Kinder surprise

After trying a number of times last year, Matt managed to catch his first trout at Ravensthorpe. It was not a great evening as the fish had been on in the morning and the fishing was tailing off. However there were still a few fish rising taking buzzer off the surface. I had been looking forward to an evenings dry fly so that's what i would do. I had a few takes as we drifted on to the lodge so that was encouraging but over by the island the fish had definitely gone off. The wind didn't seem to be dropping so we headed off for Cotton end to see if we could get some quieter water. I was fishing a team of three dry's to see if i could get the colour and surprisingly a fish came up and took my carrot fly. Not only surprising it was a fish but also that it took red where i was expecting green. Matt put on a soldier palmer and after a cracking take got snapped up. Stronger nylon and a green tag sedge was set up and not too long to wait - another one was on. Nice and easy he took his time, a nice rainbow of 1-10 and well hooked, just what you want for your first fish. The wind didn't drop much and there were plenty of fly on the water but the fish were waiting till the next morning I guess. With the sun going day it drew a great trip to an end.

Bewl National

This weekend was the Barclays Bank National on Bewl Bridge and won by Steve Longhurst from Thames Valley who pipped my boat partner Phil Cross by 2 ozs. I am sure this was Phils first blue trout. The team prize went to Barclaycard who had 24 fish, my contribution to this was only 2 but a well earned 2. The practice day was hard work with intermittent hail storms. Matt irons came and joined Mike and I and as we worked our way around the water it was great to see places i hadn't been too before and Rosemary lane looked great, even a few fish rising. We didn't end up with many fish but had a plan for the next day. We headed straight for Canoe Bay in the corner of the Dam and too our surprise no one followed. As we settled in we were all in, except me! I was going to have to get used it. House Martins, Swifts and Swallows were skimming the lake taking the hatch of green buzzers as quick as they could. As they wizzed around it was quite remarkable how close they came and inevitable i suppose that we hooked one although that was me just the once. The hook had caught in it's wind but it didn't affect it as it kept flying. Phil did the un-hooking honours and it was amazing to see it sitting on Phil's finger before flying off. At half time we had a great BBQ and the AGM and a good time to warm up. By now it was chucking it down with rain and it never let off all afternoon. By 5pm we had enough and came in an hour early to get changed and dry off before driving home. An enjoyable couple of days with some good guys but it didn't fill me with enthusiasm to do more fishing.

River Test @ Wherwell

I was really looking forward to fishing the River Test. For many years it had been on my "must do before..." list and for some reason had never had the opportunity till this weekend. And it never let me down as with just an hour to go on Sunday afternoon I managed to land this 44cm Grayling from the main river. I cast across to the far bank and mended the line again and let the tungsten headed gold ribbed hares ear head for the bottom. As i tightened up i was in and it was solid. With the current pushing through that dorsal fin gave it extra fight but after a good fight wow, good fish! My first Grayling was not quite that size but welcome none the less. I had had 4 takes and fish on but they wouldn't stick. As i headed back to the hut Jim Collins was settled in his chair by the weir and said their a loads of fish in hear but i can't touch them, help yourself. It was only 3rd cast and as the fly came round I saw the flash of silver in the clear water and a welcome grayling brightened up the morning. I was not the only one catching good fish and everyone was having a few fish with Grant more than most as usual. Stuart had a good rainbow off the river but goodness knows where they escaped from. Even with it drizzling with snow and all the fields water logged it was still a lovely place. Manicured grass paths and neat river edges with close cut reeds, clear water and white chalk gravel bottoms - lovely. I kept thinking i should take my boots off on the carpet or at least repair any divots i made. A great weekend!

Food for thought

This was the title of my talk this week to the Northampton Fly dressers Guild at the Cardigan Arms ( I have added their site to my links ). I tried to take my Wildlife monitoring knowledge and demonstrate this with all the samples i have to try and bring alive what trout are thinking when they are eating. The weather has been naff so my gathering of samples was not great. I had break the ice but came up with a few Damsels and Corixa's and that went down great as they swam around the trays.

It's a Shame you cant do a talk in the summer when all the flies/nymphs are about. However there was plenty of samples to work through ant it seemed to go down really well.

