Derwent Prospects

Its the eve of the start of the new trout season for the Chatsworth Fishery and it's not looking too good. The Derwent is well up and very coloured with rain forecast for tomorrow and most of the weekend. I was hoping to get out on Sunday or Monday but it looks doubtful, will keep my fingers crossed!
Some guys on my bloglist have already been out, especially on the Dove, which I hold dear as it was the river I started my river brown trout fishing in earnest when I moved over from Southport. The blogs are well worth looking at if you have not already done so.
So it looks like another few hours at my tying desk knocking up some more duns and filling up my mayfly box too, mustn't forget them!  Will post once been out.

For my Valentines Day treat I went down to the Derwent to Mary's Bower and worked my way up. On the way down noticed a lot of bank damage due to the recent floods. This poplar tree will soon be in the river!

Tried one of those 'Thingymobobs' as an indicator, not bad but just feels like using a bubble float. Especially when its gets attacked by trout.

Worked my up past what is left of the stump pool but nothing until reached the top of the next pool where I managed to land 2 decent grayling.

Got out at the top and walked up to have a natter to Derek who was fishing up from the cricket pitch. He had had a few as well. This gave me time to thaw out my feet. Its always my feet that get cold first, my body and legs were fine, whats the answer? By now it was past 3 so decided to fish the cricket pitch up for the last 20 minutes before calling it a day. Landed another grayling making 3 for the day, not bad considering it was hard going, all to a dark olive fox squirrel nymph.

Only 2 more weekends left before the season closes for a month.

Just a Few Hours at Last!

Considering the height of the river on Friday it has certainly dropped quick. Looks like there may have been water being let out of Ladybower. It is back to a reasonable level now so went out above the 1 arch bridge for a couple of hours. Went through various bugs and spiders. Dropped my first 2 grayling and it wasn't until my last 20 minutes that 1 managed to actually land 2. Nothing rising and only a few very small flies about. It was good to get out even if it was B. freezing!
The nights are drawing out a bit now, spring is just around the corner, can't wait for the trout season to start.
Going by Mr Pointons blog, it looks like I need a lesson from Mr T. maybe.

Time at the Vice

Didn't bother going fishing over the weekend as both the Derwent and the Wye were well up and coloured.

Spent some time tying up some favourites and a few new ones.

Snipe and purple bead - a new one to try

Partridge and orange bead -a new one to try

Large Dark Olive
size 12 TMC 900BL
Thread olive moser powersilk
Body - brown olive dubbing
Rib - thread
Tail - coq de leon
Wing - Niche Silicon poly yarn dun
Hackle - olive or dun cock




Olive Upright
Size 14
Thread - yellow moser powersilk
Body - grey olive superfine
Rib - thread
Tail - dun cock
Wing - Niche silicon poly yarn dun
Hackle - olive cock

General Olive
Hook TMC 16 206 BL
Thread - Yellow moser powersilk
Body - grey olive superfine
Rib - thread
Wing - Niche silicon poly yarn dun
Hackle - dun cock

These 3 olives all catch for me on the Derwent, hope you try them.

A Few Sedges and Things

Went to the Grayling Society meeting last night at the Devonshire in Baslow where Don Stazicker gave us a chat and slideshow entitled "its not what you fish, its the way that you fish it". As usual with Don, who is exceptionally knowledgeable about all things fly fishing, it was a really enjoyable show. If you get chance to see any of Don's shows or even speak to him take the opportunity, you won't be disappointed.

I have persevered with those B sedge wings and managed to get it to the point of just applying enough heat to burn the wings so they are passable. Anyway I have tied up about a dozen different types including a grannom, brown and black sedges. Here are my efforts, feel free to criticise. Whether they will catch is another matter.

They don't look too bad I suppose. Ok onto the next lot. Think I'll tie some LDOs from the WTT journal from 2008 which had some Oliver Edewards patterns. 1st attempt.

Will post some more "efforts" when I have something presentable!

The Derwent is still up and coloured with all the snow melt which I think will be around for a few more days judging by the depth of the drifts on the tops. Hopefully by the weekend it will be ok. Will put out a report on Friday.

J Son Website

In case anyone wants the website for the Swedish chap who ties these flies here it is:-

www.jsonsweden.com

Getting Better (I think!)

Tied up a few more sedges using the plastic membrane and burner. A grannon and another brown sedge. I don't think they are too bad, are they? Still having problems applying the right amount of heat to get the wing spot on. Will persevere, maybe the grannon needs the hackle triming underneath?

Apologies for the poor quality of the images but haven't got a macro lens and having to use photoshop to blow them up.

I am going to get this right this evening if its the last fly I tie.

Snowy Derwent

This is a similar shot to that in my header but about 6 months apart!

A Few Caddis

I have finally started to use the special winging material I purchased from the Fly Fair. The wings need to be burned so its proving a bit difficult getting the right amount of heat to weld the edges of the wing.

The above photo is a detached body sedge which the guy on the J.Son & Co stand tied on a size 12.

This second shot is my first attempt using the first decent wing I managed to burn. Its very basic but the general impression looks ok. Will have to carry on experimenting with the burner. Hopefully they will get better over the coming days. Will post a shot of the first one which makes it into my fly box!

Happy New Year to all.

No Fishing!

Weather - sleet showers, 4-6" of snow between Baslow and Sheffield over the top bad driving conditions.

Decided to watch my JT Early Season dvd instead and tie a few JT olives, will post photos if they are any good!