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Post by leckie on May 17, 2012 12:01:11 GMT
Simon, Mother nature will take care of that precious little river of yours....I'm sure it's get back to its old self before you know it...it does look a bit dangerous for wading with all the muck washed up on the shore and the river bed...take care when wading...it's good that you are taking a sensible approach after your op...we don't want any set backs that could intrude on your fishing time in the future....I want to see more reports from the Alyn tight lines Alex
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2012 12:47:48 GMT
I can feel your concern Simon.
I aint no Marine biologist but surely the fry cant sustain such an onslaught. Maybe a few days but not for weeks like it has been. Only time will tell i imagine.
Stevie.
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conor
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Post by conor on May 20, 2012 19:49:59 GMT
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Post by custheyder on May 20, 2012 22:11:45 GMT
A fabulous set of pictures. There has to be fish in there!
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conor
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Post by conor on May 25, 2012 5:09:25 GMT
custheyder, yes there must be, but they dont want to play, at least on what i have to offer, a newbie on our river would be forgiven though for thinking we were devoid of fish! Tuesday 15 May Another visit and another blank, this time not even a take from a fish!
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conor
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Post by conor on May 25, 2012 5:18:46 GMT
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Post by Simon on May 26, 2012 18:00:06 GMT
After around 4 weeks we managed to get to the lower Alyn today after the past months floods. We are amazed how much the river has changed, the lower Alyn has high banks and is narrow, we estimate the flood level exceeded 10 feet above normal! All the banks where the sand martins nest are now washed away, favourite pools and runs are no longer there or changed beyond anything I can remember! Where I used to enter the river with the depth up to my knees now is up to my thighs! Now to the fishing, as Witt the rest of the country the weather is HOT and SUNNY! With a strong wind, not the best conditions for fishing but it's cooler wading than being out in the sun. Very few fish are rising so nymphs are the order of the day, even Sonia had to give up with the dry. Trout were the target today but nobody told them! Grayling after Grayling. The best fell to Sonia, one measuring 15in. A good fish. The river was deserted apart from the wildlife, sparrow hawks chasing the sand martins, herons, kingfishers, a perfect fishing day. And a special find at the end, due to the banks being washed away I found an old intact pop alley bottle in very good condition still with the glass ball. The bottle was from the "Dee mineral water company Chester" this is now being cleaned ready for display. Simon.
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conor
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Post by conor on May 27, 2012 5:43:53 GMT
nice bottle Simon ;D Wednesday 23 May I fished a stretch that usually yields at least one or two half pound brownies. Not today! No rises so fished a gold head nymph deep both upstream and downstream. Huge amount of fly life on river, but no rises. Had two plucks at the nymph but I might have been imagining things. That’s three blanks in a row! Must try harder!
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conor
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Post by conor on May 27, 2012 7:28:25 GMT
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Post by leckie on May 29, 2012 6:27:24 GMT
conor, I know what you are going through with these blank days....I think I've had about seven in a row now....the fish are there....they're just playing hard to get Keep the reports coming...it's good information recording even blank days...a reality check isn't a bad thing Glad to see your back on the water tight lines Alex
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Post by custheyder on May 29, 2012 6:50:05 GMT
Looks like a great river for Tenkara. Tight lines for opening day.
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Post by Simon on Jun 1, 2012 17:25:03 GMT
At last a day off work, with Sonia off to the Gym this morning I loaded up the car and headed to Worms Wood on the Alyn. With an overcast sky and low clear water it was going to be my first trip to this section since the floods, and after reading Conor's latest reports I was not expecting to much! Decided today not to use my furled leader instead my painted level line and a single shrimp nymph fished upstream. Again I'm amazed by how the river has changed due to the floods only a few weeks ago, deep wide pools have now completely disappeared a few old haunts still survive and the fish a willing to play. An equal number of trout to grayling come to the net, nothing big, the largest a grayling around 1lb. Good runs that should hold fish produce nothing while other water that you normally pass produce fish. I make a point of remembering this! The river bed is still stripped looking very clean, the bedrock clean with no slim for a change. Packed up around 1 as I had some orders to meet, a good couple of hours with fish into double numbers.
Simon.
