Hoar frost

Well I thought my next post was to show the results of my new camera. However, yesterday I had a unique photo opportunity outside my classroom. I was armed with my little Pentax W60.

I think you should have a camera with you always! It does not have to be all singing and dancing or expensive. The subject is much more important.

New camera

 


I have been teaching for 10 years now. Prior to that I had worked in the photographic industry (apart from a short stint with a medical supplies company) since leaving Uni.
Having worked for a major importer of high quality photographic equipment, working in a lab and running my own retail/photo processing business, I think I am more qualified than most to add the following to my blog:

My new camera.

I've used and owned them all: Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Olympus etc. 35mm, medium format, even a Sinar studio camera with full lighting set up.
With the introduction of digital cameras, I decided about 8 years ago, to invest in a compact digital. A 3.1 mp Ricoh. The results were a big let down. To be honest it was no worse than others on the market at the time. I was just cheesed off by the 'hype' over this new technology which, in those early days, I thought would never approach the quality I could get from a conventional 35mm camera.

Things moved on, and 5 years ago I bought a digital slr; a Nikon. I was quite pleased with the results through an average inkjet printer, but couldn't get on with it. It was bulky. However, I was sold on digital. It was obvious to me that this was the way to go; things had progressed so much in so short a period of time.
I then bought a Canon 350 dslr. This was a truly outstanding camera; easy to use, light and just seemed to give me the results that the Nikon didn't.

I then decided that I wanted something smaller. So the slr went and I bought a Canon G9.
What a great camera. I bought a new printer; a Canon Pixma, and was very happy with the results.
1 problem: The camera was neither here nor there. It was too big to be a compact and had no interchangable lens facility. So I sold it.
I was now getting into my fishing, so I decided that I really needed two cameras: A dslr (digital single lens reflex) for my general pictures and a compact for fishing.
I bought a Pentax W60 compact. Brilliant! I have had this for 12 months and it does what it says on the tin. Trouble is, that's all it does and I still needed a dslr.

I had not been in a hurry to buy a dslr and to be honest, the Pentax has been a good little workhorse but last week something happened that made me think it was time to buy my new dslr,

I wasn't going to do it but my daughter, who is at University, studying biology, convinced me she needed a dslr for her 'research'. So the 'ex' and her partner and me have got her a Canon 500d with a 17-55 and 55-250 zoom lenses for Xmas. Spoiled! If you are reading this and know her please don't tell!

It was while looking for this kit, I came across the Olympus E620 dslr. Now my daughter knew what she wanted, but I now knew what I wanted!

To cut a long story short, I ordered a kit (body, 14-42 and 40-150 lenses) This is a 4/3 camera....I don't understand either but you can essentially double the focal length of the lenses to give the equivalent to 35mm. So, I have a range from 28-300mm in two high quality optics.
Camera has arrived. Brilliant! The results beggar belief. LOADS of options. Easy to use and well made. The most difficult thing was attaching the strap.
I have looked at the images and I can't fault them.

It was only delivered yesterday but I have spent some time with the manual and it is a breeze to understand and use.
Highly recommended at just over £400 for the lot. A 'grey' import I know, but guaranteed all the same.

PS: The fly's not bad...don't you think?

Snowy Owl?

More images to follow.

The Lion Tamers visited the BFFI today. What a great place to learn and find new ideas!

'I think the fish can see your gut, old chap'

My shopping list was short: A decent silver badger cape/saddle.

Bone and Jon wanted wading vests.

After enduring a three mile drive (sometimes Stoke is a good place to live), we parked up and had a coffee. We needed coffee as it was Bone’s birthday bash last night and we were a bit worse for wear.

The queue was building up, but sensibly, we had our pre-booked tickets and went straight in.

I was desparate to get my hackle stuff. I told the guys it was urgent and got myself a super silver badger saddle from Lakeland. That was me done. I now needed a horse.

We wandered around, buying bits and bobs and then bumped into Sheena Goode. (England International). What a lovely lady. We showed her our new shirts. I think she wanted one but we were interrupted; she is so popular, Sheena had to talk to other people and so we slinked away.

We then went to see John Tyzack, (the master)  who showed a guy how to tie a spider with some dodgy thread and an equally dodgy bobbin holder.  A copy of his latest dvd was purchased and I got it signed, as a signed copy will always fetch a few quid more on ebay.

