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Post by Simon on Oct 8, 2012 12:27:00 GMT
At last the Alyn is just about fishable with care, still high and coloured with a strong flow. A quick trip this morning resulted in 2 grayling, the high flow required 2 heavy bugs to stand any chance of getting down to where the fish are. Using a Tenkara rod with heavy bugs works very well you just need to change your casting to allow for the extra weight. Off for the week so we hope to try a few new rivers if the rains stay away?
Simon.
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Post by Simon on Oct 13, 2012 7:40:15 GMT
Just had another week off and guess what? Rain and more rain river was looking to be fishable this weekend then Thursday night rain and the river yet again is in flood With the colour of a ploughed field! Even the garden is to wet to plant the broad beens. But every cloud has a silver lining, plenty of time to tie flies, just received some barbless size 16 jig hooks to try, never used them before anyone have a killer pattern for me to try?
Simon
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2012 8:01:07 GMT
Hi Simon. This pattern has been working well for me. PTN Goldhead with a touch of crystal flash in the tail & a few turns of peacock hurl behind the bead. The bead is gold plated tungsten & ive wrapped the hook shank in a few turns of flat lead wire to add weight for plumbing the depths in search of those lovely winter grayling. Regards Stevie.
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Post by custheyder on Oct 15, 2012 8:04:16 GMT
Great looking fly that one. I'm sure it is very efficient
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Post by Simon on Oct 15, 2012 9:53:04 GMT
Thanks for the pattern, I'll tie some when I get home from work tonight.
Simon
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Post by pedros on Oct 15, 2012 11:00:38 GMT
Si,
Just tie your normal patterns. You may find slotted beads are a must. Nice to be sure the point is facing up. I've just tied a handful killer bug jigs using the wool you so kindly gave me.
One jigged pattern that works for me on the Alyn is a cased caddis on a #16 jig. Just use a mass of Hares ear for the case over the top of a partridge feather for the legs and anything green to simulate the head. I'm sure you know the recipe...
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Post by Simon on Oct 26, 2012 16:30:08 GMT
At last the river is just about fishable! Arrived home from work early today to find the roofer and the electrician still busy on the roof installing our new solar panels, lots of stress so Sonia sent me to the river for an hour to chill out. Looking at the river I decided only to take the Nymph box with me, With the flow still strong a heavy nymph is required to get down to where I think the Grayling are. Feeling great being back wading a couple of grayling welcomed me by taking my bug. Then even in this cold weather with many leaves drifting down fish began rising and not touching the bug! Looking in my bug box I discover one olive KH which I quickly swap with the bug. With no floatant I resort to the old method of using the oil from the side of the nose, with the wind picking up I cast upstream and immediately miss my first take! Must remember to wear under trousers in cold weather! Five grayling come to hand before it's time to head back home. Even at this time of year don't put away the dry flies yet!! The fish are still hungry. May get out again over the weekend if the work on the panels goes OK. Will try to remember the camera next time.
Simon.
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Post by flatsghost on Oct 26, 2012 17:26:46 GMT
Well done Simon. Sometimes these short un-planned trips can work well and produce surprises. The BWO have a habit of putting in an appearance during crappy weather. Bet you won't forget your dries again in a hurry! Tight lines Flatsghost
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Post by Simon on Oct 28, 2012 8:18:37 GMT
Saturday arrived and still the solar panels are not yet on the roof, another day of stress! Sonia walked the dog while I stayed with the fitter. On return, I was given a 2 hrs pass to go fishing on the Alyn which as you read on turned out into a very un expected visit! Arriving at the normal parking place I decide to stick with a dry fly after yesterday's trip. A bright orange KH size 18 was selected and tied onto my 2lb Tippet. Ian "copper nymph2" was somewhere on the river so I went downstream. The wind today was becoming very strong, and this time the Tenkara on occasions became a dapping rod, the wind was really that strong. With the dry on the water I had to leave 1foot of leader on the top to anchor the line in the wind. No fish were rising but they did come up for the fly. 6 grayling were caught as I made my way wading upstream through the run. I decided to cross the road into the next field, this is where the trip became confusing? There was a herd of young cows following me which I kept chasing away. Then I heard a bell start ringing? Looking for a cow with a bell, nothing, then I looked at the road for a cyclist, nothing. Out of nowhere a peregrine flew straight at me with a bell on its leg. Having seen many birds flown before I stared swinging my arm around my head as they do with a lure. To my surprise the bird reacted to my actions and started stooping to an imaginary lure. This went on for around five mins, then a brainwave, I had a baseball hat on. On the next dive I threw the hat into the air and the bird killed it! I was amazed, the bird was very friendly but with very sharp claws. I had my camera so picture were snapped, then another idea, I placed the rod handle behind the bird which stepped backwards onto it, I held onto the jesses and phone Sonia, you'll never guess what's sitting on my rod handle? Just as I was about to get this photo the bird decide to fly, best photo missed! Fishing was then curtailed, wanting to get home and upload the photos. I just hope the owner found his bird later as it did have a radio transmitter connected, hope you like the photos the first one are of the bird killing my hat. Simon.
