Early September Fly Fishing

OK so I'm so late with my fishing report I decided to to change the title format! Summer has gone (if it ever arrived)and we are into autumn fishing. Certainly the consistent cool northerly winds have started to lower water temperatures and early morning now has that distinct chilly, damp, autumn edge to it.

I'm not the only one noticing the difference, swallows and house martins are gathering together in readiness for their winter migration and the brown trout are getting aggressive. At Willington, Carsington and Watermark the old spawning instinct is starting to see fish move to key areas, with both sex and protein on their mind. Large mobile patterns like MFF Leech, Beadhead Fry and MFF Zonker are bringing very hard strikes from some really good fish. Lechlade has also just reopened after summer shutdown and is extending it's brown trout season to October 31st.

Now is the time to hunt that big brownie and I hope to improve on our 2007 client best of 8.5lbs taken earlier this year along with several other fish between 5-8lbs.

Loynton has been patchy, one day it's been hard going, the next some good fish have come out. Fish of the week was a 20lber! As autumn takes hold this water will only get better and better.

Down on the river things are much the same, crystal clear water, good flow rates, big fly hatches and good fishing. Grayling are really coming into great condition now and fight far more than their weight. It is worth fishing to even the apparently small fish, in deep clear water the fish are far larger on the bank than they appear in water. Yesterday I watched two fish easily over 2lbs playing in a pool, my only disappointment was they had no interest in feeding! Ah well I have them marked down and plenty of time to try for them.

Big midge hatches on some of the lakes and river have provide great small dry fly sport, targeting cruisers with size 16-18 dries, especially early morning. Excellent water clarity at Watermark is also seeing some bigger fish landed on our sight fishing days, rainbows to 9lb and browns to 6lb.

Our fly shop has just been updated with new patterns, modified old faithfulls and our autumn and winter essential selection. Ensure you hit the water this season with the right tools for the job, top up your fly box with these beauties!

For booking enquiries I'm out most of the time over the coming 2 weeks,so for a rapid response call me on 07901 744869.

Tight Lines

Steve