tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87938203919416911562024-03-14T02:19:46.002+00:00Down by the RiverAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-14183470747784129932016-02-21T18:43:00.003+00:002016-02-23T08:39:50.796+00:00Dry Summer - River Usk 2015<div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Winter's End </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">As the wettest most miserable winter comes to a merciful end, and the trout season nears, I am compelled to recount last summer's dry fly fishing on the lower middle Usk. </span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Slow water at Bryn Derwen</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ken cutting (image: John Poutney)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How did I get here?</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was gone eleven thirty. The air temperature had dropped and I could just make out the daubenton bats surveying the shimmering river. I was up to my waist in water, hoping the twang of an elastic band would dry my glow in the dark fly. There were no rising fish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then it hit me: at home there was a nice cold fridge with nice cold beer, and a nice warm bed with a nice warm wife. So then, why the hell was I stood in a river twanging an elastic band? </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">July moon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A significant hatch?</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was a sustained but moderate mayfly hatch that started during the second week of May and continued well into August. By the end of May, there were occasional fish rising throughout the day. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px; text-align: justify;">These trout were often selective, targeting the danica and ignoring the sparsely hatching smaller upwings, sedges and terrestrials that were sometimes taken by other fish. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Danica mayfly</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While hatching mayfly were observed on warm July afternoons, the largest hatches occurred later in the day with the most intense I witnessed occurring on an early evening during the third week of July. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the trees - Usk mayfly, 20th July 2015</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">I took a good number of fish on mayfly spinners, often having to change from my usual B-WO spinner pattern to tempt those responsible for the clearly recognisable rise forms. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last of the danica spinner feeders, 10th August 2015</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">I also observed the rare yellow mayfly on four separate occasions, and even saw a small trout take one. This mayfly is only thought to hatch in the Wye and Usk catchments and was once assumed to be lost. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Potamanthus Luteus - River Usk, 25th July, 2015</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%; text-align: justify;">In summary, the mayfly hatch or spinner fall was rarely intense and not all fish responded enthusiastically, but I certainly benefited from the emerger, dun and spinner patterns in my box. </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A significant hatch for the lower middle Usk? Sometimes.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PP mayfly emerger, PP dun and spinner patterns</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Evening fishing </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">didn't really get going until the blue-winged olive (B-WO) became abundant in mid June. At that time of year, if the weather suits, I'll be on the river for the last hour. The Streamflex is rarely disassembled, and invariably the dining room is strewn with fishing and tying equipment. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px; text-align: justify;">On these late evenings the fish respond enthusiastically to large B-WO spinner falls and, often intense hatches, into the darkness.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A tolerant wife...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">The spinner falls provide some of the best sport to be had in these parts and by the second week in June there were numerous large fish feeding hard.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Big20Usk_zpsvtg6dmor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Big20Usk_zpsvtg6dmor.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dusk trout, 16th June 2015</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the dark</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">On bright sunny days B-WO hatches often start 30 mins before dark and, on a few occasions, were of such intensity that there were flies in my beard and down my neck, and I missed a couple of fish when they flew into my eyes. Invariably the trout switch from the spinners, and emerger and paradun patterns with a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;">fluorescent green post came in handy.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hi-viz B-WOs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the river is usually low this time of year, it is important to play fish hard in order not to exhaust them in the warm water, and the reel drag needs to be set appropriately to cope with long runs in the shallow water. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Light and shade </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">(image: John Poutney)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fish rarely respond to a spinner pattern with the slightest hint of drag. I use very long leaders (up to 20 foot) with 7X tippets and employ short slack line casts. Casting accuracy, including the distance the fly lands above the feeding fish, is important. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This has been covered many times but, as the fish lie close to the surface, they have a narrow window of vision and do not need to deviate to feed every five seconds or so on the spinners carpeting the river. The further the cast is made above the target, the more likely the fly is to drag by the time it reaches the trout's window. In slower water, I like to tackle spinner feeders square on giving them about two foot 'lead' with large upstream mend. In faster flows, I land the fly closer, often 'high sticking' with no fly line on the water. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast water spinner feeder</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I use a few different spinner patterns, although my stock pattern is the fluorescent posted para-spinner that I have seen used by many anglers including Paul Procter and Matt Eastham. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have also experimented with some success with humpy</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, spun CDC winged, curved shank and glow in the dark variants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although I have Glen Pointon-type glow in the dark spinners in my box, I rarely find spinner feeders in complete darkness on the Usk. This season I think I'll focus on glow in the dark caddis as I have had some success with both dead drifted and stripped caddis patterns in the midnight hour. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Glow and hi viz spinners </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The spun CDC and humpy patterns work well but are less durable than the standard para-spinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/CDC20Spinner202_zpsf338hzvg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/CDC20Spinner202_zpsf338hzvg.jpg" height="318" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CDC para-spinner</span><br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/CDC20Spinner_zpsljpeus7s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/CDC20Spinner_zpsljpeus7s.jpg" height="356" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the top</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Humpy20spinner2_zpsgzdfsckr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Humpy20spinner2_zpsgzdfsckr.jpg" height="332" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Humpy spinner</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I tied curved shank variants after finding that a klinkhammer type emerger, and even a spider pattern, would catch in a spinner fall. Many spent flies are partly submerged in the water's surface and this has been photographed by Matt Eastham and Paul Procter. They also vary significantly in colour, have tails missing and often do not lie in the 'crucifix' position. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/spinner_zpsnuftuqcb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/spinner_zpsnuftuqcb.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Curved shank spinner</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Hard earned</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To my mind, catching large fish in a spinner fall provides some of the greatest rewards in dry fly fishing. I can recall evenings from years ago where tens of big trout were rising and I trudged home, broken, having caught only a few small fish. Those experiences spurred me on to solve the riddle. It became an obsession where the next evening couldn't come quickly enough and resulted in hours spent on the river in the twilight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I haven't completely cracked the code, i</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n the main, those deeply frustrating evenings are behind me. Time spent away from cold beer and warm wives has paid off. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm always learning but it feels like I'm getting there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/DSC_6844_zpsxd7fh7ky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/DSC_6844_zpsxd7fh7ky.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Summer light </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">(image: John Poutney)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-70003843534702997322015-10-30T21:32:00.002+00:002016-02-04T22:32:18.400+00:00No Pressure - Spring 2015<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Hiraeth <span style="font-weight: normal;">-</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">longing, yearning, nostalgia </span></i></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I miss the trout season already. Strangely, it’s not the eagerly anticipated dawn ‘til dusk sessions on new beats that I miss the most, but
those stolen hours on the Usk by my house. I must be getting old. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I feel the need to relate an entire season’s worth of thoughts and experiences but, for now, I'll restrict myself to the Spring and o</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n this unseasonably warm October evening I hold high hopes that the fish overwinter as well as they did last year.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Fat20Usk20trout_zpsmfawpo4x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Fat20Usk20trout_zpsmfawpo4x.jpg" height="322" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A fat Usk trout, March 2015</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spring low</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Following the mild winter, the cold dry spell in March and April resulted in some of
the lowest early season Usk levels on record. At the lowest point, I noted
half a dozen dead trout and a dead salmon on the Bryn Derwen beat. I also
observed a fish go belly up on the Eden, momentarily concluding it was the
strangest rise form I’d ever seen! I suspect that these mortalities were a
result of the harsh conditions, a combination of low levels and diffuse
pollution. </span><br>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Dead20salmon_zpsbmi1bfqd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Dead20salmon_zpsbmi1bfqd.jpg" height="400" width="242"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dead salmon </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grannom</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The grannom hatch proper commenced in
early April and as one of the most eagerly anticipated periods on the Usk it
attracts anglers from far and wide. This year was no different and ‘hatch
chaser’ Paul Procter enjoyed a long weekend fishing the Bryn Derwen beat and
Gwent Angling Society water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately (for me) I had to work on the Friday and had other obligations on the Saturday. It was a torturous test of will and commitment as a husband as I knew the grannom were hatching in force and had
this confirmed by Paul over a pint or two each evening. At least someone was making
the most of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> pinned all my hopes on the Sunday as Paul, Dave Smith and I
were due to fish Bryn Derwen. Sod’s law dictated that we awoke to a howling gale
and, as I lay in bed listening to the windows rattling, I anticipated a difficult day ahead. Thankfully,
my guests caught a few fish including Paul’s 19 inch adult grannom feeder. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/PP201920inch_zpspmmgb3ac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/PP201920inch_zpspmmgb3ac.jpg" height="344" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Paul's adult grannom feeder</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A trip north</span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the latter half of April Dave, Morgan and I ventured north.
I had never fished the Rivers Eden and Ure and, despite a busy schedule,
couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do so with two good friends. We stayed in
Hawes, fishing by day and consuming beer and whisky by night. The rivers were
low and clear and the fishing was challenging, but a good number of fish were
returned to grannom emergers and nymphs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Eden202_zps6hwzil6a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Eden202_zps6hwzil6a.jpg" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Appleby trout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Grannom_zpsjtiefnpn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Grannom_zpsjtiefnpn.jpg" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eden Grannom</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the grannom hatch occurs later up north, we coincided
with the back end. Hatches were usually over by 10am and we took a few fish
in the slower water on emergers and adults. However, most of the well-marked,
beautifully coloured fish were taken on small UV backed quill nymphs.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image1_zps0ci0i1cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image1_zps0ci0i1cc.jpg" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">UV backed quill nymphs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the last day we were fortunate to be hosted by Matt
Eastham on a superb Eden beat. We very much enjoyed the variations in the beat and the fantastic quality of the fish, and I can’t thank Matt enough for hosting the day. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Eden_zpsqdqq4mtp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Eden_zpsqdqq4mtp.jpg" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well marked Eden trout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Matt20Cap_zpsk1hqu27r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Matt20Cap_zpsk1hqu27r.jpg" height="400" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Matt with a lovely trout to the dry fly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Monnow Social</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yet again, the Social lived up to expectations - both the
company and the fishing. I took a bit of flack for staying in a B&B rather
than camping, but it was well worth it. On the first day I fished with Neil on
one of the Monnow beats above Pandy. The beat is lightly fished and this was
reflected in the stamp of the trout. </span><o:p></o:p><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Neil_zpsaokadbjw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Neil_zpsaokadbjw.jpg" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Neil on the bank of the Monnow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Monnow20trout_zpsq1ogw2s3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Monnow20trout_zpsq1ogw2s3.jpg" height="362" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monnow Trout - image courtesy of Neil Hotchin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the Sunday I fished with Kris Kent on a private beat further down
river. Kris concentrated on the few fish that were rising while I followed employing a more pragmatic approach... We caught no monsters, but returned many
trout and grayling to around 15 inches. The middle section of the beat is
special - braided and heavily wooded - and as I peered through the trees it
seemed as though some channels were flowing in opposing directions. During
another surreal moment Kris and I were confronted by a startled roe deer crossing
the river within feet of us.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Debris_zpsfdxl73qa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Debris_zpsfdxl73qa.jpg" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woody debris</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks (again) to the hard work of Rob, Patrick, Neil M and
others, this event was one of the highlights of my season and long may it
continue. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div>
<br>
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/DHE20emergers_zpsqzvaw5wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/DHE20emergers_zpsqzvaw5wm.jpg" height="251" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pink holo DHEs - a great fly on the early season Monnow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No pressure</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Experiences on the Monnow and Usk this year have yet again confirmed that the less pressure a beat receives, the more likely it is to
produce large fish. Further evidence was gathered when I managed to gain access
to a short unfished beat of the lower middle Usk.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Foliage_zpsnevjwi25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Foliage_zpsnevjwi25.jpg" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The way down</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The route to the river plunged fifty metres over a cliff-like bank and I
trembled as I slid on my backside until I came upon an old rope buried in the leaf
litter. Clearly the beat hadn’t always been unfished… </span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hot and sweaty after the ten minute scrambled descent, I realised the beat was only fishable along a twenty metre section. Slightly disappointed,
I sat and watched the head of a fast run.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a few minutes of observing hatching yellow may duns and
noting no discernible rise forms, I elected to fish two size 16 light coloured
jig nymphs on a french leader rig. On the first cast, as I deliberately lifted
my flies through the water column, I pricked a large fish close to the surface
that made a huge commotion. I cursed, but my concern proved to be misplaced as, over the next twenty minutes, the same spot yielded four fish of over 16 inches
(including one of the biggest I landed all season). The mouths of
all of these wild brown trout were coated with YMD emerging nymphs. I made the slightly more strenuous journey home in no doubt that I’d just made the ten most productive casts of
my life.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/nymphs_zps15fajhov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/nymphs_zps15fajhov.jpg" height="263" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Usk favourites</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Usk202.5_zpsmbvql5sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Usk202.5_zpsmbvql5sp.jpg" height="265" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Usk YMD emerging nymph feeder</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tempus fugit</span></h4>
<div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The older and busier I become, the faster time passes. I suppose the only advantage to this worrying trend is that next March will be upon me before I know it. </span></h4>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The birth of my daughter has prompted me to re-evaluate and, after an honest discussion with Matt on the banks of the Eden (while my wife was at home caring for a teething infant), we concluded that being a time poor fishing enthusiast makes me a selfish bugger. As the weeks flash by, and with another season gone, I can probably live with this. </span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><br></span></div>
<h4>
</h4>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-70826492292444811682015-06-05T18:18:00.000+01:002015-06-05T18:21:03.458+01:00Resurrection – March Browns, River Usk<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the risk of repeating myself, it’s been a while since my last entry.
Short on time, I've been forced to make the choice between fishing, tying flies
and blogging - my fly boxes are also sparsely populated at the moment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early Riser</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We start early on the Usk and unlike last year the river was relatively low throughout
March and April. As such, it was fishable for long periods but, during the driest
April I can remember, the fish population suffered (more on this in another
entry).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first few weeks of March saw me taking the rod
for a walk along the banks of the Lower Middle Usk in search of post meridian risers.
I found a few but, in hindsight, time would have been better spent upstream.
