Dry Fly & Pin Fry

What a few days we have had weather wise. River wise the derbyshire Wye has been a blow out, while fishing has remained good on the Coln and Churn in Gloucestershire which are affected far less by run off. Inspite of weather, some dry fly sport has been available most days with small midge patterns and sedges later in the day bringing most consistent action at the surface. Sub surface simple PTN, hares ear and wire nymphs are perfect for stalking fish.

On stillwater both Loynton and Watermark are seeing trout hiting pin fry. Their is a marked difference in current feeding between the two venues however. At Loynton most action is in the top 3 feet to small lures and nymphs with a little sparkle. When the wind has been blowing a good old daddy long legs has scored for some anglers too.

At Watermark trout are still holding and feeding deeper in the water column and are best searched out with intermediate or slow sink lines during daytime fishing. If all else fails a booby combined with a fast sinker is picking up fish from the boats. Evening fishing is different again when the wind backs off, with the true richness of this water coming to the fore. Big hatches of caenis, midge and sedge provide superb nymph and dry fly fishing and will continue to do so going forward through August.

Good enough reason to give the pub a miss until last orders!

Steve

Food Not SO Glorious Food

While the current river fishing is great with small nymphs and dry midge patterns during the day and the odd decent evening rise thus far, lakes are now into their frustrating phase of the season.

Trout are moving every where at times, though catching them is another matter. We stand there rooting wild eyed through fly boxes, looking for a magic fly that will save the day. More often than not, it's not the fly that is the problem, it's where you fish it. You can bet the trout are feeding where they obtain maximum benefit for minimum effort, that is what they do! For the next couple of months trout are swimming in a soup of food, cruising leisurely around, sucking in juicy morsels as they go. They simply won't go out of their way (you can sometimes tempt them) for your fly so you need to put it right in front of them. Do it you catch, don't do it you blank.

OK if you fish a clear water, where fish can be spotted relatively easily, getting your fly infront of them can be achieved very consistently using stalking techniques. This is why stalking fish at this time of year is so effective, you massively increase the chances of fish taking your fly by putting the fly in front of fish, simple.

If waters you fish don't lend themselves exactly to the above approach, spending more time patiently watching for signs of moving, feeding fish, will better reward you than flogging the water to foam. This applies whether you are fishing early, late or during the day as it allows you to get your fly right in front of fish.

Look out for insect and fry activity in the upper layers as well as signs of trout, this will help work out what might be more apealing to the fish. Often a smaller pattern will outfish large gaudy lures. When you see a fish move get your fly accross what you judge to be it's line of travel, overcasting so you can pull your fly accross the fish's field of vision. BANG! You are in.

This won't happen everytime, trout will suddenly change direction after you cast (cleaver little blighters). Other times you won't be able to read the exact line of travel. In this instance waiting, watching, then casting into areas of consistent general activity often pays off. Remember though, your fly has to fish at the correct level, some days if you are two inches out your offer will be ignored.

It's not the first time I've said it, presentation rules.

Tight Lines

Steve

Mid June 2008

River sport is currrently great on Derbyshire's Wye, with an excellent Mayfly season and good hatches in general. We are currently blessed with good water conditions, providing great oportunities for sight fishing to both wild rainbow and brown trout.

Stillwater fishing has been unpredictable during the last few days, some days fish have really switched on, while others have provided a real challenge. At Watermark plenty have fish have been moving, however either a long cast or taking to boats has brought most success. This is extremely odd for this water which usually provides prolific margin fishing. Loynton has also been patchy, while Carsington has on the whole fished very well indeed. Top flies for the lakes overall have been buzzers, small fry patterns, black taddy and damsels.

Lots of damsel flies around the lakes now and the peak emergence is yet to come! Look out for our top damsel fishing tips in our summer newsletter due out latter this month. (Sign up here if you have not already!) That reminds me it's already late, not enough hours in the day at the moment.

Tight Lines

Steve

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