tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-479732179496891992024-03-08T04:14:51.971+00:00BaslowfisherBaslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-23904658127997997432023-06-03T23:16:00.005+01:002023-06-03T23:16:45.489+01:00Mid April and May<p> Mid April was still rather chilly consequently fly life was sporadic and so were the rising fish! The Derwent always takes it's time to get going, April being very slow. Although I only went a few times I did manage to catch fish each time.</p><p>The first week of May we were on holiday so by the time I got on the river temperatures had increased which brought out the flies but the fish were not exactly switched on. The third week and the evenings started to look promising, the first evening I went over the road between Baslow bridges. The amount of fly was spectacular, loads of olive upright spinners, gnats, a few sedge and a few mayfly. The mayfly were a bit smaller than those which appear early June, some people say these are one year flies as opposed to the usual two year ones. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU6cH-vgM8s0qTUmFsg7uq6DPuIjrJ_okXDlTY4fZL2Lb5G2mwG6CKrqN39dfu2Bd58-6ygMjOc3BnMPzPFuWXyDfHRY7jb5_TV4pGu8IaRezS-VpzM2iHbM5jI7mvdXactwWg7XJ194thDBNI6qisXvZhmnxfMjrq-XVEsqCVPDcfvtpM6gh5bU/s4000/498F0BA2-DDC3-467A-ABA3-62104898C5E5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU6cH-vgM8s0qTUmFsg7uq6DPuIjrJ_okXDlTY4fZL2Lb5G2mwG6CKrqN39dfu2Bd58-6ygMjOc3BnMPzPFuWXyDfHRY7jb5_TV4pGu8IaRezS-VpzM2iHbM5jI7mvdXactwWg7XJ194thDBNI6qisXvZhmnxfMjrq-XVEsqCVPDcfvtpM6gh5bU/s320/498F0BA2-DDC3-467A-ABA3-62104898C5E5.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The masses of flylife (splodges!) </div><p>Although the olive uprights were out, I had to trap a couple to take them home to double check. The males have dark brown upper bodies but greyish under bodies, whilst the females are bright yellow with greyish tails and legs with pale grey wings. The females dropped to the water for 2-3 seconds then took off again, occasionally a fish would manage to take one. I tied a few some with a brown rib over yellow superfine the others omitting the rib. Both have dun tails and hackle with a medium dun wing parachute style. My next outing was on 2nd June, over the road below the old bridge, to test the pattern and it came up trumps. The olive uprights were still out and a few fish were rising, the first 3 fish covered were hooked and landed, one being a rather chunky oos grayling. I finished after about and hour and a half with seven fish all to either the plain bodied or ribbed fly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9XdsFmFw8uU8xwAyWEetUvQhOf0Jlemcqdwr4jjE0efwAl2grgvwl7268Vza4XRKDmty4ITVJPvk-aSnVq5qnUytK3VA-DgZef7HeQHQ0Kgrw6E-fvlmzjyPofEXRJrxZAmcJaLC0oCfRDlB5lMViIJgqhaworlXeMqoRqSz3MslhfuQdwpjBNk/s4000/1CAE072E-4FDB-4C64-AB29-19BD368B872E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9XdsFmFw8uU8xwAyWEetUvQhOf0Jlemcqdwr4jjE0efwAl2grgvwl7268Vza4XRKDmty4ITVJPvk-aSnVq5qnUytK3VA-DgZef7HeQHQ0Kgrw6E-fvlmzjyPofEXRJrxZAmcJaLC0oCfRDlB5lMViIJgqhaworlXeMqoRqSz3MslhfuQdwpjBNk/s320/1CAE072E-4FDB-4C64-AB29-19BD368B872E.jpeg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQ72JtOar3qJkONXITJz3MKiaCAEQnxfzoXWYb-ht3UwCAHe1_vVXn-iUgJHXsOSw2KeNPDoNbTp9XeAR6SHdvbAd_Yqadb5yMZPZ_UW4m7RlUusiqR3742ifuOGR9j54XNfZbqG8q_nDKr2ZjKzlNO4aZ5a_p16Xrx9Q0svVbob7bzTZCQVdcBk/s320/7F93FC21-E5AA-4C52-8BFE-A9578E203644.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The female olive uprights showing the dark bands on the top and plain underneath.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEDsQhP9VbyUFL8In9kWhQh5D5AY-4HdGnthilT5S6sszY3y2TKCGVKqp2B8e3Gd4UJQEVmH6evSA7vFCoJp_pAR2CXg6aqSY_ZIZR6dQVgW_hytWb7LUTp09LTc6t6GBPGY9081J_FtuHME6hDSG9ZAGzKBJWRnd9moAOubiLLppHaA21pdMJ64/s4000/5B60526D-DA54-4A09-BC86-A8E7B5BF7A91.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEDsQhP9VbyUFL8In9kWhQh5D5AY-4HdGnthilT5S6sszY3y2TKCGVKqp2B8e3Gd4UJQEVmH6evSA7vFCoJp_pAR2CXg6aqSY_ZIZR6dQVgW_hytWb7LUTp09LTc6t6GBPGY9081J_FtuHME6hDSG9ZAGzKBJWRnd9moAOubiLLppHaA21pdMJ64/s320/5B60526D-DA54-4A09-BC86-A8E7B5BF7A91.jpeg" width="320" /><span> </span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1DIgCTzLsfV055yjLIJoIy3Ez1zdwWCTJ-QRap2KLIiOk39JSGLhnSlwuNgxpj6KHTVuFHur3OJh0TYgMQvcKpqMRCmKuxsdVLn765grvoxI_wWDRhqLJu8VA0NeL_qnP0po7Sem6Qt_NgjenVcTZZeoklMjpnJ_RJJKY_oLAmEohmryM2SdXxQ/s4000/9747D67B-1987-47FC-9F55-5EFA33E8D2A0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2672" data-original-width="4000" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1DIgCTzLsfV055yjLIJoIy3Ez1zdwWCTJ-QRap2KLIiOk39JSGLhnSlwuNgxpj6KHTVuFHur3OJh0TYgMQvcKpqMRCmKuxsdVLn765grvoxI_wWDRhqLJu8VA0NeL_qnP0po7Sem6Qt_NgjenVcTZZeoklMjpnJ_RJJKY_oLAmEohmryM2SdXxQ/s320/9747D67B-1987-47FC-9F55-5EFA33E8D2A0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span> </span>The male olive upright (minus tails!) showing the dark top and pale underneath.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also on my last outing I noticed some slightly larger duns/spinners to the olive uprights but not as large as mayflies but with 3 tails, I could only catch this one and after some checking through my books couldn't decided on what it was. Does anybody know what this is?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwfZjWUlWqZXeP75XJfKZK2vHmGVBN1firElrQIntADOc3w1mDgAwp33-GUo4YmduAoU1f7XSmTDpLS4bZcUdnp4sBEipmTyEzk-POgVDmlgSpTHWjBlG3VL6LWGaWRq_HMq8ysILUX1HEkO9mI4zEYIR3kqnSYRN1utQdCCwZ7bi3bRX5mu8Zbo/s4000/7C1623C5-DCC1-4BF3-890B-189FCB85B1CA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwfZjWUlWqZXeP75XJfKZK2vHmGVBN1firElrQIntADOc3w1mDgAwp33-GUo4YmduAoU1f7XSmTDpLS4bZcUdnp4sBEipmTyEzk-POgVDmlgSpTHWjBlG3VL6LWGaWRq_HMq8ysILUX1HEkO9mI4zEYIR3kqnSYRN1utQdCCwZ7bi3bRX5mu8Zbo/s320/7C1623C5-DCC1-4BF3-890B-189FCB85B1CA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P05EpFcM5q5nBxBbQuuWVxM7AQxdqn2ZttNwAS4Zp9ZJATgJVMxuTdJjQ3cAayrFTlgLSW4TP7s9lWl96wMelp_xDCmGowOkLGh7tsZ2PIjkftUcEy5d5jo79aIG6yy1IE1mKPo_dK8qBbEyuX2yVIM33a1TUj8momocIr7Rd8e4rkwkpsYrKRU/s1518/911F694D-4B65-4523-8DE5-9CBCAB3536A2_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1518" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P05EpFcM5q5nBxBbQuuWVxM7AQxdqn2ZttNwAS4Zp9ZJATgJVMxuTdJjQ3cAayrFTlgLSW4TP7s9lWl96wMelp_xDCmGowOkLGh7tsZ2PIjkftUcEy5d5jo79aIG6yy1IE1mKPo_dK8qBbEyuX2yVIM33a1TUj8momocIr7Rd8e4rkwkpsYrKRU/s320/911F694D-4B65-4523-8DE5-9CBCAB3536A2_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Minus a foreleg!</p><p>Finally for my outings below the old bridge I used my 5 weight Bakewell Flyfishing bamboo rod which performed flawless including suppressing a decent rainbow around 3lbs!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-57900147687515457102023-04-25T22:18:00.000+01:002023-04-25T22:18:08.118+01:00A New Season Begins<p> Early April saw lots of showers and the Derwent came up and stayed there more or less, too high for fishing as I found out on the 4th when I went down to the bottom end. Although the river was up probably around 6-8 inches it was really pulling, so much so that when I got home I retrieved my life vest for future use. On checking the CO2 canister it expired in 2019! So a replacement kit was ordered and fitted. </p><p>Back to the fishing, as it was cold there was little fly life about so I put a small black nymph with an indicator. After a few minutes a trout took the indicator! I let the fish decide whether to eat or let go but unfortunately it became foul hooked but I eventually managed to land a lovely brown but obviously it doesn't count. A few minutes later a rainbow again took the indicator and again I let it go without striking and fortunately it let go! I went down to the lower pool and crossing the river was tricky even though the river was only shin high. Up to this point I hadn't seen any rises although a few duns were trickling off. After sitting and watching the various runs nothing showed therefore I called it a day.</p><p>Over the next few weeks the river was still up and very stained with peat, nothing like it was just prior to the season starting when it ran gin clear, very frustrating.</p><p>It was another 3 weeks until I got out again as I said above the river was too high, by the 25th it had dropped a bit and it was a lovely sunny day but a bit chilly for April with a downstream wind. I therefore decided to go above the works as it would be a bit more sheltered there. I sat by the sycamore to see if there were any fish showing and low and behold there were a few showing on the far side but couldn't see to what. I tied on a size 18 all black klink as a starter and within a couple of casts I hooked up but only for a minute as a long distance release was achieved by what I think was a brown as it stayed deep. Another take soon followed and yet again a long distance deep release, the hook was checked and was ok! A third was hooked and again a long distance release, but this time the hook was broken, was this going to be one of those days? On went another size 18 klink and the fish were still rising in the run on the far side. The current was faster in the centre than in the run which made drag a real pain but eventually I got it right and a trout took, this time it stayed on and a lovely brown was landed, phew, a real beauty!