First ever fly line

I was out with Matt this weekend at Ravensthorpe trying to catch his first fish. It was due to be a nice day, cloudy but warming as the day went. That was how it was and with black buzzer hatching early, olive buzzers later and a few fish on top, perfect conditions i thought. Unfortunately it was a little more difficult than that. I set up with a Wetcel 2 which is a little old but it has a great feel to it, small white lure and a black and silver gold head on the point. I had heard the fish had been mid water to to the bottom. The first stop was in willow bay and though they were not fast and furious the first 3 were in the boat and i was convinced of the method. Matt although not casting as far was on a Di5 and getting to the depth. Every now and then the rod was dip over with a take but they wouldn't stick. It went a little quiet so we headed over towards the far shore where the small green buzzers were hatching and a few fish on top. Although a number of others were chasing these surface fish i went down deeper onto the Di7. An early fish for me confirmed there were fish at depth and although i questioned Matt's takes I was amazed that i saw his rod arch over twice with nothing to stick. It was then that Matt declared he had a fish on - YES!!! I cooley reached for the camera to take a few shots for posterity while he played it.

As it came to the surface the fight got a little less and DAMM!! it was only a full floating and three flies. I pulled it in carefully with the hope of a fish still on the end from the previous owner but to no avail.

We moved around a little after this and got a good view of the whole reservoir. We finished off back dragging across the front of the Dam where i thought something could just pick up his flies. Fortunately for me they grabbed mine including a nice 3 to 4 pound rainbow. Time was up and i had failed to catch Matt his first trout. Never mind the challenge is still on!

Bob Pickering Challenge

The final Bob Pickering Challenge match was held today at Grafham with memories for Bob - where have those 10 years gone? but also for John Wilson who died at the weekend. It was Johns idea to get a few more together and hold this for the last time before the trophy is handed back to Andrea to keep and although he tried hard to attend thanks to Mike Philpott who finalised the arrangements and made a great day. We all enjoyed ourselves and with Ash looking professional and ready for action ( with a cool box big enough for the job ) he was destined to win the day with 5 fish for over 12lb.

Dougie was on form as usual although it had been so long since he had fished you can see him in his course gear asking "where do i shove this line?"

Vernon was also on form and managed to come 2nd with 5 fish for 10lb. Rumour has it he only fished half a day as it took so long to work out how to put his MFI boat seat together!

My boat partner for the day, Shane Tibbets was third with 3 fish. Although i was sure that mine would have weighed more if I had left in the stomach contents of killer shrimp!

It gets dark early these days and as the sun came down over Grafham and the Bob Pick Trophy we headed off to the Lion at Buckden for a very civilised sit down and for Andrea to present the trophy. With a few beers in memory of Bob and John they would have approved!

John Wilson and Julian Davies pass away

Having been ages since i last added a post it is really sad that i have have to write about loosing two friends over the weekend. John Wilson from Market Harborough was a lifelong friend/colleague/mentor of mine and someone i always looked up to and respected, unfortunately he lost his battle with cancer this weekend. He gave me many subtle steers in life that i shall always be grateful for. Our approach and outlook on life were very similar but his came in an engaging way with more experience. He had a great way to get me relaxed, positive and motivated, as i am am sure he did with others to,o and this meant I always fished well in his company which gave me many treasured memories. John had a great passion for the outdoors and absolutely loved all aspects of it. He enjoyed being out in the fresh air of the countryside and marvelled at how spectacular it can be. He wrestled with his conscience around how killing an animal could be conservationist as i do, but in his era of commercial excess, pesticides and habitat loss i have no doubt he gave back much much more! One of his qualities i admired most was that he was an excellent leader, not only managing many staff at Barclaycard and Barclays Bank but also their fishing clubs. He did this in an all encompassing way making everyone part of it and its success. The Barclays Fishing Club and thoughts of him will live on for many many years. Julian Davies was still fighting his cancer battle and we thought was on the winning side until unexpectedly passing away suddenly this weekend. Many Monday nights in Julian's company has been entertaining, engaging and enjoyable. He has done an enormous amount for fishing in Northamptonshire through Gilders and Mid-Northants. I have worked for him when he was Chairman and with him when a Vice-president and was always impressed how he had an aura of authority and used it in the right ways. Out on a fishing boat though and he was fantastic company but fiercely competitive. I remember very clearly how i am sure he tried to knock one of my fish off the line at Grafham that would have taken me one ahead. Funny how I perhaps liked him more for it too!