Fly Fishing Report 22nd-28th July 2007

Having spent more of last week phoning round, reorganising Cotswold trips than actualy time spent on the water, I'm glad conditions are settling down! We were thankfully spared the flooding in the north midlands, Gloucestershire was however another world!

As it happened most bookings last week were scheduled around the Cotswold waters and hence were disrupted. Rivers were and still are out of order, you have to see the volume of water to believe it. General access to the region had improved by the end of the week and we at least got some of you out lake fishing.

Fishing was restricted due to the above scenario, to Watermark in Gloucestershire and Staffordshire's Loynton Trout Fishery. Both venues are full of clean fresh spring water and trout are feeding well.

Geoff Lane enjoyed a day at Watermark with me, where he landed 4 fine trout to just over 5lbs. Geoff also narrowly missed out on a double. Having spotted the big trout, Geoff cast a stalking bug right in front of the big rainbow, which took instantly, Geoff struck, but the hook hold failed and another big one got away! Next time Geoff.

Loynton saw rainbows to low double figures landed, the fish switching between damsels, corixa, midge pupa and fry. Keep covering feeding fish and watching to check what you are fishing is what they are feeding on.

If weather conditions remain settled river fishing will be back on later this week. Those of you with bookings I will be in touch as the week progresses. If you are thinking of a trip, then August is looking a better bet than expected. With plenty of fresh water about the trout are feeding heavily. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Tight Lines

Steve

CLA Game Fair 2007 Cancelled!

The rain claims another victim this week, in addition to the many thousands of people with flooded homes, organisers of the CLA Game Fair have cancelled this weekends event at Harewood House, Yorkshire.

If you were planning on going, save your self the journey, go fly fishing instead! If you have booked tickets further details can be found at the CLA Game Fair site.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fly Fishing Report 15th - 21st July

What a week! Everything was going well, lakes and river fishing well, then Friday happened. How ironic that my last post should discuss the stable environment found in chalkstreams. After Friday's rain, that environment is currently anything but stable.

With weekend groups booked for the river, all cancelled I've had some surprise free time. I'm saying no more for the coming week other than we will see how the weather goes daily.

Loynton, Watermark and Willington all served us well this week, with clients catching numbers of brown and rainbow trout to 5lbs. Rainbows to 9lbs have also been landed by anglers at Loynton. Make sure you watch what the fish are doing carefully when feeding near the surface, sometimes they are hitting fry, others taking nymphs and sometimes hitting damsels.

Carsington has again rewarded anglers carefully searching the water. Various fry patterns taking fish along with buzzer, PTN and hares ear.

Hopefully water levels will receed quickly, as I have several days sight fishing booked at Cotswold lakes next week. The lakes are OK, it's just getting to them that's currently the issue! If anyone has any news on the areas around Cirencester, Fairford and Lechlade, please let me know.

Tight Lines

Steve

Chalkstream fly fishing & report 8th - 14th July

Despite the continued unsettled weather clients have experienced some good fishing during the last week.

We have also been contacted by many of you concerned about chalkstream bookings and the state of the river. To put everyones mind at rest the Coln is in fine condition, holding slight colouration yes but with good summer flow and plenty of fish activity.

Being spring fed chalkstreams do not suffer the same dramatic spate and drought conditions of rainfed streams, providing a rich and stable environment for trout, grayling and aquatic life in general to prosper. So with plenty of water about the fishing is excellent. I even ended up having a few casts when the river did discolour a couple of weeks ago! I went to the river expecting the worst, finding it far better than expected and with browns rising to a sedge hatch. Obviously I could not resist and landed 3 browns in what to most anglers would seem unfishable conditions. Don't be put off by coloured water! Check out our trips on the Coln at chalkstream fly fishing.

Moving onto the lakes, Carsington has continued to fish well to anglers searching out the fish. Damsels, PTN, hares ear and buzzers have caught for clients, the best a 3lb 4oz grown on brownie in immaculate condition!

Willington and Watermark fished well with damsels (nymph and dry adult), PTN and hares ear, catching plenty of quality browns and rainbow trout. Loynton trout played hard to get, lots of fish moving, switching between nymph and fry throughout the day. The key to success, was in getting your fly in front of the fish. With so much food in the water, trout are not moving far to take anglers flies. Keep at it and the fish will come, they are certainly feeding agressively.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fly Fishing Report 1st - 7th July 2007

I woke this morning and thought yes, a day off! That translates as I have a day free to catch up on office stuff. Having cleared all that, I figure it's time for another report.

Last week saw the river settle down despite continued rain. A lot less fell and the Coln was at a nice level, carrying some colour and providing clients with good sport for the wild browns. Olives, midges and sedge make up the main hatch activity, while a shrimp works well during unsettled weather.

Carsington Water is fishing as my last report, sheltered areas offering better fishing on rough days, key food items are buzzer, damsel, fry and sedge pupa.

Top water for action on the lakes this week has been Loynton Trout Fishery, clients taking several fish per day with an average weight of 4.5lbs. Rainbows are really keyed on damsels and fry and with the weather resembling October, I'm not surprised.

Watermark is also fishing well to a variety of nymph and lure patterns with both rainbow and brown trout to 7lbs landed. During beginners tuition sessions I spotted a couple of doubles, watching in vain as clients were unable to make targeted casts. We did however have great fun fishing dry adult damsel flies.

If you want to take advantage of the good current fishing I have some late guide availability 18th -20th July. Contact us for further details.

Midlands Fly Fishing Report 24th - 30th June 2007

Another very mixed week weather wise and varied fishing. The deluge of rain wiped out the prospect of any river fishing! Interestingly several trout were very obliging on Tuesday evening, rising to a great sedge hatch on the Coln, despite the river being the colour of drinking chocolate. Fish are still taking, but understandably clients fishing a chalkstream expect clear water.

Carsington continued to produce, but it is all about finding small groups of feeding fish. On calmer days, floating lines and small nymphs are working while windy conditions see an intermediate or slow sinker with a mix of attractor and nymph patterns pick up the fish.

Watermark has fished brilliantly again this week, with plenty of brown and rainbow trout to 6lbs landed during tuition and sight fishing days. We also had another rainbow I estimated at 11lbs come adrift after jumping 3 times!

Willington also fishing well, PTN, damsel and sedge pupa working well, while at loynton the fishing improved as the week progressed. Good rainbows to 9lbs taken on buzzer, damsel, hares ear and loynton guinea.