Saturday 15th May
A quick trip across the old bridge saw me at Sweets Tackle Shop at Usk within 45 mins of leaving home. Sweets holds a special place in my memory as on Easter hols when I was about 11 or 12 we made a family visit to the shop. Here we were shown two large (20lb plus?) salmon caught from the town water. I was also taught how to tie a fly by Jean Williams. A photo of me concentrating hard on my Grey Wulff was kept from then on by Granny in her bedroom, and the photo is till there in my Mum’s room now Granny has passed away.
Fast forwarding to 2010 and an almost identical photo of a modern day kid was to be seen pinned to Jean’s notice board just inside the shop. A quick introduction and the offer of a cup of tea from Jean saw her vaguely recognise me across the 30 years or so that had passed.
Listening to two other chaps who had been out fishing it was apparent that a hatch of yellow may duns had been happening but that the fish had been not that keen on rising. Tucking a few Yellow Sally’s in to my fly box together with some hare’s ears nymphs I sallied forth minus the very reasonable £14 for a day ticket on the town water. It seems worth noting that most of the flies in Jean’s shop seemed to be on the large side (12s and 14s) which matches up pretty well with the reports of large fly life on various forums.
Walking down to the bottom of the beat it was clear that the river was very low and clear and that only the very occasional fish was showing up top. Rigging up with my normal searching duo rig I worked my way upstream only to discover that the recent repair jobs on my now very breathable waders weren’t really working. It being a brisk late spring day this was expected to become a problem. It was not until I made my way up above the town bridges that I began to see more fish rising with any more purpose that the occasional ‘oncers’ of earlier in the day. I was also soon to see some very nice fish rising within yards of the bank and just as quickly scare them away from the high bank. Rises were still fairly sparse so finding myself at the top of the beat I decided to fish back down using a more traditional down and across technique. There was a big hatch of Yellow May Duns happening and whilst there were some small fish moving it could hardly be said to be a full blown rise. Finding a traditional wet with some yellow around its thorax (Wickham’s?) I was soon to bounce off a couple of very quick takes. The third stuck and a nice fish of about 10” was soon coming to hand. Its split tail betrayed its stockie origins but given that it had been a slow day I was happy to have caught at last. A strengthening and cold downstream wind from the North soon combined with my leaking waders to send me home via the fish and chip shop.
Whilst the fishing was slow- probably a combination of tough conditions and my novice river status- the day will remain memorable for the warm welcome from Jean Williams and her lovely little shop. About the only concession she seems to have made to modernity is a new phone. Next time I think I will stay for a tea and chat. No need to rush after all.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
River C, Devon
I arrived on a fairly bright but blustery day to find the River C probably a little coloured but looking beautiful and alluring in the late spring sun. On the minus side it was fairly chilly (no better than 11-13c) and there was a fairly strong north easter blowing which is pretty much directly down stream on most of this stretch. Applying a little mucilin to my excellent new furled leader I walked up to the top section of the beat and decided to hedge my bets with a duo rig with a freshly tied Hawthorn up top and a size 17 gold head GRHE about 3 foot below. I reckoned this approach would allow me to fish the dry with good presentation as the weighted fly straightens the leader out just right. It’s also a good searching ploy when on new water. Despite the chill breeze there seemed to be enough warmth in the sheltered bends to encourage some fly life. From an entomological perspective I’m afraid I’m not yet learned enough to know what I could spot. Most of it looked fairly small and brown (gnats?) with the occasional small up winged affair (LDO?) bobbing down stream. No fish rising mind. The C. is a medium sized low land stream with some lovely classic pool and riffle sections and some very steep banked meanders combined with long slow sections which I’m sure look inviting if you are after the trout’s chubby cousin- the chub. Working my way upstream I fished some beautiful looking bends with some nice easy drifts and also allowed the gold head to sink into some inviting looking eddies and back currents for an hour or so with no joy. Recently I have had some quick success on streams so the slow start took me slightly aback.
