|
Post by Simon on Jun 4, 2012 11:44:39 GMT
Yes they are guard hairs from hares skin rather than the mask and they worked like a dream on Saturday.
|
|
|
Post by custheyder on Jun 4, 2012 13:24:57 GMT
I like the contrast. I've done something similar using a crushed pheasant tail fibres rolled into a ball then dubbed in. I'll have to do some more and take a picture.
|
|
|
Post by Simon on Jun 7, 2012 6:46:08 GMT
With a window in the weather and a check of the river gave me a chance of a fish while Sonia was at the Gym. The river is still flowing with some strength and colour and to make matters worse a strong downstream wind. I decide to try Sonia's favourite run as normally she's there before me. To get into the river at this point requires navigating through the nettles and balsam before a 4ft slide on our backside into the river, once in you have to wade upstream to exit due to the high banks. While fishing the first pool with my usual shrimp pattern a fish rose below me, letting the nymph travel downstream to the extent of the lowered rod and leader a small brown grabbed the fly and cam to hand. Making my way upstream the wind was causing me problems with casting and the big bow in the line resulting in me having to anchor a foot or so of the Level line to slow the drift. The grayling must have dropped down to the main river during last week ends floods as few came to hand. The owned that did were in great condition. Looking at the weather forecast for the rest of the week reminds me of all the things that I have been putting off at home! Including setting up Sonia's new marine fish tank that she asked for her birthday. Simon.
|
|
|
Post by custheyder on Jun 7, 2012 8:56:54 GMT
No hesitation from that fish to take the bug... all the way in! I know all about steep banks and tricky access. The bum slide method works for me too!
Lots of rain here might have to clean our fish tank. Good luck setting up the marine one. Too technical for me. I struggle to keep goldfish from going belly up.
|
|
|
Post by Simon on Jul 7, 2012 21:39:21 GMT
This is now starting to get very silly! When are the rains going to stop? Today I've had to go in a boat, fishing on Llyn Brenig. Weather held out but not my kind of fishing, really hard work.
Simon
|
|
|
Post by custheyder on Jul 8, 2012 9:12:33 GMT
It is indeed silly... lashing with rain here. Llyn Brenig has never been kind to me when I've fished it.
|
|
|
Post by Simon on Jul 22, 2012 17:19:38 GMT
With the river still recovering form the rainfall of last week, it's got to the stage where I just have to wet a fly! I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms. I also had an invite to fish the wye on Saturday, again disappointment, rain again had spoilt my dreams, but that's still on for next Saturday, maybe? As the river was only just fishable it was going to be a quick trip to fish from the bank, at last I got to extend the T after all these weeks, dry fly was a non starter with the conditions so I decided to use one of my killer bugs. With only an hour in the zone I had to fish quickly moving from one pocket water to another. Nothing at first but eventually a nice Grayling decided to help me out. Relief! So I decide to stay and concentrate on this run. I'm starting to learn now to persevere with a run, many time the fly trundles through, nothing, then on the 20th time a bite! This time the fish wins and gets away. The river next week looks really promising, but guess what I'm back working in London. Never mind there's a chance of the Derbyshire Wye next Saturday, has anyone fished this river, any idea of good flies?
Simon
|
|
conor
Bronze Member
Posts: 37
|
Post by conor on Jul 22, 2012 19:01:28 GMT
27th June Wow, a month gone without fishing! Sporadic high water from our very wet summer made fore a forgettable June. With the water level getting back to ‘normal’ albeit with a fast pace, I tried my luck in a stretch that can be dynamite when the fish are rising. Today they were not! I fished upstream on dry without a take, I then fished a little bit of the stretch downstream and had a small grayling, and thankful I was for that!
|
|
conor
Bronze Member
Posts: 37
|
Post by conor on Jul 22, 2012 19:08:43 GMT
28th June Making the most of the water levels I ventured out on the river again. I blanked but it didn’t really matter, I took my time and enjoyed the area I fished.
