Something Old, Something New ...

Summer 2012 hasn't really happened so far this year - drought and hose-pipe bans have made way for torrential downpours reminiscent of Kwa-Zulu Natal during Cyclone Domoinia in 1984 (OK maybe not quite but it sure feels like it...). Finally a break in the weather has allowed our local swollen rivers to drop to a more navigable, fishable level. The bid to discover new stretches of local trout inhabited waters not controlled by fishing clubs demanding their members reside on the Queen's honours list and dress appropriately, produced a stretch of the River Wey offering a small yet feisty trout population. A frantic two and a half hour session after work on Friday night revealed all we'd hoped for.

Watching the weather forecast for the week ahead foretold the, what seems normal now, arrival of yet more meteorological misery in the way of rain and the like. Not to miss an opportunity saw an early morning Sunday start back down to our old favourite stretch of water, however this time to explore an area further upstream that we'd only looked at but not fished. The pictures below say it all - Matt landing one of the biggest fish we've seen come out of the river ...

Why is it that time dissapears so quickly on days like this - last casts were made with the usual anticipation and a path beat through the nettles out of the river. A quick look upstream before heading back to the car made it clear there is still much more to discover here - now if only this rain would stop ...