NORTHUMBERLAND

01 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by in Northumberland

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

My long overdue trip to fish with Geoff (Hodgson) with whom I have fished before down South on the Itchen, and on one of my rare salmon days, as his guest on the Countess water on the north branch of the Tyne, came to pass this month.

After a lean year in which I have caught more fish out of the UK (Argentina, France (twice), Iceland and California) than in it, this trip North was part of a last minute onslaught on our streams to try to redress that which was clearly wrong!

I arrived in Newcastle in the rain. The next morning it was raining, too, as we (Geoff and Peter Muirhead) set off on what Geoff guaranteed was a sure fire certainty…”you will get your Northumberland trout” When discussing my hopes, months before, he asserted that I could probably ‘net’ in all three counties in one day!

We arrived at the Coquet (pronounced ‘Co-kay’) to find a handsome piece of water near Thistlehaugh, the colour of Bournville’s famous pre-slumber sedative.

There was visibility in the margins and Peter suggested that a short leader and a couple of weighted nymphs might bring me what I (we) sought. And I did have a couple of pulls, but our thoughts revolved around  the ”Oh dear!” , and mine around, “Oh well, I could always come back up, next season”

The consensus was that we should drive farther North, and we did.

September 2012 – the Till

The riparian owner of the Till near Wooler, not so many miles from the Scottish border, is Duncan Davidson, who leases his water to one of the oldest fishing clubs in the land, the Glendale Grayling Club, founded in 1838.

Geoff and Peter are two of its only 38 members….lucky me!

The Till is famous for its run of sea trout, which it is claimed can be caught as easily in daylight as after dusk, and also its salmon. It rises in Comb Fell and is the only tributary of the Tweed which flows wholly in England. In its upper reaches it is called the Breamish, and it joins the Tweed near Berwick. It flows through the most glorious craggy countryside which is softish  on the eye because it is quite verdant, but in its isolation I suspect it can be challenging when winter winds blast, and rains shower horizontally.

In the rugged countryside of the Glendale beat near Chillingham,

and at over 400 feet above sea level, the run off had still to colour the water, and a sense of optimism from my trusted Guides was motivating!

We walked the bank and Peter pointed out some likely lies,

and gave some local tips, before leaving with Geoff to seek some sea run creatures.

And whilst it was, guess what, still raining, and not a little windy, I noted two fish rising under the branches of a sprawling alder, and it was off with the nymph rig, and on with my end of season favourite, an elk hair caddis. But they were not interested, or more to the point, in the blustery winds my sloppy casting probably put them down!

Peter joined me to check on progress by his Till protégé, and we both saw some movement under another alder

 

 

 

 

 

 

…and after he slipped away, and with my rig now Skues-esque, my Northumberland trout was taken on a black spider fly on the dropper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As were two more little monsters taken whilst feeding in the margins of a long

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

glide, but on the dry, on my faithful EHC and in the still falling rains, and only 9 degrees.  Soaked but content, a picnic lunch followed, as we mused on what might have been in better weather. Geoff connected with a salmon, but fleetingly.

He describes his beloved County as the best playground in Britain. And who would argue? First class rugby, Premiership football, world class shooting, more game fishing than you could wish for. Beaches, the Cheviots and the northerly Pennines….cheers, Guys!

ESSEX

16 Sunday Sep 2012

Posted by in Essex

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Clive Gliddon, an official of the Billericay & District AC wrote to tell me that their section of the R Pant at Shalford had some trout in it which their, predominantly, coarse fishers would catch from time to time, when indulging in their paste and maggot, worm or bready, means to capture the specimens they seek from this exciting little fishery.

I tried, using the flyfishers’ tec hniques but could not match my Coarse Brethren, and in spite of several visits. I caught dace on the fly, and chub, too, but no ‘spotties’, or even rogue, escapee ‘bows.

OK…an admission…in a fit of intemperance (or maybe inventiveness!), I also made a visit last Winter, armed with a small spinning rod and a few Mepps to try to eke one out of the Mill Pool at Codham, but this produced only a solitary jack pike of 20″, who was quite surprised to meet me!

One final attempt this month produced another dace, and some fun, stalking chub, but I was not disappointed, because a ‘cunning plan’ had already been hatched with Rob Mungavon, and this was put to work, the very next day.