Now it was time to walk to the bottom of the 1.5km beat and try working my way upstream to the road bridge. Doing my best to keep back from the water’s edge I walked briskly down stream only now noticing the sound of the very nearby M5 which my concentration and the high banks had earlier shielded from me. The water I glimpsed was very pretty with healthy looking ranunculus bright green in the clearing water. Arriving at the downstream end of the beat I think I was able to place myself correctly on the beat map though with no obvious end of beat sign on the nearby trees I couldn’t really be sure. With optimism perked by the sight of some rises from small looking fish in the pool below me I decide to change the Hawthorn for a small elk sedge fly. The pool in question was finished by a deep run in to an undercut right underneath a high red earthed bank. Casting in to the wind I was quickly in to lively 6 incher which I was forced in to lifting up the bank as the water was some 6 feet below me. Next cast right under the near bank and the elk sedge shot away again and my quick lift was met by a heavy feeling resistance and an almost immediate quick run by the fish towards the nearby sunken tree on the left. Some sideways pressure from me brought the much larger looking fish to the surface where it started the trademark rolling and head shaking that only wild brown trout seem able to do. That was pretty much it- the hook fell out. This all lasted all of about 2 or 3 seconds I would have thought. In the state of almost dream like hyper reality which rushes in when you hook a big fish I had just enough time to think “don’t go there – how am I gonna land this from such a high bank?” The fish looked very silver which made me think escapee rainbow but the fight suggested not. I don’t believe this river is well known for a run but perhaps I had latched in to an early season peal. It was on only so briefly though if forced to guess I would say it was at least a good two pounder- who knows though really? I’m not sure I was shaking at the loss but I do know that this excited but regret filled memory filled my thoughts right up until my head hit the pillow.
The rest of the afternoon was not quite so dramatic but was great fun. Seeing only rare rises, I persisted with the duo approach with occasional changes of weight and size of fly and leader length according to the depth and speed of the flow. I was lucky enough catch another 5 or 6 lovely wild brown trout (WBT) all of which were returned safely with the largest being around 8 or 9”. (I really must paint on the measuring scale to the top of my 4 weight to save all this guess work and to guard against unintended inaccurate estimates). The River C has some lovely water, most of it being very fishable both in terms of casting access and getting good drag free drift. I hope to be back but will I ever be lucky enough to latch on to such a nice fish there again?
Now it was time to walk to the bottom of the 1.5km beat and try working my way upstream to the road bridge. Doing my best to keep back from the water’s edge I walked briskly down stream only now noticing the sound of the very nearby M5 which my concentration and the high banks had earlier shielded from me. The water I glimpsed was very pretty with healthy looking ranunculus bright green in the clearing water. Arriving at the downstream end of the beat I think I was able to place myself correctly on the beat map though with no obvious end of beat sign on the nearby trees I couldn’t really be sure. With optimism perked by the sight of some rises from small looking fish in the pool below me I decide to change the Hawthorn for a small elk sedge fly. The pool in question was finished by a deep run in to an undercut right underneath a high red earthed bank. Casting in to the wind I was quickly in to lively 6 incher which I was forced in to lifting up the bank as the water was some 6 feet below me. Next cast right under the near bank and the elk sedge shot away again and my quick lift was met by a heavy feeling resistance and an almost immediate quick run by the fish towards the nearby sunken tree on the left. Some sideways pressure from me brought the much larger looking fish to the surface where it started the trademark rolling and head shaking that only wild brown trout seem able to do. That was pretty much it- the hook fell out. This all lasted all of about 2 or 3 seconds I would have thought. In the state of almost dream like hyper reality which rushes in when you hook a big fish I had just enough time to think “don’t go there – how am I gonna land this from such a high bank?” The fish looked very silver which made me think escapee rainbow but the fight suggested not. I don’t believe this river is well known for a run but perhaps I had latched in to an early season peal. It was on only so briefly though if forced to guess I would say it was at least a good two pounder- who knows though really? I’m not sure I was shaking at the loss but I do know that this excited but regret filled memory filled my thoughts right up until my head hit the pillow.
The rest of the afternoon was not quite so dramatic but was great fun. Seeing only rare rises, I persisted with the duo approach with occasional changes of weight and size of fly and leader length according to the depth and speed of the flow. I was lucky enough catch another 5 or 6 lovely wild brown trout (WBT) all of which were returned safely with the largest being around 8 or 9”. (I really must paint on the measuring scale to the top of my 4 weight to save all this guess work and to guard against unintended inaccurate estimates). The River C has some lovely water, most of it being very fishable both in terms of casting access and getting good drag free drift. I hope to be back but will I ever be lucky enough to latch on to such a nice fish there again?