When I did venture above Abergavenny I caught more, including
one warm day where I caught my last fish at nearly 5pm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/IMG_1389_zpslfw2olcm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/IMG_1389_zpslfw2olcm.jpg" height="440" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early riser: LDO feeder</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Large Dark Olives (LDOs) have been less prolific in
the last few years, but the March Brown (MB) hatch has steadily improved. Most sustained LDO feeders were witnessed on drizzly, windless afternoons (perfect conditions) where large numbers of duns were fixed to the surface.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Missing in Action </span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first March Brown hatch I observed provided a harsh
reminder of how quickly the angler needs to react. I saw a couple of big
fish rising for MBs every twenty seconds and slowly moved in to
cover the rear fish. By the time I was in position the hatch was over.</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/IMG_1395_zpslst4zoeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/IMG_1395_zpslst4zoeo.jpg" height="287" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wasting no time: Dave Wiltshire approaching a rising fish</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The isolated nature and short duration of MB flurries means
that, to increase the chances of coinciding with one, unless you know the water
intimately, it’s best to keep moving. This tactic worked well one session on
the Upper Usk with Nicholas Steadman; we walked a one mile beat, top to bottom,
eight times. During that day we managed to locate four or five large emergences that lasted up to ten minutes. The largest occurred mid-afternoon and
the fish responded in the most spectacular fashion I have witnessed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image1202_zpsr0v381l8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image1202_zpsr0v381l8.jpg" height="300" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the surface: March Brown</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we approached the top of the beat we noticed huge numbers (probably hundreds) of March Browns hatching</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in a fast run at the head of a pool and riding the rapids downstream to fixated trout. They were
so preoccupied that Nicholas and I, stood in ankle-deep water twenty meters apart, caught trout from directly in between us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image4202_zpsfhnzfh4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image4202_zpsfhnzfh4a.jpg" height="328" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caught in 20cms of water</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the hatch peaked, we noticed a huge commotion at the pool
head and were astounded by what was unfolding. An up-welling to the side of the
bridge had concentrated the newly hatched MBs into an area of flat swirling water no bigger than three or four square meters. These sitting ducks were
being frantically snatched by numerous trout in a feeding frenzy more akin to a
shoal of piranha! I took out my phone to start filming, but the excitement
was too much and I continued fishing. This was the right choice as the hatch
petered out within the next five minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image1203_zpswuxvaylj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image1203_zpswuxvaylj.jpg" height="400" style="cursor: move;" width="338" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upper Usk March Brown feeder</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The difficulty in catching MB feeders is more in
understanding and locating the hatch than hooking the fish. Size is important
and I have noted that the fish respond far more readily to a size 12 than a
size 14 dun pattern. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/emergers_zpssjdny0rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/emergers_zpssjdny0rd.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emergers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/March20Browns_zpsdhecelaq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/March20Browns_zpsdhecelaq.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Duns</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As already alluded to, being prepared is essential and in
my case, the fly needs to be attached to the tippet, as by the time I attach an
emerger or dun imitation with shaking hands, I usually miss the best part of
the hatch!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Usk20MB20feeder_zpsinsl00wk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Usk20MB20feeder_zpsinsl00wk.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Returning a March Brown feeder (pic courtesy of Dave Wiltshire)</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Resurgence</b></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During March and early April, reports of these prolific MBs attracted
anglers from throughout the UK. If they continue to improve, then more and more
anglers will follow Oliver Kite's example in fishing the early season Usk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image2203_zpsosljukwh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/image2203_zpsosljukwh.jpg" height="400" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bryn Derwen March Brown Feeder</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m told by the more experienced (older) Usk fishermen that forty years ago the river would boil with MB feeders and that the flies all but disappeared
from the river in the early eighties. To my knowledge, MBs were not recorded (in any number) on
the Usk for decades. I’ve discussed the reasons for the revival
with numerous anglers and ecologists; some attribute it to
agricultural practices, particularly the use of organophosphate based sheep
dips. I don’t know, but what I am sure of is that this majestic Heptageniida is making
a welcome comeback. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/69632231-8259-41b6-ab9b-65b7fe1abd45_zpsjfwh5uc5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/69632231-8259-41b6-ab9b-65b7fe1abd45_zpsjfwh5uc5.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rhithrogena germanica</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-70317454538144483242015-03-01T17:43:00.001+00:002015-04-15T13:07:02.499+01:00Out of Time, Winter 2014/15<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inactivity</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve not posted a blog entry since August and it’s been
nagging at me. Since then I have started a demanding new job and my
wife has given birth to our daughter. Changing priorities and less spare time have
resulted in fewer hours on the river. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the colder months I only managed to get out a handful of
times; to the Frome, a southern chalk stream (that will remain unnamed), the Irfon, the Upper Wye and (of course) the Taff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beasts of the Southern Chalk</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first grayling outing of the new season saw me fishing the Frome
near Dorchester where Ian Stirling had kindly organised a day for a few us. As trout were still in season we were pleased to land plenty of brownies and quite a few grayling, with a few nudging the two pound mark (including one weighed by Nicholas - not pictured).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/frome1_zpsd35d6469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/frome1_zpsd35d6469.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the larger fish</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/frome3_zps7159b40c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/frome3_zps7159b40c.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frome grayling</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was in great company. As this was a social occasion we had a memorable lunch, cooked mainly on John Aplin’s well used barbecue with a few additions, including what can only be described as 'Ian's Italian Quiche'. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Beasts of the southern chalk</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John - pike spotting with the keeper <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(courtesy of John Grindle)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Staying low with Nicholas </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(courtesy of John Grindle)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One for Dave <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(courtesy of Dave Smith)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a lovely day in superb surroundings and I am very grateful to Ian for organising it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the second grayling outing I was the guest of Nicholas on a 'southern chalk stream'. We met at 8.00 am and by 8.30 am (and please don't misunderstand me here) it was</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> clear that he had taken me to a special place; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was amazed by the number of fish and, being relatively new to chalk stream fishing, I struggled to spot some of them in the low light. But when I did... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By mid-morning I was transfixed with a particular fish and managed to shuffle (on my knees) off a three foot bank and into the river. As good as the fishing was, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that was the highlight of the day for my companion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Nicholas with a slim fish</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sport was frantic and we caught many </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hard-fighting blue-hued fish, no monsters but a few just over two pounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These fish were very special, almost irridescent. Certainly the prettiest grayling I've seen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The flies that I used on both days were similar to those I employ on the Taff, except for a killer pink, orange and brown shrimp pattern that Nicholas gave me (that rarely left my tippet). The pink butted hare's mask nymph (below) caught my largest fish on each trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Principles</b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">This year I will mainly fish the Bryn Derwen Sporting Syndicate (near my house) and shall retain my Gwent Angling Society (GAS) membership. I am now a bailiff on the GAS Baker’s Beat near Chainbridge (a few hundred metres below Bryn Derwen) and hope to find the time to take advantage of some of the other GAS beats.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been an on-off member of Merthyr Tydfil Angling Association (MTAA) for over twenty five years. As a schoolboy I took the bus into town to purchase a ticket from Tony Rees' butcher shop. Tony is long retired, but I recall him enthusiastically filling out my ticket and giving me encouragement. It was on MTAA's Taff and Usk beats that I developed my love for river fishing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With this in mind, it saddens me that I will not be rejoining this year. Members of the club have requested that competitions be held on the Usk; while I do not fish competitions, I have no strong feelings regarding the catch and release events in which many of my friends compete. However, this year's MTAA competitions will encourage any legal method (fly and worm) and, as there will be no controllers (as I understand it), the competitors will have to weigh in up to four dead brown trout at the end. I suspect I will make no friends in the club writing this but I do not believe that a modern angling club should be organising catch and kill competitions on a wild trout fishery.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To put this into context, i</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">f twenty competitors took eighty fish on the Mardy beat, then I estimate that they may be removing ~10% of the trout population (of takeable size). The fact that this success rate is highly unlikely, makes no difference to the principle and I would be a hypocrite if I retained my membership.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Signs of Spring </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time of year I can often be found walking the River Usk in expectation. (Usually between midday and 2.00 pm), I seek signs of spring and hope to spot hatching flies and rising trout. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As yet, I've seen none. Although last week I thought I spotted a couple of rising fish but it turned out to be two cormorant crapping in the river!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I've seen more signs of fish eaters than fish. Over the last few months I've been finding (with a bit of help from my lurcher Nel) trout tails up to over fifty meters from the river. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Expectation also drives industry and I tie most of my flies for the Usk in February and March. The first important hatches on the Usk are the Large Dark Olives (LDO) and March Browns and I imitate various life stages with tried and tested patterns, a few of which are shown below. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: Size 14 - Kamasan B100</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tail: Coq de Leon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body: Olive or natural quill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back: UV blobs tail fixed with a very thin coat of UV cure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thorax: Hare's mask / pine squirrel / musk rat - mix of natural and olive</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plume: Natural CDC</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: Size 12 - TMC 200R</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body: Ginger quill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Thorax: Hare's mask / pine squirrel / musk rat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plume: Natural CDC</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Signs of spring</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Thoughts of Summer</b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the long and busy winter months I have been comforted by thoughts of the Usk in summer. As described in my previous entry, spending the last few hours of daylight on the river brought peace of mind. </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/a91e608f-990d-42bb-a520-92fcf05843ee_zpsndwnahqc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/a91e608f-990d-42bb-a520-92fcf05843ee_zpsndwnahqc.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Last summer </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(courtesy of Jon Poutney)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/7049a71f-bb6e-460a-a52e-996e7edde175_zps2hbmxcnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/7049a71f-bb6e-460a-a52e-996e7edde175_zps2hbmxcnb.jpg" height="400" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ken's field </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/14bd3195-6496-44eb-8fcd-9239734b8b63_zpssa1eyqrx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/14bd3195-6496-44eb-8fcd-9239734b8b63_zpssa1eyqrx.jpg" height="336" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2014 - a good year for swans</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That time in my life will stay with me and, as the end of summer proper coincided with the birth of my daughter, it seemed only fitting that we name her Hâf (summer in Welsh).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Haf_zps00c67e5e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Haf_zps00c67e5e.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My PB <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(courtesy of Jon Poutney)</span></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-37730326965238001662014-08-01T21:13:00.000+01:002015-04-20T08:43:10.121+01:00End of the Day - River Usk, Summer 2014<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No Rain</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite maintaining good levels for the first half of the season, the Usk catchment has not received significant rainfall since late May and the bones of the river are on display.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hot dry spells dictate that I fish mainly in the relative cool of the late evening, or early morning. A busy work life, a dislike of most TV programmes and close proximity to the river results in many summer evenings spent fishing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home Visits</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the first half of June, I had the pleasure of fishing (on two separate days) with Kris and Nicholas. We caught quite a few, but didn't land the prized Usk two pounders that I had hoped for, and the nymph fishing was far less productive than earlier in the year. </span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BpJp5y8IUAAtQ3f_zps38da5358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BpJp5y8IUAAtQ3f_zps38da5358.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kris Kent - big man, small trout</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BqMSmCnCcAA2-j1_zpsc8cd4043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BqMSmCnCcAA2-j1_zpsc8cd4043.jpg" height="400" width="345" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicholas - the spectra nymph does it again!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicholas arrived the evening previous to our day and we stole a late hour (before returning to watch his nation lose in the World Cup). There were a few fish feeding and we caught on Yellow May Dun (YMD) emergers and Blue-Winged Olive (B-WO spinners). The B-WO spinner falls hadn't started properly but this provided a taste of things to come.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BpD_AAECAAEWjZs_zps43db714c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BpD_AAECAAEWjZs_zps43db714c.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YMD emerger</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early Evening</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started evening fishing during a warm period at the end of May. The fishing was erratic on those early summer evenings but the first few sessions provided some excellent sport. One memorable evening saw more than ten fish landed, with none under twelve inches. The largest was a lean old nineteen inch cock fish with a fierce kype and teeth that cut my finger.</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BoME09JIYAA4_TA_zpsd3a9f509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BoME09JIYAA4_TA_zpsd3a9f509.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kyped cock fish</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of those fish fancied my <a href="http://www.flytierspage.com/hweilenmann/cdcelk_spent.htm">spent CDC & Elk</a> a fly that, since the egg-laying grannom in April, had served me well during the day. That it was the wrong colour to imitate many of the upwing spinners (mainly YMD) on the water didn't matter to these early (less selective)summer fish.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BoMFRUVIcAAGC_z_zps16ee8c83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BoMFRUVIcAAGC_z_zps16ee8c83.jpg" height="343" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Purple Haze - Usk trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When there was no surface activity (mainly in the early evenings) I fished nymphs, or I should say, a nymph (see below). Apart from a few to a cased caddis pattern, all of my nymph caught summer trout fell to this olivey jig nymph.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BsLTQUpCIAAXLU__zps48cbf3a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BsLTQUpCIAAXLU__zps48cbf3a9.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Small nymphs for the Usk in summer</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: Size 16 or 18 jig (<a href="https://www.cliff-harvey-angling.co.uk/prod_show.asp?id=1558">Hannak</a> or <a href="https://www.cliff-harvey-angling.co.uk/prod_show.asp?id=2323">Fulling Mill</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bead: 3mm, 2.5mm or 2mm Copper, black nickel or plain tungsten</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tail: Partridge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body: Natural hare mixed (2/3) with olive hare (1/3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flash back: Pearl mylar or UV blob tail</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rib: Fine red wire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Hackle': A turn of fine CDC</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Collar: See body</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tied the nymph in the style of Craig McDonald's popular <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkV94QCpoZE">'Duracell'</a> and another nymph fished by Nicholas Steadman. A conversation with Nicholas (and noting his success), made me focus on the profile and resultant silhouette of the pattern and convinced me that partridge would provide the best material for the tail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first time I used it, I was fortunate enough to be lent a Hannak Czech Nymph rod to try out by Gareth at <a href="https://www.cliff-harvey-angling.co.uk/">Harvey Angling</a>. The high water temperatures drove me up river to a beat with numerous fast runs. That night, I caught many fish at the head of fast runs, with the biggest fish often holding right at the top. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bq7W_-iCEAEd1Aw_zpsf8467508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bq7W_-iCEAEd1Aw_zpsf8467508.jpg" height="409" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usk Leopard </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In low, clear conditions I either fish a French leader with two small nymphs or, more often, I 'high stick' a very long tapered leader with a duo set up. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Br84XovCEAAINkU_zps090df592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Br84XovCEAAINkU_zps090df592.jpg" height="232" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early evening nymph feeder</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bq7XAftCYAAQg46_zps3dd48471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bq7XAftCYAAQg46_zps3dd48471.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another to the summer nymph</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">High Summer Spinners</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In high summer the larger Usk trout usually start rising in the last hour before dark. An upwing spinner fall will see them feeding hard into the dusk, and some nights they can be heard crashing caddis until the small hours. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BqSauvNIQAA5IB7_zps420c8058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BqSauvNIQAA5IB7_zps420c8058.jpg" height="400" width="383" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caught on a skated bleached elk hair caddis</span></td></tr>
