Part 2 Sunday Afternoon

Sunday afternoon was even warmer than yesterday so not wanting to waste it I again went down to the works where Derek had already arrived. Today I was determined to try and crack the head and tailing fish. I had forgotten to take my box with all my micro flies in yesterday so made a point of taking it today. I started off with a small black spider in the willow pool and covered a few fish to no avail. The river was extremely low and clear and I could spot several trout under the first tree.they were at it again head and tail rises to something minute. Yesterday there were small black flies and greenfly about so I put on size 26 greenfly and on the first pass a fish took but the hook failed to secure. This happened again on the next rise so a tip given to me is to slightly offset the bend which I did. This had the desired effect and the next rise resulted in a hookup and a brown around 2lb was landed, a real beauty. Even with the disturbance the fish caused fish continued to rise. After covering several others the cast eventually dropped spot on and drifted drag free over another brown which took and was subsequently landed. I decided to switch to the same size black smut. This also eventually managed to hookup a couple more stunning browns when I noticed a good sedge riding the current above me, this was snaffled by a fish so on went a brown sedge and was floated over where the fish showed and first time up he came and had it. This was my best brown of the season as he was pushing 2.5 lbs a gem. Several other fish rose to the sedge but either missed it or I was too eager as I could see the fish coming for the sedge. Another two fish came to the sedge before one of the cows in the field got through the fencing and joined me in the pool, game over! I wandered up to the sycamore to meet up with Derek who had taken a few fish. Fish had slowed and only the odd fish was showing. I persevered with the sedge and took another brown as Derek was landing a cracking rainbow which only just fitted in his net. We called it a day around 5.30 as the temperature started to drop and the fish with it, a good afternoon all round and not many left as the season finishes a week on Tuesday.

A good afternoon but very autumnal

I arranged to meet Derek at the works around 1.45, it was certainly autumnal today. It had started of quite misty but the sun had burnt it off earlier on how ever now it had cloud over. Derek went up to the sycamore and I went down to the willow pool. Fish were head and tailing as there were numerous tiny insects about, nothing definite. I had put a small black beetle on on Derek's recommendation. The first couple of fish covered appeared to take the fly but whether they had taken some thing close or I struck to soon but there was no hookup. It had been quite a few weeks since my last trip so I was probably a bit too keen. Eventually I hooked up with a lovely brown in tip top condition. I decided to swap  to a black gnat as I spotted a few small black flies, this still did not produce the result so again changed to a griffiths gnat which immediately took another brown. I think this was a flook  as nothing else showed any interest. Fish stopped rising and John had come down to make a cuppa so it was time for a quick break.  At the restart fish had started to head and tail again so I decided on a small black buzzer below an indicator, I covered a fish and it was immediately taken and another brown was landed. A second and third soon followed so I stuck with this setup. The temperature was dropping but it had not Put the fish down yet. A couple more browns came to the same setup and soon the activity stopped so I called it a day for 7 browns as I had started to shiver and couldn't stop. When I got back to the car I had  to sit there with the heater going full blast for 10 minutes! Derek had faired slightly better getting 8 fish from the sycamore up so all in all a good afternoon.

Thursday 14th August

I finished work early and wenty down to the one arch bridge. I decided to fish below. Following he recent rains I suspected the river would be carrying some colour so had on a fox squirel nymph. I got into the bottom of pool below the bridge, this is only the 2nd time I have been down here in all the years I have fished on Chatsworth so was unsure of the river bed. I cast down and across into the fast run into the lower pool and soon landed a rainbow this was followed by a brown from the run on the far side. I then made my way into the pool above but the river bed was full of football sized boulders which made wading difficult. I only managed about 15 yrds before chickening out and decided to go above the bridge. Next time I must take my guide, Derek, with me as he knows this river like the back of his hand. I went up to the usual pool and there were several fish showing so on went a caddis as there were plenty around. After a couple of missed takes I then landed a lovely brown followed quickly by a second. My caddis was now a bit worse for wear being tied from cdc so I switched to an elk hair caddis and again was taken by a rainbow around 3lb which took a while to subdue. by now I could see the rain approaching down the valley and thebreeze increased which put the fish down so I switched back to an FSN and took a couple more browns and rainbow finishing around 7 with an 8 fish total. The rain started so I called it a day.