September 2012 – the upper Cam, or Granta

The Cam or Granta  rises near the delightful Essex village of Newport. It flows in a tree lined corridor through gently rolling farmland and its banks are untended and natural with all that entails, until it reaches Audley End, where in sight of the glorious Jacobean House, it is impounded, and then released to flow through more open territory toward Cambridge. It is a short stream, filled with cool water from its aquifer, which is supplemented by spring waters whose numerous entries are evident by those little bank side distortions in their muddy slopes.

The water was low, very low.

Stealth was imperative and the littler fish in the real shallows could be seen skittling away, in water illuminated by the sunshine, and the bigger, too, and  from yards behind, spooked, maybe, via vibrations from my heavy wading boots on the hard banks?

We walked out of the water on the sloping banks where possible (nb. stinging nettles, still do, in September!) and so as to avoid sending warning signals through rippling the flat pools. The alder roots

whilst seemingly offering footholds, were in reality floating, and a missed step meant an unexpected drop into deeper water where fish were hiding from potential predators (you don’t live too long if a small  wild brown in a narrow, shallow stream, without some serious self preservation skills!)…so that pool was not worth casting into! And casting in this tightest of environments was an incredible test, and more so when the wind picked up. Moral(s) of this story…enjoy where you are; flies are cheap; leaders, more so; patience is truly, a virtue!! Also, I need to revisit my theory about rod length. Rob used a little five foot bamboo wand with real skill.

And he really knows his fishing, and his wild trout, and suggested that even the imperfect cast should be left to drift naturally, even if really slowly in the tedious flow of low water. For in September these fish know that the larder is emptying and it’s better to eat now, because Spring and new shrimp and juicy pupa are several months away! So they can be tempted,

and without too specific an offering, and mine, an olive CdC, proved tempting to two fish….one tiny,

the other a beautiful monster of at least nine inches…all nine inches of beautiful wild Essex trout!  Heaven !!

42 Counties ‘netted’ and just four to go.

Surrey

10 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by in Surrey

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Surrey does not have many rivers, and has few trout streams!

You may know of the Mole (a notable coarse fishing river), the Wey (ditto, but stocked with browns in parts, and including by Peper Harrow FFC), but you may not have heard of the Cranleigh Water, nor also -

September 2012 – the Tillingbourne

This glorious little tributary of the Wey, rises near Coldharbour and flows gently through copse after wood after copse. It picks up water from another, tinier stream which rises in the delightfully named, Friday Street, and passes through idyllic villages with evocative names like Abinger Hammer,and Gomshall. Here it irrigates meadows of water cress, before gliding by the cricket ground where families picnic, and children paddle in its alluring shallows alongside the flocks of resident duck and migratory geese. Then onto Shere, where it is hidden, protected behind the fences of impressive country seats of its wealthy residents, before revealing itself once more as it meanders into the manicured delight, which is the village of Albury. (home for Peter Cockwill’s bountiful fishing shop!)

Albury is the Surrey estate of the Duke of Northumberland. His estate team ‘manages’ the Tillingbourne, and via diversions or by damming they have created three trout lakes for still water preferrers which are stocked with rainbows. Earlier stocking of parts of the river have produced a head of resident browns, and these and some stocked rainbows are in the river at Albury.

I fished the beat running from Vale End lake,

and here the river is very narrow, and rarely more than ten feet wide, and less when Summer grasses impede.

Tree lined, but with banks mowed in places to aid access, the many alders demand complete concentration when casting. The stream is  shallow and flows over sand, and weed growth is sparse. The bends produce fish holding pockets, as do the holes below tactically positioned rocks and logs.

And in one of these I encountered my first fish, which sipped in my weighted PTN. When realising he was hooked he took off, and with only one escape route open, he rushed headlong past me downstream, and my light tackle could not hold him, and my leader snapped at the tippet knot. I forgot just how powerful and aggressive rainbows are when compared with their spotted friends, and my 4 weight outfit was inadequate. Another took a PTN from a hole below an alder, but he was lost, too.

The fishing offers the day ticket purchaser the opportunity to return if the number of fish one applies to take, are not. It is a very pretty fishery, and only 30 minutes from my home, so I will return!