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I </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">employ a only a few spent fly patterns in various sizes: in the early summer the (previously mentioned) spent CDC and Elk; when the Danica mayfly are on I use a spent mayfly pattern and, when the B-WOs are prolific, I use a <a href="http://paulprocter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/b-wo-para-spinner.html">Paul Procter para spinner</a>. The latter is my most successful spinner pattern and the fluorescent yellow post is visible in very low light levels. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BsbDXmpCUAEoThk_zps37698046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BsbDXmpCUAEoThk_zps37698046.jpg" height="381" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.flytierspage.com/hweilenmann/cdcelk_spent.htm">Spent CDC & Elk</a> and <a href="http://paulprocter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/b-wo-para-spinner.html">PP Para Spinners</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Drag and mircro drag are sport killers when fishing spent flies and, to minimise this, </span>I move as close as I can to the quarry, often within two rod lengths. Good wading technique and patience are essential, particularly in low water; it often takes me five minutes to move into range.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When casting to fish, I usually employ a large upstream aerial mend and move the rod tip down stream at the same speed as the fly (or the speed I think my fly is moving in the dark!). I try to get into a rhythm that allows me to fish the fly effectively when it is too dark to pick it out. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bq2Pc6OIQAASp6P_zpsc93a0dfa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bq2Pc6OIQAASp6P_zpsc93a0dfa.jpg" height="400" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dark wader</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I use a 16 foot leader and, to take the flash off the line, rub it gently with a piece of grass held between my fingers. I can't recall where I read or heard this tip but it seems to work. To further reduce drag and ease lift off, I apply mucilin to the back two thirds of the leader. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early in the season, when fishing big dry flies (such as Large Brook Dun patterns), I caught wily old trout using 5x diameter tippet. This does not work on the low, gin clear summer Usk. I have experimented with tippet diameters (particularly after reading Peter Hayes' book, 'Fishing Outside the Box'). My conclusions are the same as ever: I catch more fish with 7x than 6x and, when it is still relatively light, I struggle to catch any of the spooky summer trout with 6x. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BrkiB4HIUAAFBpL_zpsde900ae1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BrkiB4HIUAAFBpL_zpsde900ae1.jpg" height="400" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Night release</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who believe that brown trout are rarely selective feeders should fish the Usk in June, July and August - the surface feeders are nearly always selective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reading the rise is important when targeting fussy feeders as you don't want to have to change your fly every few casts in the low light. A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> few evenings this year, I have gone out for the last hour anticipating spinner feeders only to observe fish feeding on B-WO and Danica duns (I have witnessed B-WOs hatching into the dark on sunny days). These dun feeders would not accept a spinner pattern, but readily accepted a dun. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BqXSteqCIAA5Hvv_zpsef7ab7c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BqXSteqCIAA5Hvv_zpsef7ab7c3.jpg" height="400" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Selective Usk trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even in the high water temperatures, the Usk trout fight fiercely with most of the larger fish jumping and running towards snags in the shallow river. I thought the fish below was much larger then the 16 inches it turned out to be and, as it repeatedly ran to submerged tree roots, I feared being snapped. Pound for pound one of the best I've caught - the Manny Pacquiao of the trout world. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bssn05KCcAAaYWx_zps31d3f8a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bssn05KCcAAaYWx_zps31d3f8a1.jpg" height="241" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pound for pound...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Experience has taught me that my leader needs to be constructed correctly and I must play fish skilfully in order not to exhaust them in the warm water when using fine tippets. I prefer copolymer tippet and attach it to a shop bought 12 foot copolymer tapered leader using a two turn water knot</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (always being careful to ease knots down without pulling the end pieces too tight). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When fighting fish in open water, I try to play them on the reel as quickly as possible with the drag set appropriately to the tippet diameter. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">When I get it right, I'm occasionally rewarded with fish like the one pictured below. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BtGW4VlIcAAqXRM_zpsc9ff943c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BtGW4VlIcAAqXRM_zpsc9ff943c.jpg" height="400" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A big fish to a PP B-WO Spinner</span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Warm Feeling</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bqm4DmmIIAAzknL_zpsaa1b9fdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bqm4DmmIIAAzknL_zpsaa1b9fdf.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The walk to the river</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is something very special about summer evenings on the lower Usk, so special that sometimes I barely fish at all. Although peaceful, the quiet is often broken by startled calls of bouncing blue kingfisher, the insect buzz from blossoming lime trees, the occasional splosh of chub as they compete for morsels in the shallow margins and the begging screech of juvenile tawny and barn owls as they wait expectantly in the gloaming for parents to return with their prey.</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BsXA84GIMAAQMGE_zps9a67c3c0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BsXA84GIMAAQMGE_zps9a67c3c0.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usk chub</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Occasionally the wildlife can get too close - not that I mind (much)! At the end of one evening I could just make out three fish sipping spinners less than ten feet in front of me. About to cast, I was startled by a loud splash downriver. My first thought was that it was another angler (or a poacher) and so I turned with my headlamp on. Out of the dark two young otters ran up the bank and swam towards my fish. With the torch on I shouted and beat my thigh but they weren't perturbed. The trout, that were lying in the surface, careered off (with the front one moving a significant amount of water)...You can't have it all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As the forecast tells us the dry spell is (hopefully) nearing an end, I feel that I've taken full advantage of the evening fishing this year; which is just as well. At the end of August, my wife is due to give birth to our first child leav</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">ing me to wonder (optimistically) if I'll be out as much next year.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BrfYzIgCIAAy3zc_zps9bfd89fd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BrfYzIgCIAAy3zc_zps9bfd89fd.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the gloaming </span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-14633633912256505822014-07-09T22:02:00.002+01:002015-04-20T08:46:20.353+01:00Higher Ground - Llyn Gamallt and Llyn Gwyddior, May 2014<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wild things</span> </h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I left my meeting near <a href="http://www.blaenauffestiniog.org/home.php">Blaenau Ffestiniog</a> and drove into the slate mining town ('that roofed the world') to pick up Aled who had been to <a href="http://www.cambrianangling.com/">purchase tickets</a> for the next day at <a href="http://www.cambrianangling.com/gamallt.html">Llyn Gamallt</a>. <br /><br />We have been going on jaunts to fish upland lakes or llynnoedd for a number of years and have come know them as the ‘annual beer and steak trips’. Gwyddior and Gamallt are two favourites and we had arranged to fish them over consecutive days. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj2rgqNtyM7BdkkjngH0dOVoDUHZq9gTADbpc9V-dztB2UseNvKa1KFdvAKSUJ3kzunfDRoDvy4inl4HpjvdmABkU-cGMx6EuvFHiOmY3X4e8088RKzBxpOsuqYoauQBTpBRQI-2ocg52Tff0VBwPnecCEh_h6jCh8p0KD4qYopqcLtB1PUAUoTPxrN_n1Ydbe9ADOjKhwLuKaMW348H1BfNg4ZB6TBcW4=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going equipped</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">True to form, by early evening, we were on the edge of the <a href="http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/home">Snowdonia National Park</a> relaxing with a pint in <a href="http://www.grapeshotelsnowdonia.co.uk/">The Grapes at Maentwrog</a> (our digs for the night). The pub is under new management and the landlord, Simon, is a keen fisherman. The small hotel has an atmospheric bar and recently refurbished rooms. After a decent steak, we talked with the locals until well after bedtime, one of whom fished flies on a bubble float!</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Llyn Gamallt, 30th May</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gamallt is not easy to get to but it's worth the effort; the larger than average fish often look up early in the year to take advantage of the surprisingly prolific hatches. The journey requires a short drive in to the spectacular moelwynion above Blaenau Ffestiniog, and then a crawl along a dirt track to a small car park from where there is a walk. <br /><br />Fully breakfasted, and only slightly jaded, we arrived at the car park by nine. We had departed with the valley floor bathed in sunlight, but up here it was darker, with an occasional ray illuminating sections of the rugged landscape - the sort of light you get only in high places. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgR6voYEteCLlYPo6rBJdorSCTOK-FtLqz0y9TOyxotmk8RTcQ4pFLIC6x5lU5XH9Yk8gSTymXQxTmY3DczOxpT2QtjOps0pwIArA4mA8OUHlJP9jhT2x5_pnQtzPUON9wfZ2Xhm81rAO9TkxFAnPqXI1oUk1IWSPcH5UyLtuYiNviXsEvuitN7bKBT3sG8doFAnR7JyQMMdAmbSfhYE9Dm333xOdNAyJo=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Llyn Gamallt</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhR1P3zDNDctAvUaafNVN2w-iBm99ZJLLB0pLpK5EMdFdnAcHdKei_hCg32dIrmP_EIgEUBdpOrVDCNN70ZidE8k8_ZmOwKyeYlmf-6Zn-3qYB9TQv-ZZs_wxIdOURNNTsBJ35oWgw5Y0Fp6vTrqdlGLup2fzGqiZc6yoSXRP7WTia6gvT0-6u0NS2G9IyQUg0LEwndHEbE8v6WjpWHRX4F7Oua-KJTMGs=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ready for the off</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suitably attired and loaded, we followed the barely visible path through a peat bog and twenty minutes later, hot and sweaty, we were tackling up. I noticed some caddis and midge and so, fishing only two flies, I selected a pearly pennel on the point and a small muddler for the dropper.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhtktUxd_ixKa0VqlWRdoLyP3sUZ6iaRlDUDE5VlMWGQ4SKGVKikCadMFMC75TIXAKNXwrj6MNsPiyscOyIo6NKYbjKXisGLdhKZnB1gcFpTV3nmZy1CmByiczalSY4EvBclbVV-AHQSxlqR4j8zEIRsaFzFa0XDkXpi4Hh1WQXAzPq9QyuLUrY5pqKM4w4lS83RfExmsWYa8xM-MlbgBlfwoid8YJiXZ0=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhtktUxd_ixKa0VqlWRdoLyP3sUZ6iaRlDUDE5VlMWGQ4SKGVKikCadMFMC75TIXAKNXwrj6MNsPiyscOyIo6NKYbjKXisGLdhKZnB1gcFpTV3nmZy1CmByiczalSY4EvBclbVV-AHQSxlqR4j8zEIRsaFzFa0XDkXpi4Hh1WQXAzPq9QyuLUrY5pqKM4w4lS83RfExmsWYa8xM-MlbgBlfwoid8YJiXZ0=" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring it on</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While preparing to launch I spotted a good fish rising tight to a stone drop off beneath a single sapling. Wondering if it was taking sedges, midges or terrestrials, I covered it from the bank. It didn't take. With the position marked by the lonely shrub, I would return later.<br /><br /> Within five minutes Aled, who was bank fishing, had taken a fish on a mallard and claret. As I watched him return it, the line was snatched from my hand by an eleven inch brownie that fancied my flashy pennel. <br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi_aqsSiEoXf-W-p00a2npRD9i7Y4am7Yv92Ha9sYs3G9fKs3fCcskdpXtz1VUHsynMaTB6JJuq4x0WVLdgVMWU4yYXfxzuwC9r-UqRQnSYjrLbe4ft38p3w3DxQFhqcYLuRD9qF8h-t6kXs1ZBDkkAsYT-vyRYjL7ZI8svGjJNi7gYnoISu3VxibwoHoLNu6ARXs4CqvgT7ViAtCCjNAS37qap6MZG_yQ=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Golden Gamallt trout / brithyll aur Gamallt</span></td></tr>
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The next half an hour went without seeing a fish. As I neared Aled, he asked politely (!) if I would move away as there were fish rising in front of him. As I paddled out I noticed that there were numerous surface feeders around some weed beds at the windward end of the lake. The sedge were still present, including some huge skaters (that the fish ignored), and I stuck with the muddler on the dropper. The next hour brought four or five savage takes and three fantastically conditioned golden bellied trout to the muddler.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhf7MWB5bIike-VZuSncepwZPKNcr0WplW23PDZStE4HZSjMrCxca1RdkCtqYwRONZuyFNsMGGQJGuOagIcf_CqEloWIkZRuNHp9483Tc7zMhwRDFyC5nl9bwMfI558B6IMj5YZYmavSsbUdhk7Z4vNRu_4FtGvfBJpRzEzQJ-nPfg-uM2iRYMk_YT6xwYNpxjwvnsGLxnX9UZnMfXr_Ufm5JmosEUU5Kw=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Gamallt surface feeder </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiU1lLNJ2MG997yVFIg4psl7LrIB85zSRfvd8OyODGa7NqhP02YPEQxRjYaDy-Lz8T-FLs4RSNDU6Vp8uXoyAPvZt331wFAU02yCXUBTSmQ-PnwyLF6aBxcKQ-YZsQPQq0TXTdWZe27kuWnQigqNSDeH46cAA6-NFySZ2RCbvYho0g0ac39TiGp3NMl4y8hW0xIb4BwOsW7akzUglvMOoAVX8EsaSVUkfk=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="251" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Claret dun </span></td></tr>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With fish still rising, the takes ceased. After unsuccessfully covering two or three I wound in and took time to observe, something I find more effective at water level, when wading or in a float tube. There was a hatch of small, very dark coloured olives - claret duns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I changed to a single size 16 dark coloured <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJyIbgKYHwY">CDC and Elk</a>. This was the tactic for the rest of the day and numerous fish fell to this simple pattern, cast at rises and fished static. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgJwo1wOyUm254mo4HLuv4-H4Z9FlRSTuWRrGM08N_PMNBm3rar9h4c1nh6Gl0DwqaPWENmcAk-rw7E9R-hwXAXrfvrZRQMPwcpB67VZKlciWjEIt5xpnh5ZoRM0JgNAbjbdgi8KAXVxTxtktWfTKjT9Z56gsg17uKQkWEx7vQ5_QdpLWy62UjORZeZwiktyxP2pEEIPVhwuVlBHK7lsqUFGLU7HNdHpew=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dark trout from a peaty lake</span></td></tr>
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By mid-afternoon I remembered the fish near the shrub and decided to paddle back up the lake. As I neared the steep bank I heard a tell tale plop and honed in to see the disturbance beneath the conveniently located sapling. <br /><br />Quietly, I paddled into range and cast. The fly hit the water the fish rose confidently. It took me two minutes to land on my five weight rod and, I have to admit, I thought it was bigger than the fifteen inch gold bar that I netted. But I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh6YO5zPYAFbZ_KQmRZL4ER99QdpK56mBew_Osz3vL4mED_qS3-RNp2eJ5g13LnM-pAmzGA6bVH24-yGFyf8rauXmgkW8fsCS0qI9w2wjw3v0CVMsOH91wftOCZUho3hNUyG7-JNbyeOaQZyzFYxe0XzosOHzbuIvAMKPASVGIPcz4qV72mLe1mDmo0cS6FXx_YMzShcyR_IQU4kDoB8yHHsLcHacRveeU=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Fish of the day</span></td></tr>
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<br />Happy, and with tired legs, I went to find Aled who had been enjoying some sport pulling dark olive imitations from the bank. I surrendered my float tube to him and he spent a few hours becoming acquainted with this dignified means of fishing transport. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEip0q7fc36GFvV3-1HeXiaP1Cz5Bw7A-es9rrHNixek8bHqouQckA-t8PKDBiTj-KxeLfDN4U2RhFVOdYoTFN-vABoG5yKAM1izfrbD2RJXKlJBVLhxyApq1t10m8QAk94Xo896KLl99O_OwnSlhHhMwTEVXgYG95yFNZMwO_NmV7dCMctgwVQ4kzrJUIxp3uWYdDbV8e1sxqhHEz04EsXbwPmPl6uLENk=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aled - on the tube</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was early evening before we trudged back to the car, both agreeing to return before the end of the season. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi0vQ3szUiMOziq8m9bJeSBOj0CyZginfI_5_YvfPzKBtrsnc4mWDC0Ybu2xlpdErPiS0sPZbiCj5kJuISxym3a96LcnmjlaRwSkUK7qX4o0_60nUahjGmPAhCBoPijiQS8EvVLnV1GUlt06V7GGm7guc_66kqlnCTGJQHMuxYwv2cVdOT7t6iASzaPgUnC9n-ZoH6z63Qr-MK4vchy2SCqpiDTLfXzd8k=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Resting my legs</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That night we stayed at the </span><a href="http://www.llewcoch.co.uk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Llew Coch, Dinas Mawddwy</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I'll say nothing about the rooms, but food is plentiful and it's a cracking boozer. Despite a tiring, but very rewarding day, we played pool and talked about Dyfi sewin with the locals until the small hours.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgzwK5wjcftzodi4mJVW_ZqOWVduKl4H5hZjKTLhXO08S7hVLbHHPIGyOqPCwVmuyX7Z6zUduGE81GQJp1oJ2BDhRVDKhC0hHuEEyO_2wAWLoqVzL0rqBD6PRSYOZwinjZ_k5-2tb3fQolpC0gKT1h52r6UN2Er_CFLaNDUaI_WSqH9j_UISjnX4g_cQIEhnAaLXcyMOqM3cwnH4xB5DJR46QOOzF3OxIs=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is what it is!</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Llyn Gwyddior, 31st May</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At nine o'clock sharp we rang the bell of a familiar house in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanbrynmair">Llanbrynmair</a> (it's best to leave it until then to collect the pre-booked day tickets for Llyn Gwyddior from Emyr Lewis - y dyn o Lanbrynmair). Emyr is a hugely experienced ex-water bailiff fly fisherman, whose Coch-y-Bonddu pattern is known far and wide. He is also a nice man whose house can be recognised by a small sign inscribed with the image of a trout and the words 'Local Trout for Sale'. These rainbow trout are harvested from Llyn Clywedog and he was there that day, so we purchased the tickets from his very helpful wife, the aptly named Dyfi. We would have to chew the fishing fat with Emyr when we dropped the gate keys back to him at the end of the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
From the village of Llanbrynmair, Gwyddior is a twenty minute drive along rural lanes, through a farm yard, over a brook and up gated forestry tracks. If you're not in an off-road vehicle it's worth checking the weather before you go, as the brook can be very difficult to pass after heavy rain. In fact, it's always worth keeping an eye on the weather when visiting such places... <br />
<br />
Five years ago, a friend (who shall remain nameless) and I were in a boat on Gwyddior when a storm hit us. That day I witnessed two things for the first time: a grown man crying while sporting a fishing hat, and a rowing boat surfing a wave only to be deposited on the bank. By the time we descended the mountain, white as sheets, the trees were still and the sun shining. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEglF_1KmIQPvqBSAn0FAWdPrgDkqz3QTvYApdPH2QCWXv_H-OnzxOC5T85n4AKC3jPq-oIxglOcMFSGAJin8-us_ZiCLh8ppOa7q-_wfrONLClOaT83shUmOu-Ymf2zUmHNDusNj3IOXp4Gry4Qvmyg9TR5e5C8XKoBChfaUldO5_pxJrQEqqS8DKYmF-_7ma_8jCgs1mAXabftVZzxiPcigyOqwPbxtc0=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Llyn Gwyddior </span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we arrived at the llyn, I pumped up my tube and gathered my gear. As Aled and I surveyed the water there was a loud bang that triggered a blasphemous exclamation from my friend. One of my tube bladders had punctured! </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I can only conclude that too much breakfast in the Llew Coch resulted in over inflation. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj73-R0CcOUPFbHfnxqzrc-5MKkNLr3HIp5aHfBQlMPRL21ljxwF7DVTXJh1oKuPXSYaatKqHcKl7ochFsKKGPQlnkFz9sShgKkw_csL0BxJzzlg7qPIglQqCl0lL7bTXwwwR45-UsnYF9x6TKgtyoCA-Hp9AwNip4Z5F-cbf2AkC7u3YfpfpTsYAONd1-9zSb0Fq07LzGTvsjvi0sJ6zXbe1CUu4DlZgA=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bladder malfunction </span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had packed an electric engine and some oars so that, if needed, we could use the boat but, in a huff, I elected to bank fish. This proved to be a mistake. <br /><br />
I worked my way over to the opposite side with no success. Then, under a cloudy sky, some large fish started rising in a line about forty meters out, downwind of a large reed bed. Claret duns were hatching on the reeds and being blown onto the water, the fish hitting them as they bobbed past. I persisted with deep wading, trying to cover these surface feeders with a CDC and Elk, catching one and losing two. All good fish but - a schoolboy error - my camera was out of charge. <br />
<br />
In the distance, Aled beckoned me over to the boat. By the time we were on the water, the hatch had slowed and we caught no more on the surface. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We tried various methods but it was dead. At these difficult times I resort to shock tactics employing attractor patterns. I attached a slow sinking poly leader and put a size 10 Alexandra on the point. As we approached a submerged fence we knew there would be fish present and, as I joked about a 'fence fish', my rod arced to the pull of a trout of about a pound and a half (which I lost at the boat). Within a few minutes, it was Aled's turn to land a fish of a pound on a large, very flashy claret dabbler. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then another hour of nothing. In desperation I attached a tungsten cone head black wooly bugger-type streamer. This worked well and I landed a fish of over a pound, losing another before it was time to leave. </span><br />
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With the gear packed away, we started the journey down to civilisation, jobs and families. I was grumbling about a spare bladder for my tube and not taking the boat out soon enough when the sun came out. As we turned the corner I became quiet, stopped and got out to admire the view. I no longer cared. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj6sGgFBGGGweHPepko8yuTyCsM8SrNIrjqb3iOeTRzwdTDJmiZ9988SQOyOrZFom91IQ-X-Md4BBzgmVdeawJdTUwC3nooqu7peJMIpgL7Q0E7vqGqRutNp0c0Tj3FRbWu0ZWIsvx55VWTA3iVPGm1nN6b5VUnUAJo6-yp3gb4u_AZPG1lQg=" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Higher ground </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-61582470771819256482014-06-03T20:34:00.000+01:002015-04-20T08:49:17.190+01:00Reap What You Sow, River Monnow, May 2014<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reflections, Saturday 3rd May </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The morning session with </span><a href="http://therivermandiaries.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dave</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> had been superb, very
challenging but, when we got it right, we were rewarded with some beautiful upper
Monnow trout.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/MonnowBlues_zps39559c6b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/MonnowBlues_zps39559c6b.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monnow blues</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Playing2_zps43982c1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Playing2_zps43982c1e.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Playing a Monnow trout</span></td></tr>
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</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By mid-afternoon, while Dave was off searching for kindling to light his barbecue, I enjoyed a beer and took stock in the quiet of the valley.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p>I recalled
a hot summer's day nearly thirty years ago with my father on the Taff Fechan.