Recent Evenings

First off there has been a lack of photos on my blog recently as my camera has suffered a major malfunction and it currently resides with nikon to get a quote. A local dealer suggested that it probably isn't worth mending as the value is less than a hundred quid! This on a camera that cost over £800 6 years ago. Anyway whine over and back to fishing!

Sunday 20th July

Again I went into Chatsworth Park above the 1 arch bridge. It had been a glorious day and some trippers were still enjoying the evening and still in the river by the weir. I started in my usual pool as there were already fish showing and I had on my grey-olive size 16 klink style fly. There was loads of different fly about from newly hatched duns to sedge, midge and spinners. I managed to trap a couple of sedge and they were amber bodied and grey bodied, the duns were similar to my fly with greyish olive bodies. After a couple of casts I struck into a fish but immediately got broke. This has happened a lot lately, I must be too keen to land them! I have started to use a different mono called Preston innovations which is a coated mono but I think it may be lacking the stretch of normal mono, I may go back to the trusted Bayer Perlon. Anyway after remaking my cast with another same fly as before I struck into a brown which had a long range release, was it going to be one of those evenings? Fortunately these mishaps had not put the fish down and they continued to rise and eventually I landed a cracking rainbow around 3lb. This was followed soon after by an even better one which managed to get below me which I had to chase to the bottom of the pool before attempting to net it several times before getting into my net tail first, this fish was well over 3 lb and probably pushing 4, a lovely specimen. Fish continued to come to the same fly before it became knackered so I changed to a sedge to see if that also worked and it did, this was a sedge tied with those plastic film wings from J Son and they do look convincing. At about 9 the spinners increased in number and the rises were amazing with the fish slurping and poking their noses vertically up, a lovely sight. I finished around 9.45 with a total of 4 rainbows and 6 browns. As I made my way back to the car a herd of roe deer appeared on the opposite bank to take a drink, they had probably been waiting for the crowds to go before thinking it was safe to come down, lovely!

Tuesday 22nd July

This evening I again went down to the willow pool, one of my favourites, I started at the top of the pool this time as a few fish were showing. I had on a brown sedge and after a couple of casts connected with a decent brown. The second missed take resulted in a snagged cast up a tree behind me so back to making up a new cast. A smaller grey sedge was attached as the previous fly was a bit too big on a 14 so a size 16 was used and first cast another lovely brown was landed. There were loads of sedge about as well as spinners and some yellow sallies which the fish seemed to be interested in but I did not have a suitable yellow pattern so will tie some up for next time.I continued to fish as far as I could down the pool covering fish with the sedge but something was wrong as the splashy rises had been replaced by the slow head and tail rise, what were they taking? A closer look in the surface revealed "spinners" so on went the rusty spinner and after losing 2 under the tress were the fish were rising I managed to get a couple of casts spot on and finished with another couple of browns.

Wednesday 23rd July

I had arranged to meet Derek down by the gulley and fish the pool together. This evening was totally different in this pool as there was not much fly about and consequently not much rising. Derek had already started when I got down and was by the deer boom but had not had so much as a touch. I worked up the pool and took a small wild brownie of about 9". Even in the fast water at the top of the pool where there is usually a fish or 2 showing nothing stirred so I went up to the willow pool. Derek soon joined me and he had fared worse not getting anything. I started at the bottom and soon got into a good rainbow which was duly landed on a brown sedge. This was quickly followed by a another brown to the same sedge. There were loads of sedge about skimming the surface and the trout seemed to be targeting them well. Also my other friend a water vole was busy on the opposite bank looking for his evening meal. Each time I fish this pool he is there scurrying about, lovely. I finished the evening after losing more flies to the bushes with 6 fish in total.