ISLE OF WIGHT

02 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by in Isle of Wight

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

Why are anglers so daft?

Last night the weather forecast said that rains would move from the South West and arrive and soak the South East by mid afternoon!

On the A3 at 7am, the ‘Today’ programme said the same, as I headed to Portsmouth.

Coming out of the Hindhead tunnel and with the South Downs in sight, or at least almost, as the cloud base was so low, I knew rain was already falling, and I wondered whether to turn around and head back to London, but I reasoned, I would catch up with the commuter traffic and this would make that option rather tedious, and besides, I was only twenty miles from a Wight Link ferry, and having made the effort why not continue?  Even if by now it was tipping down!

But clearing the Downs and with Langstone Harbour, now in view it was dry….so that was a good decision!

£52 later and I was on board the 8am ferry to Ryde, and it started raining, and rather seriously…yet again the forecasters were wrong, as the rains arrived early.

It was to the Medina at Newport I drove, to check out what the EA’s Dom Longley had suggested as an opportunity. Walking wader jacketted, my top half was protected from the rains, but not my light weight walking trousers, but they dry quickly, and whilst noting this tiny stream might deliver what I sought, I was already too wet to bother fishing, so set off in a south westerly direction, and toward Shalfleet, in hope that Dom’s primary thought might deliver!

July 2012 – the Caul Bourne (aka Newton River)

The Caul Bourne is a tiny ‘river’ but considered to be one of the Isle’s main waterways, and it flows for just 8 kms from Calbourne to its estuary at Newtown. It meanders, wood bordered, through farmland, and I sought out fishable bits, driving along single track roads close to Newbridge, until a road sign highlighted a weak bridge, and I encountered such bridge close to a mill, and stopped to peer into a shallow, pebble bottomed stream. Hhmm! Meandering streams create little outer bend pools, which  might just…!

Rather wet yet again, I sloshed along a stony drive to enquire of the homeowner whether there were trout in his stream, and my arrival having been heralded by a duo of lovely Labradors,  I was duly met by James, who whilst both amused and curious, generously allowed me on to his parents’ land to have a go, and bid me ‘good luck’!

The Caul Bourne is three feet wide, and whilst downstream nymphing in tight surroundings is poor technique, I sensed few other options, but there was just a tinge of colour n the water to afford me some camouflage.My first catapulted cast (courtesy of Alex Cortet’ tuition) snagged,

but …keep going! This was warfare…sneaking double-upped and under dripping weighted branches, flicking here, flicking there….

I thought I saw the splash of a moving fish, but it might have been a bigger rain drop. Either way, it motivated!

And then, a deeper pool, perhaps three feet or so…but no takes.

And then another bend,  and another pool, but still nothing.

And then another, and what was that?

…a pull, another pull, it’s a fish, but what is it? James had said that any fish were scarce in his beat, so when this one was close to the surface and I saw a spotted yellow flank, I was ecstatic. The outer edge of the pool was lined by filamentous roots, and I knew that taking him would require luck, and so carefully, and slowly I edged him closer, and after a few lunges, brought an twelve inch fish to hand. And I was lucky.  I had a bead headed #18 PTN on the point, and he had taken the #18 yellow caddis pupa on the dropper, so how the weighted nymph had not snared, I know not.

Perhaps this was my reward for the daftness with which I had set out at 630am this morning  !  I did not need another fish, and after only thirty minutes, or so, I returned to Tonka, extremely happy. I was wet through and did not notice, but stopped by to thank, young James, and share this picture.

I thought that the Isle of Wight was always going to be difficult, but thanks to guidance from Dom Longley, my lovely fish means that I am 41 down, and now have, just five counties to go.

Merseyside

01 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in Merseyside

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

The County of Merseyside has no streams containing trout.