We hadn't seen a fish and were about to call it a day but, fearing
the blank, I persisted with upstream worming tactics, trying to cover a
very difficult eddy beneath a tree canopy. After ten minutes (and a
snapped line) a fish took, certainly not the biggest, but
one of the best. I remembered everything; the take, the way the fish
skipped across the surface and (later), the search for my father's
pipe after he drove off with it on the roof of his van! I concluded that, more often than not, fishing is like most things in life: you get out what you put in. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bm5xk_TIcAAXBKh1_zps554ecc2c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bm5xk_TIcAAXBKh1_zps554ecc2c.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The careful approach - the fish was lying in the slack water on the left</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Playing_zpsb5a5128d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Playing_zpsb5a5128d.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fight</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Monnow17_zps76257b36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Monnow17_zps76257b36.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The prize - 17 inch Monnow beauty</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Brushing my teeth that morning I noticed a
female LDO spinner on the bathroom mirror. Was this a sign of things to follow that day? I
suspected not. Dave and I anticipated a hatch of Large Brook Duns (LBDs). This proved
to be the case with fish targeting the emerging duns in the faster water. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/6990dfd9-e8c0-4140-9640-5826fa0a1048_zps33801fcd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/6990dfd9-e8c0-4140-9640-5826fa0a1048_zps33801fcd.jpg" height="400" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reflection</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We had taken it in turns to cautiously cast to
those we spotted. Most of the surface feeders were taken on a size 14 pearl
butted Wyatt's deer hair emergers (DHEs), one of my favourite flies for this time of
year.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/WyattDHE_zps3307b93e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/WyattDHE_zps3307b93e.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wyatt's DHEs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Dave managed to light the barbecue and cook our steak, we discussed the excellent conservation work that had taken place in the Monnow catchment and the upcoming Monnow Social. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Lunch_zps00487f16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Lunch_zps00487f16.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Healthy lunch</td></tr>
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<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.monnow.org/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monnow Rivers Association (MRA)</span></a></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A Potted History:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1998</strong> - The DEFRA funded River Monnow Project commenced, and created the Monnow Fisheries Association (MFA) (now the Monnow Rivers Association) to improve the capacity of the river to support wild trout, grayling and other wildlife. Partners included the Game Conservancy Trust, the </span><a href="http://www.wildtrout.org/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wild Trout Trust</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (WTT), the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and local farmers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1999</strong> - A detailed survey of river habitat of the upper Monnow catchment identified important wildlife habitats and the extent of degradation resulting from livestock access, and quantified issues resulting from unmanaged bankside alders. The project offered farmers a programme of stock fencing and coppicing of bank-side trees and included a 10 year monitoring programme. <br /><br /><strong>2003</strong> - The first coppicing season commenced and continued annually until completion of the project in 2006.<br /><br /><strong>2006</strong> - The team continued to work with the </span><a href="http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wye and Usk Foundation</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and farmers to adjust farming practice to reduce siltation in spawning areas, improve fence maintenance and ensure re-coppicing of riverside trees.<br /> <br /><strong>2010 </strong>– The MRA initiated the ‘Going Native’ programme to maintain and expand habitat management and eradicate invasive species such as mink, signal crayfish, Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key achievements:</span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>The River Monnow Project: </li>
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<li>Largest ever river habitat restoration project aimed at improving the stocks of brown trout and grayling (£1.5M and countless man hours) </li>
<li>Defra funding (£1.1M) was a record for such a project </li>
<li>No comparable project had been as comprehensively monitored or involved as many partner organisations </li>
<li>Met or exceeded DEFRA targets </li>
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<li>Improved the fishing quality and enhanced the value to farmers and landowners </li>
<li>Eradicated mink and Himalayan Balsam </li>
<li>Water voles were reintroduced to the River Dore (Monnow tributary) </li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>On-going work of the MRA: </strong></span></div>
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<li>Volunteers monitor and trap mink that enter the Monnow catchment </li>
<li>Active participation in the Anglers’ Monitoring Initiative (monitoring fly life) </li>
<li>'Going Native' continues to reintroduce important native species such as water voles, white clawed crayfish and ranunculus </li>
<li>Continued marketing to increase the number of anglers visiting the river </li>
<li>Engagement with local schools through the WTT’s ‘Mayfly in The Classroom’ project </li>
<li>An annual auction and ‘The Monnow Social’ fund raising event </li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The late Peter Lapsley fully describes the achievements of the Monnow Rivers Association (and two of the people behind it) in his excellent <a href="http://www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk/">FF&FT</a> article ‘Men of the Monnow’ (February 2012 issue).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/GuinnessWater_zps8fc5e62f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/GuinnessWater_zps8fc5e62f.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quiet Monnow Valley</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Monnow Social, 9th - 11th May</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year the MRA invites supporters to eat, sleep and be merry in a field on the Monmouthshire /
Herefordshire border, and share in the fruits of their labour by fishing the River Monnow and its tributaries (see last year’s blog entry). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/2a48f215-f049-4bde-a482-13772c5f3ea1_zpsfba24256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/2a48f215-f049-4bde-a482-13772c5f3ea1_zpsfba24256.jpg" height="232" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Longtown camping</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Escley Magic</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The forecast for the weekend was worrying with strong winds and heavy spells of rain predicted. I turned up early on a showery Friday afternoon with the intention of fishing one of the local brooks. After setting up camp and catching up with fellow Merthyr boy <a href="http://www.garethlewisflyfishing.com/">Gareth</a> (who ties some of the best flies), I had the pleasure of watching Geraint land a lovely pounder from the slightly coloured Escley Brook at the bottom of the field. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/EscleyBrook_zps47416d83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/EscleyBrook_zps47416d83.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tranquil Escley Brook</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under strict instructions from Rob Denny of the MRA, I drove down river to a picturesque stretch of the Escley. I was pleased to note the abundant fly life that included LDOs, chironomids, LBDs and a couple of budgerigar sized Danica mayfly. A good number of fish, including three over ten inches, were taken on black gnats, DHEs and (in the deeper runs) silver bead PTNs. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Escleytrout_zps8bd24b80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Escleytrout_zps8bd24b80.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Escley trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I returned from my foray downstream most of my fellow fishermen had arrived and I spent the evening catching up with friends old and new. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Raspberry</span> </h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was with bleary eyes that I enjoyed a cooked breakfast in the main tent on the Saturday morning. I expressed my concern that the main river would be colouring after the overnight rain. Those more familiar with the Monnow reassured me that I was being an old woman. I was delighted to learn that I would be on a lightly fished beat of the main river below Kentchurch and would be joined by Kris Kent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We had a cracking day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As ever the fishing was challenging but the trout came steadily. Kris was easy company as we took it in turns to target rising fish or work through runs. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Nymphing_zpscf0658b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Nymphing_zpscf0658b1.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the Edge - a number of fish were lying in the back water beneath the tree</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Log_zps9718d242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Log_zps9718d242.jpg" height="248" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was an 8 inch trout behind the log</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The largest fish of the day was landed by Kris and I was clearly over the moon to net and return it for him. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Special_zps329ce2c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Special_zps329ce2c1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My special fishing face</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Monnowtrout_zps4e9ec364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Monnowtrout_zps4e9ec364.jpg" height="185" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kris' 16 inch Monnow trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kris caught most of his fish on dries whereas I caught around half of mine on nymphs, mainly in the morning. In the early afternoon we arrived at a pool that held two rising fish. It was Kris' turn and he efficiently hooked and landed the first, although the return wasn't as polished.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Kent16_zpsdcd90b84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Kent16_zpsdcd90b84.jpg" height="315" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 6'4'', Kris 'making them look small'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Kentslip_zpsef811d34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Kentslip_zpsef811d34.jpg" height="304" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caution: slippery when wet</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second fish looked big and was bubbling away in a back eddy in front of a protruding root. The position meant that if the trout didn't take my olive emerger then I would either have to lift off quickly and spook the fish or pull it slowly and risk hooking the root. With a wry smile, Kris settled down on the bank - he expected to be there for some time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">My first attempt resulted in a connection, unfortunately, with the root. Tying on a new tippet and fly gave the fish enough time to start feeding again. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The second attempt went exactly the same way, as did the third. I'm ashamed to say that feeling a bit like Robert the Bruce's spider I was tempted to come back to my nemesis after lunch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I was tying another leader, a patient Kris - who, by now, had opened a beer - noticed the fish take a mayfly dun. The first we'd seen all day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The fourth cast was made a good half an hour after the first and my Procter mayfly emerger was confidently accepted. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">That it wasn't as big as we'd thought didn't matter one bit; I was very pleased to have caught a difficult fish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">After lunch Kris and I spotted a rise in some slow water. I cast a few times and elicited no response. As it didn't rise again, Kris walked upstream to look for more surface feeders. A new fish then rose downstream of me in the main current. I collapsed my cast and, as I lowered the rod tip to maintain drag free drift, a large burgundy-looking mouth engulfed the fly. Immediately, I knew I was connected to a very good fish (or a 'raspberry' as they are referred to on the Monnow) and I shouted for Kris who, unfortunately, was out of earshot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The fish ran hard downstream towards a stand of willow on the near bank. With two thirds of my line off the reel and the rod high above my head I applied side strain before it made the roots. This proved futile and, as I watched the rod arc and the fly line tighten over the water, I felt that horrible sudden release of pressure as my 6x copolymer snapped. I'd lost two very big fish in two weeks and wasn't even in that contest. Another 'raspberry' blown. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Sceneofbiggie_zpsf1faf9fc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Sceneofbiggie_zpsf1faf9fc.jpg" height="211" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calm before the storm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was with a face like a fighting man's posterior that I walked upriver to show Kris the two stubs where the tippet had snapped below my tucked blood knot (where it goes through the eye of the fly). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That evening Kris informed that I had looked like I was going to cry. Noting Morgan's comment that I should stop taking things so seriously, I drank deep. </span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LBD Heaven</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At breakfast, after a long and hilarious evening that included the brilliant Monnow Social Auction, I was informed that I would be accompanied on another lightly fished upper main stem beat by Dorset duo <a href="http://www.riverworks.co.uk/">John</a> and Ian. Again, I'd got lucky. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dave showed us the beat and by the late morning I was using duo tactics to tempt several fish, all over 10 inches. As very few were rising, John was also nymphing but Ian had caught a trout of over a pound and a half on the surface. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Spotty_zps03824c65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Spotty_zps03824c65.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well marked Monnow trout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In the early afternoon the LBDs began to hatch. Knowing that the fish nearly always respond, I changed tactics. The hungry trout readily accepted my DHE, until I came to a tree lined stretch where (by now) rafts of LBDs were sailing into small back eddies formed by roots of alder and willow, and where feeding fish lay in wait. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The eddies were small so I had to land the fly quite close upstream of the fish. A dun pattern (pictured in my last entry) was better suited to this tactic and stage of the hatch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked off numerous fish while marvelling at the average stamp. The trout were comparable to those caught on a good day on the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the top of the run, in the first small back water, I cast to a dimple rise. My target took first time and, as I'd just had some practice in turning these fish from the roots, I manoeuvred it into open water. I slid the net under the 18 inch trout and observed the broad silvery form of a fantastically conditioned fish. Not quite a 'raspberry' but just as memorable. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/b2e73b16-2f62-4c45-be21-5fc518d42671_zpsc9434c70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/b2e73b16-2f62-4c45-be21-5fc518d42671_zpsc9434c70.jpg" height="361" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Return on investment - an 18 inch Monnow LBD feeder</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the run fished out (for now), I walked upstream to find my companions and was very pleased to see Ian and John catch a number of good fish on LBD and mayfly patterns. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sitting on the bank, I heard a familiar, barely audible sound. I watched the main bubble lane and noticed the occasional LBD almost disappear. There was a big fish sipping duns or, as my mate Aled would say, "giving them a sws" (a little Welsh kiss). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I took a few deep breaths and cast. The fish rose and I struck fresh air. I sat there for another thirty minutes and it didn't resume feeding; I'd spooked it. After that I returned every half an hour but didn't see it again. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I ever get invited back (CLANG!) then that's the first pool I'll be heading for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just Desserts</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was born on May 10th and had a superb birthday weekend both fishing and socialising. The Monnow catchment is one of the best managed in the UK and it was a privilege to pursue such quality trout in the serene valley. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The persistent hard work undertaken by the MRA to improve this unique river is clearly reflected in the four days of excellent fishing described above. In this case, we all get out what they put in. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Monnowrainbow_zpse452031b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Monnowrainbow_zpse452031b.jpg" height="292" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monnow Valley rainbow</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*Thanks to Dave Smith and Kris Kent for a few of the shots above</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-84805022850428381732014-05-07T21:58:00.000+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.491+01:00False Starts - River Usk and River Taff, April 2014<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a Difference a Day Makes </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bryn
Derwen, River Usk, 12th & 13th April</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
It was Saturday morning. I had grilled a few cuts of Raglan pig and was relieved when Welsh exile
and itinerant angler, Morgan, arrived on time. We had not fished the new beat
together and, even though the river was up 15cm and (worse) there was a stiff
easterly wind, I was eager to get out. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had two days and, so rather than just fish a single beat, we drove
a mile or so downstream to Llan Farm (<a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">GAS water</a>). Upon arrival, the wind
funnelled upstream and it was clear I had made a poor choice. A false start. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back upstream we fished hard until 5pm with only a few fish taken on nymphs.
We located no surface feeders and saw very few flies, even in the sheltered spots.
The wading on this deep wide beat again proved challenging. The river appeared
dead, and we concluded the grannom emergence, that promised much at the end of
March, had fizzled out. I was not disheartened as the forecast was far better
for the Sunday and the river was dropping fast.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following more local bacon, and with heads as clear as the spring sky (we
must be getting old), we were pleased to be met by still conditions. Immediately, we
noticed a few egg laying grannom bouncing on the surface film and were delighted
by the sight of a few rising fish.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/10176073_10152364146450011_2579643117355380672_n1_zpsc216e40f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/10176073_10152364146450011_2579643117355380672_n1_zpsc216e40f.jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A better day</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We assumed they were feeding on the spent sedge and selected size 16 split wing CDC and Elk patterns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> As fish were again feeding on the far bank, t</span>o achieve successful presentation we had to wade deep and cast long; a large upstream aerial mend and a sixteen foot leader helped to achieve the essential drag free drift. When the cast was timed correctly and the presentation spot on the fish accepted our flies and we caught most of those we targeted. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BrynDerwenTrout_zps63a19a6f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BrynDerwenTrout_zps63a19a6f.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17 inch Bryn Derwen trout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/10155956_10152364146520011_3591337687517510142_n1_zps3380407c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/10155956_10152364146520011_3591337687517510142_n1_zps3380407c.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deep wading reaps rewards</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morgan is a purist at heart and I was pleased that he had some top of the
water sport in the peaceful surroundings before his two hour drive back to the rush
of the City where they ‘don’t have weather’.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Clogwyn_zps5a302e92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Clogwyn_zps5a302e92.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectator sport</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Leviathan</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upper Taff, 26th April</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dan arrived for breakfast at mine (more pig) before we planned to fish the
Usk. I was worried due to the previous day's rain. As we
walked, river bound, through protective ewes and curious lambs, I could make
out the reddish brown water. Another false start. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Retracing Dan’s journey, we arrived at the elevated and slightly stained
Upper Taff at 10.30 and elected to fish duo tactics with small silver and
copper bead PTNs on the dink. This was my first time on this part of the Taff
this season and I was excited by the prospect of the eighteen inch plus fish that
we often spot in the shallow river.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We worked our way upstream taking it in turns to fish through the runs, with both
of us catching four or five fish to nymphs. The river had changed over the wet winter
and there was a strong and gusty southerly wind that I thought would kill any
top of the water sport. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffTrout2_zpsa5e4fb73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffTrout2_zpsa5e4fb73.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upper Taff trout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At a favoured long, slow pool the recently arrived house martins were
hammering a big hatch of Large Dark Olives (LDOs) and Large Brook Duns (LBDs);
a superb site in these urban surroundings. Dan nodded at the river – ‘here we
go butty’. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know no one that understands this piece of water like Dan. He is an
instinctive angler and can spot and catch Upper Taff trout in
water that most would walk past (or wade through). Just as Morgan was my guest at
Bryn Derwen, I was Dan’s there. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started fishing LDO (emerger and then dun) patterns and caught a few to
fifteen inches. We missed only one that I put down when the wind caught my
line. Frustrated, I stood and waited until Dan beckoned from further up. In the
fast water above the pool, LBDs were hatching in abundance and we needed to
change patterns. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/LBDandNymph_zpsbbdfaf72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/LBDandNymph_zpsbbdfaf72.jpg" height="347" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before and after - Large Brook Dun nymph and sub-imago</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/LBDs_zps018c6934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/LBDs_zps018c6934.jpg" height="320" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Large Brook Duns</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: <a href="http://www.cliff-harvey-angling.co.uk/prod_show.asp?id=1629">Size 14 - Hanak H 130 BL</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tail: Moose mane</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body: Golden olive quill or light hare's mask ribbed with brown Hends body quill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thorax: Darker Hare's mask with guard hairs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wing: CDC</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dan gave me one of his LBD patterns (see similar above). We targeted feeding fish that were on the fin traversing the shallow, clearing river. When fish and fly coincided, we connected. These fish were in superb condition and Dan caught the largest at eighteen inches. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffTrout3_zps1bfc56c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffTrout3_zps1bfc56c1.jpg" height="222" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18 inch Taff trout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Tafftrout1_zps2d6d7073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Tafftrout1_zps2d6d7073.jpg" height="143" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another to the LBD imitation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continued to another deep pool, spotting a good trout, I
covered, hooked and landed it. It was a wild late afternoon with driving rain and howling wind. We were nearly ready to go home but I elected to have a
few last casts with a nymph. As I changed my fly, Dan commented that he could make
out the movement of a fish lying deep. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was right, and it took my size 18 silver bead flashback PTN first cast.
