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Post by gary on Aug 25, 2012 20:10:26 GMT
Firstly, I must remind everyone that I'm new to Northampton (originally from Inverness), and brand new to Tenkara (Rod is on its way now) so this thread will capture my journey of exploration (and hopefully success) along the River Nene (and its tribs), as well as and hopefully be an interesting tale to read over a coffee...  All other folks who fish the Nene please post too, and do give me a shout the next time you're heading out ;D Saturday 25th August: While waiting for my new T Rod to arrive, I thought I may as well throw a few dry flies with my little 7' #3 rod and start the adventure of trying to locate one of those 'talked about occasionally amongst the locals' but yet to be seen in person, Wild Brown Trout from the upper stretches of the River Nene (pronounced 'Nen' in Northamptonshire). Unfortunately did not have my camera, but will take some photos next time out to give an idea of the target water (and hopefully a fish or two!). Having driven around the area, and strolled along the banks a fair few times, I decided upon the Upper Nene at a village named Kislingbury. There were two young local lads, course fishing with breaded hooks and maggots at my first stop (The Mill), so I drove through the village to the main road bridge, parked up and walked through one field to my starting point. There has been very heavy rain showers, thunder and lightening today, so I made the most of the couple of hours mid afternoon (I know, rubbish time to fish), and fished back upstream towards the bridge and my car. Some kind soul has cut back all of the reeds, and trimmed the river bank (on one side) which made things much, much easier to get about. I hardly needed to wade at all ;D. A very BIG thank you to whomever carried out this reed/weed clearance. As mentioned earlier, there has been very heavy showers, so the water was a little coloured, but not too bad, and I proceeded upstream excitedly watching the dry fly meandering in the flow back towards me, in the hope of rising a trout Alas, all of the fish must have been aware of the pending thunder/lightening storm, as only the baby chub were nipping at the fly. Never the less it was a very worthwhile wander back up the river, and I spotted several 'fishy' looking pools along the way to target when my new T rod arrives ;D. Cheers Gary |
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Post by adric on Aug 25, 2012 20:52:39 GMT
I never thought that the nene would be a trout stream. It does sound great though.
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Post by gary on Aug 25, 2012 21:07:31 GMT
I never thought that the nene would be a trout stream. It does sound great though. Yeah, that's what I thought when I first moved down here. Then I went into Gilders tackle shop on Wellingborough Road a couple of weeks ago and the young lad serving told me that he fly fished the Upper Nene between Kislingbury and the M1 and that there were Trout in there. Also, while driving along Weedon Road on the way to the Bramptons, I saw a retired gent heading down by the bridge to fish. I stopped, parked, and wandered over to him for a chat, and he told me that, although not many, there were Brown Trout in the Bramtpon arm also - in fact, he had caught a 4.5lb brownie on the worm! (Most likely an escapee from Pitsford Reservoir). If your local and fancy a cast some time please let me know. Cheers Gary |
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Post by gary on Aug 28, 2012 21:30:07 GMT
Tuesday 28th August, 6.30pm to 8pm My new T Rod arrived today from China - had to take it out for a little try ;D Went back to Kisligbury, as it's close to my house, and even though it was pretty windy, started off fishing a dry fly upstream form a starting point just down stream of Kislingbury bridge (in background on photo)  Fished up the right hand stream of the 'Y', which was fun when I got to the bridge, and had to use the Bow and Arrow cast for the first time. Felt like a darts player! Jocky Wilson eat yer heart out! ;D This cast was much easier than an overhead mainly due to the head wind (I think?). Joined the main river at the other side on the bridge, then fished back down the left hand wing with a nymph - pretty tricky, as loads of overhanging tree branches, which my nymph decided to like better than the water and stayed, permanently  As the wind was blowing down stream, I decided (was forced?) to continue fishing down the river, starting with this pool which lay just below a little flurry of fast water:  A lovely little pool, with good carry, and the right hand bank cleared of the overgrown vegetation (left hand bank in the photo is more normal for the upper Nene). As mentioned in earlier posting, the right hand bank, and the reeds have all been cleared from the Bridge to at least the end of the next field - haven't had time to check further down yet, but will let you know when I do. Fly had a few tugs under the tree (probably from baby Chub, again) Then I had some company (sorry about blurry photo):  And they just kept coming (they're about 5' away here):  And off they go, shakin' their 'lil tail feathers...  Drew a blank, but must say, had a lovely time with my very first Tenkara fishing experience ;D Next update will continue up stream from the Kislinbury bridge, as I'm determined to try and locate the 'mythical' upper River Nene Brownies... Will be fun exploring no matter if any fish caught or not Tight lines Gary |
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Post by Paul G on Aug 29, 2012 7:20:53 GMT
Nice report Gary, when you do connect with a trout or two - you will have certainly earned it and it will be doubly rewarding.