This is the view of no lesser an authority than Dr Malcolm Greenhalgh, and is based on research he conducted in preparation of a scientific paper, as noted in his response to my enquiry of him, which read -

“Dear Tony

First, Merseyside is not a real county but an administrative county! Parts of the County Palatines of Lancashire and Cheshire! But here goes:

There is an angling club, Wirral I think, that has some fishing in that area. There are no river trout in southwest Lancashire = North Merseyside; and Wirral (South Merseyside) may well be the same. In 2004 I produced an account ‘The freshwater fishes of Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire’ for the Lancashire & Cheshire Fauna Society and sought help from many sources, with 0 for Merseyside

The problem is that that is known as Merseyside is low, with lots of urban connurbation. Rural areas in the northern bit is mostly low lying acid peat farmland (= mossland in S Lancashire) and with very few streams. The largest, the Alt, is clean in places, but not trout water.

On Wirral there are even fewer streams, none with trout.

Note, however, that sea trout are now running the Mersey, though they are not catchable in the river here or the Ship Canal!

Sorry!

Malcolm G”

Malcolm Greenhalgh is both a naturalist and a fly fisherman. After reading biological sciences and researching estuary ecology for his PhD, he lectured for sixteen years before becoming a freelance writer on his fortieth birthday, and anglers will be aware of his prowess, and expertise from his many interesting and challenging articles in the angling press.

His view is supported by Tim Jacklin and Paul Gaskell of the WTT, and by Kevin Nash and Gareth Pedley of the EA…., as well as the officials of the many Angling Clubs in Merseyside with whom I have exchanged correspondence.

So…maybe my ‘Mission’ will not succeed, but this sad news is no reason to stop searching.

I could make angling history if…

TYNE & WEAR

05 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in Tyne & Wear

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

The Tyne Angling Passport was an early source of hope for capturing the three North Eastern counties. Cleveland having lost its singular identity at the end of the last Millennium, I was convinced that Northumbria, Tyne & Wear, and County Durham were all mine for the having, and this was confirmed by Geoff H.

A wedding invitation to Sue and I from oldest friend ‘Pakers’, whose daughter Tania, was to be married at Hexham Abbey in March, got me into frenzied search mode, and excitement was at bursting point  when reading the Tyne Rivers Trust site, revealed that the season opens in the region on March 22nd! I had already fished opening day on the Usk on the 3rd, and here was another opportunity to wet a line before my traditional start on the 1st of April.

In the event the Tyne Angling Passport vouchers did not arrive before my planned departure, but FishPal also arranges days up there, so for a modest £8, I was armed with confirmatory emails and off, in sunny times to the Axwell Park & Derwent Valley AA water downstream of Rowlands Gill. And note the precision with which I have described the venue, because upstream of here, and you’re in Co Durham!…and I was on –

March 2012- the Derwent

The bottom of the beat is close to Damhead, near Axwell Park, and is also known as Lady Steps or Derwenthaugh Dam. I was fascinated to watch a construction crew rebuilding the dam, and incorporating a salmon ladder to it…a welcoming signal.

I went walking the beat, past Swalwell Juniors Football ground, where the river is deeper, and trout lies, sparse. Eelhaugh (or Pylon Field) contains very fishy water, but March was unseasonably warm, and no one mentioned this to the fly life, nor to the fish, which are apparently in abundance on this tributary of the mighty Tyne. And after the driest early year for many, the water levels were very low,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

so along with brightness, heat, and an eager population of cyclists, dog walkers, joggers, and families, there was not a sign of a fish!

To the top end of the Tyne & Wear stretch by the Gibside Estate,

and a few fish were moving, but in such shallow water, more stealth than I could muster was needed to get close enough to them to cast some temptation their way. I decided to try the middle of the beat, and wandered from high in the woods, past carved tree trunks showing the variety of wildlife on the hillside, down to Clockburn  Bridge, and began another trundle upstream, diving down into the water from time to time, where I thought there might be a chance. But to no avail…but, sensing that a return would be necessary, this exercise gave me a valuable insight into the whole fishery, and I mentally logged where I might have success later in the year. I finished up above the Nine Arches,

and for the first time saw feeding fish. But they remained doing so, and on naturals, not my artificials!

May 2012 – the (same) Derwent

To test my theory about lies, I wrote to the Chairman of APDVAA, and Kevin replied with a charming note –

“Hello Tony,

…and apologies for not replying sooner. I’ve had a quick look at your blog. Wow. You certainly get around.

