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!