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MbagKqwCj7Z9ZqfLoIYHQ1NuHtfZRoEg1RMgNdj88qvRHeuUyDvSHGTtBNrkbUXrUgVqx__HQpxuPZDHffnk4IToyqqDuIHFNtT6ygRTnhQaUExFJmMhjVjmR-5G7TAPQo46N6aVUQfdQN7unuFKGY0fk0fD2OQiQKmR_IPhEdqbD_KBOUUrKLU/s4000/P4251190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MbagKqwCj7Z9ZqfLoIYHQ1NuHtfZRoEg1RMgNdj88qvRHeuUyDvSHGTtBNrkbUXrUgVqx__HQpxuPZDHffnk4IToyqqDuIHFNtT6ygRTnhQaUExFJmMhjVjmR-5G7TAPQo46N6aVUQfdQN7unuFKGY0fk0fD2OQiQKmR_IPhEdqbD_KBOUUrKLU/w400-h300/P4251190.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>All the commotion put the other fish down so I started moving upstream even though no fish were showing, I even changed to a small black nymph which I managed to hook another brown but this came adrift too! Nothing else showed however the fish further down started rising again so I retreated downstream to do business. On went the same black klink and I continued to cover the risers, eventually it came right and another brown took and was successfully landed, the double (size wise) as the one above but still wearing its winter coat. I continued but the temperature was cruel and I had got chilled so sat on the bench for a while and just watched. I called it day a little later without going back in.</p><p>A good lesson I had learnt was the effect of drag even if it looked like none was there, micro drag. Fish which were covered wouldn't take yet a second or third cast when I knew it looked right and the fish took. </p>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-53254893730187913072022-06-03T22:32:00.000+01:002022-06-03T22:32:04.539+01:00Thursday 2nd June<p> Well how could I eclipse my previous catch! I do have a couple of videos but cannot attach them for some reason. </p><p>I decided to have a punt down the bottom end so arrived around 1:30, the river was looking good although a bit low but gin clear for the Derwent which always carries a tinge of peat stain. Now is mayfly time but not reaching the peak yet so I was undecided if the fish would be fully onto them. I tackled up and the only other person was departing so I had the whole length from the hut to the bottom limit to myself! I went down to Max's bench pool as this is one of my favourite pools on the river. I had on my version of a mayfly nymph based on Phil Whites mayfly nymph. On my down to the pool I noticed a few fish rising in the upper pools so things looked promising. I sat on the bench to see if there was any movement and immediately noticed a few head and tail rises and the occasional splashy rise to a newly hatched mayfly although there were not that many about. Once I got in the river there were a lot of yellow sallies around with fish taking them. I trapped one for later id. here it is.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEgMklz6LjBIoM5gMKGbxxpiNz3VVeekYTwheBJ4f5WjmufoBtPtiAJlw6KwFiHBJg6G1syJEo9-jYqddP58XK6k-1jfK7fSIGCAS49wJY9BTXdoEQ82_fMo7I3u_CjV38tB6VdWGZP-s23_72ZNmaSuk-vv-acFb-Drlax3-Y-Rba0LwGU1dC60/s4000/01A843CC-242E-4FAC-AB3F-DACB14CF0D62.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEgMklz6LjBIoM5gMKGbxxpiNz3VVeekYTwheBJ4f5WjmufoBtPtiAJlw6KwFiHBJg6G1syJEo9-jYqddP58XK6k-1jfK7fSIGCAS49wJY9BTXdoEQ82_fMo7I3u_CjV38tB6VdWGZP-s23_72ZNmaSuk-vv-acFb-Drlax3-Y-Rba0LwGU1dC60/s320/01A843CC-242E-4FAC-AB3F-DACB14CF0D62.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The photo of it's top was too blurred as it kept crawling!<br /><div>Anyway after literally 2 casts I was into a fish, a lovely rainbow around 3lb and then the next another which was it's twin! Things were looking good. I continued up the pool taking several rainbows and eventually a lovely brown around between 1 and 2lb. I was also getting that soggy foot feeling as my waders were beginning to leak again.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSbHBczNJZXrMN1lr08drPvkmxTbcWpiHtAslpCGL5ZZtXScD1CQ0OpxYBunIjxd3Voe9e8T7yXXOUROrKXzXZ81xzsqPkWAWmDhDSrZDAWz5Owi6abSOMHCnNmY5mPmqDx-CSv2WxPpeNeoFp4lvAhRf9oGElWcwTygZRqY0ijFkCyehlmWb2cI/s4000/20F8A4FA-BBB5-40CC-9EE6-73E42A17D353.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSbHBczNJZXrMN1lr08drPvkmxTbcWpiHtAslpCGL5ZZtXScD1CQ0OpxYBunIjxd3Voe9e8T7yXXOUROrKXzXZ81xzsqPkWAWmDhDSrZDAWz5Owi6abSOMHCnNmY5mPmqDx-CSv2WxPpeNeoFp4lvAhRf9oGElWcwTygZRqY0ijFkCyehlmWb2cI/s320/20F8A4FA-BBB5-40CC-9EE6-73E42A17D353.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>There were several different flies hatching including some olives and not all successfully hatched!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwV3CYtrIwBi7eUERHaXECVCqR7lxZ7XFYID2B_dPYBFx8Yo5fQP8WUk_-4yML4bfVSycO_dr8HdSBmUw3t_6FPgCPwNKODqB48eQ27zJxlIYAnTkHgGF7mtNmXdb16Oqs9AZcJm7p2lS2cFLyVr5lyjxQaGWUcK2ra3uz99qZp_2IBdJq7qFejQ/s4000/8AEC3BFB-7EC7-4525-931D-C20BD6C521A9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwV3CYtrIwBi7eUERHaXECVCqR7lxZ7XFYID2B_dPYBFx8Yo5fQP8WUk_-4yML4bfVSycO_dr8HdSBmUw3t_6FPgCPwNKODqB48eQ27zJxlIYAnTkHgGF7mtNmXdb16Oqs9AZcJm7p2lS2cFLyVr5lyjxQaGWUcK2ra3uz99qZp_2IBdJq7qFejQ/s320/8AEC3BFB-7EC7-4525-931D-C20BD6C521A9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even what looked like some mayfly which had "transposed" into spinners which I think usually happens in the trees were on the water.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUIrgNLWpUSstXh0vZfBhHuSzjY9XQ14vUA_NJ0UMtEkJLbGZ6CBKffU_aECj57Nfs1DkN6oOhXKbtJRj7ez88UbW34ec2yGH0a2mILPI1npf-9g4DVap1cy4BUe86KXPSsouO0cPyh2PCjky5AqAaY1dYNR27_t7OojcKgC7b-SfnrdJJyAWryg/s4000/9EBD9A41-EE64-4447-91A4-BE1EE4C52C9A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUIrgNLWpUSstXh0vZfBhHuSzjY9XQ14vUA_NJ0UMtEkJLbGZ6CBKffU_aECj57Nfs1DkN6oOhXKbtJRj7ez88UbW34ec2yGH0a2mILPI1npf-9g4DVap1cy4BUe86KXPSsouO0cPyh2PCjky5AqAaY1dYNR27_t7OojcKgC7b-SfnrdJJyAWryg/s320/9EBD9A41-EE64-4447-91A4-BE1EE4C52C9A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>I fished into the next pool too but it was not as "active" as the previous. The odd fish was moving to freshly hatched mayfly so I quickly switched to a dry mayfly and managed to land some and lose some too. Wetness was beginning to creep up my leg and so I called it a day, I finished with a lovely wildy to take my tally to 8 rainbows and 4 browns.<br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nzSCiHr9BnxdETGFbMp8G4bSu9AK-C_oxIxZe56e1rTos4yFN-ju9or-MogE_j4fXKv0thQZAul1UkKnikO7u7CWONE9NbWTjwn0pW5ZB2r3OLNQICiWZwzf9ZJks8ZbCQlumjCA3Y-4urvnjk2slmF7bb4kNBdHvO7qTSyKPvdg77DfQ1KpcmA/s4000/D55738F4-F010-4448-AF1F-1976791899DE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6nzSCiHr9BnxdETGFbMp8G4bSu9AK-C_oxIxZe56e1rTos4yFN-ju9or-MogE_j4fXKv0thQZAul1UkKnikO7u7CWONE9NbWTjwn0pW5ZB2r3OLNQICiWZwzf9ZJks8ZbCQlumjCA3Y-4urvnjk2slmF7bb4kNBdHvO7qTSyKPvdg77DfQ1KpcmA/s320/D55738F4-F010-4448-AF1F-1976791899DE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-46790388672799198802022-05-18T21:48:00.000+01:002022-05-18T21:48:01.055+01:00Sunday and Tuesday<p> On Sunday I decided to go above the works as the horse trial were in full swing in the park and I didn't want to get caught up in the traffic. I had my 10'6" #3 with me with the new Barrio line too. I went above the works to the sycamore pool where lots of fish were rising. I had a size 16 black gnat on and covered several of the rises, which were head and tail which I think indicates takes probably just below the surface, before a take and a brown was landed. Several more were covered without so much as a sniff so on went a size 18 black nymph on a curved hook with an indicator 6" above. 1st cast and another brown took and was landed followed by an oos grayling. I worked my way upstream taking a rainbow and 2 more browns. Strangely there were not many flies about apart from swarms of midges this afternoon however at 4.15 the temperature dropped quite considerably, the fish stopped showing as if a switch had been thrown and the swarms of midge disappeared. I called it a day by 4.30 finishing with 4 browns, 1 rainbow and 1 grayling.</p><p><br /></p><p>On Tuesday it was a lovely warm day with a little cloud cover, after doing some gardening I went down to the fishing hut down Beeley. This is the first time I had been down there this season so was interested to see if the floods had changed the pools here too as further upstream there have been some major shifts of gravel and silt in the river. I got in at the pool above the hut and had on the same black nymph which did well for me on Sunday, I soon landed a bright wild brownie and this was followed by a grayling. I landed another lovely wild brownie before getting to the head of the pool. This area has certainly changed more gravel has been washed into the head reducing the size of the pool. I moved over behind the island as this always looks fishy, a decent rainbow took the nymph and was landed. I worked my way up and as the water was deeper I increased the depth of the indicator so it was around 2' now. Another lovely wild brown was landed before..... The indicator shot away and I knew I was into a large fish, at first i thought it was a large brownie as it flashed in the pool however after a minute I spotted a barbel! This was the first barbel I have caught in the 50 odd years I have been fishing, it had me all over the pool and all along I was hoping the hook would hold. A size 16 206BL on 3lb tippet. At one point I am sure a second fish was following this. Eventually after about 15 minutes I landed it with some difficulty getting it into my net.