The Derwent is fishing very well at the moment. Quite frankly I’d be quite happy on any of our stretches at this time of year. The water upstream of Nine Arches, up through the meadows has recently been stocked and, as always, has a good stock of wild fish as well. Another good stretch is the bit upstream from Clockburn footbridge (parking at Winlaton Mill ), crossing onto the south side at the next footbridge and carrying on upstream to the boundary. Mid afternoon through to the evenings seem to be the best period at the moment. As for tactics – anything you enjoy will probably work. I’m a big fan of things like elk hair caddis and poly wing duns at this time of year.

http://www.apdvaa.co.uk/good-flies/

http://www.apdvaa.co.uk/fishing-advice/

As you are travelling north I’m heading south (to North Devon ) on Fri 1st June for my annual holiday so unfortunately I’ll not be able to join you.. I hope you have a pleasant stay and the Derwent is kind to you. I’ve enclosed a recent photo of our secretary with a fish he’d caught over the weekend to whet your appetite.

Regards

Kevin Dick

Chairman APDVAA”

….so this was most encouraging.

After the morning wetness high in the Pennines,the weather nearer the coast was better and  I was excited by the prospect of some early evening  mays, and perhaps some spents, too, and indeed,on arrival, I saw a few mays coming off….before the rain caught up with me! By this time I was in the stretch below Thornley Woods which I had liked in March, and between showers had noted some fish moving below the overhanging trees, where to distinguish between fish coming up, and plopping rain drops was difficult.

But an elk hair caddis did the trick for this first fish,

and a second, just a few casts later, and then the respite I had hoped for, was overcome by the heaviest downpours, and I retired gratefully …to a delicious dinner at the Beamish Park Hotel, nearby.

The APDVAA water is  4.5 miles long and is varied and interesting. Its website is colourful and informative, and when ‘up North’ this river makes for a great day’s fishing, and is somewhere I would like to fish again. Its beats are #’s 17, 18 and 19 on the Tyne Angling Passport programme, and requires two vouchers, per beat.

Well, just two counties in one day, Geoff, and I accept your kind invitation to fish Northumberland together in September, when he has challenged me to capture a Tyne salmon, too….something to look forward to.

COUNTY DURHAM

05 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by in County Durham

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

When I asked Geoff Hodgson to help me in my quest to capture the three North East counties, he declared  - “ we could do that in a day!” Geographically, he is probably right, but in reality….!?

In searching for somewhere interesting to try to net Co Durham, and through Fly Fishing Forum, I had an exchange with Daran S, who advised that -

“…the Tees is a magnificent river. At the source it is wonderful wild brown trout fishing. Rugged,  boulder-strewn river in remote, isolated countryside. You can fish for £12 and not see another person all day. An 8oz fish is a scrapper and they will rise to dry flies all day long. Not easy fishing, but get it right and 30+ fish a day is not unheard of. Up there, the river is in County Durham.”

In a later email he offered this additional guidance –

“If it’s the upper reaches of the Tees you after, go to the gift shop next to the High Force Hotel. You can buy day tickets for (I think) £12. Ask for a map and the code for the gate to Widdybank Farm.

Drive up the valley and turn left just at the Langden Beck hotel and follow the road. You’ll see the gate down to the farm on your left (there are signs showing Teesdale Wildlife by the gate). Follow the track down to the farm and park. You then have miles of the most unspoilt wild brown trout fishing in the country. Fish anywhere. There are plenty of fish behind and in front of every rock. I usually fish dries as they will rise to almost anything. Something bushy and black is a good place to start. You’ll miss loads of takes as they are lightning fast. If you think you’re missing too many, change down a size. If they aren’t taking dries, try a small beaded nymph, fished Duo style. I like an orange bead for the peaty, stained water.

One warning. The weather can change very quickly so be prepared. A gentle breeze further down the valley can mean a bit of a gale in the upper reaches. I usually use a fairly short rod and fish very close. You can actually fish from the bank if you don’t want to wade. The river is full of ankle-breaking rocks and in places can be a bit hard to wade in.

Just keep moving. One or two casts into each run and then move on. A good day will see you take 30+ fish………”

I was intrigued, and was bound to follow his advice and head to the upper reaches of his stream.