John Tysack trying out the new 'fjy flute'

We bought some nice gear.

We bought some other stuff, took a lot in and retired to the pub.

I even went to the butchers, not knowing I still had a coat hanger emerger at the top of my brand new fleece

We loved it!

Cold, very cold on The Wye

Had a cracking day on the Wye today with Trugg. Was freezing. Rod rings continually iced 'till late morning.

However, that didn't stop us catching. In fact I can honestly say I had one of the best days fishing for a long time.
After Trugg nailed a couple of grayling, we noticed the odd rise so on went the dries. We didn't look back. We only cast at what we thought were grayling rises but we did catch the odd inevitable trout.
We must have had getting on for a hundred takes and we both ended up well into double figures.
I even trimmed a fly to make it smaller and it was hammered.
Bumped into John Tyzack who was guiding and Andrew from Manchester. Jan paid us a visit too.

At least I turned up in full camo. Yes, not retouched. This is what my car looked like after a mornings fishing. My car is a leaf magnet.

Tried out my new 10' #4 Streamflex, using it for a job it was never intended to do: Dries at a distance surrounded by trees. No sweat though, only lost half a dozen of my best dries.
Best fly for me was a double grizzle (still don't have a badger cape but it is the fly show this Saturday so...). Trugg gave me some brilliant advice and taught me a roll cast. He caught a lot more than me but I'm definitely getting there.
 Best bit was the one that got away. It was going dark and we were ready for a cup of tea from the Kelly and home. Trugg spotted a rising fish in a tricky spot. I raised it twice before finally hooking it. Sadly it came off but to me that was very satisfying as I would not normally have tried for it.
I am getting more chilled about fishing and now realise there is no need to rush. Trugg reckons I'm too quick on the draw when striking. He reckons I have John Wayne syndrome. I reckon it's something to do with my drumming past.
So, BFFI Saturday, new badger cape, and some neoprene socks.

new painting

Enough!

We'd booked this a couple of months ago. Bonehead was in Turkey so it was left to me and Jon to attend.
It was a 'Trugg' outing and we were really looking forward to a day on Thornton reservoir with Mick and his mates.
The weather forecast had looked iffy over  the past few days but Trugg reckoned it would be ok.
The original idea was for about 20 odd of us to fish off the rowing boats and swop boat partners at lunch and fish on.
I picked Jon up at 7.15 in pouring rain and set off down the rain soaked A50 towards Leicestershire.
We laughed about the conditions as my Astra kept on switching off cruise control every time we hit standing water! I decided there was no rush and after what we saw on the way down I'm glad we took it easy.
We had no sooner joined the M1, when the safety car was deployed. We were a couple of cars behind the Police range rover as it brought us to a stop while a right battered motor was dragged to the hard shoulder. No other vehicles involved so obviously a victim of the dreaded aquaplane.

After a lengthy delay we finally reached our destination. It was tipping it down and I felt sorry for the guy (think his name was Ifor), armed with bucket baling out the boats.

This is great fun!

Trugg turned up, leading a convoy of cars and we all made for the hut for a cuppa to discuss conditions and tactics. It was funny really. We had all made an effort to get there but we knew the conditions were against us and we were going to get miserably wet; most were already.

Come on you Blues!

Some went for it! We lagged behind and were the last to get in the boat. Jon coached Matthew Pincett for several years but even he was complaining about the conditions. We did one drift and had had enough! It was miserable and as much as we enjoy fishing we called it a day. To us, if we are not happy then we go. We were soaked to the skin. Some guys had got electric motors which would have helped but even so they must have been drenched.
Jon rowed back and we motored back to Stoke. Another car crash on the M1 north, again it looked like only the one car involved. This one was in the ditch next to the hard shoulder and judging by the static southbound traffic, it must have crossed the central reservation.

Nutters driving at crazy speeds. You couldn't see far in the spray.

Got home and knocked this up. I was inspired by the rain.

Anyway. Sorry we went early lads, but at least we turned up! We went for a quick pint and heard that some roads around Stoke were impassible! Not known that for years.

Logo

We've just launched our new autumn collection.

Only sold three so far. 1 to Bone, 1 to Jon and 1 to me.

