Late May 2008

It's strange once the Mayfly hatch gets going how nothing stops them. Rain, shine, wind, cold, they just keep on hatching. The Coln has seen superb hatches once again this week, while on the Derbyshire Wye, numbers are building. Both rivers are fishing very well with excellent dry fly action. If you are still looking for excellent fly fishing for wild trout I still have 5,10,24 and 30th June available.

On the stillwaters I had some great late afternoon sport with Mayfly at Loynton and daytime midge hatches have made the day of a number of clients. At Watermark the spring agal bloom has cleared and visability is now around 8 feet allowing some great sight fishing. Good hatches of midge, lake olives and damsels are providing excellent sport with fish to around 7lbs, while Mayfly numbers are just starting to increase. Lechlade has been hard going recently, however Bushyleaze is fishing extremely well to midge, damsel and mayfly patterns.

Certainly all you need on the lakes currently is a floating line, while on the rivers careful observation allows us to fish dry fly exclusively if desired.

Tight Lines

Steve

Mayfly or Maybe Not

As expected last week started off the Mayfly season proper on the river Coln, then all of a sudden temperatures fell and slowed the hatches up. The good news is, trout are very much on the fin and actively looking for the Mays now. As usual we have also had some really good olive hatches prior to the main hatches of Mayfly each day. This means we pretty much get fabulous dry fly sport from start of day until end given reasonable weather!

If you want to sample some great river dry fly action, we still have dates available for 3,5,9 & 10 June 2008. Drop me a line for further details.

The weather change also seemed to temporarily knock stillwater fishing, dramatically slowing sport at Loynton and Watermark prior to sport picking up at the weekend. Nothing massive to report caught by us at least, however clients landed some nice fish between 2-5lbs.

Our Small Water Masterclass was well attended, with a good day had by all. It seemed the part of the day generating most interest was the bug hunt! This really opened peoples eyes as to size differences between flies commonly fished and the real thing. Also seeing just how various bugs moved and the sheer turn of speed creatures such have damsel nymphs have proved to be quite a shock for many.

Top flies currently are olive buzzers, PTN, damsel nymph on the lake, while on the river F fly, parachute adams and various mayfly patterns are scoring well.

Best Fishes

Steve

Fishing Report Early May 2008

Wow what a weather change! Perfect timing for the rivers to, with hatches really taking off, bring trout to the surface in numbers. Early Mayfly have started in the Cotswold's and I expect larger hatches to get going later this week.

On the lake front increased insect activity is bringing trout into the upper layers too, with browns and rainbows feasting on midge pupa, olive nymphs and damsels. I've already seen a number of adult damsel flies about so don't think it's too early.

We have our Improvers Course coming up this weekend, on which places are still available. Make a huge leap in your fly fishing knowledge and book today!

Tight Lines

Steve

Olive Bugs & Black Rubber

Lake or stream fish seem to have gone crazy for anything olive during the last 10 days, so I thought I'd take a look at why this might be.

On the rivers large dark olives are hatching where waters are at a high elevation, on the lowland streams things are further forward with good hatches of medium olives. When hatches are not in full swing the olive nymphs are readily taken and as rivers such as the Churn, Coln and Derbyshire Wye are stuffed with shrimp and caddis, mostly of an olive or green hugh, it's no surprise that they are fixated by the colour.

On the lakes, I am seeing large hatches of sooty olive midges and the lake/pond olives are starting to hatch. Damsel nymph activity is steping up a gear and trout still seem to have an appetite for shrimp despite chomping them all winter! Again no surprises why olive is the colour of the moment, lake or river.

So where does the black rubber fit in? Well buzzy things that are olive do not have exclusive rights to the water and air ways. With numerous large black midges, a few hawthorns, alder flies and terestrial beetles around, a blck rubber legs daddy seems to be a great change fly currently when the fish don't respond to smaller nymphs.

Plenty of fish now moving on still and running waters, the bounty time is starting, make the most of it, it won't last forever!

Best Fishes

Steve