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPO36aEfgfsxmJ_qN38MGFstn81nfh5Fu8sjRey5OXqEiUrmeVgnPmc_9C3U1-Qawi7A6TnbOP6b1qkPKHB-QYKiI4encICFrB6xd-6xl6zWtnmjNq7NzgpFt1LwAbMsl6JlVfuDUr83FG43qettV72Q9PPnrqrN0LibtVAROfDtzY1uu_W1cryY/s4000/7C4777AE-6E1B-4A7C-822C-36F2B75A8064.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPO36aEfgfsxmJ_qN38MGFstn81nfh5Fu8sjRey5OXqEiUrmeVgnPmc_9C3U1-Qawi7A6TnbOP6b1qkPKHB-QYKiI4encICFrB6xd-6xl6zWtnmjNq7NzgpFt1LwAbMsl6JlVfuDUr83FG43qettV72Q9PPnrqrN0LibtVAROfDtzY1uu_W1cryY/s320/7C4777AE-6E1B-4A7C-822C-36F2B75A8064.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDr9j6vBJmd2wax_RlZ6_8AkMmTcN2kb5HF5emDgVzG4xEV3svKjtITPDGU5lQ9lPvNxpjbGa8PRnwvlAVOh721qLxStc6PnAOR23raM2dFDS_N_SB8PigcHu4h4F9JEPPnj8-ycC9wWnPoPwD9A1L-G0DjZyOttg5x6RmvTeSIbVbX9FALear3uA/s4000/FD2CAD24-3FE4-4542-9CAB-658D0F96A940.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDr9j6vBJmd2wax_RlZ6_8AkMmTcN2kb5HF5emDgVzG4xEV3svKjtITPDGU5lQ9lPvNxpjbGa8PRnwvlAVOh721qLxStc6PnAOR23raM2dFDS_N_SB8PigcHu4h4F9JEPPnj8-ycC9wWnPoPwD9A1L-G0DjZyOttg5x6RmvTeSIbVbX9FALear3uA/s320/FD2CAD24-3FE4-4542-9CAB-658D0F96A940.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Following these photos and returning the fish I had to sit down and calm down as I was shaking! After this I couldn't concentrate so retired to the hut for a cuppa, Matthew turned up and I had to show him the result. I called it a day with 3 browns, 1 rainbow, 1 grayling and a magnificent barbel (by my standard).</p>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-65752660545861429292022-05-10T19:48:00.000+01:002022-05-10T19:48:54.005+01:00Sunday 8th May<p> A lovely warm day and after cutting the lawn I decided to have a couple of hours between Baslow bridges. I had my 10'6" #3 but this time with a DT3 as I wanted to see if I could make short line nymphing any easier. I had my usual FSN nymph on and started at the pool below the old bridge. The DT made casting/lobbing a bit easier with a 12' tapered leader with a 4' tippet. I landed a rainbow and a small wild brownie from the pool then went further downstream and lost a couple before reaching the new bridge. In the upstream pool a few more rainbows were landed to the FSN before i moved below the bridge and fished the pool immediately downstream. Another couple of rainbows and browns were landed to the same nymph. I was surprised that not many flies were about nor any rises but the fish were obviously feeding on the nymphs. Above the bridge again and a lovely oos grayling was brought in but it had a large gash on it's side, probably from a heron which I have spotted from time to time on this stretch. </p><p>I finished around 5pm with 5 rainbows, 3 browns and 1 grayling for a couple of hours dibbling about!</p>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-35291774520074517182022-05-06T09:45:00.000+01:002022-05-06T09:45:29.994+01:00Tuesday 3rd May<p> I went into the park this afternoon as wanted to see how the river had changed. It was a bit chilly but no wind thankfully, cloud cover blotted out the sun too. I got in at the stump mid way between Mary's Bower and the cricket pitch and immediately noticed how the run on the house side had been silted up forcing more of the river across the other side. This had a positive effect creating a deeper run with more current. It meant the pool current had increased but the drop off appeared to be steeper too. </p><p>I had on my usual FSN as I wasn't sure there would be anything hatching. I was "cheating" a bit with a yarn indicator on a 14' Orvis tactical leader with 4' tippet. This "cast" better than the 30' Czech nymph leader I previously used on my Orvis 10'6" rod. Whilst the Orvis tactical nymph line is rated #1 and the rod #3 it did not seem to load the rod enough for a proper cast only a lob! I suppose if I want to use the rod for that kind of nymphing with the occasional dry fly then a heavier line will be required.</p><p>I took a lovely wild brown which was still relatively dark after its winter spawning, this was followed by 2 oos grayling. These were 2 good fish larger than the average I seem to contact in their season. Some LDO's started to hatch together with larger olive uprights so on went a size 16 dry olive. Fish started to hit it but I missed a few before another oos grayling came in and another good wild brown similar to the first. The hatch was active for maybe a couple of minutes then ceased for a few minutes before starting again and this went on for an hour or two. There were certainly more fish rising all the way up the pool whereas in previous years the fish seemed to be congregated in the lower half of the pool.</p><p>I then went up to the cricket pitch but there were only a few flies knocking about so on went the FSN again. I lost a couple before a rainbow came in, probably one of this years stocking. This pool has also changed due to the floods, it seems to be shallower nearer the bank than normal with the run being pushed further out. I worked my way up the pool with the FSN taking another brown and 2 more rainbows, the final one an absolute cracker of around 3lbs fully finned with white tips, lovely!</p><p>I finished around 5.30 and another positive from the floods was the place where I usually get out, it was much easier now as a new exit point had been worn in the bank so not having to stumble over the large stones right at the head.</p><p>A good afternoon with a triple Mc"Chatsworth" Nab, 3 browns, 3 grayling and 3 rainbows!</p>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-13369060578824569712022-04-19T17:05:00.001+01:002022-04-19T17:05:35.539+01:00Well Hello Again!Well it's a while since I have added anything to my blog! So what have I been up to?<div><br /></div><div>I spent 4 glorious days last September at Dairy House Annexe in Dorset on the Frome. The river was in good condition but my effort to get to grips with a new river sadly failed. I did manage to catch fish on each day, grayling and a couple of trout but the fact that fly activity was lacking didn't help. Needless to say it did not put me off a re-visit sometime. John Aplin was an excellent host and I can recommend the place for a fish and to stay at the Annexe too, very comfortable.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also spent some time down in Cornwall just outside Kingsbridge, this enabled me to have a couple of afternoons fishing in the estuary there with both fly and spinner, this did not prove very successful as only 1 small bass came to hand on a spinner. At the eleventh hour just as I was about to pack up the last cast smashed my new spinning rod! This was the first (and only!) time I had used it. Just shows how rubbish cheap rods can be!</div><div><br /></div><div>Following the close of the trout season I didn't do any grayling fishing during the winter, it was DECORATING season here in Baslow this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>The winter produced sone big floods culminating in a rise of 5+ metres just prior to the start of the trout season. This was one of the highest recorded levels for years. I only hope that the river has not suffered from excess erosion and deposition etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>My 2022 season started on Saturday 16th April, the day was warm which followed from the previous day so I assumed the fish may have got used to it as prior to this the temperature had been much lower than average for this time of the year. I had kept an eye on the river by the church in Baslow but little had risen during the times I had been down to check, I decided to go above the works as there is a mixture of slow and fast water there so I was hoping for some surface activity. I got down there around 2.30 and 2 people were coming back and both had taken fish. This looked promising. I sat by the sycamore for a few minutes and noticed several fish rising but couldn't see to what, nothing obvious, no LDOs or any other type of olive. I had taken my Orvis 10'6" #3 weight as I thought some nymphing would be in order but before I started I took off the long french leader and put a normal 12' leader and a size 18 black klink as there were some tiny flies stuck in surface. I covered several fish but was finding the Orvis line difficult to cast as its meant for czech/french type nymphing. Eventually I must have got it right as a fish took my fly and was on! It turned out to be a lovely brown knocking 2lbs and fin perfect! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZeVtRKbenKm8aeVNbyXOGJ2zqYaz8sM72qzZOlasI5jJJglLTD5KriCGQuVusSzAUnwDiT7PyQn9UOh_F5qAGFZu2zBlVtaPynSO7_MlB0BttSf4gr59fjhvmTChdyzjHLo201E7dCOFMp3fUTaZYAAxaMkXQmzDfDEe1Y1vwxd0Wq0o5osvOqU/s4000/0424D7F0-5721-437A-A6CB-09031B502781.