Bloody hard Blithfield

Me and Bone had  a half day on the 'res'. Cooking conditions, not much fly life but we managed to coax 3 to our dries. You can tempt them!

The Manifold and Mayfield

Can't think of a better day. Great company and lovely rivers. Check out those shades!
Started on Mayfield where we had a couple of out of season grayling.
We moved on and had a pint at the Manifold Inn and a fly tying lesson for Jon.

He has just bought a vice and all the bits. Out came the stuff and we had a right laugh watching Jon attempt to tie his first fly. We decided a little cdc would be the ideal start. He insisted on ginger dubbing just to be different. He caught a nice little trout on it within a couple of minutes. These flies never fail!

We had six from one one small pool and could have had more!
Saw the most amazing ball of fry. Hope they were trout because there were thousands of them. Definitely not minnows, these were black.

Blithfield

We can't get our heads around it. I had one fish to the dry. Lost one on a lure and missed two. Four takes in 5 hours. We'll keep on plugging (maybe not!). Saw the biggest Pike I have ever seen and a monster common carp cruising under our boat.
Oh well, picking up a new rod from Steve Parton soon and he has threatened me with a casting lesson. God help him.

Had another fruitful day on the Manifold. The fishing was hard due to the low water levels. I do fear for the next few weeks unless we have some proper rain. Mayfly still coming off but the trout were just not interested. Took all mine to a small cdc. The JT lesson is still paying off.

The river

After yesterday's session to Ellerdine, where we all caught but had to pay to catch stupid fish; Mick, Jon and me visited a private stretch of the River Manifold today.
Now... last time we went we hadn't got a clue. In the meantime I have had a lesson from John Tyzack and since caught a couple of lovely Tean trout so maybe I could put some more of what I learned into practice. BUT!
On arriving, the owner said, "Needs a bit of water, lads. It is low."
Never mind, we wandered down to the river to tackle up. Sh.t! It was low. I looked and thought, "This is nothing like the Dove, so shallow . We havn't got a chance!" (I have to stop talking to myself!)
I could not do exactly what JT taught me so I needed to adapt.
I was determined to fish the duo, because that is what I wanted to show my mates, so put a JT nymph two foot under a JT sedge. I was hoping that stealth would be the order of the day and with a weed free bottom (not mine) I could nudge the nymph over the stones.
To cut a long story short, I had nine, yes I was counting! nine beautiful wild brownies all caught within 20 yards! They loved the nymph. Further down, I lost a good fish that came to the caddis.
Then the mayfly arrived. A sporadic hatch. We sat and watched the odd fish splash at them and even better, the birds taking them on the wing. How do birds do that? What skill!
Walked down the river, passing a couple of lads who had found the fishing difficult but had had some success on emerger patterns and I decided to have a put in at a superb looking pool. After losing one and cobbling another take on the nymph, I decided, after watching the rises, to tie on a single cdc. Miss, miss, miss, miss.
Some fish were taking mayfly, others smaller flies. I need to practise my striking!
Anyhow. A brilliant day. I now need to tie some decent mayflies as the ones I tried were totally ignored even by the birds!
We also know where the big one lies!

Another blank

Well it wouldn't be fishing if all you reported were excellent days. Well this wasn't one of them and I'm not ashamed of posting this.
We booked a boat and began fishing at 8.30. After half an hour we moved. Nothing. This went on all morning until we packed up. Can't get my head around this. We have never had a day when we never had a tug apart from the rescue day. It just didn't feel right. A North East wind may have had something to do with it.
I did catch another nice perch on my holo buzzer but I can't count it.
Oh well, Ellerdine Saturday with lots of mates if they are up for it. Can't wait! Then the rivers the week after. Yes! I have a week off for the mayfly hatch. Bet it is late this year. Oh bugger...

fly tying

Just putting a few flies together for Blithfield on Saturday. I have tied a beaut which I will try out. If we find the fish, God help them! 'Tis not a lure either. Can't wait!