Always worth making the effort

So August bank holiday is almost upon us and that can only mean one thing: rain! The forecast is for a band of rain to come through the South West some time over the weekend. Undoubtedly that will knock many of the rivers out for a few days. This seems to be the ongoing story this Summer.

It seems that Autumn may be creeping up on us. Strange, as I was still waiting for the Summer.

The rain a few days ago had brought the rivers up, but levels were good today and there was a healthy colour to the water. Any more and it I think it would have been time to turn back home. However, it looked reasonable and as I was making some adjustments to my French Leader set up ( preparing for the Autumn & Winter), it seemed ideal territory to throw a few nymphs.

Now French Nymphing is becoming more widely used... and it has its uses. With such long leaders and no fly line to speak of, presentation is really good and it is a super-stealthy approach too - not spooking fish with the fly line. Playing around with some different indicators too can be quite interesting. More on this soon, but a spiral indicator was the first choice today. I reviewed one a while back here: Hends Spiral Indicators.

The sensitivity is amazing and it is worth rtying out a few to see just how improved the detection of subtle takes really can be. As I pitched a size 18 and 20 nymph up the first few runs, it looked promising. However it was not an expected trout or grayling that pinched the first fly, but a small dace. This was followed by fish after fish, and their size was increasing each few casts. OK, not what we usually came for, but when testing out a new system, ideal to be picking up these lightning fast takes. I will report more on this technique in the future.

So after, I thought I'd switch lines and leaders and go in search of any rising trout in the deeper, slower pools. Very little was stirring and as I decided to wander back to the car, I saw a solid rise downstream. Now there was no way this was accessible on my side of the river and there was no easy access point as the river is deep in this section. To remain concealed and get a good cast in, it would mean walking back downstream, giving the fish a wide berth and walking back up the other side. I was in too minds, but the lure of what appeared to be a good fish was too great, so off I went.

A careful approach is the key to success: keeping low and off the sky line as I approached where I had seen the fish, I was willing to see it rise again so I could pin point its position. I waited - nothing... Until eventually a sip from the surface gave a fish's position away. I was pretty sure it was the same fish. Again, it's worth waiting to be sure they are on station and feeding confidently.

Eventually, I made a tricky cast through the tree canopy with a CDC Emerger and to my delight a fish rose immediately to the fly. Suffice to say, it was a beautiful small-stream brown trout... worth the extra effort to get in position:

More soon, after the deluge.
~Dave

Calling the small stuff

Despite the warm reprise, I am certain that shifting  pressure has made it hard to find any consistent sport, especially with the dry fly. This is mainly due to the fact that there has been very little fly life to speak of.  Therefore, when lucky enough to find a fish on station, it is essential to approach with stealth, identify what they are feeding upon and then ensure good match and presentation.

I have been finding that a small elk hair sedge pattern works well, but last night, despite a considerable gathering of spinners above the water, it was a para-aphid in a size 24 that winkled out a few fish. Fished on a long leader, a bright orange wing post helps you to identify the path of the fly, especially through the foam lines - an ideal place for fish to sit and target their food, travelling over head.

A lovely, leopard printed brown trout is returned

A clearing stream

The river is clear, but still and good 12" above usual

A small fish on a #1 rod

I like to tie my para-aphids on a Varivas 2200BL-B hook:

A size 24 para-aphid; works as a gnat / ant imitation too

Fish of all sizes are tempted!

Now off to tie some clousers in preparation for some bass fishing... from #24 to #2!

~Dave

As if the diversity of chalkstreams was ever in doubt, my fishing buddy sloped of for a spot of trotting further down the river on a tidal stretch. Not fly fishing, perhaps, by what beautiful fish caught trotting with a centrepin:

A super result!

~Dave

Secret Streams

Exploring new water is exciting. Over the last few days I have had the opportunity to explore some tiny chalk streams. In some cases, these little rivers are so narrow, you could step across them. Others and wider but very shallow. All are crystal clear and full of trout that are very willing to take a fly.

However, unlike some of the trout that inhabit small, freestone streams, these fish do not need to salvage every feeding opportunity. Theses streams are so rich in fly life  that they can afford to be that little bit more picky. Matching the hatch is important and, as ever, presentation is vital for success. These fish may not be huge (although there are some larger than average specimens), but what they lack in size, they make up in quality. These are prime, healthy fish that pull hard and leap when hooked. They are fantastic sport on a #1 rod which is exactly what I tackled them with.
 
 

A tiny, unfished chalkstream

A fast run, no more than 2' wide... and full of fish!

The sort of hidden pools that produced some dace as well as trout

Making a cast acorss a smooth glide. Fish were feeding on olives despite the wind.

A small nymph brought success in lively pool

Crystal clear waters

~Dave

The River Frome

Covering a rise in the fast water of a pool's tail

You just cannot trust the weather! We have had so much (needed) rain over the past few months that rivers are flowing at full capacity - and often over. It is refreshing to see the streams in full flow, however it has made for a very difficult season of fly fishing. I was looking forward to tackling a couple of different beats of the River Frome this year in Dorset and had high hopes. We have had a good amount of rain again over the last few days and when I first arrived at a private beat of this magnificent chalkstream, I was bowled over by the amount of water. Pushing through like a steam train, but very clear, it was obvious that fishing could be quite tricky. The lack of fly life also would compound the challenge. However, when offered the chance to fish this beautiful water, who can complain. It is beautiful.

On the first evening, we were able to target some sedge feeding fish. Whilst we covered a good amount of ground to find the fish, they did not disappoint and it wasn't long before fish started to make the most of a moderate gathering of sedge. Indeed, there were some solid fish amongst them and some real 'gulpy' rises. Fishing right into the darkness gave the best of the sport.

A better fish comes to the net on  private section of the River Frome

I was also looking forward to fishing with John Aplin (Casterbridge Fisheries) the following evening. This beautiful beat of the river holds somehuge brown trout and some magnificent grayling. Indeed a recent fish of over 4lb was landed - and there are reports of others. I met John in the early evening and whetted the appetite looking at pictures of some huge fish whilst drinking coffee. A great start to the evening.

The wind was brisk and fly life was limited - and as a result so where the rising fish. Covering a few moving fish, it was again a sedge that started the success. and whilst these wild fish were not the leviathans we had drooled over earlier, they were beautiful and hard fighting fish. It's an absorbing place. I managed to spend at least 45 minutes over a 2lb+ brown. With it sitting deep, I moved it several times to the fly, but it was not to be. It could be different on another night.

A wild fish from John's 'Home Beat'

The beautiful river Frome. Some huge fish were feeding just above the Ranunculus.

A beautiful river and some stunning wild fish. I will be returning very soon.

~Dave

I am just back from a few days away, exploring the River Frome and some tiny chalkstreams. Some of these water ways are incredibly small - you can step over them in places. But they are running very clear and I was blown away by the sheer numbers of fish even an apparent trickle of water can hold. These are rich streams indeed, full of food - and hence, full of trout & grayling. More on this in future blog posts.

I am delighted to see that the River Fly Box blog has reached 200 registered followers from all over the world. I also know that there are even more un-registered people that drop in and see what's going on. When originally launched, I had no idea how popular the blog would be.

So can I take this opportunity to say and massive thanks for all the support and for reading my contributions.

~Dave

Bead Headed, Quill Nymph

A little taster of some recent nymphs to be added to the box. Simple in design, they sport a Tungsten bead from Funky Fly Tying.

~Dave