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZeVtRKbenKm8aeVNbyXOGJ2zqYaz8sM72qzZOlasI5jJJglLTD5KriCGQuVusSzAUnwDiT7PyQn9UOh_F5qAGFZu2zBlVtaPynSO7_MlB0BttSf4gr59fjhvmTChdyzjHLo201E7dCOFMp3fUTaZYAAxaMkXQmzDfDEe1Y1vwxd0Wq0o5osvOqU/s320/0424D7F0-5721-437A-A6CB-09031B502781.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not one of my best photos!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>I continued with the black klink and soon took another trout this time a rainbow in perfect condition. Things were looking good as I had only been fishing for about 15 minutes! Fish continued to rise but my casting was definitely rusty and several times I put down risers however if I just rested the spot for a few minutes the rises started again. Several fish were contacted but lost but another 3 rainbows were landed before I started to feel the slow creep of wetness down my legs and left foot, my waders had started to leak and not the problem gentlemen of a certain age sometimes have thankfully! I called it a day at 4.30 just as Tim was coming down to fish, it was good to see him again and catch up.<div><br /></div><div>So now to get my waders patched up although they are probably 5 seasons old so could do with a good service. I will probably send them off to Diver Dave unless anybody has any other recommendations.</div><div><br /></div><div>My good friend and fellow fisherman Derek has decided more or less to hang up his rod now but I hope to still get him down to the river even if I have to take him in his bath chair! There are places on the river which are fairly easy to get in so hopefully I can persuade him to join me especially when those mayfly are streaming off.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you have enjoyed reading my resurrected blog and I will endeavour to keep it up to date!</div><div><br /></div><div>Tight lines and I hope you all have a productive season.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-6587288393130932122021-06-06T19:43:00.002+01:002021-06-06T19:43:21.935+01:00Normal Service Resumed<p> I went down to the cattle drink above the works on Friday evening and what a sight greeted me. Lots and lots of flylife about, clouds of sedge and olives fluttering about. This photo doesn't do it justice!</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4p6quYTxWI/YL0Top7f-cI/AAAAAAAADYk/PlPnZKJCl44K0YaDrwYj69BfJP34qnZfwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P6050072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4p6quYTxWI/YL0Top7f-cI/AAAAAAAADYk/PlPnZKJCl44K0YaDrwYj69BfJP34qnZfwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/P6050072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a dusty lens to some people!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>The olives were olive uprights I think. Example below:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZPqPaKz_og/YLyT3CRCiFI/AAAAAAAADXU/IibclrWqr9UXRszF4Ogm7pSs5u1nBEruwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P6050077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZPqPaKz_og/YLyT3CRCiFI/AAAAAAAADXU/IibclrWqr9UXRszF4Ogm7pSs5u1nBEruwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/P6050077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Olive Upright?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>At 1930 there were not many rises only the occasional one however within 10 minutes more and more fish were on the move. Whilst the amount of flies around were epic I could not make out what they were rising to as the rise tended to be more of a roll or suck. I had on a size 20 black klink and covered a few risers but couldn't get the drift right. Eventually it came right and a rainbow sucked in the fly and was duly landed on my 7'10" bamboo rod. After losing a couple I noticed a few spinners dead on the water so switches to a size 14 rusty spinner, a bit bigger than when the BWOs are about. </p><p>As I moved up the pool I noticed a small sip several times not much more than a rod length away, I cast ahead and let the spinner drift back and a beautiful brown sipped down my fly. After a bit of a tussle this was landed and duly "snapped". A wild brown trout I'm sure as fins were arrow straight and a spade of a tail. I hope Mr PP would be proud?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6O5WdWkebnc/YL0SY1Rl1QI/AAAAAAAADXg/-QkRwu_hdNwMdB-2QEjpa4ETIOAsm-H_wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P6050082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6O5WdWkebnc/YL0SY1Rl1QI/AAAAAAAADXg/-QkRwu_hdNwMdB-2QEjpa4ETIOAsm-H_wCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/P6050082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Within another couple of casts another sipper was spotted and another cracking brown landed slightly smaller than the previous. I continued to be a lovely warm evening until about 2045 when the temperature started to drop. The flies continued to flit about but there were noticeably less rises, even in the fast water at the top of the pool.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ckoFbUITFU/YL0Smap1urI/AAAAAAAADYE/Ry1qw5-vC7IrU-dJUsAdAMkdRITYET5gACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/P6050075.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking downstream from the cattle drink.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ckoFbUITFU/YL0Smap1urI/AAAAAAAADYE/Ry1qw5-vC7IrU-dJUsAdAMkdRITYET5gACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P6050075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span><span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I became chilled so called it a day in this pool but on my way back I saw a rise by the pulpit and after a few casts landed another rainbow. Only landing 4 for the evening but a start.</div><div><br /></div><div>This badger was spotted during my last outing, I watched it from the river and I am sure it didn't know I was there!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WvEilpDLVk/YL0SjmJoykI/AAAAAAAADXo/S-edkdcaqLUQqmXJ4oF6JVUtCX4d9cOMwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/P4240020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WvEilpDLVk/YL0SjmJoykI/AAAAAAAADXo/S-edkdcaqLUQqmXJ4oF6JVUtCX4d9cOMwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/P4240020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Brock!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p></div>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-60992293970100618612021-06-02T21:35:00.000+01:002021-06-02T21:35:15.874+01:00Latest Update and Start of The Season<p> Well since my last post I lost my Google account which lets me update my Blog! After much to'ing and fro'ing I may have recovered it!</p><p>So what's happened, not a lot! I only managed 1 outing during the winter for grayling, this was into the park and I did get a few grayling on a czech/french leader setup. I was finding it difficult with the Orvis 10'6" Helios, I need some coaching in how to use this method!</p><p>Then onto the trout season from 1st April. As most of the UK trout fishers know April was wet and cold followed by much of the same in May! </p><p>I ventured out once in late April and decided to start below Baslow old bridge, I had on a parachute Adams and soon landed a small wild brown. This was to prove the only fish feeding for a long while! There were no rises between the bridges and an apparent lack of any fly life. As i said previously the weeks prior had been wet and cold and this must have left any nymphs secure in their hideouts. Below the new bridge I went down to the cattle drink and did spot a couple of risers but that was it, literally. Although the river was up a little it was still chilly so after that I made my way back upstream rather dejected and called it a day.</p><p>During May I constantly kept an eye on the river from the old bridge but rises were no existent. Fly life was very dour and I can only recall seeing the odd sedge and willow flies. LDOs were very absent. </p><p>It wasn't until last Friday that I ventured out again down to the bottom end. I started around 2'ish. The river was at summer level and clear and the sun was out, temperatures had been low for the time of year so I wasn't expecting much however fish were rising in the fast water to something small or emerges as the only duns around were yellow may duns, again willow flies and the odd sedge. I decided on a small black parachute and as I worked my way up the faster water landed 2 browns and lost 2. I tried various dries and emerges but could not get the fish to take really. I ventured further downstream to Dereks pool and caught a rainbow and lost 2 browns at the head of the pool on a parachute adams. Getting in at the bottom again I lost a good rainbow and a few casts later landed a nice one around 2lb, these on an olive nymph.</p><p>So although the 3-4 hours was frustrating at times at least fish were moving and some semblance of insect activity was happening. Usually by now the mayfly have put in an appearance but not this year yet!