Knackered

Just arrived back home after a wonderful weekend with JT and friends on the upper Tees near Middleton.
A bit of a mad idea, but I picked up Jeep socks straight after work. We motored up the M6 and hit loads of crawling traffic until we got well clear of the Manchester area and then plain sailing to Junction 38.


Over the top of the pennines or penines, if you prefer; we had to drive through the clouds in dim light which slowed us down a bit.

Anyway, we arrived at The Strathmore Arms; in the middle of nowhere ('there's nowt here for you lads!) and joined John Tyzack and the rest of the crew for a swift pint before freshening up and an evening meal.

JT with his LTD fly holder

Outside the pub, this little critter decided to have a drink in the middle of the road. I rescued him/her twice!



Back to the bar and it was well packed! We couldn’t even get a seat. THE BAND WAS ON! Two guys and a ‘guest’ providing the entertainment. A great night was had by all. I shall say no more!



Jon in 'pulling' mode. I have a few videos. One of me falling over!



Following day, a bit worse for wear and after a hearty breakfast we drove towards our destination, after stopping to pick up our permits from the local very friendly ironmongers.

We tackled up and after a ‘hair of the dog’ that was kindly provided by Keith we began our instruction and the fishing.

Cheers Keith!

Jon listening to Andy and taking it all in!

The river was wild! The rain had certainly done it’s job! I openly admitted that I would not have bothered but JT insisted that we could/would catch fish if we followed his advice.

A swollen river, more tuition.

Beautiful but mainly ful'

Jon and me were instructed by Andy, a super guy who tried very hard to get us to do the upstream duo. With the downstream wind and our utter lack of technique, Andy soon realised we were really the useless Lion Tamers. How hard he worked to get us doing it right!

OK we had the odd rise, hooked a couple but we retiered for lunch fishless. Everyone else caught! Sorry Andy, our fault!

The afternoon was a bit different.

JT had a coaching chat with us and we came to the conclusion that the downstream dry would be easier for us. Basically we just couldn't cast against the downstream wind. So down the edge, exploring every bit of slower water we could find.

We didn’t look back and had a take nearly every cast. I ended up in double figures so was well chuffed. I would never have believed fish would take a dry in these conditions. I am not posting details. Book a day with JT and he’ll show you how.

Lovely. JT said it must be a stockie!

Next morning, Jon and me checked out as we would be only fishing the morning session and had to depart at lunchtime.

JT made me spend a hour in 'THE TYRES' because of my poor performance on day 1.

We headed to Cauldron Snout and after parking the cars we all negotiated the dodgy rocks down the side of the waterfall to the valley base.

Me, just glad to get down alive!

What scenery!

Looking down at the Tees.

JT in the river. I'd have been washed down to High Force and curtains.

Jon and me had further tuition of JT (this guy helps you all the time). We caught, did the buddy wading and watched JT wading on his tod as if he was on dry land!

Jon taking a break on 'Heart break hill'.

Jon and me trekked up the very steep hill back to the car and headed for home.

Dropped Jonny Jeep Socks off three hours later and we couldn’t walk properly. Our legs had gone!

Check out the new LTD shirt. Here I am Dreaming the Dream!

A great weekend, great company, top advice. Recommended!



KNACKERED

Deliverance

Recently RR on his blog, ‘The dry fly expert’ advised on the benefits of stealth and wearing clothes that would not spook the fish. ‘Jeep socks’ read this and immediately went out and bought the ideal motor to fit in with this philosophy. We decided to give it a try…

I was picked up by Jon.
Bone was already in the cab of the new ‘van’. I nearly sat on his knee as his camouflage was so effective.
What a motor! All the ‘MOD’ cons including Morris Marina heater, Morris 1000 window winders and quarter lights, Allegro door handles and a number six fag butt in the ash tray.

The Lion Tamers

It is no wonder I catch, I am the one who is the most difficult to see!

After chucking the gear in the back and forgetting my wellies in the excitement, stopping at our favourite newsagents for water, a few photos and  debarbing pliers from the ‘Tool Box’ in Werrington, we set off.

(The pliers are excellent value at £2. Go and see Paul at the branch in Leek).

The 'Deliverance' with its 3litre Perkins diesel, coupled to permanent 4 wheel drive roared its way through the clouds and rain up the hills towards Errwood Reservoir; our newly found gem just north of Buxton. I got our excellent value tickets from Woody at his wine shop yesterday.

