In need of rain...

Come on, you can't complain really - everyone loves the warm, sunny weather... However, it's probably better suited to Glastonbury than fishing. The rivers are in need of some water - both to bring the levels up and give the rivers a well-needed flush through. It's times like this when the fish become sluggish and unwilling to move.



Late evening fishing is the only worthwhile option, hoping that Blue Winged Olives put in their usual late-in-the-day appearance.

However, having cancelled my fishing on Saturday due to extreme heat, I must confess I'd like to see just a little rain. A deluge this week and then a warm, muggy weekend would be perfect. Am I asking too much?

Thinking back to last year (such is the beauty of a blog, you can remind yourself instantly of what the fishing was like) Glastonbury weekend was warm but with some substantial rain... perfect: June 25th 2009

~Dave

Ultra Simple Olive Emerger

Hook: Partridge SLD #20
Thread: Sheer 14/0, primrose
Wing: CDC

~Dave

A few more from last weekend:

We found some fish lying at the back of a substantial hatch pool which required long and accurate casts. A few inches from the bank, along a seam of water was the essential position for a take - right in the food lane.

Gustav powering a longer cast to a rising fish:


Some of the fish were small. Not our target, but a healthy sign:


I was also encouraged to see a good number of salmon parr feeding over the gravel.

A fish for me, returned:


Well done Gustav - you fished really well and it was a pleasure to guide you. I very much hope you enjoyed your first visit to a chalkstream.

~Dave.

I fished the Wylye on Sunday, showing a Swedish visitor, Gustav, this gem of a river. We were treated to a short spell of the fish taking Mayfly:

Plenty of spinners amongst the tree tops:

Notice the grey skies towards the evening which resulted in a substantial downpour - unexpected since the weather had been fine, warm and sunny for much of the day.

A Mohican Mayfly, tied by Gustav, produced some positive reactions from the fish:


Throwing a little slack into the cast allowed a longer, drag-free drift (note the large mayfly imitation):


... and eventually a take:


More pictures soon.

~Dave

CDC Olive

A useful, small olive pattern:



Hook: Partridge SLD #18
Thread: Sheer, 14/0 tan
Tail: Coq de Leon
Abdomen: Orvis Spectrablend, light olive
Thorax: Orvis Spectrablend, ginger
Wing: CDC

~Dave

Fishing streamers is a technique I rarely use, however, it has proven successful on a couple of occasions when faced with river-dwelling rainbows:



A lot of fun on a 3 weight!

~Dave

Shucks from recently emerged Large Brook Duns were a good sign of some frenetic hatches yesterday afternoon:




~Dave

I am lucky. With the river a short walk away, when the Mayfly are up, they end up being blown into the garden. Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of watching them flutter through, only to be met by an army of House Martins, Swallows and Sparrows, all making the most of the easy pickings. It beats the television - at least for me it does...

With so many spinners in the air last night, I had expected a good, sustained hatch again today, but the river was pretty quiet with only a few rises. I saw some Large Brook Duns take to the air but there were no mayfly. Rises were sporadic. I hooked a nice brown quickly, rising in a tiny channel of faster water. Nice to make contact.



After making my way through the riffles and runs, I found another fish rising by a semi-submerged, fallen tree. Casting was tight. However, perseverance pays off and I hooked the fish - albeit it a small one - under tricky casting conditions.

Rising fish highlighted here:


Eventually another few rises were met with solid pulls. However it was down to #20 and #22 Loop emergers and the IOBO Humpy to save the day (To be on the River Fly Box soon!)





Tiny these brownies may be, but they pull hard!


Interestingly I found a Brook Lamprey. These smallish lampreys emerge during April & May - judging by this specimen, spawning had recently taken place. A healthy sign:



~Dave