Tuesday 29th July

It was rather cloudy this evening and not as warm as it has been. Consequently down at the willow pool (again!!!) there wasn't much moving. I had on a sedge but there were very few about and after 15 minutes without so much as a sniff I switched to my grey olive parachute. A fish rose near the tress on the opposite bank and again I snagged the tree to lose my fly so had to make up another cast again with a similar fly. The fact I had fluffed my previous cast had not put the fish down and it rose sporadically, I covered it several times and eventually he came up and I struck into a good rainbow which led me a merry dance boring deep, at first I thought it was a brown as rainbows are usually more acrobatic! Fish were definitely awol tonight and only the odd one here and there rose needless to say as each one rose I covered them several times before the cast looked good and resulted in a solid take. A couple came adrift but I managed a further couple of browns. As the river was extremely low I decided to try and wade up the whole pool as usually it gets right over the plimsoll line and you have to retreat and get in at the top. Now however as I managed to just skirt past the alder without shipping water and continued to fish the pool right up to the top. By now the odd spinner was about and the fish that were rising were head and tailing so on went my rusty spinner and I took a few more browns to finish the evening with 6 fish. I finished by 9 as the sky looked threatening and the temperature had dropped so I took that as a sign to call it a day.

Tuesday 5th August

Another trip to the willow pool as it was a decent evening, lots of sedge, duns, spinners and caenis greeted me. The fish seemed interested too. I started with a sedge and covered numerous fish all for them to ignore my offering. Hmmm what were they taking, a closer look was needed. I managed to get below some of the fish and used my seine net to see what was in the film and hey presto very small pale duns, caenis! On went a size 22 caenis parachute and second cast a brown took. This was a lovely marked trout and was quickly returned. A second followed which was totally different in it's marking but a lovely trout too. I stayed at the bottom half of the pool and worked my way up slowly and connected with something larger which bored deep and broke me, I hate it when that happens, I just hope the fish gets rid of the barbless hook easily. Another cast was quickly made with the same caenis imitation and soon I was into a rainbow around 2lb which again could have been a wild one as it had the tell-tale white edges to its lower fins. Then something happened and the fish appeared to switch to the spent spinners as my fly was ignored numerous times so I switched to my rusty spinner and yes they were on them and I took another 3 browns to it. The other highlight of the evening was seeing a vibrant blue kingfisher come wizzing down the pool on his way home, stunning! I finished around 9.30 as the light was leaving the sky, the nights are beginning to draw in already, a horrible thought.

Camera Update - Nikon want £233 to fix it! Told them not bother I think I will go back to Canon and see what they have on the market maybe an EOS70D or EOS6D if I'm feeling flush (Ha). So if anyone needs a f****d up D80 body for spares then drop me a line, lol.

Sunday - A quick hour and Tuesday another hour too!

On Sunday I decided to have the last hour over the road below Baslow old bridge. Unfortunately there wasn't much fly life about so I started with my grey olive parachute which is always a good searching fly. The run along the opposite bank always produces a fish or two and this was no exception as a lovely small brown around 8" took, wild as they come! I noticed another small rise in the run in to the pool and covered it a couple of times before I got the cast spot on and another brown came to hand this time around the pound and a half. I persisted in this pool as time was running out and just as it was getting dark some spinners started dropping so,on with the rusty spinner and immediately a rainbow was landed. 2 further browns were landed before I called time around 1015.

