Fly Fishing Report 19th-25th August 2007

This weeks highlight has undoubtedly been the chalkstream fishing. With good hatches of midge, various upwings and some huge sedges (caddis for our US readers ,as pointed out to me by several clients), anglers have enjoyed dry fly action through the day almost every day. Wild browns to 1.75lbs and the grayling are in great shape, looking as truely beautiful as only the lady of the stream can.

If you are planning some late season river fishing, we have rods available on the river Coln during September, plus guided days for the 2nd half of the month. We also have places available on our Grayling Weekend in October. Email to disuss your requirements.

Watermark Trout Fisheries produced some good sport for clients again this week, with rainbows to 7.5lbs and browns to 4lbs landed. The water is very clear and the fishery looks fantastic. A mixture of our damsel nymph, buzzer, leech and stalking bugs bought trout to bank.

Loynton was very tricky during the early part of the week, fish were showing but not playing ball! The later part of the week saw more fish coming landed. Blustery days, crane fly and beetle patterns seem to be atracting surface cruisers, otherwise using an intermediate with a variety of mini lures and nymphs picked up fish.

Willington has fished well to deep nymphing tactics during the day, with some excellent evening rises to sedge in the last 2 hours of light. As per last year 10-15 fish in 2 hours is achievable some evenings, great sport by any standard.

I have 28th and 30th of August available for guiding/tuition due to a late cancelation, so drop me a line for a last minute trip. Otherwise I may just treat myself to a full day on the water somewhere! With such a wealth of great fishing available, my only problem is making a decision where to go.

I do feel like a change from trout, recently I have a hankering for chub on the fly. Having left them alone for 3 years, a couple of hours sight fishing on the river churn has grassed a few nice 2 pounders. If this good weather holds I may just go after a carp. I'm also tempted to do somthing rash and hit saltwater for bass! Decisions, decisions, ain't life hard? All this on top of having the best office in the world!

Tight Lines

Steve

Essential Fly Fishing Tips for August

Well I promised I would post some advice on what is working for us this month, so here it is!

August is perhaps the most difficult month of the year for freshwater fly fishing in the UK. This assumes we are talking trout here, it's a great time to go after carp, chub, barbel and pike on fly gear!

For the trout angler, here's what you need to catch consistently: -

1) Whether heading to lake or river do hit the water early if allowed. Many stretches of river and some stillwater fisheries allow fishing from dawn at this time of year, get out of bed and fish.

2)If you can't make the AM start do make sure you stay for the last hour of light. The evening rise is not famous for nothing, given settled whether from now to late October is prime time.

3) Daytime fishing is far from a waste of time, you just need to pick the water you fish carefully. Go for spring fed lakes if visiting a small stillwater, trout priorities are oxygen, food and cover. Don't just run to the water and start thrashing away, survey the lake, read it, pick out areas you think provide the three crucial needs of trout, then think about how to fish. If you fish a river, trout needs are just the same!

4)Yes somedays trout will want a big mobile fly, fished well damsels, tadpoles, etc. will catch a lot of lake fish. On the river a big sedge, beetle or daddy may bring a trout to the surface. However don't be scared to go small, it often catches more fish during the day. Size 16-18 midge pupa, olive nymph and PTN patterns on the lake. River fishing has plenty of scope for tiny midge patterns from size 16-20 and always expect an olive hatch at some point. Forget size 12 imitations, even 14 at this time, 16-18 will get you far more confident takes and more fish on the bank.

5) Do make use of high grade co-polymer and fluorocarbon materials. Yes they are considerably more expensive, but materials like Orvis Super Strong co-polymer and Riverge Grand Max fluorocarbon make a big difference to quality of presentation and the number of takes you get. The extremely fine diameter to breaking strain means you can fish as small as you need to without sacrificing tippet strength to the silly levels I've heard used. Simply put, using 1lb breaking strain tippet and less for trout of any size is crazy in weedy conditions or where your average size fish is 2lb+.

OK that's all for now, just to say we've had some great fishing this week, more info in this weeks report!

Tight Lines

SY

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

Hello Spring

Spring fishinng conditions are rarely stable, but the current spell of excellent weather is getting the trout on the fin! I've been on the water at both Cound and Loynton trout fisheries this week. In both cases plenty of rainbows are moving within 6 feet of the surface. Buzzers, damsels, mini lures, hares ear, olive nymph, pheasant tail nymph fished on a floating line and 10-15 foot leader have worked well.

