Fishing Report May

Possibly the most anticipated report of the year! It's mayfly time again and life is good. The Coln is having a superb mayfly season with some wonderful browns landed and a couple of huge fish lost. Some day's I don't know who gets more excited, clients or me!

The Derbyshire Wye is fishing superbly, with mayfly just getting going, though most of our fish have come to small midge patterns, far out fishing anything else this month. Expect June fishing to be just as good and to everyone who packs their rod away post mayfly, don't, the rest of the season holds much opportunity too.

Lakes have been as unpredictable at times as the weather has during May. One day everything is fine, the next not so. We've enjoyed some really good days at Loynton, Bushyleaze and Watermark, interspersed with the odd day which has been much harder work. That as they say is fishing!

Some great nymph and dry fly sport using midge and lake olive imitations such as, buzzers, F fly, shuttlecock, PTN, parachute adams. Mayflies have also been taking fish on the lakes, this year trout seem to have hit them the moment hatches started. Very unusual as they often scare trout during the first days. Even sparse hatches have triggered aggressive takes to nymph and dry. Look for this to continue in the first half of June, with damsels becoming an increasing factor later in the month (they already are on some lakes).

Tight Lines

Steve

Cool Posts May 2009

Another short one this month, though an inspiring one. If you need a reason to hit the water at this time of year (and I doubt you do) or need a little escape while stuck in an office, check this out!

Charles Jardine Chalkstream Fishing

Steve

Wet Weather, Leaky Waders & Dry Fly

It's that time of year when we all love nothing more than being by a river. Consequently this month has been spent almost exclusively by flowing water, guiding clients with dramatically varied fly fishing experience.

I've noticed however some recurring similarities which keep happening. Number one is it keeps damn raining, not too much, just enough to keep us damp throughout the day! Number two is my waders developed an irritating leak, which, after a couple of attempts I thought I'd solved. Yesterday saw me with a wet left foot again, so after last nights fix I guess we will see if we get wet or stay dry today.

Third point is regardless of weather, dry fly is now almost exclusively catching all the river fish. Not because nymphs don't work, there are just so many rising fish, it's great fun! If it rains, we get terrestrials and a few LDO's. In between midges, medium olives, olive uprights, iron blues, pale wateries, mayfly and a few sedges explode, depending upon which river we visit.

The moral of the story, I can put up with rain, leaky waders and wet feet when dry fly fishing is this good! Must dash, more clients and trout to attend too!

Best Fishes

Steve

Mayfly 09 Part 1

Tuesday 5th May I saw the first few mayfly of 2009 hatch, heralding the start of the hatch period for this year. We are now seeing hatches most days at Lechlade, Bushyleaze, the river Coln and latterly, at Loynton Fisheries and trout are onto them too.

If the fish don't go for the dries at the moment their is plenty of nymph activity to exploit, with either classic Walker Mayfly nymphs or a large pheasant tail.

We currently have a handful of late mayfly dates remaining available. To secure your day out for 2009, call me on 07901 744869 or email here.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fishing Report April 09

That slight warming effect April brings, certainly worked it's magic once again! Fly life is abundant, with spring fishing now in full swing.

Rivers have been in superb trim during April, the Wye crystal clear, enabling us to quietly stalk some superb trout to 2lbs. As the month progressed hatches became more consistent. Top water sport with dry fly is now superb.

Cotswold rivers are also looking very fine too, producing some blissful early season days, sighting browns and delicately presenting your fly to achieve the ultimate deception!

Stillwater fishing saw large buzzer hatches making midge fishing almost compulsory some days, those tiny little pupa extracting fish up to 8lbs for clients during April, including a few nice browns. Windy days also saw many terrestrials meeting a watery end. Beetles, midges, hawthorn, alder and the occasional early crane fly and sedge. These tempted some superb resident trout at venues such as Loynton, Bushyleaze and Watermark.

Latterly, pond and lake olives have started to hatch in numbers, further adding to the feast. At Lechlade and Bushlyleaze the first Mayfly are hatching too offering a glimpse of things to come during May and June.

As you can see their is plenty of fly and fish action to enjoy currently and moving forward. Now is the time to forsake lures and switch to nymph and dry fly. Go on give it a try! Alternatively learn how to identify what fish are feeding on and fish natural imitations with our fly fishing lessons.

We had many really good days during April with our courses well attended too. Thanks to everyone who has fished with us so far and we look forward to seeing many more of you during the coming weeks and months. If you are planning a spring trip and have not yet booked, do get in touch ASAP to secure dates as they are going fast!

Tight Lines

Steve