On Tuesday again I decided to have the last hour and a bit but this time down at the willow pool. This time I started at the head of the pool where several fish were head and tailing. It was a glorious evening, warm with the sun about to dip behind the trees, lots of various fly about, spinners, Duns sedges and more! Again I had tackled up with a grey olive parachute and was soon into a decent brown followed swiftly by a second before losing my fly in a tree. As the top of the pool is "protected" by trees on the opposite bank under which the trout rise necessitating a sideways cast. I decided to put on a sedge and again a rainbow was taken. The fish continued to rise but getting them to take was not as simple as there was something they were taking which I could not make out. A few Duns were spotted which went through the head of the pool before being snaffled by the trout but I was not convinced that was the target. I changed to a rusty spinner and immediately was taken by another brown followed closely by a second rainbow which I would put money on being a wild one as it only about 6-8 inches and had the tell tale white tips to its fins. I worked my way down covering several fish but only landed another 2 browns, 6 fish in little over an hour and a half was not a bad evenings work!

Friday July 11th - A Lovely Evening

I had planned to go fishing each evening this week but never made it so was determined that I would go this evening. I went down into the park below the bottom weir. The sun was shining nobody was around and fish were rising everywhere, heaven! I had my usual grey olive klink and covering the second fish it was a lovely head and tail rise and I struck into a brown which was duly landed. The next rise was a cracking rainbow around 3lb again a lovely head and tail rise. Fish came thick and fast mainly browns and I soon had a tally of 8 fish. All to the grey olive which was now looking decidedly knackered. There were loads of sedge about as well as duns and spinners so I switched to a sedge and again started picking up fish. I lost the fly to another large rainbow so another sedge was put on and again fish started to take it again. I could not go wrong it was one of those evenings when everything comes together. I had the river and the park to myself, my own private stretch. Fish continued to rise to around 9pm when the sun dipped behind the hill and the temperature dropped. Only the odd fish rose from then and I finished with a second grayling taking my tally to 2 grayling, 2 rainbows and 12 browns for a joyful couple of hours.

Monday Evening

I decided to have the last couple of hours this evening so just went to the willow pool (again I hear you say!). It was a decent clear evening with the sun just setting behind the hills, lovely. I had previously spoken to Derek who said there were lots of sedge about so I had tackled up,with a brown sedge size 16. I started at the bottom and missed the first couple of fish but hooked into a lovely brown which I would put money on being as wild as they come. I covered a few more but they were definitely not on the sedge so time for a rethink. There were also some Duns around and I managed to trap I in my net, it was a greyish colour so on went my grey-olive klink. On the second pass over a fish a lovely head and tail rise took the fly and I struck into what I thought was another brown but turned out to be a cracking wild rainbow around 1 1/2lb, full of spots right along its flank and fin perfect, it did not jump,about like other rainbows but bored deep. Another fish showed midstream and I placed my fly in the ring of the rise and up he came again and took, blimey I love this game when it comes together like this, fishing to rising fish and getting a take to targeted fish! Fish were showing at the head of the pool and so I got out and crept in at the head, fish were showing underneath the trees on the far side and by now there were plenty of spinners about,I still had on my klink and a fish took which was landed, another brown. At this point I decided on a rusty spinner for a change and although I covered several fish only 1 took the fly and was landed, a lovely spotted brown. It came the time when the switch was thrown around 9.30 and the temperature dropped, the fly disappeared and only the odd fish showed so I called it a day, 5 fish in a couple of hours after a sh!t day at work made it a good evening.

June Forays

9th June
As I worked from home today I decided that I would get onto the river around 5. There was a very heavy shower in the afternoon and I was a bit dubious as to the state of the river. In the end I went down to the works but Rymans brook was well up, filthy dirty and thundering through so it wasn't looking too good. I went down to the willow pool but unfortunately it was far too dirty. Above the brook the river didn't, look too bad so I went above the sycamore. Visibility was ok to knee depth but as I was there I decide to give it half an hour. After a few fruitless searches I noticed a rise below some trees and after a pass or two the fish took my grey-olive parachute and a decent brown was landed. There then followed a series of rises under the same tree, a couple of rash strikes before a rainbow was also landed.