For a second it felt like the bottom, ‘Big fish butt!’ I shouted, then all Hell
broke loose. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a monster brown trout that tail walked and then jumped three times. I
swore repeatedly as the fish ran to every snag in the pool, then at me, then at
Dan who turned to laugh at the bend in my rod (and the look on my face). In
what must have been a comical scene for passing motorists, I bellowed over the
wind (melodramatically), </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘It’s going to pop!’ With one hand on the handle and
the other on the blank, I kept the rod high and applied side strain
as smoothly as my shaking hands would allow. During the ‘jumping phase’ I had
noted that the fly was visible in the fish’s mouth but now Dan, who was in
the water waving my net, had some unwelcome news. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘I don’t want to worry you, but the fly is now in his back’. I suspect it dislodged, and relocated, on the last jump and felt
sorry this was no longer to be a fair catch. I still wanted my picture with the
bugger though and so, with pulse booming in temple, did my best to pump the rod and
bring it over my inadequate net. There may have been a split-second opportunity
for a lunge (I doubt it would have worked), after which the angry trout ran hard towards a
boulder and the fly worked free. As he saw it for longer than me, I asked Dan,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'How big?' </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘It was a leviathan!’ was all he would say. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the walk back to the car we made determined noises about ‘getting him
again’. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<h3 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like a Pig<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This
April, the local rivers didn’t disappoint and from what I’ve seen and heard
from others, some quality fishing was had throughout Wales (particularly on the
Upper Wye and Usk). I’ve recently seen a few Usk Yellow May Duns and
Mayfly; with these hatches to look forward to, and the river on my doorstep,
I’m (as a neighbour recently joked to my wife) ‘like a pig in shit’.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/YMDs_zps5d3ffe47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/YMDs_zps5d3ffe47.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yellow May Dun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-44735599150222517672014-04-02T19:21:00.002+01:002016-02-04T22:42:17.361+00:00Brand New Beat - March Browns and Grannom, River Usk, March 2014<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders - Ty Mawr (<a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">GAS</a>), 14th March</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">American author John Gierach called it right; there are three certainties in life, namely <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Death-Taxes-Leaky-Waders-Fly-Fishing/dp/0684868598">'Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders</a>'. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The inevitable came to mind, yet again, on a windy Friday afternoon the day before the Ides of March. It was my first session of the year on the Usk and I could feel cold patches spreading beneath my Simms G3s. This, and the strong northerly wind, was making me irritable but the stunning scenery set against a blue sky, the sight of long tailed tits and the occasional Large Dark Olive (LDO) eased my troubled mind.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trout were hard to come by, especially rising trout. Nymph tactics brought two to a size 12 hare and squirrel fur jig nymph that I copied from <a href="http://taffdiaries.wordpress.com/">Terry Bromwell</a>. This early season fly has served me well as a loose imitation of a March Brown (rithrogena germanica) nymph (I think). </span><br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TyMawr_zpsf441708d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TyMawr_zpsf441708d.jpg" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Between gusts - Ty Mawr, March 2014</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Becoming Acquainted - Bryn Derwen, 15th &16th March</span> </h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday and Sunday (11.00am until 3.00pm), with crudely glued waders, I enjoyed (slightly) less windy conditions. I recently joined the Bryn Derwen Sporting syndicate and I am yet to get to know the beat, but as the fishing starts a couple of hundred metres from my house, I hope to do so over the coming season. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I caught three on Saturday and seven or eight on Sunday, nothing over 13 inches and all on the same nymph. I spotted only three oncers rising to the sparse hatches of March Browns and Large Dark Olives.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was pleasing to see the Usk March Browns and I think that a report from Dave Collins the previous week may have been the earliest recorded UK sighting for 2014. These flies look similar to Large Brook Duns (LBDs) but I wouldn't usually expect to see LBDs until well into April. Upon close inspection, the March Browns I collected were identifiable by the presence of black areas on all femurs (upper legs), the absence of a yellow leading edge to wing and dark brown bodies with distinct gold(ish) banding. </span><br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7uabJ5s0iiDpwwThw21b4sOq-NRbVDyJTQY_EbAbfL9VHFra2vU31tIBiXoOawxNzR7rmEwmk98XjvX0nqxQIXkKF0I0h1973CS_yLVN53MohULZYuVcdLEcG5kk4xisaPGHCKvd8_md/s1600/IMG_2811-002+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7uabJ5s0iiDpwwThw21b4sOq-NRbVDyJTQY_EbAbfL9VHFra2vU31tIBiXoOawxNzR7rmEwmk98XjvX0nqxQIXkKF0I0h1973CS_yLVN53MohULZYuVcdLEcG5kk4xisaPGHCKvd8_md/s1600/IMG_2811-002+(2).JPG" height="515" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Image courtesy of Dave Collins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warming Up - Bryn Derwen, 22nd & 23rd March</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following weekend there were small hatches of LDOs and a few good flurries of March Browns. Despite the wind the fish began to look up; the occasional rising fish that would oblige when flies were hatching.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span>I caught three on the Saturday (two to a CDC LDO dun pattern and another to a March Brown emerger) and three on the Sunday (all to the March Brown emerger). </span><br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/FAstmoving_zpsc28a9ea4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/FAstmoving_zpsc28a9ea4.jpg" height="400" width="398"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first top of the water trout of the season </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the first day, I managed to fall down when a badly undercut bank gave way. I jarred my left shoulder but luckily I cast right handed. </span><br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Fallingdown_zpsee75ab24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Fallingdown_zpsee75ab24.jpg" height="371" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Falling down</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day I came across a frightened looking lamb and returned it to its ewe. She had fallen down the same section of bank and I smiled as my shoulder reminded me when I lifted her to field level. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In spite of my good deed the wader Gods frowned upon me once more and my left leg was soaking by the end of the session. </span></span><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Lamb_zps5f459469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Lamb_zps5f459469.jpg" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">River bank emergency</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grannom - Bryn Derwen, 31st March</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Monday <a href="http://therivermandiaries.blogspot.co.uk/">Dave Smith</a> visited to help me 'get know the new beat'. I hadn't seen Dave for a few months and was looking forward to putting the world to rights and, hopefully, catching a few on the surface. </span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After breakfast we tackled up and walked to the river where we noticed clouds of flies drifting up stream - unmistakably grannom. The previous day, Mark Roberts had informed me that they'd begun to hatch further up. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Dave and I scanned the water and almost immediately observed a number of k</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">idney shaped rise forms towards the far bank. A sure sign! We knew then were in for a good day and my hands trembled slightly and I talked too much as I tied on a <a href="http://gwilymhughes.com/THE_GH_SEDGE_EMERGER.asp">GH grannom/sedge emerger</a>. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNdAca8leIb_-EVMPOLCytBt7eyKvZlEpRFDsZCZ0YwAez-dP_E1LrPOzy5CtPZ_QvPJW0EKzoQ1nrIexPi8x3cjwbKj0C59_IhzGZaIB1W67GwoQSy_pjGHo8hewgx1hBcdcTy0cNsCT/s1600/Emergers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNdAca8leIb_-EVMPOLCytBt7eyKvZlEpRFDsZCZ0YwAez-dP_E1LrPOzy5CtPZ_QvPJW0EKzoQ1nrIexPi8x3cjwbKj0C59_IhzGZaIB1W67GwoQSy_pjGHo8hewgx1hBcdcTy0cNsCT/s1600/Emergers.jpg" height="400" width="273"></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Gwilym Hughes and </span><a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/articles/flies/grannom-pupa-emerger"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dave Collins Grannom emergers</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br><br>We expect grannom to start hatching from the second week of April, but I couldn't recall whether I'd seen them earlier than this year, and so consulted a very experienced fly fisherman, Dave Collins (see the emerger above). He remembers (and so do I now) that about five years ago, after a very warm February and a winter of low water levels, they were present from the third week of March. He also informed me that we saw Yellow Mays in the fourth week in April that year (when we usually expect to see them the first week in May). </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Deep</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">To allow more control and drag free drift, I try to carefully wade within about ten metres of a rising fish, but this is not always possible on the wide, deep lower Usk. As the water levels were high and the majority of fish feeding tight to the opposite bank, Dave and I had to wade deep and cast long. This was made more difficult by a limited back cast in many areas. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was using an 11ft #3 loaded with a 4 weight line. The longer rod offers more control at distance and the 4 weight line allows me to work the rod with less line in the air (I normally fish 'one up' when sewin fishing). </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UskTrout4_zps1494a82b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UskTrout4_zps1494a82b.jpg" height="266" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fish rising on the opposite bank...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Timing our casts correctly, we caught fish. The targets would not respond immediately after rising with the most enthusiastic feeding at around thirty second intervals. We took it in turns to spot and cast to </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">fish, both losing large trout that had appeared highly efficient feeders in their bankside lies. </span><br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/troutnet_zps6d585217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/troutnet_zps6d585217.jpg" height="381" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bryn Derwen beauty </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UskStamp_zps551d72c0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UskStamp_zps551d72c0.jpg" height="202" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Average stamp</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were impressed by the stamp of the fish (and the numbers in evidence)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and, by lunch time, were at the top of our waders targeting what were very challenging trout. </span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Andformynext_zps7004fc74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Andformynext_zps7004fc74.jpg" height="400" width="312"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dave - and for my next trick...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fish, again tight to the opposite bank, were stationed just off the cover of tree roots and submerged branches. They required a long slack line but (thankfully) were feeding confidently and we successfully hooked many of them. </span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UskTrout5_zps460de1e5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UskTrout5_zps460de1e5.jpg" height="277" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gill plate blues</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Haul2_zps113e7f43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Haul2_zps113e7f43.jpg" height="400" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Root and branch</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We worked our way slowly upstream picking fish off as we went. On one of my 'turns' we noticed a very small kidney shaped indentation just off a clump of roots over deep water. Suspecting a large fish I concentrated. After a few nervous passes it took the CDC emerger and proved us correct. </span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/FishOn_zps569f5e37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/FishOn_zps569f5e37.jpg" height="384" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Retreating to land the fish</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three or four minutes, a few heart stopping jumps and plenty of side strain later and the fish was in the net. Dave and I marvelled at the perfectly conditioned eighteen inch March beauty. </span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/19inchbest_zps57b1dfe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/19inchbest_zps57b1dfe1.jpg" height="315" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grannom feeding Usk brown trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dave soon spotted what looked like another good fish, where the water was even deeper and the back cast more limited. Single minded in his approach, he overflowed his waders resulting in a slightly early bath for both of us (not that I minded as it had started raining and my waders were leaking again). </span><br>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Certainties</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Back at the house, we discussed our day over a warming cup of tea and, upon our goodbyes, Dave left me in no doubt that he would like to return to 'the new beat' in the near future.</span><br>
<br>
I've all but given up on my year old Simms waders and, in a desperate attempt to keep dry, I have chanced my arm, ordering a reconditioned pair of Vision waders from <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/wadersrepairs/">Diver Dave</a>. At £120, considering the places I fish and (I'm told) my odd shape, one other thing is certain:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I'll be very happy if I can laugh in the face of Gierach and stay waterproof</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> until the end of the season. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*Thanks to Dave Smith for some of the above images</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-34885689149077674152014-02-28T19:54:00.000+00:002014-07-09T12:13:36.450+01:00Touching Distance - February 2014<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Winter of Discontent </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
During the wettest winter on record the local grayling fisheries were flooded for long periods, and I only managed four sessions in total. Hugely disappointing. </span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Another winter pastime also suffered as I didn't do much ferreting. To make matters worse Nel, my lurcher, has a severely damaged back leg and will be permanently lame. I think a lot of the bitch and this is a bitter blow. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WS_n6w7snNh754-DYvzNnBOyxl6XbxH2Ub6s9DvB4cVD3fKBLznqvdiKvq-5SXBbYUlgZpv5-mav-_UBDCRdwhkULcYvSch0hdA0XsaXGIGuhWeyhnJU7sJcJaHiheL35eclnXi1xE_X/s640/blogger-image-1411894221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WS_n6w7snNh754-DYvzNnBOyxl6XbxH2Ub6s9DvB4cVD3fKBLznqvdiKvq-5SXBbYUlgZpv5-mav-_UBDCRdwhkULcYvSch0hdA0XsaXGIGuhWeyhnJU7sJcJaHiheL35eclnXi1xE_X/s400/blogger-image-1411894221.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long netting an orchard</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early Season Patterns</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After time spent </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">indoors my river trout fly boxes are somewhere near where I would like them. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HeuXYHhqxMlv1dPgvHZwm3rQCp4cdBrnUv_J8d2FfxJ-lfjiazCrfsdNZ7uzfaPh1kvGeG1OlA2mwLSsmmmPvkd_6ZmZ_Ncahdr3Klc-aA9KvJf5-aOuzsBEo-mv3fTknFMK5tUC45bP/s640/blogger-image--1956577347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HeuXYHhqxMlv1dPgvHZwm3rQCp4cdBrnUv_J8d2FfxJ-lfjiazCrfsdNZ7uzfaPh1kvGeG1OlA2mwLSsmmmPvkd_6ZmZ_Ncahdr3Klc-aA9KvJf5-aOuzsBEo-mv3fTknFMK5tUC45bP/s320/blogger-image--1956577347.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter evenings</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last few years, there have been significant hatches of Large Brook Duns (LBDs) on the Usk and Taff, and improving hatches of March Browns on the Usk. While they are believed to emerge differently the nymphs, like the duns, looks similar and I have tied the following (size 12) pattern to imitate them.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzEL5FBYDLB788rMTtgF3mEdo2MH6-04qWeKvyK1ImlrAmAxB4ec02zifeex2oJN3yCf7T1Pl-cPXSByFFlP20AN0eh-w8R81WPtXFtvpKMQmvZHsR-eKbJwCm47YzPht9PvpBsa6E4hx/s320/blogger-image-284374377.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LBD / MB Nymph</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have had success with the emerger pattern below on the Usk, Monnow and Taff. On the Monnow and Usk, fish have taken the fly during the sporadic hatches of March Browns. On the Taff they have taken this fly during large hatches of LBDs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reading John Goddard's Waterside Guide as a boy, I learnt that the stone clinging LBD nymphs don't hatch in open water and that an emerger pattern is of little value. I am no great entomologist, but what I know (now) is that increasing numbers of LBDs find their way onto the surface of the Taff and Usk, trout feed on them and the size 12 emerger below is successful at these times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDilru44Y_-Yw7-XcTacZNDp7-1EaUmV4K4s50LPCwQ1IuEDrxromp4VktO1kc7s9Tpi_oTi6juEpch19RAGNL_4dRv3gxYwNip0OvX4ejmORpi5GJlYk-x8iDufSWSbcoyO63Mkrg7uW/s640/blogger-image-231040834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDilru44Y_-Yw7-XcTacZNDp7-1EaUmV4K4s50LPCwQ1IuEDrxromp4VktO1kc7s9Tpi_oTi6juEpch19RAGNL_4dRv3gxYwNip0OvX4ejmORpi5GJlYk-x8iDufSWSbcoyO63Mkrg7uW/s640/blogger-image-231040834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDilru44Y_-Yw7-XcTacZNDp7-1EaUmV4K4s50LPCwQ1IuEDrxromp4VktO1kc7s9Tpi_oTi6juEpch19RAGNL_4dRv3gxYwNip0OvX4ejmORpi5GJlYk-x8iDufSWSbcoyO63Mkrg7uW/s320/blogger-image-231040834.jpg" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LBD / MB Emerger</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSR2wC9Cn4_Ft9gPG_HxzM-CyWjdLqrqa8Yq9l4FDWTrUXJeGETXFIXnayNc3Y13_Jz2lv1KCuw5bQRF6GGOomiu5u2FH24smZiFyjjo0DiYwe4sPqZuyCSNwNk1fXXNcyTbmnMYglbSS8/s640/blogger-image-1006407072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all know early season fish feed on Large Dark Olives and I have included a few of the patterns used to imitate the nymph and dun. I also catch fish on olive coloured CDC emerger patterns (similar to the one above) and olive jinglers. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf-_o3-kKMRpuAwOqTwhgFW-tK8rcpZRxVOxhjdtov8vdb3N90rO28yIFlBxaPH17qYf866nvgntG-byl6hhIASVa30dgAl107WxrFqzREAkMMTGU0b8xcN6_szxsPC0v5-vJ7pyqLARS/s640/blogger-image-1540827717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf-_o3-kKMRpuAwOqTwhgFW-tK8rcpZRxVOxhjdtov8vdb3N90rO28yIFlBxaPH17qYf866nvgntG-byl6hhIASVa30dgAl107WxrFqzREAkMMTGU0b8xcN6_szxsPC0v5-vJ7pyqLARS/s320/blogger-image-1540827717.jpg" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UV Back PTN Jig</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnNr8l6t0zyg4EogvvLXEye2H24TZhZhay9eo5_bC_EchsQ67xNmStOS2agcOWrOp0Mkjr-oLWJdG2REh4EsH31kV8JmKnwxgBhNNwwn37aPd9j1XAZziV6fRD_ZekWjZeNJp4nq03dKg/s640/blogger-image--1882055000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9W4tLWWFDfTeYsB1Fj345wx8HucW23pX8JHE5nI_fRYZqkhln0WMhOJdZLAZQa_wTBciwqooXtHCkdPiWJixTl0d4QFfreIT-8iOx2hd_GskJn7hhVjfatb6OFSjWXt03CYQFsZMBQnS4/s400/blogger-image--983813635.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Olive Quill Paraduns </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVX-xKPsyUwsNqKiZGQG1j5Ee7lS8gbb-FJ0iUPZif10KWjwN1YyVoPPmZBbz4iOFNTZ_MVs6rdC_oAtLrnJ6OnibVtkE2iFxZHWLcT3zd3AqedKvSI1BDOnGcK8Aei4t1AcCDWHa5bRZ/s640/blogger-image--427580985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVX-xKPsyUwsNqKiZGQG1j5Ee7lS8gbb-FJ0iUPZif10KWjwN1YyVoPPmZBbz4iOFNTZ_MVs6rdC_oAtLrnJ6OnibVtkE2iFxZHWLcT3zd3AqedKvSI1BDOnGcK8Aei4t1AcCDWHa5bRZ/s320/blogger-image--427580985.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LDO Quill CDC Dun</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Red River</span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The season cannot come quickly enough. A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s all my thoughts turn to Usk trout, I know the river will be different this year. The high water has not only eroded banks but washed away natural features, fishermens' seats and even bridges. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The pictures below were taken in the same spot, and at the same elevation, six months apart. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nQ6EziB-e05PqDeG8Ta0TDReT8y7N0ObJpIWk4d8o-fCLGx7Aj-i-8cpffSr1f95Yozm6kelb5o99i34WAxOp6oEYtum3LTlFvnXptKs69asS_4i1pUozjRABVsli5VAsKEGLYVdmDGJ/s640/blogger-image--1179248942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nQ6EziB-e05PqDeG8Ta0TDReT8y7N0ObJpIWk4d8o-fCLGx7Aj-i-8cpffSr1f95Yozm6kelb5o99i34WAxOp6oEYtum3LTlFvnXptKs69asS_4i1pUozjRABVsli5VAsKEGLYVdmDGJ/s320/blogger-image--1179248942.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer low - Bryn Derwen, Usk, August 2013</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fWF7xi5arATGqPpyoFZqLPCUamRhu8NbAzAQ_VTHl-kjZPAyrzkxzduSYgDl31YkYzlyGEp7L_ab7cN6oAHj5Zbz5MCSQs1CQxQBtMtSd_hye3NmIfTLyd-SBn0Milx2JRL7jFFvLvXp/s640/blogger-image-229500166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fWF7xi5arATGqPpyoFZqLPCUamRhu8NbAzAQ_VTHl-kjZPAyrzkxzduSYgDl31YkYzlyGEp7L_ab7cN6oAHj5Zbz5MCSQs1CQxQBtMtSd_hye3NmIfTLyd-SBn0Milx2JRL7jFFvLvXp/s320/blogger-image-229500166.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Red River - Bryn Derwen, Usk, February 2014</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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I have recently joined a syndicate to fish the Bryn Derwen beat, Usk (pictured above). This beat starts less than 200m from the house and is known for a couple of named salmon pools. It is lightly fished, especially for trout, and I hope to spend many happy hours becoming acquainted with the water and its inhabitants. I am also allowed to take a guest...<br />
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We need a dry week before the river drops to the desired level and, with unsettled weather forecast and the season commencing on Monday, it doesn't look good for the Usk.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Elvis once sang - so close, yet so far.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ctSs-tjuZnTH7hFlVwK-jUet2QipLgRSpe8VbGY_rhXO0k-fnyzIybu9LC0xB7ZpQ-XCpLv85A2jc-BziMMl5vHNF6vGkPVtQmFDy7m0wdUTOl_sY65vhScZHd7jTPNM3f3gBmWMlkFz/s640/blogger-image--152991518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ctSs-tjuZnTH7hFlVwK-jUet2QipLgRSpe8VbGY_rhXO0k-fnyzIybu9LC0xB7ZpQ-XCpLv85A2jc-BziMMl5vHNF6vGkPVtQmFDy7m0wdUTOl_sY65vhScZHd7jTPNM3f3gBmWMlkFz/s400/blogger-image--152991518.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usk LDO dun feeder</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-46560329899984024142014-01-20T19:17:00.001+00:002014-07-09T12:13:36.463+01:00Domestic Bliss, River Taff, January 2014<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buckets of rain</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was Saturday night and a text from Dan Popp indicated that the lower
Taff would be fishable the following day. I needed no
persuasion as the local rivers had been in spate since
November. We arranged to meet the next morning at nine.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon arrival the falling river was still pushing fast and slightly
coloured. Further rain was forecast for the afternoon and so we fished relatively
quickly through half a mile of water in the hope of finding a shoal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conditions dictated that we concentrated on slower water, mainly covering the margins, gentler
runs and pools. We caught numerous micro
grayling, nothing big, but it didn't matter as I’d not seen Dan since before Christmas and
I was happy to be out. <o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Against the clock</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By
mid-afternoon, the rain had returned and the river was colouring (we
suspected it had been raining heavily higher up the catchment). There was just time for a quick move to a slow deep
pool that would provide our best chance of some larger fish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the pool Dan went straight to his favourite spot and I entered the river downstream where I caught, and missed, more small grayling on my heavy bugs. The
river is currently stuffed with these 4-5 inch fish but, when the water drops back, I
expect them to be hammered by the numerous cormorants that we observed perched on wires above the river. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost immediately Dan was into a fish of over a pound. Then another, and
another. I worked my way upstream hoping to get in on the action. Ever the
gentleman, Dan offered me a turn.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffGrayligng17_zps81b31ad0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffGrayligng17_zps81b31ad0.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of Dan's </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the f</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">irst
cast I was into what was obviously a large grayling that fought deep and
steady. The fish was intent on running downstream and into the main current,
but I applied side strain to turn it towards the bank. After a couple
of minutes my quarry was steered upstream, along the margins and above my position. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
I pulled the net from my back I caught the appetising whiff of a Sunday
roast and could hear the sound of hoovering from a nearby terraced house - a surreal moment. By
now Dan was in the river next to me and I told him to bugger off
as I was afraid the fish would make a
last run towards him. He laughed as he netted the 19 inch grayling. After being </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">subjected to a
few sweary exclamations the fish swam away strongly.</span> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffGrayling19_zps76d9a6d6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffGrayling19_zps76d9a6d6.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My largest Taff Grayling</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smiling, I
patted Dan on the back and made a few casts upriver to calm myself. As I
covered the water, I wondered if anyone else had landed a specimen grayling to the