May 2012 – the Tees

The A1 is endless, but more interesting than the M1. The A66 is much more interesting than both, as it heads towards the Pennines, but get onto the B 6277 as it leaves Barnard Castle, and you get into serious ‘shock and awe’ territory, where the views of the North Pennines are simply glorious, and stretch out, horizon to horizon.

This year, after a warm March and wet April, when everything went onto hold, plant life eventually came to terms with the volatile weather, and the result which I saw was a green and luxurious vista which was welcoming and almost soft and gentle, but I bet at times it looks raw and unforgiving, and especially when the sleet is driving laterally across the windscreen, and it is cold, and “did I remember to put a shovel in the boot?”

The drive through Middleton-in-Teesdale is punctuated by the sight of many white washed buildings which I later learn are all owned by the Lord Barnard, whose family has lived in Raby Castle since 1626, and is still considered to be one of the finest medieval castles in the country. The drive to my overnight destination at the High Force Hotel, at Forest-in- Middleton

takes me to an elevation of some 1000 feet above sea level, and the welcome from Mike and Vicki is genuine. Actually, this early in the season, I am their own guests, so they really are pleased to see me!

I cannot wait for the next morning, and to try to ’net’ County Durham, and so waking early, I jumped into Tonka, and used Daran’s instructions to find where he feels I should fish. The rains then are what I would call ‘mizzle’ but hardening to serious rain, but it is a long way off the beaten track, and I am here, so will bear whatever Nature has in mind for the day, and in fairness, the forecasters have been advising that what I see is quite what I should expect. The Tees is fed by the Cow Green Reservoir, and I figure that means, that so high up its length, the flow is constant and under influenced by the run off that downstream stretches will be coloured by.

The north bank waters are part of the Upper Teesdale Estate, and I had to drive back to Middleton to buy a day ticket from the Raby Estate office, and then retraced my steps to whence I had been a couple of hours earlier, and off road, drove the mile to Widdy Bank Farm. It was raining, seriously, now!

The river, high in the Pennines, had an Iceland look to it,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and made me feel I was on a practice run for our next trip in early August! It is bleak up here, and the wind was blowing in showers of penetrating wetness, and I was pleased that just recently I had purchased a new Patagonia wading jacket. The river here is boulder strewn and the peaty water made it difficult to determine the depth, so I fished from the bank. That gave me problems because I had taken my Loomis, and punching a 4 weight line through the breeze was challenging, but after working the calmer water in between runs I hooked up, and soon landed a beautiful little wild brown,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and thereafter did not feel quite so wet and damp! I guess I must have walked a couple of miles searching through the runs and riffles, and no matter that no more fish came to net, I had captured County Durham, and decided to try downstream in lass bleak conditions.

And so, just a mile or three later I was near Bowlees. The river here, downstream of the famous High Force waterfalls is dramatic in its runs over monstrous rock formations,

and into deep pools, along pebbly glides, and between tiny wild flower covered islands. So beautiful…but such difficult wading. I have rarely encountered such slippery stones, even more than the Usk’swhen the algae is in full growth, and that’s saying something. Fishing now with a five weightline and longer rod (Greys 8’ 3”), I was able to cast a fair way and cover a lot of water, and along came my second CD fish, of deep butter flanks, and this one nearly one lb.

 

I had hoped that I would be fishing dry, but in the wet and windy conditions, I never saw a rise so Skues won, and a PTN was the taking fly.

And then I got to wonder about Geoff’s assertion, and thought, “well if I head off to Rowlands Gill, now (it was one-ish) then potentially I have two bites of the cherry, if there is nothing rising, tonight!”….so did!

I loved the setting of this wild part of our country…a ramblers’ paradise, but be prepared. I can see how conditions could turn nasty, and the hills are remote and isolated. The towns and villages are attractive, and the people are most welcoming, for they know that only the committed make the long trek to be there, and they need visitors. A poor summer makes it a long winter for those dependent on this trade.

HAMPSHIRE

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by in Hampshire

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , ,

May 2012 – The Test

Ah! The frustrations of fishing, and in particular in the may fly season, which I have always considered to be misnamed, Duffers’ Fortnight.

Chris Satterthwaite (aka Satts)

has a rod on the Broadlands beat of the Test, and he invited me down.