|
|
conor
Bronze Member
Posts: 37
|
Post by conor on Jul 22, 2012 19:37:25 GMT
21 July Almost another month of the season wiped out thanks to the rain. I cannot recall a wetter summer. Today was a special day. On a Saturday morning with the sun shining and the river back to normal I took my sons Oscar (two and a half) and Adam (one and a bit) for their first outing on the river. It was really just a walk with the Ayu tucked away in my waders in case the opportunity presented itself. We got to a spot I thought might be interesting to them. A shallow incline and lots of stones to throw in the water and some sand to build sand castles (we took a bucket and spades). They were very excited about the sand and throwing sticks and stones in the river. After about an hour, when every fish had probably decided it was time to emigrate, Oscar showed an interest in the rod and he fished for about 2 minutes. He did what I asked and held the rod confidently, with smooth movement, and sweeped the area with a weighted nymph. I was pretty impressed! We spent about 2 hours there, most of which was throwing stones and sticks in the water and me doing me best to ensure nobody fell in. Unfortunately Adam did fall in head first whilst I was videoing them both. It was a panic at the time, but hilarious on video, I hope he will enjoy watching it in time!
|
|
|
Post by custheyder on Jul 23, 2012 9:11:50 GMT
That's great getting them started so young. The river looks good as well.... just waiting for the video!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2012 11:35:31 GMT
Wonderful!! A proper adventure.
They both look like their loving it & its got to be a record for the youngest Tenkara angler in Britain. Nice one Conor.
Stevie.
|
|
|
Post by leckie on Jul 23, 2012 19:45:52 GMT
conor, Good to see that you're able to get out fishing after all this miserable weather you've had down there. Great pictures of the kids enjoying themselves by the river...I'm sure they'll both end up accomplished anglers just like their dad The weather is picking up at last...well down your neck of the woods anyway...so we hope to get more reports from you in the near future. tight lines Alex
|
|
|
Post by Simon on Jul 28, 2012 8:15:46 GMT
Friday 27th. After another week stuck in London with all the hassle of the Olympics going on, along with checking the river heights each evening watching the levels dropping, dreaming of the fishing that I'm missing. As the train pulls into Chester station with Sonia and the dog to meet me, all that's on my mind is can I get to the river for a quick hour before the jobs around the house get done? 4pm and I make it to the Alyn just below Worms Wood in the horse field. I found some line that I had for sea fishing, not coloured but it looked just right so I cut a length 2ft longer than my 12ft T adding to that 3ft of tippet. With no rising fish I tied on my version of a killer bug fished with a small indicator. I was immediately impressed with the casting of this new line, invisible to me apart from the indicator, this should make a great dry fly line when the fish start to rise. Back to the fishing, theRiver through the field has changed and deepened during the very high waters of the last couple of months with the free stone bottom scoured very clean! The only problem with this section is the over handing trees, casting requires the technique of letting the line load the rod as the fly drifts down stream and then flicking the fly upstream side casting. Over the next hour I caught 6 good size Grayling along with 3 good trout. How good is it being back in the river at after all these weeks and catching fish, no photos as the camera is still dead, I have a brand new DSLR but as yet have not had the courage to take it fishing, watch this space, more fishing over the weekend! Simon.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2012 14:26:26 GMT
Sunday 29th July was going to be my first time on the river in what seems like forever due to our exceptional summer weather, but the river levels were finally down and fishable. As we drove towards the river I was feeling great trepidation mixed with excitement; I just couldn't wait to get back into the water and start fishing. Getting my rod out of the car I decided to try a level line for a change and then we both headed towards the river. It was very clear due to the amount and height of nettles and balsam no one had been here for ages so I made my way towards the bank before sliding down into the river. The river was flowing faster then the last time I fished, the water was looking stunning but the wind was strong and gusty. It was wonderful being on the river noticing the dragon and damselflies all around me and the birdlife was great as well, I was feeling very much at home again on our little river. Simon gave me a killer bug which he did well on recently but as I started going through the first run there was no interest in the bug at all so it was time for a change. I put one of Simon's Kebari patterns on and immediately I had a fish on but no sooner was the fish on it was off again, having looked at the hook it had opened up so I changed it for one with a hook I could trust and again I had a lovely little brownie, not large but beautifully marked in feisty condition and great colours. In the faster water I changed to a heavier fly so a GRHE was but on my tippet and a great grayling was giving me a hard time as it headed for any obstacle it could find, eventually I brought the fish under control and finally it christened my lovingly crafted net Simon had made. More runs and the grayling kept coming to hand and while I knew we would have to think of going home shortly I longed to stay on the river and keep fishing, I was having a ball being back on the river and the fish were being very obliging. The next fish was a surprise as it was a good size dace followed by more grayling, final tally 1 dace, 2 brownies, and 9 grayling and a very happy flyfisher. Simon arrived upstream suggesting it was time to go home.
|
|