smell of warm crackling and the drone of a vacuum cleaner. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-20113800033821384942013-11-25T20:55:00.002+00:002014-07-09T12:13:36.436+01:00Ladies About Town - Urban Grayling, Lower Taff, November 2013<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Previously on Thymallus thymallus...</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have fished for river trout on the upper Taff since I was a small boy but, until a few years ago, I had not caught a Taff grayling as they only inhabit the lower river. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I enjoy fishing gentlemen's hours on the urban river in winter; it's convenient (within 40 minutes drive), cheap (£10 buys a ticket for <a href="http://www.ospreyffa.co.uk/index.php/permits">Ospreys Fly Fishers Association </a>water), the fishing can be top drawer (there is a large grayling population with a good number of fish over 2lb) and many of the friends that I meet on the river are proper fisherman and great company.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/01f86f3c-3b20-412d-885b-866a0898f12b_zps7e22c4a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/01f86f3c-3b20-412d-885b-866a0898f12b_zps7e22c4a1.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Landing a Taff grayling</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fish pictured below was one of largest Taff grayling I caught last season. It was captured in a heavily populated area and, upon landing, I received a hearty round of applause from spectators positioned on a nearby bridge. One of the onlookers, a small boy, clearly concerned for my safety shouted, 'Mr there's a f***ing shark behind you!'. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffGraylingcloseup_zps674b755c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/TaffGraylingcloseup_zps674b755c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One from last season</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This fish was caught on the pattern below. It worked very well for my friends and I last winter, proving a successful point fly on a number of Welsh rivers and English chalk streams. </span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/photo_zpsb2dc3260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/photo_zpsb2dc3260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: Hannak grub hook - 12, 14 or 16</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bead: Metallic pink - 3mm or 3.5mm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Underbody: Medium lead wire - few turns glued behind bead</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body: Dark hare's mask</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rib: Red or pink wire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thorax: Ice dub - UV shrimp pink</span> <br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cabin Fever, November 2013</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a sunny November Sunday morning and it hadn't rained for three days. The local rivers had been unfishable for over a month and I was suffering from cabin fever. I'd been tying for weeks and was itching to wet a few new patters. </span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Corona_zps7a18dabc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Corona_zps7a18dabc.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Not my usual tipple</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon checking, I noted that the river had dropped to 0.9m at <span id="goog_1778285931"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Upper Boat Bridge<span id="goog_1778285932"></span></a> . The safe level is around 0.7m, but as I was desperate to fish I texted my mate Dan Popp...</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I joined Dan and Terry Bromwell on a part of the Ospreys beat that I am relatively well acquainted with. Wading was tricky but we knew that some fish could be caught off the bank. That day we didn't return a huge number - perhaps fifteen between three of us (including out of season trout) - but the proper grayling we did land were well above the Taff average. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terry was the first to catch. I was stood on the bank above him and saw the fish glint as he set the hook of his red tag HE nymph variant in the slightly coloured water. It put up a strong showing but Terry has had plenty of practice.</span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/terrygrayling2_zps0b8d4b23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/terrygrayling2_zps0b8d4b23.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Terry with a pristine grayling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we moved up river we caught several </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">out of season trout (to 1.5lb) and a few small grayling, but did more talking than fishing. At one point I was talking and laughing hard at the end of a cast and, as my body shook, the fly bounced downstream of me and tempted a small grayling. That was not to be the last fish I caught jigging nymphs that afternoon.</span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/DanPopp_zpsa96c2ad5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/DanPopp_zpsa96c2ad5.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dan Popp into a fish in the coloured water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a bit of free climbing, and some very difficult wading, we ended up at a pool that was large enough to accommodate the three of us. In the swollen river we knew that some grayling would be close in and so, initially, elected not to wade. I was using a pink butted silver bead hare's mask nymph on the dropper and a pink metallic beaded bug on the point. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I flicked my nymphs upstream, just beyond a weed bed on a line where the current slowed. As the point fly reached the maximum depth, my indicator stopped and I connected with the lady below. Both flies were heavily weighted and this made the difference, ensuring they presented at the required speed in the faster than usual flow.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="157" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/cbb26dc3-c3af-4802-afa2-434c4f15fd79_zps8c574b03.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nicely conditioned lady</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we had covered the lies close in, I waded into the river to fish another band of slower current. I varied my casts to cover the water and change the speed of the flies. Nothing took, but as previous experience had shown this to be a productive spot, I persevered. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again I cast upstream and slowly led my flies. When directly opposite me, I raised and dipped the rod slightly, repeating as the flies moved with the current. On the second or third rise the fish below hooked itself and put up an arm-aching attritional scrap.</span> <br />
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<img border="0" height="346" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Leegrayling_zps7c783e3b.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pleased it's in the net</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This chunky fish had taken the dropper and was my largest of the day. </span><br />
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<img border="0" height="276" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Taffgrayling1_zps0e83954e.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Thick Taff two pounder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I left the water concluding that, given the conditions, we'd done well, with the quality of the fish more than making up for the relatively low number. Also, I'd had a great laugh with Dan and Terry and managed to steal a look at a few new flies.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something for the weekend</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend my friends David, Dave and Morgan are coming to stay. On Saturday we are booked to fish Doldowlod on the Upper Wye and later intend to watch Wales play Australia at rugby (in the pub). On Sunday Dave, Morgan and I will (slowly) fish the Taff. David remembers the Taff as an industrial gutter and is going to 'give it a miss'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't guarantee grayling, but can guarantee more good humour and a few beers.</span> <br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/MorganBeer_zps29b34d4b.jpg" width="268" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Morgan - elegantly wasted</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-7671560924988035142013-10-08T22:29:00.002+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.485+01:00There is a Season - River Usk, September 2013<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rock bottom - Early September 2013</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following a very dry summer that saw me out with the double hander on only three or four occasions, the Usk was on its bones for most of September. Even when we did receive water the river level fell back while still highly coloured. All very worrying and no doubt exacerbated by the numerous abstractions along the river. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usk trout are some of the spookiest I encounter and, when the river is at rock bottom, fishing can be extremely frustrating.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/MardyUsk1_zps3e70fdfe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/MardyUsk1_zps3e70fdfe.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer low</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Early in the month there were some decent evening rises with fish feeding mainly on small dark olives, sedge and midge. If I could get anywhere near those feeding in slow water -usually after shuffling in and standing stock still for ten minutes- any hint of drag, line flash or spray and the fish either refused or were spooked. I also had to be pinpoint accurate as the targets were virtually lying in the surface film. With a 16 foot leader, 7x point and size 20 - 24 dries drifted drag-free past their snouts, I managed a few, but experienced many last second refusals. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Size 20 and 22 spun CDC emergers and duns</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On those evenings I'm ashamed to say I yearned for the large dark olive hatches of the early season; the April day Pete and I fished at Llanover, the session with Morgan in the heavy rain and the solo day I was snapped on the Mardy beat (see earlier entries). Even though the water was low and clear for the time of year, those afternoon fish were hungry, deep lying and often obliging. Certainly not easy, but less difficult. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/0e6325f4-51b8-47d8-a0e6-030b7c9e111f_zpsc80af0f2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/0e6325f4-51b8-47d8-a0e6-030b7c9e111f_zpsc80af0f2.jpg" height="152" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Autumn Usk trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beginning of the End - Mid September, <a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">Ty Mawr (GAS)</a></span> </h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By the second week of September, the windspeed increased and I had resorted to nymph tactics spending two happy late afternoon and evening sessions on Ty Mawr. I had given up on creeping around fish that lay in the margins and shallow runs, and concentrated on the deeper water where I had more cover.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Duo and trio tactics, with a sliding klink and spectra jig nymphs, worked well. During the first session I caught numerous fish up to 14 inches and was grateful for the lively sport provided by the well marked autumn browns. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/e2ed1dd3-de79-4797-ae80-9a39f2584ccf_zps40eeb3f3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/e2ed1dd3-de79-4797-ae80-9a39f2584ccf_zps40eeb3f3.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretty Ty Mawr trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The second session started off the same, but after an hour or so, where I caught several small fish, I became bored and reverted to my favoured dry fly tactics. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Again, I left the water having been unable to connect with many of the occasional surface feeding fish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">End of Sports - Late September, <a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/?page_id=37#mardy">Mardy (MTAA)</a></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the last Thursday in September, all pure thoughts had deserted me and I left the car armed with only my 11ft Streamflex rod and French leader rig. Informed by my recent experiences I knew the spectra jig nymphs would work well and, as I was headed for some fast runs, I selected two black nickel size 16s (a 3mm bead on the point and the 2.5mm on the dropper). </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wet spectra jig nymph</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hook: 16 Hannak or Fulling Mill jig</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tail: Coq de leon (I like to splay it)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rib: Red ultra wire (the finest diameter I can find)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Body: Hare's mask dubbing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thorax: Hends spectra dubbing No.15</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Collar: Soft hare mask </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bead: 2.5mm or 3mm tungsten black nickel</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I've made some changes, I've seen similar patterns tied by <a href="http://taffdiaries.wordpress.com/">Terry Bromwell</a>, <a href="http://ronsfishing.wordpress.com/">Kieron Jenkins</a>, Nicholas Steedman, <a href="http://www.garethlewisflyfishing.com/">Gareth Lewis</a> and others. For this pattern I have included a spun hare's mask collar but I (and others) also use</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> spun CDC, pine squirrel and various soft feather fibres. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some may consider a 3mm bead to be too large for a size 16 jig hook, this is not the case. I catch lots of trout and grayling on size 16s with 3mm beads. Last year, my most consistent winter grayling pattern was a size 16 3mm sliver bead HE PTN variant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I walked to the bottom of the beat to a run that has produced numerous good fish over the last few years. It's very fast and, as such, is hardly fished. As I made my way up the run I caught three fish around the pound mark. At its head, on the other side of the main current, there is a slightly deeper channel and back water from which I have caught a number fish over 2lb. That evening was to deliver one such fish (perhaps my biggest Usk brown of the season). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Apologies for the poor picture but the current is so fast, even in the margins, that I couldn't take my usual 'in the net' photograph and I didn't want to take time in returning the fish after a two minute fight. Safe to say this brown was a 20 inch minter and the image does not do it justice - you can only just see the double blues! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/009bc5ca-2303-4a4b-9948-ffc127bf173f_zpsfcef487f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/009bc5ca-2303-4a4b-9948-ffc127bf173f_zpsfcef487f.jpg" height="196" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Late season Usk belter </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/638b2c4c-cece-4266-acb7-a2de2fdf8173_zpse046fd84.jpg" height="252" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The release</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking Both Ways</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a good season on the Usk; I've learnt many important lessons and, probably as a result, have hooked more quality fish (not that I landed them all). We have certainly done the right thing in moving to within spitting distance of the river, although there have been some torturous moments when walking the dog along the bank (and being too busy to fish) during a proper evening rise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I don't want to tempt fate but, for next season there is a chance I may be able to fish a mile or so of water within a two minute walk of the house (see below). This would be a true privilege and, if it comes off, I shall be a very lucky man. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Usksunshine_zps7c0642fd.png" height="496" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sun sets on another Usk trout season</span></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-78785896623718866702013-08-20T18:59:00.001+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.488+01:00Deep Water - Sewin (Sea Trout) 2013<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alone with my thoughts </span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the window down, John Phillips sang <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGUDpZLLO08">Topanga Canyon</a> on the CD player (much louder than usual to keep me awake):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>'Oh Mary, I'm in deep water, and it's way, way over my he-e-ead!' </em></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was 10.30pm on a July Thursday and tired, hungry and dressed in my formal work clothes, I was driving down the A470 with an energy drink at my side. (I dislike them but keep an emergency can in my sewin bag for when needs must). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd just left the upper reaches of the River Dyfi north of Llanbrynmair and, with a two hour drive ahead, I reflected on the previous weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd fished two consecutive days and a night on the Teifi and another two nights on the Tywi -with only a couple of small fish and dark bags beneath my eyes to show for it. In poor conditions the fishing had proved very difficult and, as usual, I taunted myself with thoughts of lost fish, missed takes and what might have been. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.............</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">River Dyfi, July 2013</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I left my house in South East Wales at 7.00am for some meetings in Aberystwyth. By 4.00pm I was on the road to Reeds Garage, Machynlleth, where I paid £17.50 to the New Dovey Angling Association for a day ticket on the upper reaches of their river. Tickets are also available at the Post Office in Cemmaes (nearer to the fishing) but, being a Thursday afternoon in rural Wales, I knew it would be closed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That morning I had noted that the Dyfi -a small flashy river- was dropping to a nice level for daytime fly fishing after the previous day's spate. On my journey upstream, my excitement was fuelled as I noted all of the fishermen's pull-ins were occupied. We had benefited from the first significant rain for months and the locals were out in force</span>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/7524f4f4-c804-49e5-9da5-c2be30c3a2c6_zpsa3d087d9.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking away from the river - the Dyfi Valley</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I fished a mile or so of water, changing tactics as I moved. By 9.00pm I hadn't seen a fish, but didn't given up hope as the last hour is often the best. I fished a fast glass line with two wee doubles, casting square and varying the speed of retrieve. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Dyfi near Cemmaes Road</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pool I finished on had a line of boulders that had fallen into the water on the far bank, providing lies for the fish. Towards the tail I changed to a rolypoly retrieve, effectively 'spinning' the wee doubles. On the second cast, behind the largest boulder, a fish smashed my red butted black hairwing point fly. I quickly landed and returned a coloured fish of a pound or so. It looked as though it had been in the estuary for a while, certainly not big, but a fish all the same. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dyfi sewin</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A potted history</span> </h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sewin or sea tout are the fish I like to catch the most. There's something about them, the places where they are found and the way they are fished for, that gives me a feeling like no other. I have only chased sewin on the west side of Wales; on the Dyfi (Dovey),Teifi, Wnion and Tywi (Towy), and like it that way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I first ventured to the Towy when I was twelve years old. An older friend and I fished near Llandeilo for the entire night. In hindsight we were clueless and there's little wonder we caught no sewin. By 4.00am I had my eight footer out with a grey duster happily catching tiddlers in the dawn. On the way back, my companion dozed off at the wheel and, when I miraculously arrived home in one piece, I was in big trouble after a bad report from the school parents' evening the previous day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later in life, when my friend Aled taught me how to night fish more effectively, I would regularly catch one or two. Like the gambling man who wins first time he lays a bet, this beginner's luck ensured I was hooked. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My largest ever sewin is pictured below. It was caught on the Dyfi at dusk on a wee double. In catching this nine pound hen, I learned a hard lesson: If I want to return these fish, I have to bully them to the net as quickly as possible. It took well over five minutes to land after it lodged itself in some tree routes and, as</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a result, it wouldn't swim away (even though I didn't take it out of the water), and ended up on the table. While it was delicious, fish of this size are not as good to eat as the two and three pounders that are far less important for breeding stock.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The size of the prize</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">River Tywi, July 2013</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd been looking forward to the third weekend in July for a few months. A friend Brian kindly offered to put a number of us up at his house and <a href="http://www.goldengrovecottages.com/index.html">cottages</a> near the river, and he and David had arranged for us to fish at <a href="http://www.goldengrovefishing.co.uk/">Golden Grove</a> for two consecutive nights. I am very grateful to both as we had a great time, with the company more than making up for the difficult fishing in poor conditions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd been tying for this trip for a number of weeks and was hoping that some sport could be had using surface lures like the jambos pictured below.</span> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A pod of Jambo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately we were in the midst of one of the warmest spells I can remember and the skies were clear and the river like bath water. It was also during a period when the moon was full, casting our shadows across the open parts of the river. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often wonder if a bright full moon is always detrimental to sewin fishing, after all, the light must improve visibility of the fly's silhouette. Perhaps air temperature is more important; a full moon is obvious on a clear night and the lack of cloud cover usually results in lower air temperatures... </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I do know is that the little action I did have on this trip occurred either when I was facing the moon, or with the trees shielding my back.</span> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moon on the Tywi</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the first night we landed no fish. There were big fish splashing in some of the pools but they were not in the taking mood. I managed to lose a smallish fish on a secret weapon and moved one on a surface lure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the second night there were no fish moving and, for the first hour, I fished a pool with some obvious lies (recommended to me by David). I concentrated on these 'lay-bys' and managed to hook and land a small fish employing a slightly upstream cast with a two inch aluminium tube on a fast glass line. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/67fa910f-ccd6-4619-8b9d-e57161019ad6_zpsc1863822.jpg" height="173" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'I've got bigger tube flies' - the smallest sewin in the Tywi</span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After letting my companion, Richard, fish through the spot, I employed the same tactics again and had three good 'buzzing' knocks with which I didn't connect. I later discussed this with <a href="http://theenigmaticangler.com/">Alun Rees</a> (a good guy and sewin expert). He imparted that, where possible, he always observes the line at the end of the rod and strikes when it moves in any way other than that expected from his retrieve, often before the take is felt. With the moon offering plenty of light, perhaps things could have been different...</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">River Teifi, June 2013</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every year, my mate Aled and I meet up at his caravan in Cenarth to have a few nights on the lower Teifi. Over the last two seasons we've not landed a 'proper' fish between us. On the third night last year, I lost a cracker on a secret weapon that triggered some of the worst swearing ever heard in in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Newcastle Emlyn area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was cold for the time of year with the dreaded 'tarth' descending by midnight each night. Tarth (Welsh for fog or mist), results from a drop in air temperature and is a session killer. A likely reason for this, suggested to me by those in the know, is that if no light can penetrate the river through the tarth, then the sewin cannot see the silhouette of the fly. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/3339eaf4-5fbc-4d45-9843-8a020c884758_zps1b4f7c2e.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="329" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secret weapons</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year it started raining and, by midnight on our fist session, the river was rising and colouring limiting us to day and evening fishing. On the first day I lost a herling and Aled landed one very fresh fish of around a pound. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/a4ef43b8-deb9-45b8-a951-fc12606bd45a_zps7dd97759.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="385" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My mate Aled, 'fishing'</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On second day we travelled up river to take to a ticket on <a href="http://www.fishing-in-wales.com/">Llandysul Angling</a> water. We met a friend <a href="http://www.anglingworldwide.com/">Steffan Jones</a> at the <a href="http://www.porthhotel.co.uk/">Porth Hotel</a> where we purchased our day tickets. Nobody knows this part of the river and its fish better than Steffan and we were very lucky that he offered to show us around some very picturesque water. After discussing flies and tactics Steffan departed, leaving us to our own devices. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Allthegear_zpsbe867be4.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the gear, no idea / a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ll the kit, s***!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We fished two wee doubles fast in the slightly coloured, falling river and the first couple of hours saw us catch over twenty brown trout to ten inches. About half way down a likely looking pool I managed to intercept a small sewin that jumped and slipped the hook.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By dusk we were at the top of a beat, fishing a deep pool that Steffan told us to leave until last. Aled had decided that -in the coloured water and low light- enough was enough and watched me make a few final casts. I had changed to a small aluminium tube that I was slowly figure of eighting. A good fish smashed the fly and fought hard and deep until it came off ten seconds later. A broken man, I said nothing and carried on fishing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we walked back to the car, my mood was softened by Aled's banter and the dusk light along this beautiful stretch of river. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/27ec6d43-d7e7-404c-a94b-fd3c83202246_zps3795aea7.jpg" height="500" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Teifi Valley</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at dusk</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warning</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chasing sewin has provided some of my best highs and worst lows on the river. I shall never forget certain lost fish and still question some of the decisions I made in seasons past. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the beginner</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I say</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> beware - i</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t's the crack cocaine of fly fishing. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I write this there is little night fishing left for me this season, but I'll drop everything to get out one last time. </span>Deep water indeed.