Fly Fishing Report at 31st October 2007

Well our 2007 grayling weekend took place last week and I'm just getting my voice back. We had a cracking group of enthusiastic fly fishers, most of whom had little experience of river fly fishing.

I was fully expecting great things as the grayling are very active and we have been catching well recently, but the bigger fish would not play ball. Both Andy and Allan lost big fish, but the grayling landed were all smaller specimens many of which came to dry fly tactics, which is always nice.

Some very good wild browns were active, several charging in to take anglers flies weighed over the pound mark. From what I see, it seems these wild fish are spawning later, possibly something to do with milder weather? Anyone having similar experiences? If so post your views in the comments section.

On stillwater Loynton Trout Fishery is now in full winter fishing mode, with both good numbers of fish and doubles falling to lure and nymph tactics. In the Cotswold's waters are slow to cool down due to the very mild autmn weather. This is putting some big fish off the feed, some days have been tricky while other days fishing has been good.

When fish are feeding, both nymph and small lures work well at Watermark and Lechlade. On slower days stalking trout really makes the difference, putting your fly right on their nose! Plenty has been written in the press this year about this method of fly fishing, if you want a hands on day learning the skills of accurate casting, good presentation and associated stalking skills or would like to improve your success rate with the big fish, checkout our stalking trout trips and get in touch.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fishing Report at 23rd October 2007

What a week! Those first frosts certainly made the rainbows think about the coming winter. Turning their attention to fry bashing it has ben exciting stuff. At Carsington the season ended well, with both lures and nymphs scoring.

At Loynton sport is excellent with several doubles coming to the bank and many anglers being broken, don't fish with less than 6lb tippet, you have been warned. Top fish in the last few days fell to client Sue Bramall, taking a 14lb 10oz rainbow using the MFF Leech.

At Watermark fish have been tricky at times, no doubt being bombarded by anglers flies since the open day has wised many fish up. Fish to 13lbs have been landed (clients caught fish to 10.5lb). Water here is slightly warmer as yet and the fish are not on fry so much, prefering to sip midege pupa.

Grayling fishing is going well, looking forward to this weekend's grayling course and meeting up with a few of you. Better fish coming to shrimp and weighted nymphs, while midge hatches are bring some fish up to dries around mid day.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fishing Report at 15th October 2007

As predicted fishing has really taken off this week. When not on the water with clients I spent all my time preparing for the open weekend at Watermark, if you did not attend you missed out!

It was nice to see some of you and catch up on life the universe and of course fishing! We found ourselves inundatated with enquiries and while Andrea fielded most of these, I was busy doing free casting lessons lakeside. The highlight of the event for me was Hywel Morgan's excellent casting demonstration, which was both highly informative and very entertaining.

I could not resist chasing a double over the weekend and managed a hookup with a fish I reckoned to be around 10lbs, only to have the hook pull after a good scrap. Plenty of good fish coming out all week including several doubles. Either mobile patterns or small midge/wet flies in black are catching well.

Loynton fished extremely well this week, again smaller flies in the 12-16 range out fished large patterns.

On the Coln grayling fishing is fabulous, with recent mild days providing periods of good dry fly sport. Be prepared to stay on the move and cover some mileage during a day. Winning dries are griffiths gnat, HE emmerger, parachute adams, while subsurface go for GBHE, shrimp, prince nymph.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fishing Report at 7th October 2007

It's been great to have a little time to think again this week, a couple of free days allowed for catching up on some office work (it's not all fishing and fun here) and to start getting ready for the open day at Watermark on Saturday 13th October. It will be a great day out, so come along and say hello, we will be in the main marquee by the entrance.

Fishing this week has really started to get going, it has been tuition days at Loynton and Watermark for me and everyone has enjoyed good sport.

Loynton is starting to really get going, plenty of fish being caught in the 2-5lb range with the odd fish around 8-10lbs. Whether you are fishing nymph or lure, black and green has been the top colour mix, followed by white and yellow. Good midge hatches have brought fish to the surface some days, and small black dries or buzzers fished just subsurface have done well during these hatches.

Watermark is as clear as ever, as the weather cools the better fish are moving at around 4 feet down. Some days larger mobile flies are taking fish, others buzzers and small nymphs with a touch of white are catching well. Experiment with fly and retrieve styles until you find what the fish want on a given day. If the wind is gusting daddies fished dry or damp are taking good fish on the windward bank and from boats.

Tight Lines

Steve