A few from the weekend

Another outing resulting in more surprises - I love this stream ...

 Bank Holiday weekend coming up - destination ... Dartmoor.

And Further Downstream...

In true adventurous spirit and break in the weather, exploration continued this last weekend further downstream the stretch of water recently discovered (see earlier post 01 July 2012 "Something Old, Something New") - and it just keeps on getting better.

And there's still more to come - watch this space ...

Forest of Dean

The Roving Voucher Scheme as run by the Wye & Usk Foundation has been extended to include three new beats nestled in the heart of the Forest of Dean. As with the other roving voucher beats on offer through the Foundation they did not dissapoint and I spent three days of quality fishing under crystal blue skies which have been at such a premium lately - food for the soul.

Of the three beats I fished the Bideford Brook (R61) twice - the first attempt occurred on one of those days when things just weren't happening. Of the four hook ups I only managed to land a single small trout which had somehow managed to foul hook itself - real dissapointment. I had to get back onto this stretch of water - the second attempt delivered what I'd hoped.

The second beat The Blackpool Brook (R60) is small stream fishing in it's purest sense - narrow enough in places to jump across without getting your feet wet comprised of small pools each of which containing a resident trout or more. Stealth is key here - a lesson I learnt early on as small shadows dart for cover the minute you approach a likely run.

The Cannop Brook (R62) is all that remains for me to fish in the Forest of Dean - more than reason enough to get back across there.

Anticipation...

Usually by this stage the family summer holiday is booked and paid for - this year however we've decided to err on the side of caution due to the interminable weather we've been experiencing. Tactics have been altered and will be executed as follows:

1. Monitor every meteorological piece of information until Thursday this week.
2. Throw in a few pounds of salt.
3. Divide the result by 6 for good measure.
4. Depending on the result choose a destination and duration of stay (or not).
5. The only caveat is that there is an abundance of trout filled streams (crucial to avoid a sulking husband for the duration of the holiday).
6. Pack a shower cap and leave sun up Saturday morning.

In anticipation of the above the flybox is in desperate need of replenishment - a few pictures depicting progress so far:

#22 Olive Paraduns; #26 Midges and #24 Chironomid Emergers

Variation on a theme - #22 Olive Paradun and the same pattern using #26 with grizzly hackle.

#22 Reverse Parachute Emerger

Here's hoping ...

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 ...

An Evening with Ed

Winter is definitely here in terms of the short days - temperatures however dictate otherwise. I find it kind of disturbing wondering outside feeling comfortable in a t-shirt in late November. Could this be the calm before the storm I ask ...
Anyway - frantic preparation for GAIA assessment aside it's time to get back to actually fishing and tying which has been sadly lacking over the last few months. I bought Ed Engle's "Tying Small Flies" last year and have really just glossed over it's pages - picking it up again a few days ago I'd forgotten what a gem of a book this is. I've poured over the pages building inspiration which I've finally got around to putting into some practice. That's winter wrapped up then !

GAIA Pre-Assessment Day

With only six weeks to go until the November GAIA assessment, a mentoring/pre-assessment day was run by Rob Doyle and Tony King at Holbury Lakes Fishery on Sunday 3rd October along with group of top guys. A great day under an unseasonably warm October sun was had by all. Huge thanks to Rob and Tony for all their expertise and coaching (as well as a gastronomic supply of bacon butties - cheers Rob !).

Next stop, Riverdale Hall, Northumberland on the 11th November...