but most were on holiday so I guess it all added to the authenticity of the town. While Compo, Foggy and Clegg sat eating their lunch I tackled up. An 8ft four weight and a size 14 black klinkhammer were all I needed and was soon into rising salmon parr. It was good fun getting a rise to the fly and I suspect it was a little large for the small fish however I was happy being selective.



I managed a small brownie from the side of the river bridge and it amazing what good sport it is on a light outfit. We moved along to the Salmon pool and it was great to see Salmon leaping every few minutes. The water was deeper here and smaller fish were constantly rising. I put a long cast out and a fish rose and took the flyn magic. It fought well but was extremely surprised that it was a chub of about half a pound. Having spoken to a few people since they didn't think they were this far up in Scotland but the evidence is below.




I managed another trout and chub and it ended a very pleasant start to the week in a great setting. We went back a little later for the evening rise which didn't happen and after getting naffed off with being bitten by midges we retired to the pub to tie flies for the following day.