Mid-October - surely that means crisper, colder mornings and the anticipation of more rain fall helping to return to more healthy river levels? I managed to get to the river - more in search of grayling than with an aim to finish my trout season. Armed with the longer rod and couple of nymphs, my gut feeling was one that searching the deeper gutters and runs could provide some good sport, despite the desperately low levels.

However, whilst peering into the first pool, my attention was turned to a rising fish in the next which shattered the surface. No need to wait too long before it showed itself again, followed by another good rise in the tail. With the sun directly behind me, the only way was to creep slowly into position, using the higher bank to avoid casting a shadow. Off came the nymphs and tied on was a foam beetle with pink sighter. Casting over the shoulder I plinked the fly into the tail and it was savaged immediately. The rod's bend said it all, but all went quiet as the hook hold failed. Was that it, or would that first fish further up the pool oblige? After seeing the fish show again, an accurate, slack line cast was needed to land the fly in the small foam line. Shortly after, a beautiful, sizeable brown trout lay in the net:



Another fish followed; my 2011 trout season had ended on a high. Now where are those cold snaps and grayling flies?

~Dave