Washed Out

Well, I tried to go fishing today - invited to fish some lovely chalkstreams, but the sudden (although not unexpected rain) put a dampner (literally) on that. I didn't even see the Avon or the Wylye since the roads for me to get there were heavily flooded. Those rivers more prone to flooding had clearly done just that - the River Frome (not the chalk one) was a good 3-4ft up and racing through (and in the fields). It was alot of rain very quickly. So we just aborted the mission with the promise to sort out a new date over Christmas.

Wednesday night was put aside for watching Roy Christie tie at the Fly Dressers Guild (Bristol) meeting. Roy is a great guy, excellent tyer and very informative. Have alook at his flies here:

http://www.danica.com/flytier/rchristie/rchristie.htm

His inversed, reversed flies are really interesting. I've tied and fished these a fair bit this season and can certainly say they work.

Later I'll post some more pictures of Roy's flies.

Published in Fly Rodders

I received an email yesterday to say that a couple of my flies had been published in 'Fly Rodders' - a Japanese fly fishing & tying magazine.

I had been asked to put together some step-by-steps and write a few words on a couple of soft-hackled flies I had been tying and fishing. The article was to be put together by Masahito Sato. Look out for this guy's work - really interesting, impressive flies. He is soon to be seen the 'Fly Tyers of the Worls' published by VEM (Steve Thornton).

Anyway, it ended up in print. The problem is my Japanese isn't great so I am really not sure how the article reads...

Anyway, I enjoyed seeing my stuff in print, even if I can't understand it. I can look at the pictures though!

Cheers,

Thanks to all those that have taken the time to look through the blog so far.

Whilst we're on the emerging fly theme, here are a couple more to add to the mix:

This is tied on a #30 2210Varivas hook: a smaller variant of the 'Once & Away' (originally by Hans van Klinken)

Tiny, yes: but it will catch those picky fish when all else fails.

Cheers,
Dave.

Emergers

Emerging flies - those that break the surface film and wriggle from their nymphal 'shuck' - make up a significant part of the trout and grayling's diets. Why? Simple I guess - they are vulnerable.

To hatch, the fly must ascend the water column, leaving the safety of it rocky shelter on the river bed. When it makes it to the top and breaks through the surface film, it must squeeze free as it makes its transformation into the dun. In doing so, it leaves itself open to attention. Plus, it can't just fly away- it needs time to allow the wings to unfold, dry and become ready for flight.

When you start to think about it, it's a wonder any of them actually make it. Here are a few examples:

These will all eventually be photographed 'properly' and put on Hans Weilenmann's Flytier page.

Thanks for looking.

Catch Magazine

Stumbled accross this today:

http://www.catchmagazine.net/

Stunning photography and an amazing selction of macro shots of mayflies. The presentation is superb and reads like a book... literally. Hats off to those involved; it captures the essence of fly fishing.

Take a look and enjoy!

Winter Dry Fly

The forecast was spot on and the cold weather certainly put in an appearance. As made the hour's drive, the temperature continued to drop and it was a cool -2 degrees when I finally arrived. Several layers under neoprene waders was a minimum. On this beat you have to wade to get the best from the fishing. On the 1st December, this ceases and all fishing must be from the bank. This is to protect the salmon and trout redds as they start to spawn.


Heavy bugs was the call for the first couple of hours with little to show for my efforts. I spotted a few out-of-season browns (one about 2lb) sitting in slack water near the fishing hut. The water was carrying a little colour - the 'misty' colour that even chalkstreams take on when there has been some rain. The call for warm coffee and an escape from wading was essential. The morning passed and we approached the 'warmest' part of the day.


Amongst the seams of current I started to notice a few rises: just one or two at first; then more. Enough to encourage me to uses Klinkhamer with a tungsten-beaded nymph fished New Zealand style (with the nymph's tippet attached the bend of the dry-fly's hook). There was immediate interest in both. Sometimes a fish would pluck at the dry-fly. Other times, the dry just vanished indicating the nymph had been taken. The grayling were responding to the hatch of olives: the emerging insects carried by the current with small grey wings - like tiny sail boats.


Several grayling obliged; as did a big old trout that , judging by the state of its fins had already started spawning. Slipped back, I moved on to avoid catching any more out-of-season fish.

The grayling had their fill and within an hour it was back to the odd rise. The best of the sport was over. Back to the bugs for the last hour, but it was the dry that had reigned supreme today - even in the cold.

Planning for Grayling

I am hoping to fish on Saturday. Forecast is for a very cold NE wind and temperatures not managing much more than 5 degrees. Fishing the Wylye valley usually means that the temperature stays even lower: I've had days when apparently the sun has been shining, but with the fog being heavy in the valley, it never made it above the magic zero degrees.

The Wylye (when it's a little warmer!)

When temperatures are that low, grayling will tend the shoal up and huddle in pods... sometimes tens of fish strong. However, they will usually feed at some point. The fly needs to be at the right depth the right size and acting in the right way. Suprisingly pink flies succeed. They imitate nothing-in-nature - well at least not to us. But do fish really see colour? Perhaps. But, I believe, not in the same way as we do. I have heard many, many arguments and discussions about this. We may never know. However, one idea that has always stuck with me is that pink is seen as a more neutral, grey colour. A colour (or shade?) that we do not perceive?


Either way, on a cold day with clear water, a pink fly can often persuade a grayling to take. Sometimes it needs to be big and bright, just like the previous pictures I have posted. Sometimes, just a hint of pink...


This hot spot 'Czech Nymph' is formed with a pink hen hackle - spun in a split thread. An interesting alternative fly.

Sometimes, a smaller fly, but equally bright will work. On their day a small pink-hackled spider ('soft-hackle) fly will bring the goods...

These flies' hackles pulse in the current and really give the impression of life - a sure imitation of olive or caddis larvae. Such a pink fly is, I suppose, quite extreme: it could make the purist of fly fishers wince. But why not use them? Well if they work...

More subtle, suggestive flies may be required though. Grayling can be very choosy when the mercury drops.

It always amazes me that, even a rise of a couple of degrees will see some olives start hatching. It doesn't take the fish long to adapt and start to rise. The hatch may only last for ten (maybe five) minutes, but a well placed emerger or dry will often bring the goods:

These two flies are some of the latest creations, using Rob McLeans Quill Bodies. A realistic alternative to dubbing bodies.

Hopefully the grayling will be ready, waiting and hungry when I get there tomorrow.

Tight lines.