15th June
Today my son Adam came fishing too. The river was running clear and we started down by the willow pool, Adam got in at the bottom of the pool and immediately missed a good fish. He persevered and was rewarded with a good rainbow. I started at the pool head and got a brown. Both fish taken of mayfly as a few were still hatching. Not much was rising so we decided to go down to the deer boom. Adam went down to Bar brook where a few fish were showing, he managed to land a couple more browns to the mayfly. I rose and landed a few browns again to the mayfly before going down below Adam, where I fished from the high bank which enabled me to cover some rises on the far bank with the mayfly again landing a rainbow and a few more browns. We ended the day with Adam getting 3 browns and me 7 browns and a rainbow.

18th June
This evening was a lesson in watching the drag! Again I went down to the willow pool for the last couple of hours and started at the tail of the pool. I covered a couple of fish with my grey-olive parachute but it was refused. I left them and continued up the pool where another fish was rising, I was now below the fish whereas before I was more square on to the fish, the fish came up after a couple of passes, you know when you get the cast right as it just looks right. I continued as far as I could get before the pool gets too deep and took another brown. As I was retracing my steps I noticed the fish I had previously covered were still rising, again I covered them from a square position but failed again as I noticed drag. I could not make the cast without drag so moved lower down so I was casting more up an across and blow me the first cast the fish took my fly and a good brown was landed again I just felt the cast was right! Even after the fish was landed a second fish was still rising so another couple of casts later again when I felt it all come together and the fish took and was subsequently landed, another lovely brown. This must have put the fish down as rises ceased so I called it a day after taking 4 fish and learning a lesson in drag free presentation!

Another Hard Afternoon

Today I took another half days hol as I was taking a guest fishing. We went down to the lunch hut around 2, I wasn't expecting much as it was a bright sunny day. Fish were not rising much so Max's bench pool beckoned were there is a small amount of tree cover afforded some protection for the fish. There was a reasonable hatch of mayfly but also a smattering of yellow sallies, olives and yellow May Duns. We covered a couple of fish with the mayfly but nothing it took a few more before we managed to get a positive rise and hookup and landed a lovely wild brownie. Soon another rise which was covered produced another brownie, it was hard going. I left Stan to continue up the pool whilst I went on to the next one which is that bit deeper and required careful footing. I struggled to get anything to rise only getting an out so season grayling to take my mayfly. Even switching to a fox squirrel nymph did not produce anything. We then went to the head of the pool and spent a while there but again not much was showing I had a fox squirrel on and took 1 last brown before we called it day.

Monday

I decided to take half a days hol from work so I could go fishing. I went back down to Beeley this afternoon around 3 hoping the mayfly would be hatching.! I started off in the pool above the hut but there wasn't much happening only the odd mayfly and nothing showing any interest. I started off right at the edge and on only the 2nd casts landed a reasonable rainbow just as the keeper appeared. We spent a while chatting before I continued but failed to rise anything else. I decided to go down to the pool above Max's bench where I attempted to fish on Saturday but due to the height of the river was unable to make much progress however today the river was probably down by around 4-6 inches which made the rest of the pool fishable. By now there was a good hatch coming off and several fish were showing now. I decided only to fish to rising fish and started to take several browns as I made my way up, all to the usual 1-up-1- down mayfly. I got as far as I could before my waders were at the limit on the plimsol line where I noticed a couple of fish head and tailing,not taking mayflies but something else but what? I covered them with various flies before going back to the mayfly dun eventually 1 of them took it but in my exuberance I struck too hard and left the fly in the fish,I hate doing that. There were still fish rising so I continued covering them but they were in a difficult position and no matter how many times I fluffed the cast the fish continued to rise. I managed to hook another and a lovely rainbow around 3lb was landed. The remaining fish continued to rise but they had got wise to the artificial. Around 6 the temperature dropped and most of the mayfly disappeared and only the occasional fish showed. I decided to call it a day after landing 2 rainbows and about 8 browns so not a bad afternoon.

A Hard Afternoon and Sorry Bill!