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Devon Yeo
Monday 24th
A quick little session on my second River Yeo in the space of three days; this time the Yeo was a tribute of the River Taw in Devon- another West Country Angling Passport beat. The water was quite milky and cloudy though I didn’t completely manage to work out if this was due to the tree clearing work being carried out by the farmer at the top of the beat. I was chuffed to take a nice 10” fish by targeting it using a parachute black gnat again from a very shallow lie close to the bank. This was pretty much the first WBT I have taken this year that was definitely a cock fish, betrayed by its mini hooked bottom jaw. I also managed to hook a beautifully lightly coloured 7 incher almost at my feet in a tiny quick run. If I’ve learnt anything in my river trips this year it is that fish will lie in very shallow water and that it’s almost always worth trying tungsten beaded nymphs through deep runs right by your feet.
A quick little session on my second River Yeo in the space of three days; this time the Yeo was a tribute of the River Taw in Devon- another West Country Angling Passport beat. The water was quite milky and cloudy though I didn’t completely manage to work out if this was due to the tree clearing work being carried out by the farmer at the top of the beat. I was chuffed to take a nice 10” fish by targeting it using a parachute black gnat again from a very shallow lie close to the bank. This was pretty much the first WBT I have taken this year that was definitely a cock fish, betrayed by its mini hooked bottom jaw. I also managed to hook a beautifully lightly coloured 7 incher almost at my feet in a tiny quick run. If I’ve learnt anything in my river trips this year it is that fish will lie in very shallow water and that it’s almost always worth trying tungsten beaded nymphs through deep runs right by your feet.
Saturday, 22 May 2010
Congresbury Yeo
Saturday 22nd May
This was my first outing to the only KAA running water I had yet to fish, the Congresbury Yeo in Somerset. Suffice to say size wise the stream was so small that I managed to drive over its bridge on the way to the beat without noticing it. This was proper jungle fishing with trees, bushes and all kinds of mainly organic debris strewed across the stream. You know it's jungle fishing when upstream progress becomes impossible without a quick clamber up the bank. You’ll get the drift if I tell you I had to chuck my rod up the bank or through a hole in the vegetation and then follow after it a few times. Just how I seem to like it.
I could have done with a 6’ or 6’ 6” rod rather than my normal seven foot six-er. I was delighted to catch 4 or 5 mainly tiny WBT from the surprisingly deep corner pools often right under big tree trunks or slightly undercut banks. I bumped off quite a few fish by not striking properly when I only half suspected I might have a bite (trust your instincts, Will) and managed to scare off a bigger than normal (1 1/2lbs?) trout that was rising confidently in an almost completely inaccessible spot. I think I probably managed about half the beat and whilst the fish were small I did scare away a couple of larger fish and the jungle adventure quality to the fishing will draw me back sooner rather than later.
This was my first outing to the only KAA running water I had yet to fish, the Congresbury Yeo in Somerset. Suffice to say size wise the stream was so small that I managed to drive over its bridge on the way to the beat without noticing it. This was proper jungle fishing with trees, bushes and all kinds of mainly organic debris strewed across the stream. You know it's jungle fishing when upstream progress becomes impossible without a quick clamber up the bank. You’ll get the drift if I tell you I had to chuck my rod up the bank or through a hole in the vegetation and then follow after it a few times. Just how I seem to like it.
I could have done with a 6’ or 6’ 6” rod rather than my normal seven foot six-er. I was delighted to catch 4 or 5 mainly tiny WBT from the surprisingly deep corner pools often right under big tree trunks or slightly undercut banks. I bumped off quite a few fish by not striking properly when I only half suspected I might have a bite (trust your instincts, Will) and managed to scare off a bigger than normal (1 1/2lbs?) trout that was rising confidently in an almost completely inaccessible spot. I think I probably managed about half the beat and whilst the fish were small I did scare away a couple of larger fish and the jungle adventure quality to the fishing will draw me back sooner rather than later.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Camel
Monday 17th
A quick phone call to Toby Russell of the West Country Angling passport saw me making my way to the Tressaret beat on the Camel for an after work session. Despite Toby’s warning that everywhere was fishing hard owing to the low water and chilly northern winds I tackled up with the keening enthusiasm that normally courses through one’s being on approaching new water. I fished the upper section above the bridge to start with and after taking a couple of 6” wild brown trout was delighted to target and take a lovely little fish of about 10” on a self tied balloon caddis from a very shallow lie close to the right bank. This was pretty much the first fish of the season to be taken by targeting a fish rather than searching using a duo set up. The top of the beat was quite moor like in character with rapid runs and pocket water linking some deep pools. Rather than target these pools with some heavy nymphs and short lines I decided to give in to the urge to explore and tramped to the bottom end of the beat.