Both venues have produced several doubles, Loynton having the largest at 20lb 14oz. Once again anglers have been catching numbers of trout, with as many as 15 rainbows in a day to one successful fly fisher! Top flies for MFF clients this week have been the Scruffy Damsel and Olive Nymph.

Sure good fishing is about making the most of conditions you have. Spring being as fickle as can be, weather conditions are bound to be variable. Make the most of this current spell and hit the water while it lasts!

Tight Lines

Steve

Fly Shop Update

As of today March 1st our fly shop has been updated with a number of flies and the range of sizes for many patterns increased.

To ensure you have the key flies this spring go to fly shop.

Tight Lines

Steve

Spring News Letter

Our spring news letter will go out early March and we have a special offer for all subscribers!

Cound Trout Fishery in Shropshire are offering 10% off your day ticket for any angler who presents a voucher from the Midlands Flyfishing newsletter.

I will also be running a spring fly fishing clinic over the Easter Weekend. Why not redeem your voucher and attend the course? For further details click the above link.

To subscribe to the Midlands Flyfishing newsletter sign up here.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fly Shop Now Open!

Yes I know I've been talking about it for what seems ages, but at long last we have gone live with the on-line fly shop!

To start with we are selling a small range of our own flies, designed and tied by us, plus other accessories. The range of flies available includes patterns for fishing blind and a number of specialist stalking bugs for clear water fly fishing. The aim being to offer you guys unique products that compliment our fly fishing tuition and clear water sight fishing.

Go checkout the range at our fly shop. Be sure to leave any comments you have here, it's always great to have feedback!

Tight Lines

Steve

Respecting Trout

I've been holding back this post for weeks, no months, trying to stop myself writing an out and out rant. Hopefully, what follows is contructive comment open for all to debate!

Everywhere I look, magazines, forums, ezines you name it, the term "stockie" is used to describe recently introduced trout. Usually their is a derogatory slant in the sentence or paragraph surrounding the term. Why? Well in excess of 50% of trout fishing available in the UK is for trout originating from a hatchery!

We simply do not have sufficient wild trout resources in our over populated isle to cater for everyone. Given the time constraints of modern living, many people don't have the time to travel regularly to waters providing good fly fishing for wild fish. Given these two undeniable points the only way to make fly fishing for trout available to more people is through stocked lakes and reservoirs.

This is nothing new, it's been working for the last 40 years! Now in one breath these waters are proclaimed as "providing great sport" while the next, something along the lines of "yet another stockie hit my fly" is written. They are trout be it brown rainbow or otherwise, not stockies!

Ok two points I want to cover now. Firstly trout stocked into reservoirs are no better (or worse for that mater) than trout stocked into small stillwaters. So anglers intimating catching on reservoirs is superior are kidding themselves! Trout in smaller waters are easier to locate because the body of water is smaller. Given this, any trout evading capture or released in smaller waters sees far more anglers, flies, tactics etc than its reservoir brethen. So if we are talking educated fish hear, then many small water fisheries provide a greater challenge than the reservoirs!

Point two, wild verses stocked fish. I fish for both and enjoy it. If you don't like something, don't do it, simple. But don't go around telling other anglers what they enjoy is worthless and unacceptable!

Yeah some days fishing stocked waters is easy, I have found just the same with wild trout! On some tiny streams I've had wild browns grab anything thrown at them, while a recently stocked rainbow in a clearwater lake has refused to accept anything. Likewise, the reverse has been true. So lets cut the crap, share what works, where, when and enjoy what fly fishing has to offer!(sorry the rant just took over! Better stop now!!)

Tight Lines

Steve

December 2006 Fly Fishing Report

Happy New Year everyone!

December was a very busy month both for us and fisheries. During the Christmas break many waters were packed with anglers, which was nice to see. After 2 days of over eating, it's nice to hit the water and it seems many people feel the same.

We have yet to experience any really cold weather and fish are very active for the time of year. Loynton, Cound trout fishery and Lechlade all produced good numbers of double figure rainbows during December to both lure and nymph tactics. The same tactics also caught good bags of fish at these venues.