Paul
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Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2012 7:52:47 GMT
I enjoyed reading your report Gary. It looks a lovely place. Great photos too. Mr big boss swan didnt look to happy with you fishing on his patch though. All the best to you for your future trips.
Stevie.
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Post by gary on Aug 29, 2012 9:32:42 GMT
Nice report Gary, when you do connect with a trout or two - you will have certainly earned it and it will be doubly rewarding. Paul Hi Paul Many thanks for your encouraging comments  I'm a bit of a stubborn bugger, who once decided on something will not give up on the chase... Stumbling across Tenkara has most certainly re-kindled my passion for fly fishing, and will work through all of my local Nene streams seeking out the prize... I'm not forgetting about your suggestion of fishing Harper's Brook... it's on my hit-list (it's about 45 mins drive away, and work commitments are only allowing more local piscary) Hi Stevie Glad you enjoyed it ;D Funnily enough, I was more scared of Mrs Big Boss Swan... She had a look in her eye like a disgruntled ex-wife on a mission for far more than her fair share!   Tight lines Gary |
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Post by gary on Aug 31, 2012 23:10:35 GMT
Friday 31st August, 6.30 to 8pm Work took me close to another arm of the Nene this afternoon, so I thought I'd stop for an hour to check it out and have a cast with the fantastic new Sakasa Kebari flies a VERY kind forum member tied for me (many thanks!) Brampton arm of the River Nene, from 2 fields downstream of bridge, fishing upstream towards the main road bridge at the end of Welford Road. Firstly, the water was really badly coloured, a kind of murky milky coffee colour after all the recent rain (although, from driving past a few times, the Brampton arm of the Nene is never as clear as Kislingbury - see previous photos)  It's fair to say that access to the river is a little tricky here, with barbed wire fences, overgrown banks (some very steep), and very thick mud/silt along some of the edges, making wading very difficult. There are also loads of fallen or very low hanging trees, which prevent a 'clean run' upstream to the bridge. That being said, I've got to say it was surprisingly good fun, with fish happily rising in several pools (most likely young chub). Just around the corner from the photo above, at the head of the pool where some faster water flowed in, I hooked a fish (which got off the barbless hook) and had at least another 4 or 5 nibbles at the fly. Very promising pool when conditions improve. After a bit of combat fishing around the fallen/low lying trees, I got to the bridge pool (which was always my main target. Light was fading, so sorry about the photo quality:  The pool widens significantly at the bridge, but was getting too dark to take a photo - will catch it next time and post, as it's the most likely spot in this stretch of the river, where a retired local chap told me he caught a 4.5lb wild brownie... Fish were lolloping about on the surface, almost teasing me for the next time... ;D Tight lines Gary |
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Post by gary on Sept 2, 2012 0:37:38 GMT
Saturday 1st September, 5 to 7pm Had a couple of hours free today, so headed back to the village of Kislingbury, where the water was crystal clear... Before starting, I took a quick walk down stream from the Mill pool, where just behind and down from the island shown in the photo I spotted a group of fairly large Chub, around 3 to 4 lb in size, hiding in the weed. Fortunately I had my T rod in my back pocket...  I cast across the river, whilst hiding behind the heavy vegetation on the steep bank, and guided the Sakasa Kebari fly to right in front of their noses. I allowed it to sink, jiggled and wriggled it, pull it forward and let it drop back... but nothing! The fly must have been as close as 4" away from the largest Chub in the pack, but he completely ignored it? That area of the river is very heavily weeded, and pretty much impossible to fish (apart from a very narrow run [about 2' wide] against the bank, which is where I spotted the Chub). With my appetite well and truly whetted, I returned to my car and drove back down stream to the bridge, where I put on my waders and gathered my gear in readiness to head back up the river from the bridge to where I saw the Chub. The first stretch above the bridge is really heavily tree lined, slow moving, with a thick silty bottom. Very difficult to fish, but I did manage to ping out a few 'bow & arrow' casts.  