I decided to have a couple of hours at the willow pool. It was a sunny day, too sunny really though. I arrived to find 5 cars in the car park so it was going to busy. Luckily though nobody was in the pool so I started at the bottom. A few mayfly were showing but the fish were conspicuous by their absence, what a difference a day makes! Only the odd fish was showing so I was not really fishing to rising fish which is not ideal. I did hook up with a fish but it soon got off. I worked my up the pool but got nothing. I decided to go down to Bar Brook and met up with Bill at the deer boom. We spent time chatting but all the time scanning the water for risers. Nothing much was showing, the keeper appeared and then we both noticed a fish patrolling up between the weed beds,we told Bill but he could not see it. The fish was definitely on the prowl so eventually Bill decided to have ago but missed the tree behind him which grabbed his fly. I asked him if he wanted me to catch it for him, jokingly of course but give him his due he did say ok! I cast from high up on the bank and my fly landed about a yard in front of it and blow me he came up for it! This is we're the apology is required. I managed to land a rainbow around 2.5lbs, the first of the day. I then went down to bar brook and again there was not much happening but another brown came to the net. I worked my way back to the deer boom but nothing came to hand. A last look down at the gully and another brown came in. I decided that as it was too sunny and the fish weren't playing I called it a day.

Mayfly Hatching This Afternoon

I went down to Beeley this afternoon around 4 pm as it was a reasonably warm afternoon so hopefully the mayfly would be hatching. A fisherman who was just coming away said that some had been hatching but the fish did not seem to be on them. I went down to Max's bench pool and there were mayflies hatching and some we're being taken! I put on my 1-up-1-down dun and soon had my 1st brown,a good start. Flies were now coming off thick and fast and those which did not get away quickly we're snaffled by the trout and grayling. I worked my way up the pool taking several browns and a  decent grayling. I decided to try those mayflies which I had tied as experiments to see if they would work.this 1st being a hatching mayfly tied on a size 12 partridge klinkhammer hook, several fish had a go and they were on momentarily but would not stay attached. I gave up in the end as the 4th or 5th fish came adrift, hook problem? Anyway the pattern worked so I may tie some up on different hooks. I went back to the previous dun and then started picking up more browns as I went up the next pool. The wind picked up a bit which appeared to put off the mayflies. I decided to go back to the pool by the luncheon hut by now it was around 6 and the hatch had stopped by now. Needless to say I got another brown then moved up again. A fish was rising in a food lane and I covered it a couple of times but drag was a problem until I got the cast spot on and up he came a lovely rainbow pushing 2.5lbs. Another fish took 1 of the final stragglers and again it succumbed to my dun! It was time to call it a day. As I was wading out I noticed some mayfly spinners around so the evening looked promising but not for me I had had my fill finishing with around 9 fish.

Sunday 18th May - 1st Evening Session

After a really warm and lovely weekend I had arranged to meet Derek by the works to fish the evening, the first time this season. We met around 6.30 and I went downstream to the willow pool and Derek went up to the sycamore. I wasn't sure what would be about so had a parachute adams on as a general imitator. I got in at the bottom of the pool which was still a few inches higher than normal due to the weeks rain but running clear as a bell. A fish rose in the usual place under that tree on the far side, I covered it but it didn't show any interest in my fly. There were plenty of sedges, some large spinners, possibly olive uprights (or yellow uprights as the spinner is known) plus some small gnats. Considering the flylife about there wasn't much action on the surface so it was a case of speculative casting in likely runs. This did result in a nice brown around the pound and a half but nothing else. I suppose this was early days (evenings!) for the fish to get used to coming out to play at this time. Anyway after spending longer than I should I went upstream to see how Derek was getting on and guess what he was having a worse time than me! I followed him up the sycamore but noticed a small head and tail rise which I covered still with the adams and bang he had it, momentarily shall we say. I covered a few more of the head and tail rises but nothing even switching to a sedge, rusty spinner and a greyolive parachute. So I brought out my size 20 caenis type fly. This was immediately taken and I landed another lovely wild brown. This continued with several more browns and a rainbow. Derek meanwhile was struggling for once, now those of you who have followed this blog will know this vary rarely happens, he is a good angler indeed. I followed him up the pool but the rises petered out the further I got up so I made my way back to were there were still some fish showing those slow head and tail rises, again I picked up a few more browns on the caenis type parachute before the temperature dropped around 9 which put the fish down and the host of flies disappeared. I ended with 7 browns and 1 rainbow, a lovely start and hopefully many more to come!