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-42713132287390938152013-07-24T18:50:00.000+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.456+01:00Double Take - Mayfly, River Usk, June 2013<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">June mayfly</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As everything on the Usk is three weeks late this year, I had some good sport with mayfly feeding fish in the early part of June. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the older locals have told me that the Usk trout are 'afraid' of mayfly for the first few weeks and that the hatch doesn't amount to much. While I don't think the mayfly sport is as good as on the chalk streams, or even the nearby Monnow, I still beg to differ. Most seasons I have some sucess with mayfly emerger, dun and spinner patterns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the last week in May, I noticed a few danica whilst out walking the dog. The specimen below landed on my dog's back, which was a bad move as she turned around and ate it!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/252_zpsa278cf87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/252_zpsa278cf87.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Danica</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the second week in June, some Usk trout appeared to be responding. It was during this week that my wife was away with work for two nights and I too responded. On the Wednesday I arrived at the Bakers (<a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">GAS</a>) beat at 7.00pm and was delighted to be greeted by clouds of dancing spinners.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/010_zps67dbcc26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/010_zps67dbcc26.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usk Mayfly</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a member of both GAS and<a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/"> MTAA</a>, I walked the half mile or so downstream to the <a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/?page_id=37#kemeys">Kemmeys beat</a> with the intent</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ion of fishing the river back up to the car by dusk. I noticed a few fish feeding on emergers and suspected that they were taking both mayfly and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the abundant yellow mays. </span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stockies</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started out fishing a yellow may emerger which tempted a few fish to just over a pound, one of which was a stockie. Over the last ten years I have only caught a couple of stockies on the lower river, but this season I catch one most sessions. I chap them as, in my opinion, they have no place in the river and I wish the few clubs and owners that introduce these stunted creatures higher up would manage their water properly and cease to do so. I concluded that this batch was stocked in Abergavenny at the start of the season during, or just before, a period of high water that washed the poor swimmers down river. Even though they've been in a few months these beasts will take most correctly presented flies and are often missing their pectoral fins. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take 1</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I worked my way to the top of the pool I noticed that there were more danica coming off and so changed to a mayfly emerger. No sooner had I done so than I spotted a tiny blink-and-you'll-miss-it rise form tight to the bank, in about three feet of slowish water. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Considering the flow, I presented the fly two feet diagonally above the fish and, as it drifted towards the bank, the fish took very softly and ran hard up river. After a decent fight a shovel-tailed eighteen inch fish was slipped into the net.</span> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/009_zps9d370da5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/009_zps9d370da5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take 1</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The actual fly that tempted this lovely brown trout has taken a bit of a hammering and is pictured below. It's a Paul Procter pattern that I tied on a size 12 emerger hook with an Aerodry shuck and loop wing. I especially like the pearl mylar rib and tag on this version. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/PPMayflyEmerger_zps595be135.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PP Mayfly Emerger</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Defeated</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every now and then I make a real hash of things on the river and that evening included one of those occasions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The light had dropped and I moved up river </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with my sunglasses perched on my cap. I stopped and watched a fish occasionally rising in some very deep, slow water and wondered if I could get close enough without spooking it. Carefully wading to nearly the top of my chest waders I made a few longish casts. The fish took on the third pass and I immediately realised that I was into something big as it dived deep making three initial heart stopping runs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had cast over 15 metres and the fish emptied my reel with ease. This was the first river dry fly caught fish to take me to the backing and my main concern was to get some line back and not allow any slack. As such I held my rod high, and moved towards the angry fish as quickly as I could with both arms fully extended above my head. This resulted in water overflowing my waders and my sunglasses falling into the river. At the time, I wasn't too bothered as the fish was still on and I had some line back on the reel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd not yet seen my foe and was desperate to do so. I managed to retrieve about half of the line and considered retreating into some shallower water. As I stepped back the fish ran down stream, lightening fast. I recall some spray from the reel cooling my flushed face just prior to the line sticking and my tippet snapping. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Defeated, damp and shaking like a leaf I wound in. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day I learned that a number of good sea trout had been seen, with a few caught, lower down the river...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take 2</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following evening's routine followed that of the previous and, by 8.00pm, I was in the spot where I'd caught the 18 incher on the mayfly emerger. I again noticed a very small rise in the same lie, covered it and landed the fish below. Another cracker from the same spot (I thought).</span> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/013_zps032602ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/013_zps032602ef.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take 2</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t wasn't until I arrived home and looked at the pictures that I realised there was a chance this was the same fish. The closer I looked, the more convinced I became. My photographer mate, Jon Poutney, then overlaid the two images (see below).</span> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/014_zps0af14754.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Haven't I seen you somewhere before?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have previously suspected that I've caught the same fish twice, more than a couple of weeks apart, but never with the same fly on the next day. The most pleasing aspect is that it was clearly unharmed by our previous encounter and actually fought harder the second time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's probably pushing it to ask for a third meeting, but every time I cover that lie, I hold my breath. We live in hope.</span> <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-60417131305223287542013-07-05T12:51:00.000+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.469+01:00Day Dreaming - River Avon, 1st June 2013<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kind invite</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the start of the season I received a generous invite to fish the River Avon with David. As I'd never fished a chalk stream before, I could feel the excitement building through to the first day in June. At that time of year, I was informed, the fish would normally be feeding on Mayfly, but as everything was around three weeks late, I tied some duns, emergers and spinners more in hope than expectation. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/232_zpsac423adb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/232_zpsac423adb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mayfly duns</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">River Avon at Salterton</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a two hour drive to meet David near Salterton and, though early morning, the sky was clear and the sun strong. I'd been out with friends the previous evening and distinctive character and rural beauty of the Salisbury area helped me forget my mild hangover. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon tackling up at a small lodge, David informed me that there had been a sparse mayfly hatch but that the fish were not yet 'on' them and had been taking mainly olives.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We followed a carrier to the main river, and as we crossed over a bridge, I was struck by the picturesque nature of the place. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/241_zps03d54235.jpg"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/241_zps03d54235.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> <br /><br /><br />The River Avon at Salterton <br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David and I took turns casting to feeding fish. This was very different to the rivers of South Wales, and the clarity of the water, coupled with the fact I'd not previously fished with my host, made me twitchy. David was the first to catch - a lovely 14 inch out of season grayling on a CDC and Elk. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I focused on a fish that was on the fin -coming to look at my fly and turning away last minute- Morgan arrived. He was a welcome surprise as David had deliberately not told me his son (my mate) would be joining us. After a quick chat and photo opportunity, I went back to my two pounder.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/239_zps101d8618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/239_zps101d8618.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Jones Boys</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What followed was quite embarrassing. Feeling slightly daunted by the difficult fish and my grand surroundings, I was on edge and needed to settle. As the target moved into faster water at the opposite bank, I covered it perfectly with plenty of lead and a reach cast. My arm felt tense as the fish rose and I struck letting out a triumphant 'Yes!'. I concluded that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd had too much breakfast as a small fish came flying out of the water! Unbeknown to me (in the fast water) the intended quarry had been beaten to the fly by a cheeky four inch brown. Morgan laughed loud and long, David looked bemused, probably wondering what he'd let himself in for. I apologised. </span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mayfly</span> </h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took our time walking the beat looking for rising fish. By midday a few mayfly started to appear and we caught fish on our emerger patterns. I had most success with a Paul Procter Spun CDC version.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/c2882eaa-f703-46df-9f39-6ea766c3a6ba_zpsfb7dbbdc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/c2882eaa-f703-46df-9f39-6ea766c3a6ba_zpsfb7dbbdc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winged beauty</span></td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great food and better company</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By one o'clock we were back at the lodge for the best fishing lunch I've ever had. David provided Wiltshire pasties, sandwiches, boiled eggs, salad, various breads and cheeses and strawberries. To do it justice, I had packed a nice bottle of Chablis and a few bottles of a favourite </span><a href="http://www.untappedbrew.com/brews"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Untapped Pale Ale.</span></a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A fry cry from the usual flask of coffee, cereal bar and bananas. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/240_zpse63947bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/240_zpse63947bf.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Long lunch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Afternoon session</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we walked down the beat in the early summer sun, the place shimmered and, I felt, had an almost ethereal feel to it. At the bottom of the beat, we managed to locate good mayfly hatch and a few fish appeared to be taking emergers and duns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morgan was his usual efficient purist self, hoovering up the surface feeding wild fish. Further upstream I, conversely, was missing most offers. Or were the fish missing me? The larger fish didn't seem to be turning on my mayfly emerger pattern and I was making no connection at all. I put on a dun and, a couple of times, saw the fish nosing it. I managed two, but one was foul hooked and it was tough going. Morgan then joined me and cast to a few of the difficult fish. He too struggled to hook them until he tried a small olive emerger... We concluded we were too early for the best of the mayfly.</span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/246_zpsca9611a0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/246_zpsca9611a0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A nice wild fish caught by Morgan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continued to take the occasional fish on olive emergers until we packed up at around seven o'clock. After we said our goodbyes, the two hour drive did not seem a chore in the evening sun. A day (and a picnic) that will live long in the memory.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="480" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/249_zps6c48c4a9.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Chalk stream splendour</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-16717958865410726432013-06-16T11:13:00.001+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.433+01:00Mixed bag - River Usk, May 2013<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few odds 'n' sods from May 2013. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Desperate times </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renovating a house can be stressful at the best of times, but when you are struggling for a space to tie, things can become intolerable!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Tyingspace_zpsd7d4bb87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Tyingspace_zpsd7d4bb87.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Desperate times</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully an old bureau came to my rescue. This is located in the living room so that I can tie whilst my better half watches the telly.</span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bureau_zps569b9984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Bureau_zps569b9984.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Situation remedied</span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Introductions</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One warm Sunday I fished a new beat (GAS, Llan Farm) with a mate Alex. It was quite tough with the fish taking different food items depending upon their position on the beat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the early afternoon the water was thick with chironomids interspersed by a few hawthorn flies (see the foreground of the image below). I noticed a few taking the chironomids but also the occasional fish taking the less abundant hawthorns. As I rarely have the opportunity to fish a hawthorn imitation, I tied on a detached foam bodied version that I copied from </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yId1OulZtMw"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Davie McPhail</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span> </span></div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Chronomidandhawthorn_zps46a053e3.jpg" width="470" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> A carpet of chironomids</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first time I successfully covered what looked like a good fish, my suspicions were confirmed as it took and dived to the bottom. This lovely fat fish of 17 inches put up a cracking scrap and took me a fair way down stream. The first and last fish I caught on a hawthorn fly this season. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UskHawthorn_zpsc17fba26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UskHawthorn_zpsc17fba26.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gill plate blues</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salmon Fishing</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I’ve not been able to get out whenever I like, I’ve not fished the Usk for salmon when conditions were spot on, and have only wafted the fourteen footer in anger on two occasions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One sunny Saturday morning I was accompanied on the MTAA Kemmeys beat by fellow member Dan Popp. Within the first hour Dan was shouting for me to come with the the gye net. Before I could get to him, I noticed an air of disappointment as he’d hooked the nice chubb pictured below. Old rubber lips had a penchant for orange Alley’s Shrimps that day as Dan caught another twenty minutes later. Let's hope the next one is sliver...</span></div>
</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Chub_zps15df0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Chub_zps15df0212.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dan Popp's Chub</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-67709114899979287902013-06-04T22:03:00.000+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.480+01:00(Yellow) May 2013 - River Usk<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time last year I was out at least three times a week
but, as a recently middle aged new owner of a large debt on a property, domestic
life and DIY drudgery have hampered my exploits. Having written all that, I did escape
for a couple of sessions on the Usk and a day on the Avon (coming soon). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each evening I walk the dog along the river noting the hatch and what the trout are taking. Last week, often in the pouring rain, the trout competed with martins for
yellow may duns. Martins, swifts and swallows provide one of my
favourite sights on the river when they take yellow may duns off the
water, and especially in mid-air. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emergers</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the last three Usk sessions I have tempted numerous fish on yellow may emerger patterns.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This spun CDC style is adapted from a Paul Procter mayfly emerger
pattern:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/cb8c7f0b-9f55-4771-8d6f-f21bdd0927ec_zps48d1fa6c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/cb8c7f0b-9f55-4771-8d6f-f21bdd0927ec_zps48d1fa6c.jpg" width="296" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a tweaked version of the standard CDC emerger patterns that I use:</span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/253_zpsfcdf0731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/253_zpsfcdf0731.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the head I like to use a very small amount of yellow spectra spun via a split thread in order to give a trapped air effect. </span></o:p></div>
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</span><br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spooky<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When fishing in low clear water, if fish refuse a fly that I know has previously worked, the first thing I do is
degrease. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usk fish, feeding in slow clear water have declined my
offerings with a freshly degreased 6X point, but responded when using 7X. I’m sure some
will tell me that this is nonsense, but I’ve experienced it numerous times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't degrease to sink the leader, I do it to take the flash off the the tippet. I don't want the leader to sink as I think that this adds drag to the fly and the mud that I use never seems to sink my copolymer tippet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To emphasise how cautious Usk fish can be, last week my friend Dan Popp and I conducted an experiment when we spotted a
very large fish feeding on emergers. Dan crouched down higher up the bank below
the fish while I attempted (heron-like!) to enter the river downstream. Before
I was in up to wellington height, the fish was back under the overhanging bank on the opposite side. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As it was a
bright slow afternoon, I waded in further and decided to wait to see if the target started to feed again. Luckily
a few small fish started rising 20 metres downstream and I entertained myself
collapsing the cast, feeding them line and trying to hook them on a spun CDC yellow may emerger and 7X tippet- I managed one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well after I’d put the rest of them down, and about twenty minutes into
my vigil, I noticed a protrusion on the surface (that left no bubbles) adjacent to the lie of the big fish. My first cast was deliberately short in order that I
could assess the current speed and angle. The second covered the fish and, as my hands trembled, the lump
slowly rose and turned - remembering to breath, I lifted. Immediately the trout realised its situation and
dived violently to the river bed. Upon a third short run, the line went slack. I was afraid to
look, but knew that the fly was no longer attached to what was left of the 2.5 lb bs tippet. Despondently I
wound in and went home. I hate leaving flies in fish (even if they are
barbless). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Resolutions</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shall persevere with 6X tippet and no longer use 7X
unless I’m fishing micro dries, and I am reminded to check my leader more regularly
for scuffs and kinks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also going to do my damnedest to catch that fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-13905816399758409812013-05-28T15:57:00.000+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.422+01:00The Monnow Social - May 2013<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a long held ambition to fish at the </span><a href="http://www.monnow.org/index.php/news/69-2013auction"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monnow Rivers Association Auction and Social</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
and, thanks to a few mates, I managed to do so this year. 'The Social' is a
celebration of the River Monnow and a great way to generate income to support
the commendable river management activities of the organisers. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had little charge in my iPhone and forgot my camera and
so please excuse the absence of photographs in this entry. Probably just as well...</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Middle age</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have previously fished the river (quite unsuccessfully)
for winter grayling (no reflection on the river I'm sure), and so I was keen to catch a few Monnow browns on the dry
fly. I met Morgan and Mark below Kentchurch at 3.00pm on Friday 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
May (my thirty fifth birthday). They had already moved a few fish on olive
emerger patterns and Mark generously showed me around the Garway beat. I
elected to fish a slow pool about half way down. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were a few small olives hatching and we noticed the
occasional large dark olive and brook dun. Upon first inspection, there were no
surface feeding fish, but I cast blind in order to reacquaint myself
with an 8 foot #4 rod that has not seen much use. It was a relief to be on the
water again as I hadn’t fished since moving house nearly a fortnight ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I approached the faster water at the head of the pool I
noticed what appeared to be a small dimpled rise. As I watched I could not
distinguish another but cast above the spot anyway. It was difficult to make
out the CDC plume of my emerger, but second cast I observed it being sipped a
10 inch brown trout. Over the next hour, I managed two similar fish using the
same method. A good start.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy camper</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was then time to find out why the Monnow Social was named
as such and we were off to Longtown where twenty odd fishermen camp
in a field (thanks for the lend of the tent pegs Dan Colloby) . When we arrived
many of the old hands were already suitably refreshed and I felt immediately at home. It
was a good night and I finally fell over one of the guy ropes outside my tent (apologies
for the bent tent peg Dan Colloby) well after midnight. Being a light sleeper,
I was awake most of the night, serenaded by the snoring (and other noises) of
my fellow socialites. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The morning couldn’t come quickly enough and I was very pleased
to find myself drawn on a beat behind the </span><a href="http://www.bridgeinnkentchurch.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bridge Inn, Kentchurch</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I fished with a new friend, Vince, and
we had an excellent and challenging day; the highlights being an 18 inch out of
season grayling and Vince missing takes when turning around to talk to me on
three separate occasions! </span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brook duns</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the day, the fly life was sparse on this beat and, throughout
the morning and early afternoon, there were few rising fish. By 2.00pm a number of brook duns drifted either side of the main flow and the fish
responded emphatically. I have read that these flies tend not to hatch in open
water and thus, are of limited significance to the fly fisherman. Some of my
experiences on the Monnow and Usk contradict this. On a recent Usk
outing, the fish took these duns in preference to others (I’m very
confident they were not march browns).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That evening, I was feeling tired and managed to get to bed
around 2.00am after an expensive auction and impromptu sing along session with
Mark (a superb blues guitarist) and others. I can assure the reader, it was
worse than it sounds!</span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Father and son</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning I wangled a session with father and son team, David and
Morgan. We took a few fish on nymphs early on and, as the Monnow has been
successfully improved, I lost many flies to the ‘submerged habitat’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the strong downstream wind, by mid-afternoon, we
located a number of surface feeding fish at the tail of a pool and took turns
to catch them well into the late afternoon. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A highly sociable conclusion to a thoroughly social weekend! Thank you very much Monnow Rivers
Association, I hope you’ll invite me back.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-26116424695673851392013-04-18T22:58:00.003+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.446+01:00New Season's Greetings - More River Usk, April 2013<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was much excitement on my part as I knew weeks ago
that two guests would be coming to fish the Usk and, as I counted down, the Met
Office App on my phone was under regular scrutiny. As described in my previous
entry, it rained heavily on Wednesday afternoon, and for most of the night, so
when I awoke to find that the river level had barely risen, it felt like
Christmas morning. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.llanover.com/lettings/fishing-lettings.html">Llanover</a>, Llanover
Estate - Thursday 11th April<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 9.30am, <a href="http://devonschoolofflyfishing.com/about/">Pete</a> and I met river keeper (Tim) at Llanover
Church Hall and, after a brief tour of the top of the beat, we were fishing.