After the wet and windy start to the season and to Spring, in general, the heat we enjoyed in March has returned with a vengeance, recent days have been glorious…hot, clear and long. The mays have been coming off the lower Test for a

week, and already the trout are gauged and getting lazy, I was warned by Head Keeper, Jon Hall, who also advised “a six weight, nine foot rod if you have one” because with wading disallowed, and the river wide, the expected warm weather breezes would test the casting skills of most, so “heavy”.

Before lunch we neither touched a fish. So, given the suggestion that “fishing should begin at about 4”, we plumbed for a bottle of ale, and a long salad-y and meat-y, boys-y lunch, washed down by some very pleasant Cotes du Rhone (2002!), and put the business world to rights. Then, back to work.

At 4pm, I caught a fish,of nearly 4 lbs –

At 6pm, keeper Neil appeared, and suggested which flies to tie, “when it starts”…he absolutely promised.

“What you’ve got no mayflies?” he complained, but gave us both one, as well as a huge spent version, which was very kind, for his generosity to his anglers had not replenished his may box. And we fished the middle of the Moorcourt beat,and watched, excitedly, as fish began to move, and casting with Neil’s may, this proved to be ‘the fly’ as we both got fish to come up to it…and spit it out! At least mine did…because Chris caught a good brown, then generously hoped his guest might, too.

At 630pm, I caught another fish – an even bigger one, and also, the wrong species!

At 7pm and just after Chris commended the way my line unfurled, and the delicate way in which my may was presented, faultlessly, I hooked a trout, and was promptly, snapped!

The same thing happened, several times, and again at 730pm when trialing the spent may, after a few satiated (one shag and you die…who’d be an upwing?!) males began coming down.

Oh, what a day!! Too many flies lost to bushes on the back cast, but this meant another visit to Grangers this morning, just in case the Co Durham mays are as big as the Hampshire ones!!

But it was a great day. The fishing hut is a treat…

the river at Broadlands is magnificent…

the weather was glorious..Chris was a great host, and there were simply dozens of browns there, and if we had fished the day before, or a day later, perhaps…but who knows!? That’s fishing, and I loved my two chub…honestly!

WEST MIDLANDS

20 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by in West Midlands

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

This tale is another example of how forums, or at least, Fly Fishing Forums, can work.

After a number of attempts at identifying a likely stream in this industrial area, I connected with thetrouttickler, who introduced me to the River Cole, because in December 2010, he was one of three local anglers who worked with the WTT, for whom Paul Gaskell conducted a Site Visit and wrote up his findings in a fascinating report which he, Justin, shared with me. It was known that the odd trout had been caught from the Cole, and Paul’s report directed me to where it was more likely that I might.  Both Justin, and his companion angler, Steve Williams offered to accompany me, which was comforting because both warned me that the river flows through a less than desirable part of the country, “The Cole can otherwise flow through some pretty built up and dodgy urban areas”….he wrote, and I should take note that in such a deprived area, Tonka, certainly would attract attention!

As, I imagine might a wadered individual….

So when I received a further email from thetrouttickler, which told me with some excitement that there might be another option, it was here, where I began to focus.

April 2012 – the Blythe

The Blythe is a lowland river in the Midlands which runs from Warwickshire, through the borough of Solihull and on to Coleshill. It runs along the Meriden Gap in the Midlands Plateau, is fed by the River Cole and is a tributary of the Tame, and it joins the Trent on its way to the North Sea at Humberside.  It is considered to be one of the cleanest rivers in England.

Running over clay, it is not a typical trout stream, and is known to hold a good head of tench, bream, rudd and barbel.

My venue was a stretch running through the land occupied by the West Midlands Golf Club, which thetrouttickler advised – “I don’t think the Blythe is a natural trout water, or the most perfect water for trout, but people do stock it…”  He continued – “The river has a coarse feel to it – slow and deep- but then there are shallower sections with riffle and gravel beds”

On arrival, I met the truly helpful, Nigel Harrhy. He advised that few fished the river. Also, that the beat upstream, leased to West Midlands Police, was stocked, as was the beat downstream, adjacent to the fabled Forest of Arden Golf Club, so why, he argued would some trout not migrate into his beat, which he does not stock. And that he could not remember trout being caught, or at least for a while! But I was there, so I had to try! And with a modestly priced day ticket, I was about to, with only similarly modest expectations, after my chat with Nigel.