</p><p>The Bank holiday weekend was lovely and warm and the 1st few days of June too so hopefully things will take a turn for the better.</p>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-91752501092819370462020-10-14T20:32:00.000+01:002020-10-14T20:41:53.520+01:00Was That It Then?<p> No sooner had we come out of lockdown when the rivers opened than it was the end of the season. September continued to offer pretty poor evenings to fish the last couple of hours with very little activity from both fish and insects. Temperatures were on the low side. I tended to fish more in the afternoons. One particular afternoon I went down to the bottom end, I was using my bamboo #5 weight. Usually as you progress up about half a mile fish can be picked off or raised with a neatly cast griffiths gnat or black gnat. I tried both these but could only muster a couple of browns. There just were not the insects about nor the usual rafts of weed. Afternoons spent by the works with Derek produced fish to terrestrials and small black gnats. Talking to the keeper about the issues he agreed that probably due to the biblical floods in February (highest in 50 years) this would have ripped out the weed and shifted many many tons of silt. One of the most amazing examples being down by the bottom hut were the bend just above which was very deep on the near side now has a dry silt area. Unfortunately the last days of the season was a washout with high levels.</p><p>So its on to the grayling, maybe a few hours on Thursday or Friday (16th). I will be able to christen (hopefully) my new Orvis Helios3 10'6" #3. I have been reading up on the Czech/French/high sticking practices, Paul Gaskell (discovertenkara.com) has just written a book which includes pieces on this method plus videos/tutorials about leader setup etc. I am in the midst of reading it and it is very informative. So onto the various "nymphing" methods with hopefully some dry fly on those clear days.</p>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-39679078786728911792020-09-04T21:01:00.000+01:002020-09-04T21:01:18.746+01:00July and August - Something Happening To Our River?<p> July was an odd month, fishing was predominantly restricted to the evenings however what was expected to be lovely barmy evenings turned out to be mainly on the chilly side. Result:- little fly life about and even fewer rises but was there some other factor? There was one spectacular evening when it was warm and there was fly life everywhere, duns, spinners, caddis and midges. I had a very good evening catching browns including a spectacular grown on brown between 5 and 6 pounds. This was a one off, the fish are there but this year there is a sad lack of weed in the river which naturally keeps the insect like down. </p><p>August was not much better, each outing resulted in fish being taken but the incredible hatches of previous years was not forthcoming. Why is this? I am to the only not the thinking this way too. How are clubs above and below Chatsworth fairing this season? </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycxyXeWrzxk/X1KXpf5wwJI/AAAAAAAADTM/Suog4bQYhEsHo9gKL8031I0f9V4iM1UWQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DDF55C03-A56F-4B4E-8BC8-AECA5E70B121.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ycxyXeWrzxk/X1KXpf5wwJI/AAAAAAAADTM/Suog4bQYhEsHo9gKL8031I0f9V4iM1UWQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/DDF55C03-A56F-4B4E-8BC8-AECA5E70B121.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_9DCqyWR2Q/X1KXpsWQ2HI/AAAAAAAADTQ/sv17SS-Ztt8pNW8_Vn1GA-amEehfYbZ8ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/E5E12FD5-9A86-4C59-882D-AACFF13BC69C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_9DCqyWR2Q/X1KXpsWQ2HI/AAAAAAAADTQ/sv17SS-Ztt8pNW8_Vn1GA-amEehfYbZ8ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/E5E12FD5-9A86-4C59-882D-AACFF13BC69C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>The floods of last February must have some effect on the river flora and fauna when you look at the above photos showing the flood it must be at least 10 feet above normal. The sheer power must have ripped up miles of weed, gravel thus remapping the river bed. I know there have been floods in the past but this year, well something extra has happened.<p></p><p>So onto September and the sunset of the season hopefully things will improve.</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-37579299041187557342020-06-01T20:16:00.000+01:002020-06-01T20:16:51.135+01:00May and Back on The River!Well it is 11 months since I last fished due to family illness and bereavement. So I was looking forward to getting back on the river after the lockdown was lifted for our fishery last Friday. I met up with Bill and Keith around 1030 at the bottom hut. They had already been in the river and snook a few fish. After the usual pleasantries I decided to go further downstream to see if anything was happening. The odd fish was showing with occasional mayfly coming off. Olives and black gnats too. My casting was a bit rusty after my lay-off but I soon got into my stride. I had decided on a black gnat as there were many around, I worked my up the pool but rises were few and far between here. Eventually a nice brown rose to my fly and a delay to my strike ensured a well hooked fish which was duly landed. As I progressed up the pool a couple of takes were missed so around 1 I reeled in and met up with the chaps for lunch. Lunch was one of Hancocks pork pies, still warm when I collected it too! Needless to say we soon demolished it. I also want to add that all this was accomplished with sensible social distancing, even cutting the pie was done without touching it. Following a leisurely lunch I was changing my fly and rested my rod against my car, I locked the car forgetting my rod was against the door mirror, needless to say it chopped the rod like a guillotine! At least with Sage rods it has a lifetime warranty however it was still going to cost £120 to fix it. Bill and Keith called it a day as they had been there since early doors. Luckily I had 1 of my bamboo rods with me so tackled up again and I went back to the pool I had half fished and carried on. I only successfully landed another brown so I called it a day after an hour, it was great to get out again after such a long break.<br />
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Last week I had a couple of visits just over the road below Baslow Old Bridge. On Tuesday it had been such a warm day and lots of spinners in the garden too, I had decided to use my bamboo rod a 7'10" #5, such a joy to use as a difference to the carbon rods. I had an olive cdc dun on and landed a nice brown from a run on the far side, always a tricky cast! Progressing up the pool I lost the fly in a decent fish and decided on a change to a griffiths gnat. Another brown followed by a rainbow around 2lbs completed a lovely couple of hours before dark.<br />
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The following evening I again went across the road to fish the pool below Baslow Old Bridge. The first fish was another cracking rainbow, fully finned and fighting fit around 2lbs. There then followed a first for me, I hooked into a fish which went wild, it turned out to be a blue trout and as it lay in my net I noticed a fly in its top lip. It was the fly I lost the previous evening to this fish, an olive cdc dun, obviously not affecting the fish's eating habits! I finished off the evening with a final brown to take my tally to 3.<br />
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On Sunday evening I went down to the bottom hut again, Derek had kindly lent me a rod to use. The pool above the hut looked inviting with plenty of fly about but nothing showing. I had on a black gnat as there were many about. In the fast water my fly became waterlogged but whilst I was distracted by a couple of grey wagtails a fish tugged the fly and was on, sheer fluke. A cracking 2½lb rainbow was landed. I tried various other runs to no avail so went to the next pool down but first tried the fast water as I went, again I was distracted by something and the fly was take and a brown hooked itself, fluke number 2! I finished off with another brown from the next pool before calling it a day after an hour. I was feeling a bit vulnerable as there had been several instances of poaching on the river today together with numerous on the Wye and being alone down near the bottom without communication was un-nerving me. Usually it doesn't both me fishing alone but not this time!<br />
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May was a quick month fishing wise but a decent start to an unusual beginning. Wishing all my readers a safe and successful season and take care.Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-38339219216273592022019-07-01T12:47:00.003+01:002019-07-01T12:47:41.463+01:0022nd June<br />