Once again I found myself negotiating some overly inquisitive and quite aggressive bullocks by wading straight down the river. The bottom of the beat is characterised by some beautiful deep pools which one could see would be good salmon water with better water levels. I managed to retrieve an expensive looking little Rapala in trout parr markings from its tree branch snag. With more water one could easily see how this water would warrant its 5 token tax. Perhaps I’ll be back if rain and work conspire suitably?! Despite the water looking beautiful, particularly at the bottom of the beat where the wooded valley sides tightened, I was not to see or hook more that the odd fish towards the bottom of the beat.
A quick phone call to Toby Russell of the West Country Angling passport saw me making my way to the Tressaret beat on the Camel for an after work session. Despite Toby’s warning that everywhere was fishing hard owing to the low water and chilly northern winds I tackled up with the keening enthusiasm that normally courses through one’s being on approaching new water. I fished the upper section above the bridge to start with and after taking a couple of 6” wild brown trout was delighted to target and take a lovely little fish of about 10” on a self tied balloon caddis from a very shallow lie close to the right bank. This was pretty much the first fish of the season to be taken by targeting a fish rather than searching using a duo set up. The top of the beat was quite moor like in character with rapid runs and pocket water linking some deep pools. Rather than target these pools with some heavy nymphs and short lines I decided to give in to the urge to explore and tramped to the bottom end of the beat.
Once again I found myself negotiating some overly inquisitive and quite aggressive bullocks by wading straight down the river. The bottom of the beat is characterised by some beautiful deep pools which one could see would be good salmon water with better water levels. I managed to retrieve an expensive looking little Rapala in trout parr markings from its tree branch snag. With more water one could easily see how this water would warrant its 5 token tax. Perhaps I’ll be back if rain and work conspire suitably?! Despite the water looking beautiful, particularly at the bottom of the beat where the wooded valley sides tightened, I was not to see or hook more that the odd fish towards the bottom of the beat.
Monday, 10 May 2010
My first post
Inspired by such bloggers as North Country Angler and Flyfishing in South Wales here is my angling blog. Those who know me will not be surprised to hear it has taken about five years to actually get started. I’ll write about my fishing trips- simple as that. I live in Bristol and do a bit of fly fishing in sea and salt and some beach casting in the Bristol Channel. I’ve only recently really (re-)discovered fly fishing in rivers and I seem to be drawn towards fishing small waters. I’m quickly coming to realise that there’s plenty of available fishing across the bridge in South Wales. I’ve only properly fished for salmon once and two summers ago achieved a mini ambition of catching a bass on the fly. My other crystallising fishing related ambitions are to catch a 10lb bass and a salmon though at this stage I’d be as happy to catch one on a Flying C(ondom) as I would a fly. After a twenty five year gap I’ve just started tying my own flies again- which is nice.
I’m not so clear on the reasons why I’m going to keep this blog. Part of it will be traditional fishing diary though I’m not planning on revealing all the details such as exact locations and so on. I hope to keep a detailed linked diary with successful flies, exact locations, the day’s weather and the state of the tide and so on. Writing the blog feels like the right thing to do and I suppose I hope it puts me in touch with some like minded fishing types.
I’m not so clear on the reasons why I’m going to keep this blog. Part of it will be traditional fishing diary though I’m not planning on revealing all the details such as exact locations and so on. I hope to keep a detailed linked diary with successful flies, exact locations, the day’s weather and the state of the tide and so on. Writing the blog feels like the right thing to do and I suppose I hope it puts me in touch with some like minded fishing types.
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