I saw several fish rise on my way up the river, and I cast at every opportunity, but nothing to show for it I'm afraid... Was really good fun navigating my way upstream in what would be impossible to fish Western style water... The T rod coped admirably, and I will definitely be back when I have a bit more time to fully explore each pool I discovered along the way. Was an interesting experience sussing it out, with every type of fishing condition in one small section of river - a challenge indeed! Deep slow tree covered silt bottomed pools, fast running gravel bottomed narrow pools with steep overgrown banks, heavily weeded/reeded runs with occasional very deep pools along the side of the reeds (accidentally stepped in one that was just a little too deep for my chest waders! lol). There would be more photos but my camera got a little water on it after a clumsy stumble by me - drying out now ;D About 95% of the river for the first 2 fields up stream of the bridge is virtually impossible to fish from the bank. Never got as far up as the Chub I saw earlier due to time running out... will target them (and that stretch) next time I have a couple of hours. Before heading home I saw 2 young local lads (about 10 or 11 years old) fishing breaded hooks for Chub. I asked them how they got on, and one happily reported that he'd hooked a 5lb Chub earlier (I wondered if it was the same fish I saw that put 2 fingers up to my fly??? ;D). He was curious about my collapsed T rod as he noticed the was no reel. I explained the I was fly fishing for trout, and that it was an old Japanese method called Tenkara - he seemed interested Anyhoo, he promptly told me that his mate had caught a couple of Brown Trout slightly further down river with maggots... Yet another report of WBT in the upper Nene! The myth is becoming more and more like reality now, and my determination to find them there fish is even stronger! A most pleasing couple of hours indeed! Tight lines Gary |
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Post by gary on Sept 4, 2012 20:47:46 GMT
Tuesday 4th September 7 to 8pm: SUCCESS!!! ;D Only had an hour, so on the way home stopped off at 'The Mill' in Kislingbury, fish downstream with a bushy fly to create a bit of a wake, being very stealthy hiding behind the overgrown weed ridden banks... and got two good sized chub around the 5lb (18" long) mark. Delighted! Many thanks to Stevie, Paul1966 and Paulg for their very helpful advice on the 'Up or Down' and the 'Coarse fish on Tenkara Method' threads ;D The first fish (apologies about photo quality, was taken on my phone):  And the run it came out of:  And ten minutes later:  And it's home:  Now all I need to do is master them on the Sakasa Kebari and I'll e delighted! ;D Still searching for those WBT too... very patiently it would seem Have a few more photo's from last night of another part of the Nene, which I'll post shortly. Tight lines Gary |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2012 21:29:05 GMT
Now then, That is a stonking Chub.
Well done Gary, I bet you thought you were attached to house brick!
Stevie.
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Post by gary on Sept 4, 2012 21:45:58 GMT
Now then, That is a stonking Chub. Well done Gary, I bet you thought you were attached to house brick! Stevie. Hi Stevie yeah it was fantastic! Spotted the fish, cast the T rod slightly up stream and to the side, and allowed the fly to 'wake' right in front of them both! spotted another group of chub at least the same size, if not bigger... ran out of time, but as Arnie would say "I'll be back!" Thanks for your advice on catching Chub To be honest, both these fish took the fly surprisingly lightly, I waited a few seconds for them to return back down deep, gently set the hook, and then they took off at a rate of knots into the weed bed... I was very impressed with the T Rod and how it dealt with a weighty fish (Given that I'm used to playing Salmon and Sea Trout for most of my adult life, on a 16' Hardy Sovereign). Had no concerns about the rod tip at all... in fact, the T rod dealt with the spirited 5lb Chub quickly and efficiently, allowing the speedy return of the fine fishy back to the river. Cheers Gary |
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Post by gary on Sept 4, 2012 22:39:55 GMT
Monday 3rd September 6 to 8pm: Went for a bit of a walk from Kinsligbury downstream to the first bridge at Pineham Industrial estate near Upton, where the the right hand bank has been cleared of vegetation, and the reeds have been cut. Lovely evening for a stroll - did take the T rod but only really had a few casts to suss out each pool and flow speed, making notes to return to the likely spots when time permits. Definately looks well worth fishing, with some decent pools along the way. Plenty small chub rising to the evenings hatch... A family of ducks spooking the fish ;D  About 2 fields down from the Kislingbury bridge - saw a WBT leaping under the tree at the tail of this very likely looking pool, around half a pound in weight:  And sunset on the way back upstream to Kislingbury bridge and my car:  A beautiful end to a lovely sunny day in Northampton Tight lines Gary |
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Post by custheyder on Sept 4, 2012 22:59:37 GMT
We've no course fish in the rivers of the Isle of Man so I'm going to have to take a trip across the water to see if I can catch something a little different. Great reports and the photos need no apologies.
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Post by Paul G on Sept 5, 2012 20:11:41 GMT
Excellent work Gary, one of my fave threads for sure.
Paul
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I'm a bit of a stubborn bugger, who once decided on something will not give up on the chase... Stumbling across Tenkara has most certainly re-kindled my passion for fly fishing, and will work through all of my local Nene streams seeking out the prize... I'm not forgetting about your suggestion of fishing Harper's Brook... it's on my hit-list (it's about 45 mins drive away, and work commitments are only allowing more local piscary)