Arriving at the reservoir the weather was nothing short of shite. Now I don’t normally swear on my blog but this was shite. A horizontal wind with lashings of rain and bloody cold to boot.

Being hard, turning up in the ‘Deliverance’, in full camo and coming from Stoke we went for it!

It was hard, very hard. In the 4 hours we were there, I, the lucky one was the only one to catch. I am King of the Reservoirs after all! I fluked one on a sunk daddy, lost a nice brown on a lure near the net and missed one on a Shipman’s. The casting wasn’t too difficult but it was so uncomfortable and cold. So three takes between us in four hours!

We retired to the pub.

We were joined by  Deano, he's on the Wye tomorrow!

On the way back, we had to turn right at Werrington. Guess who flashed us through?

Lord Rocher!!! He did not know it was us but I watched him laugh his head off as he suddenly recognised the mighty Lion Tamers in the cab!

A great laugh and a great day, apart from the fishing…

Jeep Socks ran me over on Bonehead's insistance because I was the only one with the skill to catch!

Bl..dy windy on Errwood

SOW

No not the river Sow but Stoke on Wye plus Trugg and a super day on the river Wye.

Keeping it short again.

We met up and filled the Peacock. Some had tea, some had coffee; we had a pint!

Discussed tactics, Trugg had already emptied the river with his morning session so things looked good.

We split up. Not a bad idea considering there were nine of us.
The Lion Tamers headed for the fisherman's car park and aren't we glad we did.
The river was low which surprised me given the rain we had had recently but today the weather was superb and within a few minutes Bone landed his first fish of the day, a nice little brownie that fell for a sedge.

I wandered upstream and managed a few grayling and rainbows plus a little brownie all to a sedge. I must admit going through my fly box to try and see what they were taking. It was definately not sedges but that was what won in the end. Some pools I got a take every cast, some none! Once again shed loads of missed takes but what fun. Sneaking around with your head down, tangled and caught in the undergrowth.

Saw a grass snake! Also kingfishers darting up and down. Bet they are on the second nesting.

Wandered back to Bone. He too had a great afternoon with some great sport on his home tied invention.  I can not describe it but when he showed it to me it looked as though it would do the business.

Jonny 'jeep socks' netting a nice, very nice grayling.

It's great to catch on your own flies and we don't buy shop bought anymore.

Jonny 'jeep socks' had done well too with the 'longes't fish of the day.
Went for some snapping and a pint in town and met up with the rest of the 'posse'.
The final part is the icing on the cake for me. Nine guys; catching and helping each other out.
Dean managed the best fish of the night. A brownie estimated at 5lb.
Anyway I have joined.
Is it worth it? Well you could do the maths based on the day ticket price but I don't look at it like that.
I cannot compare the Wye with other top rivers in this country as I have not fished them. But looking at the beats of the Test and Itchen at £300 for a day, targeting stockies...well no contest really.

Sod the jeep socks... that's a pretty good grayling

Somewhere over the rainbows

Completely un-retouched. As Brian and me were walking back to the car we saw the biggest rainbow of the day. Is that guy standing next to a pot of gold?

Anyway a short blog for once. Woody got in touch as he wanted to try his newly purchased Dawson's olives in a posh box from Farlows. Check his blog. The venue was Errwood Reservior...Brian was coming too.

From our chat it was plainly obvious that Woody was on a mission. Just as Glen Pointon targets an individual fish and won't rest until he catches it, Woody had targetted a shoal. So we had to go.

Met Brian for the first time at Woody's shop to purchase tickets. Brian produced a foam block full of the most exquisitely tied flies and gave them to Woody. I had a really close look. What a tyer! What an inspiration for me. "Got to do better!" I told myself.

After a half hour drive through the usual low cloud base, we discussed all things trouty while tackling up.

I decided on a big daddy as that is what worked well last time. We could see a few rises, even though the car park was 200 yards from the waters edge. Brian agreed and followed suit. Woody tied on the Dawson's!

Within minutes I had a take. Missed! Then an almighty take. Missed. Checked my fly but the hook looked ok.

Then landed one, then another, missed a load, got broke off, three came off. 

 "As soon as I saw you, I thought you had a lucky face," Brian commented. If only he knew me better!

