It was pitsford opening day today and as I turned up on the Pines this morning hopes were running high. I worked my way from Rigby's point towards table bay and the wind was light as just pushing off the bank, it felt great. As I got closer to Table bay a few people had caught fish, 5 here 4 there and one guy with 6 so I settled in here.
We were using the usual stuff with black and green or orange boobies on a di 3 and medium retrieve. Unfortunately the wind started to pick up and the fish switched off, I persevered till around 11 and then gave up. After a drive along the gravels and North Farm Bay it was the same story as others had failed to catch. Hopefully they switched on in the afternoon.
I managed some good casting practice so decided to call it a day, bank the knowledge and come back tomorrow.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
First grayling on the fly
Before the trout season gets underway we thought we would get a bit of practice on the rivers and see if i can catch one of those elusive grayling. The plan was for a two day trip fishing on the River Lugg near Leominster. We had booked the Mortimers Cross beat on the first day and Lypole on the second.
When we arrived the water was high and running a little coloured however not bad enough to stop us though. There was a great meadow with some easy fishing and then it headed into the woods where it was a little shallower and running a little faster. The snowdrops were out and provided some great early spring colour. Set in a steep sided wooded valley it was very picturesque and there was wildlife everywhere with the buzzard calling most of the day, siskins in the Alders and then a steak of blue over the river as the kingfisher flashed by.
We persevered all morning without success working our way along all of the water, searching out any shoals but the going was hard. Early afternoon and Phil managed to catch one just inside the trees and a gold head hares ear. After he had shown me the photo of a lovely half ponder I knew a bit of spot nicking was in order and we both walked up to the spot.
I got myself comfortable on the high bank between the trees by kneeling at first and then sitting down. There was a branch infront of me half submerged and I trotted my hares ear from just upstream and about 5ft out in between the faster current and the branch. Mending the line a few times allow a nice trot down to the next tree trunk in the water. There was a small back eddie which helped slow the fly down.
I had what i thought were a few takes and was feeling very upbeat but when it then snagged on the bottom that confidence subdued. After about 15 mins Phil said he was going for a walk and just as he started off the blimp went under and I was connected to a fish. It was a short fight but i could feel my heart beating. I then realised that we wouldn't be able to get a net in the water so just did what i had done with many roach before and I eased up the rod tip and swung the fish in slowely.
YES! YES! YES! it was only about 6oz but I had finally overcome that hurdle and very pleased to land my first grayling on a fly.
Phil had just landed his second and Vasy came walking along the road. We settled him in the same spot. The fish had gone quiet now but just before we left he came to the gate with a tiny little grayling where the fly almost looked bigger and he too had caught his first grayling.
The second day on Lypole and the water was running faster a little more coloured. We worked all day to find the fish without success even though their was a small dark olive hatch early afternoon but I never saw a fish rise.
The wildlife was even better here and made the day with owls, woodpeckers, Dippers, Nuthatch, siskins etc. etc. The highlight of the day for Phil and Vasy was when they arrived at the weir to see a mother and 2 cub otters playing on the island. Fantastic!
I'll definitely be going back again.
When we arrived the water was high and running a little coloured however not bad enough to stop us though. There was a great meadow with some easy fishing and then it headed into the woods where it was a little shallower and running a little faster. The snowdrops were out and provided some great early spring colour. Set in a steep sided wooded valley it was very picturesque and there was wildlife everywhere with the buzzard calling most of the day, siskins in the Alders and then a steak of blue over the river as the kingfisher flashed by.
We persevered all morning without success working our way along all of the water, searching out any shoals but the going was hard. Early afternoon and Phil managed to catch one just inside the trees and a gold head hares ear. After he had shown me the photo of a lovely half ponder I knew a bit of spot nicking was in order and we both walked up to the spot.
I got myself comfortable on the high bank between the trees by kneeling at first and then sitting down. There was a branch infront of me half submerged and I trotted my hares ear from just upstream and about 5ft out in between the faster current and the branch. Mending the line a few times allow a nice trot down to the next tree trunk in the water. There was a small back eddie which helped slow the fly down.
I had what i thought were a few takes and was feeling very upbeat but when it then snagged on the bottom that confidence subdued. After about 15 mins Phil said he was going for a walk and just as he started off the blimp went under and I was connected to a fish. It was a short fight but i could feel my heart beating. I then realised that we wouldn't be able to get a net in the water so just did what i had done with many roach before and I eased up the rod tip and swung the fish in slowely.
YES! YES! YES! it was only about 6oz but I had finally overcome that hurdle and very pleased to land my first grayling on a fly.
Phil had just landed his second and Vasy came walking along the road. We settled him in the same spot. The fish had gone quiet now but just before we left he came to the gate with a tiny little grayling where the fly almost looked bigger and he too had caught his first grayling.
The second day on Lypole and the water was running faster a little more coloured. We worked all day to find the fish without success even though their was a small dark olive hatch early afternoon but I never saw a fish rise.
The wildlife was even better here and made the day with owls, woodpeckers, Dippers, Nuthatch, siskins etc. etc. The highlight of the day for Phil and Vasy was when they arrived at the weir to see a mother and 2 cub otters playing on the island. Fantastic!
I'll definitely be going back again.
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Draycote re-opening in 2011
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
http://hallscommercial.agencypilot.com/store/documents/other/192+1670.pdf
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?
Saturday, 9 October 2010
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!
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.
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.
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