This evening I went down to the Willow pool around 7.30 pm, it was a lovely warm evening with a clear sky, a few fish were rising as I tackled up at the hut. Things looked good! Again I started with the grey olive parachute as it represents a small olive dun and there were a few about. Fish were rising everywhere but they were head and tailing however I soon contacted a lively rainbow which was landed. As I worked my way up the pool sedge, midge and duns started coming off with the occasional mayfly too, a real treat for both fisherman and fish. I landed a brown but I was coming to the conclusion that this was not the correct fly as several trout covered ignored my offering. I switched to a small brown sedge again and immediately took a lovely brown around 1.5 lbs followed quickly by a rainbow which flipped out of my hand and took the sedge with it! Both fish head and tailed to the sedge and it took all my willpower to delay the strike. How many times do I strike too soon, wait, wait, strike. It turned out that I only had the one brown sedge with me as I hadn't updated my flybox recently so on went a size 18 grey sedge. This too started working it's magic with the head and tailers plus a couple of splashy risers too. I finished around 9.30 as again the temperature dropped and so did the fish but 8 fish for a couple of hours was a result for me. Before my next visit I must update my flybox as it's rusty spinner as well as sedge time too!Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-30517861388984454022019-07-01T12:32:00.002+01:002019-07-01T12:32:52.413+01:0021st JuneOn Friday I had a few hours spare so just went over the road below Baslow old bridge from about 7.30 pm. I sat on the bench for a while to see if anything was rising and there were a few small dimples looking up to the right, small grayling I assumed. I had on a size 18 grey olive parachute as nothing of note was about. I also had my John French bamboo rod out for the first time this season. I covered the first dimple a few times but nothing came to my fly and as the fish was still showing I changed to a small b brown sedge and first cast hooked not a grayling but a lovely wild brownie about 10". I continued up and hooked and lost a couple more before landing another brownie about the same size as the first on the brown sedge.<br />
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I then went down to the pool below as I had spotted a few rises there too and floated the sedge downstream to a fish which eventually took but was soon off due to the downstream drift I suspect! I switched to the other bank and made my way up but nothing was showing until I reached the top where after prospecting with the sedge two more browns were landed. The temperature dropped around 8.30 and with it the fish stopped moving so I called it a day at 9 pm.Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-29392683893888251982019-06-20T20:04:00.002+01:002019-06-20T20:06:48.122+01:0018th JuneI checked the water level at the old bridge in Baslow at about 11 and it definitely looked fishable so arranged with Derek to meet him at the works around 2. I decided to give my 7'10'" Derwent bamboo rod an outing too. I decided on a mayfly dun at first just to see if there was any action but after a while at the sycamore decided that I was flogging a dead horse. Not a single fish rose and also the river seemed to have got decidedly more coloured. A dark olive fsn was tied on and even that didn't do the business. If I didn't know better I would think the river was devoid of fish! The river continued to cloud up and even with a slight hatch of mayfly and some yellow sallies that didn't bring much up. Even Derek was not fussed and failed to connect above the cattle drink. I worked my way up and then decided to switch to a mayfly nymph and by sheer floor took a brown. At 4 I decided to call it a day and picked Derek up on my way back to the car. It just goes to show how quick the river can colour up in a few hours, we have been caught out like this before but that has usually been below Bar Brook. Hey ho at least we wetted a line! The river will probably be out of sorts now till at least Friday.Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-24295928865680547632019-06-10T16:56:00.000+01:002019-06-10T16:56:15.434+01:009th June<br />
Today I took a guest, Dave, and so went down to Beeley again as this part of the river is beautiful, that's not saying the rest isn't!<div>
We started in the pool above the hut using mayfly nymphs, Dave up the left side me crossing to the far bank. I soon contacted a fish which fought well initially but to my surprise it turnout to be a superb PERCH around 15" long. The nymph was well back in its mouth so it definitely wanted it. I have caught perch before in a few other pools but never thought there would be any here. Within a few more casts I landed a superb rainbow around 2 1/2lbs. Dave had switched to a dry as a few mayfly were coming off plus a few spinners were about too. He missed a good take to the dry, too eager! We only fished for about an hour here before adjourning for lunch giving the mayfly time to get active.</div>
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After lunch I thought that we would have a repeat of last Monday and fish the same pool. I gave Dave a few mayfly nymphs and duns to try. I led the way and Dave fished the fast water at the tail whilst I made my way upstream. I noticed him landing a few fish, great! I am always anxious that my guests land fish but now Dave was well into it. I persisted with the nymph and a brown was landed but the mayfly by now had started to hatch quite a lot so on went the "usual". I proceeded up the pool to the cattle drink landing several browns losing even more! Again I reached the stepping stones and noticed a fish rising in the same place a last Monday. Again I covered it a couple of times before getting a drag free drift and up it came, a lovely brown which again had me all over the pool. </div>
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Notice anything about the above fish and the one from Monday? I think they are the same fish going by the markings around the gill covers. I was about 4pm by now and the amount of mayfly duns and spinners plus sedge, and sherry type spinners was a treat to see. Needless to say at 4.15pm the heavens opened and for about 30 mins torrential rain ensued. Maybe the flies knew what was coming. We sheltered under a tree and watched the mayfly still hatching and the odd fish taking them even though the surface was pocked by all the rain. A few casts after the rain and another brown was taken but the temperature had dropped and you could see your breath, this resulted in a lack of fly and the fish went down too. I ended the day with 2 rainbows 6 browns and 1 perch. Dave had a better afternoon landing a dozen fish. </div>
Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-49701224770249706662019-06-10T16:28:00.003+01:002019-06-10T16:28:57.070+01:003rd JuneI decided to go down to Beeley today, on arriving Bill was also there together with a host of others. Derek arrived and decided it was too congested so went into the park. Bill and I went down to Max's bench pool. I went upstream and Bill down. No mayfly were hatching at this time around 1330 so on went a mayfly nymph and I soon landed a nice rainbow. As I waded up the pool mayfly started to hatch out however the fish seemed a bit reluctant to take any with only the odd one being splashed at. As I progressed the hatch became heavier and a few more fish were showing so on went the good old 1-up-1-down mayfly (Phil Whites pattern!) and I started to connect with fish. Several browns were landed successfully! I managed to get right up the pool to the cattle drink this year as the winter floods had changed the river bed slightly. I decided only to cast to rising fish instead of fishing blind so although fish were rising they were not consistent in 1 place however a couple of fish covered rose again and I landed a few more browns. I got to the stepping stones and a fish rose a couple of times in the same position, I watched it for a while then placed my fly on the direct line to it and up it came. A magnificent brown to finish the day which had me all over the pool. Below is said brown.......<br />
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I finished the afternoon with 6 browns and 2 rainbows.Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-23818952129006966262019-06-02T20:44:00.002+01:002019-06-02T20:44:38.399+01:00MayI only went out fishing the once at the beginning of the month as I have been backwards and forwards to see my Mum in hospital. <div>
I went into the park and fished for a couple of hours below the cricket pitch. A few fish were rising to the multitude of greenfly and black smuts which covered the surface. I only managed to land a few on a size 24 greenfly losing more! I always have problems getting the fish to stay on with the really small flies.</div>
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The mayfly started during last week and Derek tells me the hatch is even better than last year when it was a real bumper year. Planning to get out tomorrow with him............</div>
Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-12616001740693360412019-05-03T12:46:00.001+01:002019-05-03T12:46:32.433+01:00AprilI went out on day 1 down to the bottom end at Max's bench pool. Although nothing was rising a dark olive fox squirrel nymph proved the downfall for a couple of rainbows. I worked my way up the pool and took a couple of browns to the dark olive fsn too. I called it a day after reaching the top of the pool so not a bad opener!<br />
The following day I went down to the willow pool and after losing a couple called it a "cold" day with a blank.<br />
A couple of trips to the cricket pitch and things began to look up with numerous fish taking a standard fsn and as some fish were rising also on the dry, a deer hair emerger and grey sedge. Flylife was beginning to emerge, large dark olives and grannom were buzzing about.<br />
A second visit to the bottom end again produced some lovely rainbows both to dry and nymph, the usual suspects fsn and grey sedge. As I have said before it never ceases to amaze me the quality of the fish and the fact that the overwintered fish were in impeccable condition. The Derwent had started off crystal clear, the pre-season peaty tinge had gone, it is a long time since I have seen it so clear.<br />
A flood midway through the month coloured the river for a few days and was unfishable however once the level returned to normal again it was clear.<br />
A lovely warm afternoon below the cricket pitch saw plenty of fly about LDOs and grannom again which resulted in 5 browns and 3 rainbows, 6 of them came to a dry, the grey sedge and black klink doing the damage. On my way out of the pool I noticed a very large hawthorne fly dead on the surface, note to self for next visit.<br />
My final visit of April was to the sycamore pool, lots of fish were "smutting" and due the clarity of the water I could spot individual fish coming for the smuts/greenfly on the surface and taking something just under the surface film. I noticed a few hawthorne flies about before I started so on went my interpretation and immediately I took 4 rainbows in quick succession. I thought I had cracked it but alas other fish I covered didn't want to know so I switched to a greenfly and had a couple of offers but they never became "attached". After switching to a small black cdc a couple of browns were landed successfully.<br />
So not a bad month for starters, roll on May!<br />
<br />Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-7483339086656394972019-03-08T17:11:00.001+00:002019-03-08T17:11:18.256+00:00That was the grayling season!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following my last post in October 2018 I did manage to get out grayling fishing a few times. I shortly followed the first outing with a second whilst the leaves were still on the trees and the greenfly about. Again I located a shoal of grayling and took 10 again on the greenfly, all from an area the size of a tabletop. The difficulty is trying to locate the shoals.<br />
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The Uttoxeter Flyfair was visited in early November but it did not appear to be well visited by fisher folk, it transpires that it would be the last one.<br />
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I made another couple of visits to try for the grayling each time fishing above the works by the cattle drink and again located reasonable numbers of fish taken on a both nymph and a couple of dry. I find this stretch good for the grayling.<br />
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The BFFI at Stafford was also visited in February which turned out to be very well attended, this event now covers 3 halls at the venue with numerous new stalls and sessions on tying etc. Hopefully it will get "moved" to earlier maybe replacing the Uttoxeter event thus covering the start of the fly tying season?<br />
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I finished off my grayling season on the 26th Feb when I went into the park below the cricket pitch. This time locating the grayling was difficult and only at the last shout where I was fishing up from Mary's Bower did I locate four decent grayling in the 10-12" class. Maybe next season I will also fish the Dove as this is a very good grayling river especially through Dovedale where many years ago whilst fishing with Bill I landed a grayling of 21" which must have been pushing 4lb!<br />
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I hope to fish on a more regular basis next winter as this year I really felt the cold after my op.<br />
Roll on 1st April when the new trout season starts on Chatsworth. I will definitely be fishing L&DFFA waters on the Dove more too, a great little river which is totally different to my home river, it has a great mayfly hatch which tends to come earlier than Chatsworth.<br />
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Best wishes everyone and tightlines for the coming 2019 trout season.Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-47259707809299481762018-10-20T19:01:00.000+01:002018-10-20T19:01:32.373+01:00It's Been a Funny Old Season!Well that was a quick season for me! I managed to get out quite a bit as I slowly built up my fitness. When I did get out it was strange especially with the hot weather in June/July/August. Those especially hot days resulted in very few insects coming off, even into the evenings which were still hot, I recon that the hatches probably happened during the dark hours. I still managed to catch when I went fishing catching excellent stocked fish which Matthew had procured. I also caught quite a lot of wild brownies and some lovely small wild rainbows.<br />
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I went to a Bamboo and Silk day on the Cressbrook and Litton water on the Wye in August. A well attended really good day, plenty of very different bamboo rods were cast especially a Bernard Ramanauskas rod which had a perfect action also a lovely Winston rod too with nearly as good an action as the former. I took my 7'9" #4 and 7'10" #5 along and had a fish with the #4 weight late on and took a few browns and rainbows. Altogether a great day which I hope will be repeated next season.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7'9" #4 John French built on a PHY taper with Schukken reel and Phoenix silk line.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7'10' #5 John French built on modified PHY taper with Hardy Perfect and Phoenix silk line</td></tr>
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Following my earlier post about my 1st visit, for my 2nd visit I had a good afternoon with Derek and Bill. I used my #5 weight bamboo rod with my Hardy Cascapedia with a Hardy WF5. This works the rod really well, probably better that the DT5. I landed a few fish up to about 2lb and the rod handled them excellently.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3 amigos!<br /></td></tr>
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Lynn bought me a automatic inflatable life saver as she was a bit nervous about me venturing out alone. I was a bit dubious at first but a couple of reports in the press about some people drowning whilst fishing so that swayed me to wear it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "poacher" below Max's Bench Pool!!!</td></tr>
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As the hot weather continued the Derwent began to show it's bones, in all the years I have been fishing it I have never seen it so low. This situation continued until the rain came late on, some hope for the final few weeks.<br />
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As I said at the start "it's been a funny old season'!<br />
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So now onto the grayling, my first visit was last Thursday. I had been into Bakewell and visit that excellent emporium (The Flyfishing Shop Bakewell) for a natter with Peter. I was humming and haring whether to go and have an hour or two and Peter encouraged me to go. So at 1430 I got into the river below Baslow old bridge, I decided to use my Hardy Favourite 7' #2 with a #22 greenfly on. I managed a quick couple of grayling to this fly then a few trout so decided to move lower down. I noticed a few small rises so worked my way up to them and hit on a small shoal of grayling. the next hour had me hooking loads of grayling from tiny 4 inchers to respectable 10 inchers eventually landing 8 taking my total to 10 grayling for just over an hour and a half and all on the same dry greenfly, RESULT!<br />
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So hopefully this sets the scene for the rest of the grayling season, watch this space.<br />
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N.B. Grayling Society meetings are held at The Rutland Hotel in Bakewell starting at 1930, admission £4.<br />
October 24: Paul Procter<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Grayling - thoughts and tactics”.<br />
November 28: Alan Roe<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Trotting for game and coarse fish, and including Wallis casting. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
