Valley of the Wolf

Well 6 weeks plus without a decent day of rain was making fishing on the river a pretty daunting prospect. An early start to the day avoiding the no doubt hords of walkers through the dales on a bank holiday Monday.

Arriving and checking in to find a most dedicated member there since 5:30am, we quickly got on the river. Nothing rising so on with a small copper head olive nymph size 18. Carefully search around the trees roots and swathes of rununculous in the slow moving waters of the first beat. A few promising takes were rewarded with a couple of beautiful 6" wild brownies, taking the nymph almost as soon as it hit the water beside the rununculous slowly swaying in the current.

Moving downstream searching each low level stretch and weir pool, the hatch slow building. A few olives and small hawthorn fly, the mayfly only showing in ones and two's. Searching the usual secret haunts we were further rewarded with a couple of nice wild fish, falling to the Elk winged olives, fished close to the tree roots on the far bank.

Venturing further down stream, the May Fly really started to hatch. Not prolific, but enough start the trout feeding with confidence. I tried a few patterns from my box but no takers meant back to the Elk hair olive with instant success.

Searching, moving and patience was the order of the day. Some very wise trout on this wonderful river,not easily fooled or out witted. A fine finish to the day, a 12" wild Brownie which I'd stalked for a while. Several nudges from its nose followed by a smaller fly (20) and a degreased leader paid dividends.

Tight Lines and remember

Keep moving, match the hatch and be patient !!

Small.....Smaller......Tiny !!

Today I learnt a very valuable lesson in not only matching the hatch but also matching its size !!

I needed some space and air time so what better than a few hours on a stillwater with your nymph and dry fly box and a packet of cigars !! A Derbyshire County Angling Club water not too far from me (15 minutes) which can either fish its socks off or be absolutely dead.

Arriving at the car park I saw a half dozen cars parked up, usually a good sign of its fishing well as the word gets around quickly.

Not feeling particularly social I made my way to secluded spot which usually produces a few fish. Lots of movement and a couple of fish jumping but nothing but 1 follow and a slight pull which may have been bottom!!

Having left my matches in the car and fancying a cigar ( Me the most anti smoking person for 35 years!!) I made my way back to the car.

I spotted lots of fish moving only about 6 feet from the bank and masses of midges hatching off, a total buzzerfest for the rainbows. Tried a size 14 & 16 olive buzzer but not interested...size 18 ??.........no, so on with a size 22 hares ear on the point and a size 22 on the dropper. This was the smallest thing in my nymph box and bingo. Several takes and misses later fish on !! Having stepped down my leader to 3lb, the smashing takes were taking there toll. A couple of lost fish, instantly smashed.

Size 20/22 Hares Ear Nymph

Hat Trick on the Derbyshire Wye

Its was one of those mornings........you know Christmas morning for grown ups !!!

I could barely force myself to have a cup of coffee before racing across Derbyshire to Rowsley and get my ticket. Talked to a couple of guys in the car park, they were waiting for Bernie Maher to arrive for a first time on the river guided day, what a river to pick.

Collected the ticket and had a walk over to the mill stretch. A lovely piece of water and seeing a couple of lunkers in the mill race added to the anticipation.

Within the hour fell the first wild wye rainbow, about 9-10 inches and PERFECT !!

















A few more cast at fish but they were not slightly interested even the ones in the shade of the trees. An executive decision to move up the beat to the fishermans car park and explore !!

From the car park (6) on the map, we fished up stream over the bridge and through the woods. Lots of fish rising, but only small, changed the fly to a elk winged olive and the little blighters wouldn't leave it alone. The small little fiesty rainbows were really aggresive. out of the woods about 100 yards and a perfect 12" grayling took my fly just as it started to swing and drag. A real cracker of a fish and a suberb fight in the current.



Lots of cracking rainbows later after a whole afternoon of chasing the hat trick..........a beautiful mini wild brown trout fell to the elk hair olive. Small with beautiful red spotted Wye brownine.



The first trip to the Wye on the haddon estate......but not the last.

Tight lines

TT

River Dove - Church Mayfield

An early start and the river was in spectacular condition. Fish rising to small black knats but later (09:30) a good hatch of olives. First fish fell to a small copper head hares ear, a small brownie of about 6 inches. Then the grayling moved in and wouldn't leave me alone, only small but very hungry !!

Moved up to the beat by the bridge and changed to an olive emerger, 2 casts and a monster brownie (for the Dove !!) took it on the swing. He was definately in control only fishing a 3wt rod and 3lb tippet.




Another small grayling and a brownie, the sun starting to get high and switching them off with no fish rising. A last couple of casts and thump.....what another monster brownie from the deep !!! No a personal best Grayling pushing 2lb, again good sport on the 3wt and letting me know who was boss !!



A very enjoyable morning on the River Dove - Derbyshire



Tight lines

Fly Tying - The Black Widow

This fly has caught me dozens of fish, in particular brownies frequenting the Derbyshire rivers

Dove
Derwent
Wye
Ecclesbourne

Tied on a size 16 Kamasan B175

First tie in the cock hackle tail followed by the silver ribbing wire

Next dub in the black SLF fibre up to 2 thirds of the hook

Secure the SLF with the silver ribbing, tie off and trim the wire

Next tie in a small hackle feather and give it three turns and secure.

Next either snip off the end of the hackle feather or as I do, secure to the rear as a wing. This gives the fly a little extra life.

Happy tying and good fishing.

Foremark - Tuesday 6th April 2010

An early alarm could only mean one thing, a days fishing !!

As any good tackle tart, all my kit was prepared the night before. Flies selected and boxed, everything from the finest hand tied pheasant tail to the home made booby nymphs (why do they call them nymphs??)

Flask filled and sandwiches in hand, a quick 20 minute drive to Foremark, 07:15 and people already tackled up and ready to go. The regulars where all running for their usual spot, running not being my thing I hiked over to the far point at the end of flamingo bay. The wind was blowing up and coming straight over my head, so on with the DI3 and a hand tied fritz. Not long until the first fish, a hard fighting rainbow of about 2lb. Nothing but catching the bottom, so on with the floater and a gold head hares ear in black. A slow figure of eight and many missed takes saw another 4 the bank.

Went very dead until about 11 when Keith started taking fish to the Montanna in green and black, again a very slow retrieve. On went my own version and like magic another 3 to the bank. Finished the day with 10 on the bank, should have been triple that with all the takes. A fine days sport, and a good bit of banter with the boys (Ron Thompson Club!!).

Viva la Simms fellow tackle tarts !!