November 2006 FlyFishing Report

Another month ends and November has certainly provided anglers with some fine stillwater fly fishing!

Loynton Trout Fishery in Staffordshire has fished spectacularly, with big rainbow trout to 24lb 15oz landed. Not only that but catches of up to 14 rainbows in one session have been recorded, including many double figure fish. Lures and small nymphs have caught the majority of fish. If you are struggling, stay on the move and keep altering tactics to intercept the fish.

Likewise, Lechlade, Bushyleaze, Danebridge and Marton Heath fisheries are all providing excellent sport. We are now into the winter fishing, seeing more movement around midday so make make sure you are on the water at this time. Lechlade in particular seems to be fishing better in the afternoon, producing some really cracking rainbows to around 20lbs. I have to say though there are some wounderfully marked brownies cruising the lake currently that make me long for spring!

Willington is coming off a slow period, with more fish moving higher in the water. Fishing is best in the morning currently with trout responding to mobile patterns such as small damsel nymphs, bloodworm and leech patterns. Around midday try switching to midge pupa as their are often small hatches coming off in sheltered bays.

Make sure you get out on the water, the fish are very much out there as you can see from this report, winter is the time to be fly fishing stillwaters!

See you on the water!

Steve

Dream Fishing

The latest series by John Wilson, Dream Fishing,currently running on the Discovery channel, takes in one of our trout fishing venues!

John visited Lechlade Trout Fishery, catching some superb fish and showing just what anglers can expect to hook up with. I was on the water a few days ago and despite wind and rain, thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The only frustration was pulling out of a big double, having spent 2 hours stalking it! Never mind, their is always another day.

Plenty of fish in the 7-9lb range plus some good doubles are their for the taking if you have the patience to stick at it.

If you are interested in a trip checkout the details on our trophy trout page.

Tight Lines

Steve

Carp Fly Fishing

OK I thought I would take everyone back to summer with this post and fly fishing for carp! Certainly nothing new, but after many years in the wilderness, fly fishing carp is now going mainstream, gaining rapidly in popularity.

For the cinical thinking I'm just jumping on the bandwagon, I've been carp fly fishing for over 10 years and wrote some of the first articles on this pursuit! You can read these at Fishing Warehouse.

The first thing you will notice is that I don't mention chum/groundbait to attract the fish. That is because if you choose your venue and conditions well you don't need bait. Stalking cruising carp is far more exciting and challenging.

Other good resources that are more recent are an excellent article on carp fly fishing in the US/Canada at fly fishers republic. The other is a great interview at ask about fly fishing.

After all this information, you will be packing that kit for a trip after carp, I guarantee it!

As for what I'm going to be providing with carp? Well I have been prospecting a couple of venues for a while and may guide them in 2007. Anyone one interested in arranging a trip should get in touch for more information (+44 (0)1782 394564 or email Steve). Once details are finalised, I will update the post here!

Tight Lines

Steve

October Midlands Fly Fishing Report

October saw the dramatic increase in sport I expected! Water temperatures had cooled and stabilised and the trout started to bulk up for the winter to come.

At Carsington the season ended on 07th October, but anglers were averaging 3 fish per visit and some many more. No real biggies showed in the last days of the season, the largest brown being around 4lbs. However I know they are there and we will resume the chase come March!

Willington at the time of writing still has luxuriant weed growth, providing trout with a bounty of midge pupa and snails. Most of the fish have been feeding in the deeper water and we have been catching on size 16-18 pupa patterns. The brown trout season has now ended, but several 4lb+ fish including a 7lb brown were landed in the last 2 weeks. I look forward to banking some big grown on rainbows during the next few months!

Marton Heath & Danebridge are both fishing well with good bags of trout to small nymphs, buzzers and lures. One or two bigger rainbows are starting to show up at Danebridge and I expect this will continue through the winter months.

At Loynton there has been one trophy rainbow trout landed at 24lb 15oz, plus several in the 10-12lb range. We have had some great days with clients landing several fish and missing takes too. There are plenty of good fish in the 4-8lb range also being caught, which provide a cracking scrap on a 6wt outfit. Keep switching between a lure and buzzers according to what the fish want and you can catch all day!

Bushyleaze and Lechlade are both fishing well, with good bags on bushyleaze and fish averaging around the 3lb mark. On Lechlade the doubles are again showing and Octobers biggest fish was a 19lb rainbow. Both lakes will fish well through late autumn and winter, just make sure to have a range of lures and nymphs to find what what the trout want on any particular day.

With the big rainbow trout now feeding hard, it's a good time to land that dream fish! To arrange a winter fishing trip call +44(0)1782 394564 or e-mail enquiries@midlands-flyfishing.co.uk

With Christmas looming don't forget we supply gift vouchers for all tuition and guided fishing options. So if everyone is stuck for what to buy you, a day or two of fishing is a good place to start! You can now order on-line too!!

Tight Lines

Steve