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Post by custheyder on Jun 2, 2012 7:17:11 GMT
Excellent. Good to know the fish are still about. Just think, you get to learn a whole new river again!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 9:11:44 GMT
What a difference a week makes, from baking hot last week to grey and drizzle this week, sorry forgot it is a bank holiday the weather has to change. Looking at the water levels our local river was perfectly fishable so we arrived, got into our waders trying to stay dry with the help of the open car boot then we headed for different parts of the river. I had to get through the fence and trample down balsalm and nettles making a path to the river before sliding down into the water. As there is a fair way to drop there is no way to arrive silently so after quiet a splash I get into my fishing position have a drink of water and let the water settle before starting my campaign armed with my tenkara and a small size 18 hares ear. Simon calls to let me know he has caught a grayling, I tell him I have just got into the water. Casting into the likely runs a small grayling quickly comes near so he can be released without picking him out of the water but still I can appreciate his lovely finned streamlined body. I reply I have also had a grayling followed by another and another. He says ok I've had enough I don't need to know anymore. As I work my way up the run the fish are improving in size then I happen to hook into a fairly decent trout followed by another decent grayling. Another cast and this time the rod stops, then it dashes across the run, before trying to get rid of me as it dashes towards some rocks. As it swims past me I have to remind myself to be gentle and try to manoeuvre the fish into slacker water and guide him towards me, as my heart rate increases I remind myself to stay calm as I really don't want to lose this stunning beauty. Slowly it comes towards me before again swimming towards another snag and again I slowly gain control of the situation. Finally I get hold of the line, measure the fish by sliding the rubber ring from my line keeper into position then I am ready to release the hook, steady I hold the fish in the current so it can regain it's strength as we have both been through the wars; I am able to look at my amazing catch and enjoy the colours, the body shape and that fin which makes bringing the fish to hand all the more challenging. Finally the fish heads off with a flick of his tail and I am left with a huge grin on my face and in need of a drink as my mouth is dry, I take a few moments before getting out my tape measure and he was 16ins what a run and I not finished yet. Naturally I had to call Simon who replies well done. Working my way up I don't find another fish until I hit very fast water with a dead zone near the bank, after a few casts in the general area my rod suddenly stops, then like an express train the line is coming at me. I can clearly see this is another wonderful grayling and like the other large fish he isn't that happy at being caught, again I reminded myself to stay calm as this fish seems a little larger than the last fish or it could just be my imagination, was I just getting too excited, my mouth was going dry, my heart was beating a little faster and I seemed far from getting the fish near releasing. The battle continued and my body was feeling the strain of the second big fight of the day. Oh I do love these large fighting fish especially on my tenkara when I feel every fin movement, the power of the fish and bringing him in needs gentle persuasion. I get his head out of the water and finally heading towards me it is wonderful seeing how is is using his body but I end up getting the better of him eventually and during the measuring process he is the largest fish I have caught on this rod as I move the rubber ring further up the rod. Time to continue taking care of my catch, I release the hook and support my friend while again studying his beautiful form and colours, then he is off and I recover after noting the fish was just over 18ins long I am one very happy angler and the rain has also stopped what more could I ask for? more runs and more fish. Simon does say I stay too long is one area, but if I'm catching fish why oh why would I move on until the run ends and I am left searching for fish in other runs. Time to move on, I fish very close to the river bank and again in a difficult to get into area due to eddies I cast and another good grayling comes to hand. I call Simon on the radio and say "I love my tenkara as I'm having a ball even though today it seems unfair on the fish". continuing up the river I manage more grayling of varying sizes when a call comes over the radio say " time to head to the getting out point" what so soon. Well just another cast, then another and a grayling is caught and released. OK! it's time to leave, do other things that need doing can't stay on the river all day. All in all I ended up very tired with lots of fish of varying size a decent brown and 5 stunning fish over 12ins including the best grayling for me out of this river. I have had an amazing day and with Simon off for a weeks holiday hopefully weather pending we will have a few more days on the river banks. Sonia
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Post by custheyder on Jun 4, 2012 10:15:08 GMT
What a fantastic red letter day for you Sonia. These big grayling are an absolute joy to hold briefly before seeing them swim away strongly. I can;t wait to get back to the Welsh Dee to see if I can tempt any more of them. Nice looking bug as well. Is the collar behind the bead guard hairs or something else?
Cust.
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