Marton Heath and Danebridge fished well, responding to a mixture of lure and buzzer patterns to suit conditions. I saw only a few anglers fish Willington, which is a shame. Yes it can be a difficult water in winter as it is not stocked as heavily as smaller waters and the trout often hold deep.

However, carefull fishing with bloodworm, buzzers, damsels and shrimp flies can put you in contact with some well conditioned fish to around 8lbs. It's not a numbers game, but if you enjoy challenging fishing for grown on fish I suggest giving it a try. They fight like hell too, this is the only water I've ever been taken into my backing on and it's happened 3 times in 2006.

Looking to January sport will continue much the same unless we a hit a prolonged cold spell. Heres the the good fishing continuing!

Tight Lines

Steve

Cound Trout Fishery

Midlands Fly fishing will be hosting a course on Saturday January 27th aimed at fly fishing for big trout.

Cound Trout Fishery is the venue. Located close to Shrewsbury in Shropshire this 22 acre spring fed lake has produced well over 100 double figure rainbow trout during 2006. So it made good sense to run a tuition day focusing on catching larger trout at this venue.

Further information on course content and booking can be found at midlands fly fishing courses.

Tight Lines

Steve

November 2006 FlyFishing Report

Another month ends and November has certainly provided anglers with some fine stillwater fly fishing!

Loynton Trout Fishery in Staffordshire has fished spectacularly, with big rainbow trout to 24lb 15oz landed. Not only that but catches of up to 14 rainbows in one session have been recorded, including many double figure fish. Lures and small nymphs have caught the majority of fish. If you are struggling, stay on the move and keep altering tactics to intercept the fish.

Likewise, Lechlade, Bushyleaze, Danebridge and Marton Heath fisheries are all providing excellent sport. We are now into the winter fishing, seeing more movement around midday so make make sure you are on the water at this time. Lechlade in particular seems to be fishing better in the afternoon, producing some really cracking rainbows to around 20lbs. I have to say though there are some wounderfully marked brownies cruising the lake currently that make me long for spring!

Willington is coming off a slow period, with more fish moving higher in the water. Fishing is best in the morning currently with trout responding to mobile patterns such as small damsel nymphs, bloodworm and leech patterns. Around midday try switching to midge pupa as their are often small hatches coming off in sheltered bays.

Make sure you get out on the water, the fish are very much out there as you can see from this report, winter is the time to be fly fishing stillwaters!

See you on the water!

Steve

Dream Fishing

The latest series by John Wilson, Dream Fishing,currently running on the Discovery channel, takes in one of our trout fishing venues!

John visited Lechlade Trout Fishery, catching some superb fish and showing just what anglers can expect to hook up with. I was on the water a few days ago and despite wind and rain, thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The only frustration was pulling out of a big double, having spent 2 hours stalking it! Never mind, their is always another day.

Plenty of fish in the 7-9lb range plus some good doubles are their for the taking if you have the patience to stick at it.

If you are interested in a trip checkout the details on our trophy trout page.

Tight Lines

Steve

Carp Fly Fishing

OK I thought I would take everyone back to summer with this post and fly fishing for carp! Certainly nothing new, but after many years in the wilderness, fly fishing carp is now going mainstream, gaining rapidly in popularity.

For the cinical thinking I'm just jumping on the bandwagon, I've been carp fly fishing for over 10 years and wrote some of the first articles on this pursuit! You can read these at Fishing Warehouse.

The first thing you will notice is that I don't mention chum/groundbait to attract the fish. That is because if you choose your venue and conditions well you don't need bait. Stalking cruising carp is far more exciting and challenging.

Other good resources that are more recent are an excellent article on carp fly fishing in the US/Canada at fly fishers republic. The other is a great interview at ask about fly fishing.

After all this information, you will be packing that kit for a trip after carp, I guarantee it!

As for what I'm going to be providing with carp? Well I have been prospecting a couple of venues for a while and may guide them in 2007. Anyone one interested in arranging a trip should get in touch for more information (+44 (0)1782 394564 or email Steve). Once details are finalised, I will update the post here!

OK the update has been a while coming! However you can now come fly fishing for carp with us on a broad range of waters, where you can target huge carp to 40lbs with a fly rod!

Tight Lines

Steve