Fishing Report June 09

Mayfly provided further superb sport in June, see further details here. Post the event, fishing has continued well on the rivers. On recent hot days, fly hatches may have been lower during the main part of the day, however nymph activity remained high and we have enjoyed fabulous fishing to sighted trout. Grayling have also been landed to around 1.5lbs since they came back into season mid month, all have been in good condition having recovered from spawning.

Surface sport has been by no means slack, with plenty of fish caught and plenty of anglers overcoming their fear of fishing small flies (i.e. anything smaller than a size 14).

Lakes have again been unpredictable, though the fish are there and the opportunities have come with persistence, working out what they want and where. Buzzers, bloodworm and PTN often out fishing larger mobile patterns. A few fish were caught on dries, shuttle cocks, daddies and damsels, plus mayflies. Sight fishing has been good, with a few nice browns landed and some cracking rainbows. Some days we followed the fish out in the boat, continuing to target sighted fish as they cruised subsurface clearly nymphing.

Looking forward to July the best sport will undoubtedly be early and late in the day. During the day using your eyes more and casting less will catch more where visual location of trout is possible. If July is bright and hot, we will be following trout deeper as they search out cooler oxygen rich water during the day. Settled evenings will see some great evening rises, make the most of them and leave the pub until dark nights, they come round all too soon!

To give clients the best chance of success, we offer late starts during July and August. If clients desire, we fish lunchtime through evening providing fishing both subsurface and on the dry.

Tight Lines

Steve

Mayfly 09 Part 2

Following on from part 1 of our mayfly 09 season, this second and last part reviews the hatch for us this year.

So right now we are at the end of another main mayfly season, and what fishing it has brought with it! I believe Gordon Mackie summed mayfly season up perfectly in the June 09 issue of Fly Fishing & Fly Tying saying "The Mayfly interlude has been called the ultimate hunting experience".

I have often been rather disenchanted with mayfly, for several seasons catching more fish on tiny midge patterns than mayfly imitations. However I have to say that while many large fish caught and lost this year have been taking flies other than mayfly, it's the creamy slabs of butter that bring the big fish to the surface in the first place. Without a doubt I have seen more large river trout during the 09 mayfly period than any other year I have been fly fishing.

We landed several fish over 2lbs, 2 fish over 3lbs and several others have been lost, including 2 I estimated at well over 4lbs. If you are wondering which magical river this is, it's not any one single water. It is the result of me being on the water everyday, locating and observing the habits of these big fish, so clients can then have a shot at something very special. It's my job and I love it! I also managed a couple of rather nice fish too.

Lake wise bushyleaze had a pretty big hatch and Loynton while not having an explosive hatch, produced a steady hatch over several weeks, which at the moment of writing continues. The fish have at times actively sought out the nymphs and provided some thrilling takes to emmergers.

No doubt a few mayfly will continue to trickle off over the next 2-3 weeks, however in most cases fish have had their fill of them. The game changes again and now it's time for the small fly to rule once more!

Tight Lines

Steve

June 2009 Newsletter

Just incase you've not signed up to our free monthly magazine yet, check out our June issue here!

To subscribe visit our website and complete the form located in the left hand column.

Enjoy!

Steve

Hatches - June 2009

Months seem to fly by at present and this column seems to be one I'm always writing!

On the rivers June sees continued emergence of olives such as the large dark, small dark, medium and blue wing species plus iron blue and pale watery. Look out for some great spinner falls if we have weather similar to recent days, plus pale evening duns. Mayfly will figure to a greater or lesser extent depending upon water for the next couple of weeks, while sedges start to increase in presence too as will caenis.

On the lakes upwings continue their domination with pond/lake olives and in some cases mayfly remaining a dominant force. Midge pupa too remain high on the trouts menu, however expect pupa to become smaller from now on. Sample your own waters to develop a better idea of local variations. Damsels are a major food source from this month through summer and pin fry start to show, while sedges and caenis figure as the season of the evening rise progresses.

Tight Lines

Steve

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