I made it on to the Wellow Brook today. The water was high and with some colour but looked very inviting. A proper April scene. I was introducing Vince Brandon to the river too, so the aim was to get him a few fish. Whilst several flies hatched, there seemed to be little interest in them so opening tactics were to use heavy nymphs, brassies and cased-caddis patterns.

The water was high but nicely coloured:


Fishing was slow to start, but short line line nymphing found a few takes for Vince.

I eventually managed a fish on a brassie, fished duo style under a Hi-Vis Balloon caddis.

We worked our way up the stream fishing each likely looking run, bouncing the heavier flies through the deep pools. The extra water and colour certainly meant that the Czech nymphing style helped locate the fish, whilst allowing for a decent presentation.

Vince, using the tree for support, reaches with the short-line nymph:


Olives were fluttering off regularly by half past twelve and eventually we found some rising fish - some of the takes being very fast. A change to a parachute emerger found two more fish to the hand.

A change to an emerger re-fuelled our hope of a fish or two:


With a 6'6" rod and fast water, even a small fish gives a good account of itself:


A beautiful wild brownie landed:


As we neared the end of the middle beat and approached the road bridge, Vince adopted the short line nymph again and after bumping a couple of fish, soon adjusted his strike helping him to hook two fish in quick succession.

Vince works up the run:


The short-lined nymph gave excellent control in the fast, deep water:


Success! Perseverance with the deeply presented nymph gave a hook up to a decent wild brown - well done Vince!:


With perhaps a dozen hook-ups between us, a good opening session under tricky but inviting conditions.

~Dave