Bank Holiday Bonanza!

On Bank Holiday Monday I decided to have a few hours in the afternoon making plans to meet Derek below the works. I arrived a round 1, there were sunny spells and the temperature was ok. I went down to the willow pool for the 1st time this season and noticed that there has been a bit of work done during the winter. It is now easier to get into the middle of the pool as it was difficult to fish the whole pool previously as it got too deep wading up from the bottom or down from the top but now access to the middle bit due to some tress being felled has made it better. Anyway I noticed that there were some hawthorn flies about around the area so put on an imitation, when I got into the pool there was also a massive hatch of black gnats about and plenty of fish rising to them too. I covered a few with the hawthorn and eventually a lovely wild brown of about 10" took it which was landed, a good start. I covered several more fish but secretly I thought they were on the gnat so changed to a black parachute on a size 16, immediately this was taken by another brown, possibly a stocked one this time but in exception condition, no worn fins or anything but different spots to the first. I continued up the pool and landed a lovely rainbow after losing a couple, they were definitely on the gnats! I had to retreat to get out at the usual spot before getting in where the work had been done, this has opened up the middle of the polo beautifully! I covered a few more rises and managed a couple more browns before the cold got to me, I had forgotten to put my fleece lined trousers on in my haste to get out and was now paying for it by shivering like a leaf! I thought a coffee would go down great but blow me the gas had run out in the hut, hey ho!
John the backup keeper appeared and was about to join me when he had a call about poachers by the bottom weir so had to beat a retreat to help out. It never ceases to amaze me these people try it on when the park is busy with people. It subsequently transpired after speaking to Matthew later that the B****** had killed a rainbow around 4lbs landed on a handline too so hopefully he may have some deep cuts on his fingers.
By now it was around 4 and the rises had stopped as the temperature had dropped and I couldn't,t stop myself from shivering so walked upriver to see what Derek was up to. He was in at the sycamore pool and was working his way up so I just fished from the bank which is not ideal as it severely limits you. Fish had started to rise again by around 4.30 so my black gnat remained on as there were still some about. I lost a couple of good fish before landing another 3 browns and a rainbow. Derek was doing rather better than me with his hawthorn even though it only had 1 leg by now after landing around 15 fish on it and also another bucket full from the Wye earlier in the week on the same fly! He certainly gets his money worth from his flies.
We both finished around 5.30 just before it started to rain after having a rather enjoyable afternoon me finishing with 8-9 fish. It won't be long now before we can get out in the evenings, looking forward to them.

Yesterday With a Couple of Friends

As I have a week off this week with my good lady, I was let off the leash yesterday afternoon and had arranged to meet Derek down by the cricket pitch in the park. Bill was also there when I got there around 2, it was a bit cloudy and dull and not as warm as the previous day. They were both already teasing the trout and that's not a euphemism! I spent the first half hour or so chatting with them before making a start where Bar Brook enters the Derwent. Bill was also there so we fished together where Bill took this lovely brown.

A rise a bit further up towards the brook and I covered it with my Nana's fly and first cast a rainbow around 3lb took which took a while to get in. Bill also took another brown before I decided to work my way up towards the deer boom. I picked up this brown to a hawthorn fly and then a grayling before getting to the boom.

 



A few fish were head and tailing but not consistently. Another fish was covered wit the hawthorn and was taken which was another good rainbow but this came adrift and
on checking the hook it had sheared. I replaced it with another hawthorn and soon had a take which was another nice rainbow around 3lb, the twin of the first.