I then had another before Brian, after missing a fair few himself, hooked into one that gave him a right run around.

It went dead. We noticed some fish supping and some small empty buzzer cases so I put on a Shipmans and 1st cast it was hit like a train. I thought I had cracked it. Indeed, I had another come off on the next cast. Brian then hooked into another and almost immediately I was in again. We were both playing fish side by side. It was like Trugg, Dave and me the other week on the Wye. Dave (Woody) was by this time spitting feathers and threatening to go to the Wye that minute. Woody had changed to the daddy a while back and was fishing exactly the same but had not had a take. This happens on a still water. Bonehead and me know this feeling so well; The guy fishing next to you or in the same boat gets all the action while you scratch your head in disbelief.

I gave him a Shipman's to put on a dropper and wham! He landed a  nice fish that took his daddy! So much for my advice!

Dave packed up and left Brian and me to try different tactics until after about another hour, and with no further joy, we too went home. Interestingly we tried buzzers under a yellow indicator and both had our indicators walloped! What's all that about?

We all caught but it was clear to a man that our first love is the rivers.

One recommendation: Use a line tray if you've got one. It is rather gritty/muddy when the reservior is as low as this. It is millstone grit and will knacker everything it gets into. Sealed bearing reels only.

A great few hours fishing. It is super value. Roll on Sunday. Stoke-on-Wye! (plus Trugg).

Fishing on the moon!

 Notice we have all taken a leaf out of Bone's book and brought seats with us. Check out the old dry stone wall in front of Brian! That's Woody in the background on the hemp and casters

Mayfield and the Manifold

Bone managed to get a day off. We decided we would have a couple of hours on the Dove. Checked  in and looked at the result Trugg's exploits the previous evening. WOW!
It was not the best of weather and we had a good soaking. Bone was winding me up again about my fear of wading and angry bulls. He is supposed to be my mate. "He's looking at you!" he kept saying.

Nothing much rising but I was up to my usual trick of late, by missing takes which were hard to come by. Went through my fly box as there was one particular fish that was rising occasionally but did not want to know. I spent far too much time on this fish. I now have a score to settle with him.

I did manage a very nice grayling and better still up to my nuts in water! I'm getting there!

We nipped up to Hulme End, only because I wanted to try out my new 6' rod.

After a quick pint in the Manifold Inn we wandered down to the river only to be confronted with a red coloured mess. The rain had soon got to this piece of water. My dark side said to me, "you need worms."

Not expecting to catch anything in the conditions, I said to Bone, "I'll just have a couple of casts to try out my baby rod." I put on a #14 ltd so it would be visible and to my total disbelief it was nailed by a tidy grayling first cast!

Second cast I hooked a nice trout which soon came off and then had this little baby. Oh well, baby rod, baby fish!

Size 14  ltd

Bone had a baby trout on his grown up rod.

We'd had enough by this point but did enjoy ourselves.
Things look good for the Manifold with the juveniles showing.

Mayfield

Appart from being hassled by some angry cattle. We had a great day! Never trust a mother with child! They've got massive horns and the field is also full of adders dangerous spiders and nettles

.

Commo's Highland Dram

Woody got in touch earlier in the week asking if I fancied a day out on Errwood reservoir which is in the upper Goyt valley just outside Buxton. I couldn’t make the Wye on Thursday because of the dreaded dentists. So we arranged to meet up today to try the place out.


It is £15 for the day and you are allowed to take 3 fish inclusive of the price. You can practise catch and release when you like but if you kill three fish you have to stop fishing. This seems excellent value when compared to many other stillwaters. Tickets are available from Woody’s wine shop in Leek. A fine selection of top quality wines, and all sorts of whisky are offered at this fine establishment. He also has a bogof on white lightning at the moment if you are quick!

I had tied up some Ltd sedges for Woody as his stocks were seriously depleted and he fancied giving them a go on the reservoir. I was also looking forward to the bottle of rare vatted malt scotch he had ready for me in appreciation for the Avatar and the sedges.

We met up at his shop. Bone and I had arrived in style. His escort van was so full of grout and tile cement, I was wondering how it would cope with the hills we were about to traverse.

I think Woody realised this and offered to take us in his van but we weren’t sure as to what time we would be leaving so didn’t want to restrict Woody to our timetable.

