Dreamy Winter Grayling Fishing

We've been treated to some fantastic cold, crisp and bright winter days this week. This combined with the river Coln reaching normal winter level and running clear has meant some really classic grayling fishing.

I wanted to locate the shoals again as grayling are notoriously nomadic at this time of the year. I managed that quite well, landing 10 to around 1lb in 5 hours. All came to weighted shrimps and czech nymphs. Clients fishing the following day, reaped the rewards of my research, landing several grayling and missing many more of the very subtle takes.

Most stillwaters froze up for a day or 2 this week, however all are now ice free and providing good sport with fish of high average size. At both Loynton and Watermark many of the fish currently being landed are between 4-9lbs with a few doubles also coming out.

A few more river dates coming up and with milder weather I expect some good grayling days before the season for them ends mid March. Then I will be eagerly anticipating April and the new season proper!

Tight Lines

Steve

New Fly Shop Update

If you have not noticed, our on-line shop has been off-line for the last 24 hours while we totally updated our product range for 2008. The good news is it's up an running again now!

Well they say success breeds it's own problems and demand for flies I have been tying has now reached the point where I simply don't have sufficient hours in the day. The guiding side of the business is where my time needs to be spent, so we have partnered with Fulling Mill to supply a selected range of dry flies, nymphs and lures for river, lake and reservoir fly fishing. To complement this we have retained an increased selection of my own stalking bugs.

New to our product range are some great fly lines. If all this sounds too much, orders for UK delivery will now be delivered postage free! So now you have no reason not to shop with us, check out our updated offers over at the fly shop.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fishing Report @ 04th February 2008

After January's unsettled weather I'm hoping for a long settled spell of mild days in February. Not bothered if it rains or blows as long as it's from the south west, I just want it to stay the same for more than one day!

For the first time all winter, fish seemed a little more picky last week. Fishing was still good, however we really had to stay on the move, one fish from an area (or non) then move. Again buzzers, bloodworm and lures dominated the catches.

A couple of short calm sunny spells during the week brought a few fish to the top, where a size 18 black F fly picked up the first fish to dries for us in 2008. At the other extreme, day's like last Friday meant switching to intermediate or medium sink lines to enable flies to be fished at the correct depth.

This weeks forecast looks better at the moment, here's hoping it stays that way!

Tight Lines

Steve