We finished around 4.30 all getting a reasonable few fish for a couple of hours, I think the drop in temperature from the previous day had kept the fly life away as there was nothing definite hatching just the occasional hawthorn, olive and sedge. Something tiny was also about but could say what maybe just smuts. all in all a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Easter Bank Holiday Monday

I decided on the sycamore pool today and got there around 2. A couple of fisherman were just departing so that left upstream to me! It was a warm afternoon with a bit of cloud, the river was crystal clear as well. I was determined to stick to the dry today so started off with a grannom emerger I found in one of last year's Trout and Salmon magazines. I started off where the brook enters the river below the works where a few fish were rising consistently. I covered them and had a few half hearted knocks but nothing definite so decided to move up to the sycamore. I got in at the usual spot where fish were also rising consistently too. The emerger didn't produce anything so I switched to a LDO and on about the 2nd cast struck into a lovely brown which fought well for its size.

 

 

I rose a couple more fish but in my eagerness struck too soon. I always do this in the early season until I convince myself to "RELAX" and take it easy! Needless to say the next rise I waited and struck into a lovely rainbow around 2lb which also went all over the pool before resting in my net. As I worked my up the pool the fish weren't really showing much interest now in my LDO so I switched to a smaller olive, one tied with the dyed stripped peacock quill. These really do produce a good looking fly. I picked these up at the flyfair where Niklas Dahlin was tying some exquisite flies using these quills.  Well the first couple of fish covered took the fly but I still struck too soon again and just felt them on then off, for goodness sake (or words to that effect!). I worked my up to the head of the pool but nothing else so I went back to where I had got in and in a cast or 2 bang! A cracking rainbow pushing 3lb (below) which took ages to land, I was determined this was not going to get away. It was now around 4 and the temperature dropped and only the odd fish was now showing and after losing another brown and then cracking off my fly I thought that was a sign to pack up just as it started to rain. 3 fish not great but not bad for a couple of hours.



 

A Miserable Day in Derbyshire (weatherwise)

It didn't dawn too good here today, rain and a good breeze. A break around 1030 convinced me to have a go so I went into Chatsworth Park. I started by the willow stump and as there was no hatch decided on my usual fsn heavily leaded to get it down. Earlier I had spoken to Derek who went yesterday and did well but had to use heavy nymphs so ditto for me. After about 10 minutes my line stopped and I struck into an excellent rainbow around 3lb which led me a merry dance jumping numerous times. Fortunately I managed to ease myself out to shallower water and gave chase. Eventually it came close enough to net but I missed it and off it sped again but this time it threw the hook, a near miss! I then went down to Mary's Bower and noticed a rise but it was a one off, I was still on my fsn and soon landed a small wild brownie around 1lb. The wind was increasing now so I went back up to the stump and got a grayling before moving to the cricket pitch pool. Her I moved through pretty quickly as really if it had been later in the season I probably wouldn't have gone fishing today anyway another brown landed in the net so all in all not a bad couple of hours and some of that cabin fever was dispersed.

1st Wetting of the Line

As I was desperate to have a cast I decided to go for an hour after work today. Normally when the weather is like it has been I would not bother but with cabin fever etc. you have to take a chance. It was quite chilly and the mist was descending as I nipped over the road to below Baslow Old Bridge around 1615. Even so I noticed a couple of rises and trapped a olive dun, these were just one offs. The river is currently very clear and running an inch or two above normal. I made a few casts in the pool below the bridge but I could tell that really there much down for me! After a fruitless few mins ?I changed to my usual fox squirrel nymph  and landed a rainbow stockie around the pound mark. That was really it I called it a day after about 40 mins as it was really not worth fishing as it was way too late for this time of the year so I toddled off home where my daughter had arrived with our new granddaughter Sofia, God it's great being a Grandpa!