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!