The afternoon started sunny.

A walk to the bottom of the beat showed a gravelly run, and I optimistically tied on an Adams and began casting, but into a downstream wind which made presentation hard and often the fly landed my side of the fly line! But I sensed, nor saw any fish of any description, so walked upstream. Entering the water at the end of runs and casting into them I spooked a couple of fish which may have been chub, and amused some carp anglers on the adjacent Barston Lakes who told me there were no fish in the river anyway, but generously wished me “Tight lines , Mate” and went back to kneading boilies (or whatever they do!).

The weather was deteriorating a little, as I spied a likely run.

Here the river bends a little between two trees, runs over a gravel bar where it remains shallow to its left hand side, but has a hole under the roots of the stand of alder to its right hand side, and a back eddy just ahead of the same hole, where I noted a couple of little swirls. The waters shallow again down the length of the pool from whence I cast, up into the gravels where the pheasant tail nymph would sink, before tumbling along the bottom of the hole where I thought there might be a fish, or one lurking in the roots of the alder…

Only two or three casts later, a tug , a pull, a short struggle and a fish into the net…a chub of about  ¾ lb.

But still, I wondered, might there be what I am seeking in the same spot!?

So I cast a few more times, getting as close to the roots, as a growing wind would allow…until ‘Bang!’ and a take of an altogether, much more aggressive type. This chap did not fight like a brown, though, no waggling of the head, rather, and whatever it was, it torpedoed down the pool towards and past me, and headed to some roots. Leaning my rod to my left to apply a lot of side strain to keep him from the woody comfort, the 7ft, 4wt. Loomis bent alarmingly, more from my determination to get the fellow than his size, and when he came to the surface, I smiled a rainbow smile, as I realised I had another ‘county’ and a fish of about 2lbs.

Two more fish, small dace, and the weather which was ‘threatening’ all afternoon, finally collapsed, and the rains returned, for which I was pleased. Eight to go, and Tonka, intact!

Essex

09 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in Essex

≈ Leave a Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Essex must be one of our flattest counties, so the chances of finding fast flowing, clear water holding trout must be slim.

My searches have been considerable, though, and various websites suggest that there may be trout in the Chelmer, and possibly in the Blackwater, and certainly in the upper reaches of the Cam near Saffron Waldon, where the Audley End Flyfishers have some water, but as you know the Cam has already featured in my ’journey’ and I would like to find a stream which is entirely in the County, if possible.

And then I discovered that the Billericay & District AC, a notable coarse fishing club, has beats on the Roding, the Stour, the Wid, and interestingly, the River Pant.  This stream rises on the edge of Debden Airfield in North West Essex, and flows toward Braintree, where its name changes to the River Blackwater. Andy Thomas of the WTT had already suggested that the headwaters of the Blackwater may have some trout, and so I guessed that the Pant is where he was suggesting.

The BDAC website claims that the Pant near Shalford does hold trout, so I thought I should join, and try to find out!

Well it’s a pretty stream and my first visit was in mid-Summer, for being predominantly a coarse fishing river, the riparian owners acknowledge the season as being from June to March, and by that time, the over growth was considerable on steep banks, and access to the water was limited, but fish were moving, although these turned out to be chub and dace.

My first and second visits were fruitless, so I wrote to Fishery Officer, Clive Gliddon, whose response has convinced me that persistence is necessary, and so I shall…persist!

Dear Tony.
With regards to your txt re Trout in the River Pant.
I personally have caught trout from the start of our stretch at Shalford Bridge downstream to our boundrary at Codham Mill.  All my catches were caught fishing for Chub, using maggots.
The trout are still there, as we have one angler who regularly fishes the river and catches.
I have seem Trout in the river as far upstream as Great Bardfield (my own village) Sizewise, my catches were small around 8 ozs etc , but I have heard of 1 Rainbow taken of just over 3lbs.
It appears the Trout got into the river from an old hatchery at Codham Mill

which closed many years back.
I hope this answers your question.
Kind regards
Clive Gliddon

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 28 other followers