We did eventually manage to get there. I was shouting encouragement to the over worked escort diesel as it screamed up the hill towards the Winking Man in second gear. Bone wanted to take a run at it  but with Sunday drivers in front we had to go all the way up at 10mph. I think Woody, following behind must have wondered what was going on when Bone held back to accelarate down hill before hitting the climb to Ramshaw Rocks as to gain as much momentem as possible.

We tackled up, Dave presented me with my own personalised whisky, complete with glass, I presented him with the Ltds and we discussed tactics.

It does not get better than this! My very own personalised whisky.

Commo's Highland Dram. Number 1 of 1. Top Bloke.

To be honest we didn’t really have a clue. When you fish somewhere for the first time you usually have to experiment. So sensibly we went for different options. The weather was overcast with only a slight breeze. The reservoir was low.

I decided on a nymph underneath a suspender.

Bone went straight for the suspender only.

Dave (Woody) went for a team of three wets.

As we left the brothel we decided to fish.

THERE WAS NO WAY WE WERE USING LURES BECAUSE DAVE SAID SO!

We wandered down the ‘bank’; I say ‘bank’ because it would normally be the reservoir bed. It got very muddy at the water’s edge and wellies are a must. We soon understood why wading was not allowed. No not your usual H+S but the drop offs are bloody lethal. It can drop 80' in one step. A very sensible rule by the club. The water was clear with a moorland peaty tinge.

After about an hour of no action, the odd rise here and there, Dave and me witnessed a fish take a feather way out in the middle of the lake. I said that I thought a big terrestrial might tempt one, so on went a daddy.

I nailed one only a few minutes later. Yes! No blank for me today.

I lost another shortly later and missed a few. Top tactics, I thought.

Woody showing off his long rod while cursing my flies.

It went dead. I thought they might be circling so after a change to a suspender with no success I tied on a big black daddy. Even a Stevie Wonder rainbow would see this! This was snaffled and I landed another. Dave then landed his first on a cdc and then consulted ‘the oracle’ (Glen by phone) and was told to try an F fly. He had a take almost immediately but missed it.

One of the club committee lads joined us for a chat as I was just into my third. I put it back as I wanted to fish on for a while. Bone said, ‘you would have knocked that if the bailiff wasn’t looking.’ I’ll get him back.

Dave was taking advice off the committee bloke and put on a horrible looking lure he had cadged off him. Can you believe it?

He even borrowed a rod off me to punch it out, and 16 foot of my fluorocarbon for his leader. (Ha Ha). Has this man got any of his own tackle! He even moaned at me that the leader would not sink, the rod was not suited to his line and that my flies were crap. He even used my mud even though he only had to look down!

Well something must have worked because his lure got hit and he soon had a nice rainbow in the net. I was so impressed with his skill at catching a trout on a pike lure.

Woody 'selling out' and stripping lures. Can he really be trusted on The Hadden Estate?

We wanted Bone to catch. For some reason, and it is down to luck on a place like this, Bone hadn’t had a take. On went one of my suspenders, in black. In the sludge it took me ages to get them off! I don’t know why he chose this but after missing a beauty he soon broke his duck and hooked his first of these hard fighting fish, which I landed for him.

The evidence of many a 'Commo Shuffle'

It was nearly time to go home and although I had caught three, I had put one back and so needed another to complete my limit. A take missed while shouting abuse at Woody for using lures and how I was proud to have taken mine off the top, cheesed me off... A couple of minutes later I didn’t miss and I had to stop fishing. My three in an identical Morrison’s bag as Woody’s.

Bone borrowed my rod as it still had the deadly Commo daddy attached and he proceeded to land two in the next half hour. I had to sit and watch.

Bone casually playing a rainbow. "Don't bother getting up, Bone. I'll land it."

 We eventually called it a day with the freezer awaiting our catches.

We had the usual pee take and other great banter.

So:

If you want to fish a Stillwater in superb scenery, with the chance of a really good fish, they run to high double figures, at a very fair price, get on up there!

Thanks Woody and Bone for a great day.
River for us next time though!

Where's your keepnet? Bonehead!

PS Have gutted my fish. Nothing in one, a cased caddis in another and  crushed kitchen foil in the other. That one would have never have digested that, surely?

So much for 'matching the hatch'.