December 12: Stuart Crofts<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Put the Fly back into your Fly-fishing”.<br />
January 23: Don Stazicker<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“Riseforms, can you tell what they are eating?”<br />
February 20: Paul and Sue Sissons<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fishing for Coho salmon on Kodiak Island, Alaska<br />
March 20: Tim Jacklin<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Conservation Officer (Midlands) for the Wild Trout Trust,<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Information on the work the Wild Trout Trust are doing in DerbyshireBaslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-1354223118462137382018-06-15T12:16:00.000+01:002018-06-15T12:16:18.836+01:001st Visit of the season!Today has been a long time coming following my triple heart bypass in March! Don kindly offered to accompany me on this visit as I felt a bit nervous about wading however I needn't have been as it was a "doddle"!<br />
I met Don down at the bottom hut around 12 and after a brief chat and one of Mr Hancock's pork pies we set off. We started in the pool below the bend and it felt strange to be out for me first trip with the season almost half way through. There were still plenty of mayfly spinners about with the odd dun hatching but unfortunately rises were quite absent possibly due to the bright sun. As I worked my way upstream it felt good to be on the river and suddenly I was into a fish, a rainbow of about 1½lb to a mayfly nymph. Don was also taking fish to the dry and nymph.<br />
Matthew arrived and after a long chat about the river, crayfish, insects etc. we made our way down to the next pool down. The small run just above usually produces some lovely small wild browns but not this time babe due to the river being exceptionally low. I put Don in the run-in and he was soon into fish, myself I struggled to get a knock so switched to a Phil White 1-up-1-down mayfly dun, this mayfly is my go to fly when the mayfly are about, I do not fish with any other dun pattern. Soon I was into a lovely brown soon followed by a second. Mayflies were everywhere together with plenty of small dance flies, some sedges, blue winged olives and yellow may duns. I have still to see a fish take one of the latter!<br />
Derek came up about 4'ish but had completely missed us so was further downstream any it was a good time to break for a cup of tea. We spent a good hour chatting the 3 of us before Derek departed. Don and I went down to Max's bench pool but there was someone in there so we got in above and proceeded upstream. This is Derek's favourite pool too and it was not long before we started to connect with fish using the mayfly dun. We both had some lovely wild browns topped off by some in the 2-3lb class with spade like tails. We made our way back to the pool below the hut arriving around 8 to a mass of mayfly, two, yellow may dun plus unrecognised (so far) spinners, it was a magnificent sight. We spent the last couple of hours covering rising fish with the PW's mayfly dun which also does a good representation of a spinner taking fish a losing some!<br />
We ended around 2145 Don taking well in the teens of fish, me finishing with 9 landed. It was good to get back on the river again and many thanks to Don for his support.<br />
Roll on my next visit!Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-29537754061866943752018-04-02T15:22:00.002+01:002018-04-02T15:22:43.668+01:00A Wet and Cold Start!April 1st was very wet and the Derwent was well up although I suspect that there may have been one or two people out fishing especially if they had travelled a distance as the river was only carrying a small amount of colour. April 2nd dawned with snow and the Derwent was even higher and very coloured so nothing down for today.<br />
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As for my season, well, it will be a while before I get out following my triple heart bypass just over 2 weeks ago! I am hoping that by the end of May I will be fit enough to wet a line in the meantime all my piscatorial DVDs have been viewed again and numerous books re-read. I am looking forward to those balmy evenings when I can get my new bamboo rod out.<br />
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I have cleared out all my fly boxes of the flies where hackles are a bit awry or I just don't like the look of them also those flies which you tie and never use. So at least I will have plenty of time to replenish my stocks.<br />
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Here is hoping everyone has a productive and enjoyable season.Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-57642996084349838882018-02-26T13:50:00.003+00:002018-02-26T13:50:27.514+00:00Friday 23rd FebruaryToday was an odd day, we were eagerly awaiting the birth of our second grandchild so plans for a reunion of work colleagues was cancelled so to appease me Lynn suggested I go fishing. Needless to say I did not need prompting twice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A raw day looking upstream from the cattle drink</td></tr>
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It was a bitterly cold day although the sun was out and I knew that 2 hours would do me before I started to lose the feeling in my feet. I decided to go above the works again and get in at the cattle drink. The river was still up by about 8" and was running reasonably clear with just that peaty tinge. Naturally there was nothing hatching not even any midges so it was on with a fox squirrel nymph with a tungsten bead to get it down. I worked my way up but only landed an out of season brown which whilst it was quite thin was otherwise in exceptional condition with a large spade of a tail, in a few months time it will be in even better condition. Needless to say no grayling came to hand, maybe the higher than average water had moved them. By the time I reached the top of the pool I was quite chilled so a walk back to the cattle drink and a 5 minute warm was enough to get the feeling back in my feet. I got in again but went downstream for about 10 yards and started again but this time with a pink shrimp. After a couple of casts a lovely grayling was landed soon followed by a second from practically the same spot, could this be a shoal? Again after a few more casts a grayling was dropped off however immediately after two more were landed successfully. By the time I had got level with the entry point I had another out of season trout and the breeze had got up and I was cold so although I could have carried on I called it a day with four grayling landed in a couple of hours, a good day. Only a few days left of the season now when it will be closed for March then open on 1st April.Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47973217949689199.post-3433896686255608802018-01-16T11:46:00.000+00:002018-01-16T11:48:05.459+00:001st outing of 2018!A happy new year to all my fellow bloggers and followers wherever you are, hope 2018 is a good year for you.<br />
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After a difficult few months I decided to wet my line with my new bamboo rod which I "picked up" from a reputable emporium in Bakewell (Bakewell Flyfishing Shop). This is a 7'10" 5 weight and is built on a Paul Young taper which is and I quote "possibly the best taper in the world" but please don't rip into me with comments! It is from the same stable as my other 1, John French, a man who picked up all the Marcus Warwick gear together with a list of all the usual tapers from the various American and English rod makers of the past. A really interesting chap to talk to and very informative.<br />
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Anyway I went above the 1 Arch Bridge in the park which is usually a good spot to pick-up grayling. The Derwent was up a bit but reasonably clear however it was just above freezing or at least it felt like it. I slid down the bank, a good start, stripped some line off and took my fist cast. The rod loaded easily with the DT5 and I was able to make both short casts and also get a fair amount of line out if needed. It was performing great! This really is a different way of fishing with bamboo than graphite however I will still use these for the times when they are necessary. On another day like this I would use my 10' 4wt as this time of the year it is usually slinging heavy nymphs to get down to the grayling. It was hard going with not a bite in sight as I worked my way up to the bottom weir. I decided to call it a day after a couple of hours and had a few last casts where I got in and blow me a small grayling was landed right at the last call.<br />
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So my new rod was christened, looking forward to the new season when it will get a lot of use on those clear balmy evenings when the sedge and spinners are active.Baslowfisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08054387944447368004noreply@blogger.com0