Vale of York Becks

[mspaddler]

Interesting day on a Beck in the Vale of York.   My first day as a member of York Tradesmen's Angling Association.  I'm relatively new to fly fishing this is only my 4th year so I'm still trying to find the best water and close to home in York.   So today I was on one of YTAA's Becks and I must say I was quite nervous, new water does that to me!   I looked over the bridge and the beck looked low and fairly clear, so I walked a little way and saw a rise, hurrah there are trout here.  That was the beginning of 4 interesting and frustrating hours of fishing.   I could see the trout and watched them rise but it wasn't possible to see what they were eating.  So I worked my way through various dry flies and the trout would have a go and reject them, then I started to get hook ups but not to hand.  Fun to see them leaving their lies and attacking my fly.  However, in the end I managed 1 to hand and I'm ashamed to admit one broke off at the fly, which is the first time I have lost a fish to poor knot tying for quite a while.  Both well hooked fish went for a size 18 double badger.  My size 22 FFly and IOTBB were both taken but eventually rejected.  I met one club member who had success on nymps but it is hard to do that when fish are rising to your flies.

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[custheyder]

Very tricky to fish waters that are as still and clear as those in the picture.

[daves]

You did well to get so close to the fish. Due to the very low, clear water & fish middling in the slow sections I've been Italian Style fishing recently with 1 or 2 weight line & 16 to 18' leader/tippet. Nowhere near as good as Tenkara for presentation but far easier to get a good working distance from the fish, particle;aryl as I've been fishing jungle-warfare sections of river where even an 8' rod is rather too long.

[mspaddler]

Another tough day Tuesday. Water low and clear probably fished for 5 hours for one small wild trout. These Becks are going to take some time to get to know. There are trout but weedling (Sp?) them out is going to take some effort. However, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Curlew and 1 Mink that almost grazed my leg as it headed off upstream made the day worthwhile.

[mspaddler]

I'm not sure these Becks are Tenkara water, and the stream side vegetation is only just starting to grow.  I may need a lesson in the Italian Style casting Dave S!

[daves]

Any time you fancy teaming up to try out Italian Casting let me know. Just like Tenkara isn't the answer to all situations so Italian Casting has its limitations but the two styles compliment each other very well.