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Post by leckie on Oct 28, 2012 19:25:44 GMT
Simon, It could only happen to you ...what a magical experience that was...and you've got the pictures to prove it....I would have still went fishing though...but I suppose there's always another day for that. tight lines Alex
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Post by gary on Oct 28, 2012 21:05:01 GMT
A great tale to tell Simon, with wonderful photos too!
Tight lines
Gary
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Post by Simon on Nov 4, 2012 12:45:12 GMT
Weather started off very good but as the afternoon came the wind and the temp deteriorated quickly making the conditions horrible! As normal Sonia did very well sticking to the dry fly even with no fish rising she still brought them the to fly. I again stuck to the nymph to start with resulting in the Grayling in the picture. As the bites were hard to come by today I decided to change to the dry fly also. This proved a good choice as the fish also liked my orange KH. With the wind increasing and a very cold Sonia we retreated back to the car to light the Kelly kettle for a hot cup of soup. Simon.
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Post by leckie on Nov 4, 2012 17:22:16 GMT
Simon, Lovely grayling...it looks in great condition...I'll need to pack some klinkhammers and dries with me on my next trip...as I couldn't believe how many rises I saw today and it's baltic up here tight lines Alex
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Post by Simon on Nov 11, 2012 10:53:01 GMT
Thursday 8th How many times do we become over familiar with a piece of river, so much so that it becomes convenient just to go to there every when time is short? We are members of two clubs on the lower Alyn, the Rossett waters, we have fished all areas due to this being a brown trout club open for just the season. The other club starts at the lower end of Rossett waters and carries on about 3 miles to the river Dee, fishable for 12 months of the year. We have now been members for the past 4 years and to my embarrassment have only fished the bottom 1mile. Problem is that there are plenty of hungry fish always willing to take part in your sport! I had a few days off this week so I decided to break with tradition and started off at the top of the waters. Parking and wading here is very simple as it is in the centre of Rossett. For the first 1/2 mile the river runs along walled flood defences on one side with trees and fields on the other. Semi urban fishing, with a very low canopy using the big T is difficult but rewarding, for the fist time in a while I'm getting excited with this new river! As I wade my way downstream the village ends and with the flow of the river changing sides, this gives me plenty of new pools and runs for my nymphs to explore. Grayling are plentiful but not that large, a good sign for the next few seasons as they grow on. Every pool now excites me as once again, having to learn to fish them. After a few hours I arrive at a deep pool that's going to be my last for the day, I start fishing the nymphs very deep on the bottom only picking up a few fish, after changing to fish the just below the surface the fish just keep coming including a double hook up. Saturday 10th. Took Sonia to the new section today but advised her to use her brook rod until she had seen the new waters, Empee joined us later, also new water for him also. While Empee and I fished nymphs upstream with Big T, Sonia struck to size 18 cream KH and started to take fish in a big way, trout up to 1.5lb and similar sized Grayling, in the end we had to drag her out of the run. We needed a hot soup, I had to agree to bring Sonia back on Sunday to carry on where she finished off and we still have about 1.5 miles of new water still to fish. Simon.
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Post by custheyder on Nov 12, 2012 10:11:52 GMT
New water is always exciting and even better when it is close to home. I do agree though, it is easy to go to the places you know there are fish. I've various stretches still to cover over here so expect more reports and pictures next season.
Good luck Sonia! ... Catch some more beauties!
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