There was the occasional oncer rising to midges, but we agreed that nymphing
would be the most effective method until the anticipated large dark olive (LDO)
hatch. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As on the previous weekend, the fishing was slow for the first
hour but I managed to briefly connect with two very slow, deep takes. A move to
a fast run, that deepened into a backwater on the far side, produced another
slow offer and the first fish, a fat 14 incher. It fell to a size 12, 3.5mm nickel
bead, HE jig that I loosely copied from <a href="http://taffdiaries.wordpress.com/">Terry Bromwell</a>. I was relieved to land the
fish early in the day as I hadn't previously fished with Pete and was keen to
show what the river had to offer (and that I wasn’t a numpty). </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Trophy_zps0da6bb6f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Trophy_zps0da6bb6f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is a serious business</span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cast again into the same spot and hooked and landed
another, slightly smaller fish. In this type of run I suspected that the fish may
be lined up, perhaps with larger fish in front, and so called Pete over. I looked
on appreciatively as, on his third or fourth cast, a large fish slowly took his
PTN fished on the dropper. The river’s gift to Pete measured 17 inches and
kicked very hard back into its lie, before we had the chance of a good photograph.
No matter, Pete had caught his largest Usk trout, as denoted by our wide grins.
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/petelanding_zps033a58fd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/petelanding_zps033a58fd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pete's fish being netted</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later in the day there was a good hatch of LDOs and the fish
responded accordingly. We had a few hours of dry fly action that Pete compared to
a mayfly hatch on a chalk stream. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pete is great company and a skilled angler
who exudes contagious enthusiasm, not that it was needed today. Over the session
(much of which Pete spent taking photographs) we returned approximately 17 fish
between us with over half falling to LDO dun imitations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/landing_zps1c88d450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/landing_zps1c88d450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Trying to look effective</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/casting_zps21cb6e1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/casting_zps21cb6e1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Covering a fish</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way home, I stopped at <a href="http://www.clytha-arms.com/">The Clytha Arms</a> to meet my
friend James, who had helped arrange our session on the exclusive beat. I have
to admit that I was tempted to buy him a half. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Pete's version of events see <a href="http://eat-sleep-fish.co.uk/">Issue 17, Eat, Sleep, Fish</a>. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">Bakers, Gwent AnglingSociety</a> – Sunday 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> April<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Morgan arrived at 5.00pm on the following wet Saturday. I had been tying
flies since after breakfast and was looking forward to trying them the
following day. But, before we could go fishing we needed to catch up and, as such,
were sinking our first pints of <a href="http://www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk/beers/hpa.html">HPA</a> in the <a href="http://www.theblackbearinn.co.uk/">Black Bear</a> by 7.00pm. My
long-suffering wife had ‘volunteered’ to drive and a couple of pints later we went
into Usk for a meal, and a few more. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day, it was with two expensive hangovers that we
found ourselves on the river. It had rained for much of the night, with long
spells forecast for the rest of the day. If Morgan hadn't visited I probably
wouldn't have fished the rising river. As he is a fisherman whose skills and
attitude I learn from and, over the course of a day regales many </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">humourous anecdotes, I was keen to stay out for as long as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By 12.00 the water was high and colouring slightly, and
Morgan had been snapped by a salmon that thrashed around furiously on the
surface after breaking off his nymph. Had the occasional fish not started to rise
to sparse flurries of LDOs and (possibly) the occasional March Brown, we would
have left. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We walked the banks looking for rising fish but, as the
river had become treacherous, none were within reach. When we finally found one
that was, it looked like a very good fish. Morgan was changing his set up and so,
ever the gentleman, I cast a horizontal slack line with a split thread CDC
quill dun on the end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fish rose and I tightened with the sound of Morgan’s,
‘Good fish!’ ringing in my ears. I was using a meaty #4-5 weight, but this
trout wouldn't be bullied and it was three or four minutes before I slid the
net beneath the 19 inch beauty. After a very quick snap on Morgan’s phone it
was off like a rocket (under the near bank in the spate conditions). </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/b969a9e8-e053-4b06-a946-1286d593628e_zpsb652fa1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/b969a9e8-e053-4b06-a946-1286d593628e_zpsb652fa1d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p>Dry fly fishing in the rain</o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We found no more rising fish within reach and left by
3.30pm. Later I noted that the gauge had been at 1.2m, a level which I would
normally deem too high for salmon fishing. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mixed blessings<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I write this, I am on the train travelling back from a
meeting on Anglesey. This morning, on the outward journey, I passed over the
bottom of the Llanover beat at the same time we were tackling up exactly a week
ago. What a difference a week makes!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a day off tomorrow and, conditions allowing, will
fish the Usk at the <a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/?page_id=37#mardy">Mardy Beat, MTAA</a> with Dan Popp. I’ve not seen Dan yet this
season and am looking forward to catching up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also looks likely that we shall be completing on our
first house tomorrow. This house is less than half a mile from the Usk, but
requires a fair bit of work (and on a tight budget) – a mixed blessing indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-38354252129406964642013-04-10T23:57:00.003+01:002014-07-09T12:13:36.453+01:00Starting Again - Early Season River Usk 2013<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As many of you will have noticed, weather conditions for the first few weeks of the season
were far from ideal. Snow melt, freezing temperatures and an easterly blast
ensured a slow start on the Usk. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiJC_QmuKnVElo-AlLBvmqoul71LqYOrlxljUcNo1907DbqlneIeiLzkzXm-gbcRBWuGF5phIWzCY6gf4tDaUd37b_mA0A_MGnrrmE8eolEm300_ahHBFd4XTy9FUfm8V9QT1-cyI73yCN3_ZUtltvpkrKKE9xnE0dzy8hIF4kfnye9w-llJIOy2ekzR3ze6uF0MDBimQckoj-ps0Jv6TkLdKp_Wacu4pjS=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiJC_QmuKnVElo-AlLBvmqoul71LqYOrlxljUcNo1907DbqlneIeiLzkzXm-gbcRBWuGF5phIWzCY6gf4tDaUd37b_mA0A_MGnrrmE8eolEm300_ahHBFd4XTy9FUfm8V9QT1-cyI73yCN3_ZUtltvpkrKKE9xnE0dzy8hIF4kfnye9w-llJIOy2ekzR3ze6uF0MDBimQckoj-ps0Jv6TkLdKp_Wacu4pjS=" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The view from the river last Saturday</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the first Friday in April things (including the trout) were looking up and I
used my dinner hour to walk the dog down the river in Usk town (a beat five
minutes from where we live). The beat is available as a day ticket water for £15 from the legendary Sweet's Tackle Shop. If Jean isn't there she asks
that you post the money through the door in an envelope!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I arrived a 1.30pm, the LDO hatch had already commenced
in earnest and on a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sheltered part of the beat, I spotted a lone
angler tackling up. As I stood above him on the path, I noticed many
dimpled rises on the near side of the main flow. The fisherman quickly threaded
his rod, tied on his fly and (as my heart sank) proceeded to wade through the middle of the surface feeding trout!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I returned home excited as the forecast for the next day
was good and I was confident of some dry fly action.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/?page_id=37#mardy">Mardy, MerthyrTydfil Angling Association - Saturday 6th April</a></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By 1.00pm the air had warmed and there were good numbers of fish taking LDO duns and emergers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had already caught two on nymphs but by then was targeting surface feeders with a 10ft #4 rod and a quill dun pattern
(with 3 CDC plumes tied backwards, see my last entry). My blood was up as I was
within sight of five feeding fish rising at less than one minute
intervals. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At a guess, a fish tight to the opposite bank looked to
be the largest of them and was taking duns with barely a ripple. I first targeted the
smaller fish downstream and picked off three, landing two (including the 16 inch fish below) and
losing one. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj7V6KDvQW4Jdp1_feBq5uSxZgGj-A3rfT5SyLLdtG5qxB325HNa0FsdkWPm0ki6-08z5-2ZoBwg4X4ow7qZ_bB7rZ5U76Ti-R-nj0zcIssFJyw63bSYrmHsuDU8SnD5q8yO-tBYJIXdlLXMaooh1q96ywu0L_1K9lhvjIz0k6hQu7bPfZ0uA2Cd_MgxLUQjZly4ejxWiAewnk_9-QCDq_HU0FE68g-t2ni=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEj7V6KDvQW4Jdp1_feBq5uSxZgGj-A3rfT5SyLLdtG5qxB325HNa0FsdkWPm0ki6-08z5-2ZoBwg4X4ow7qZ_bB7rZ5U76Ti-R-nj0zcIssFJyw63bSYrmHsuDU8SnD5q8yO-tBYJIXdlLXMaooh1q96ywu0L_1K9lhvjIz0k6hQu7bPfZ0uA2Cd_MgxLUQjZly4ejxWiAewnk_9-QCDq_HU0FE68g-t2ni=" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The largest fish of the day (landed)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then moved slightly upstream and cast to the large fish. Three attempts and nothing. On the
third, and to rub it in, the fish rose just after my fly had passed. My arm twitched and I was glad I didn't strike and spook my target. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was time for a change. I attached a more delicate split thread CDC quill dun (see my last entry) to my 15 foot tapered leader and as I looked up, the fish rose again. I waited 30 seconds or so and, when the wind
had abated, cast as intended. The fish rose, I tightened,
and the water erupted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What followed involved a sudden long run, a reel
overwind, the mother of all snags and
a steady stream of loud and sustained swearing. I conservatively estimate the fish
was over 18 inches - another one to haunt me.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few more were caught but, by 15.00, the hatch had abated and I
went back to fishing the nymph. For an hour I fished fruitlessly, until two canoeists came </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">down river.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not instinctively a busy body or someone that likes to
spoil the fun of others, but they shouldn't have been there, and these were
low water conditions, so I decided to take a few pictures of them to send
to <a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/">MTAA</a> and <a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">GAS</a>. One canoeist in particular did not take kindly to this -I later learned that a fellow angler up river had made them get out and carry
the canoes around him, and so they were already ratty by the time they
reached me- cue more swearing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">'You can't take my ****ing photo!'</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">Baker's, GwentAngling Society- Sunday 7th April</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was colder than the previous day and I needed to find a sheltered spot. I couldn't and so was surprised when, from 12.30 the fish started showing and I
caught four fish between 10 and 12 inches on a <a href="http://northcountryangler.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/jingle-away.html">jingler</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I then decided to experiment with different patterns. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the following 90 minutes I hooked fish using a parachute
emerger, two kinds of CDC quill dun, a quill CDC emerger and a flash
back HE nymph fished downstream. When I covered fish feeding hard with the correct presentation I received a positive response, providing further evidence presentation is more important than pattern.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjQLjMlrkcXIcNyZQiiQ4nz47fYDfPimtL5ERXlgc7xYAuvxes9aZMomFEqH4Ct8ergGs_voJCZSgci2MMFLq3NjrnVxQ7l3XT6IWWHYH7fKsmThcEriQ0HQ7FvFS8-uE21cBNHiZzI3K6GPYX4tiIz83VDzpGQaqfqBVlCyGjPteWP9I-4SDBu1taJOq9Dj1IiTRPIu-uHHlcYbBfEf28HY_O9jqXIutlT9Q=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjQLjMlrkcXIcNyZQiiQ4nz47fYDfPimtL5ERXlgc7xYAuvxes9aZMomFEqH4Ct8ergGs_voJCZSgci2MMFLq3NjrnVxQ7l3XT6IWWHYH7fKsmThcEriQ0HQ7FvFS8-uE21cBNHiZzI3K6GPYX4tiIz83VDzpGQaqfqBVlCyGjPteWP9I-4SDBu1taJOq9Dj1IiTRPIu-uHHlcYbBfEf28HY_O9jqXIutlT9Q=" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Baker's brown trout, suprisingly plump for the time of year</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Next sessions</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I write it is raining steadily. While the river would certainly benefit from a slug of water, I am due to be fishing Llanover with Pete tomorrow and then Baker's with Morgan on Sunday, both are travelling to fish here and these sessions are under threat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tim, the river keeper at Llanover, assures me that, 'At this time of year the fish like a good bit of colour'. Who am I to argue with experience and local knowledge? I'll be out tomorrow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I have taken membership with <a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/">Merthyr Tydfil Angling Association</a>, <a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">Gwent Angling Association</a> and Ffynnon Taf Angling Club providing access to six beats on the Usk, over ten miles of the Taff and a beat on the lower Wye. All for less than £250 - an absolute bargain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Local rivers</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far this season, I have managed two excursions: Opening day on the Usk and an afternoon on the Taff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening day on the MTAA Mardy Beat was very cold and I managed a single slim 12 inch trout to a pheasant tail jig nymph. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/7a67f62c-3990-44e8-acc8-2dc2514482db_zps3c85a2fe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/7a67f62c-3990-44e8-acc8-2dc2514482db_zps3c85a2fe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Size 14 PTN with CDC collar and 3mm tungsten bead</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bumped into a few very good competition fishermen that I know, mooched a few new patterns and tried out a new fly line. The fishing was slow!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/9a9b9772-fd14-49dd-bbbf-1827a7d423f0_zps2ce0308e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/9a9b9772-fd14-49dd-bbbf-1827a7d423f0_zps2ce0308e.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://taffdiaries.wordpress.com/">Terry Bromwell</a> tries some nymphs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The afternoon on the Taff was more productive, with a decent LDO hatch just after midday. The largest fish touched 16 inches and fell to a new CDC olive dun pattern that I have been trialling. I've experimented with winging techniques for quill bodied dun patterns for a while and now use three styles of CDC wing: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- A spun CDC wing - my current favourite (see <a href="http://northcountryangler.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/olive-dun.html">North Country Angler</a> <a href="http://northcountryangler.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/olive-dun.html">Matt Eastham's </a><a href="http://northcountryangler.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/olive-dun.html">blog entry</a>, although I tie the wing slightly shorter to prevent it wrapping around the shank); </span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/1aa936fb-b758-4cb0-acd3-cd843996217a_zps174b0f88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/1aa936fb-b758-4cb0-acd3-cd843996217a_zps174b0f88.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- three plumes tied backwards (in two stages); and</span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/2966f2a2-f88d-48d1-a506-0822db6f8da1_zps50fe4f62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/2966f2a2-f88d-48d1-a506-0822db6f8da1_zps50fe4f62.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- a single plume tied forwards that I use for size 18 and 20 quill bodied patterns (see <a href="http://presentationflyfishing.com/?page_id=2">Jeremy Lucas</a>' single plume tip). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All catch very well, but the pattern with three CDC plumes is, as expected, more resilient after taking a fish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming up</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I'm a good boy, over the season I hope to fish a number of different waters with various friends, new and old. I look forward to: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The inevitable Taff sessions with <a href="http://smallstreamaddicts.blogspot.co.uk/">Dan</a> and <a href="http://tightlineswithsion.wordpress.com/">Sion</a> - to include 'The Three in One Special' (a Ponty version of curry half and half that Sion occasionally enjoys); </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teifi, Teifi Estuary and Dyfi swearing sessions with Aled;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the April day I managed to arrange at Llanover, Usk with Pete (guaranteed to be washed off); </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">an early summer day at <a href="http://www.cambrianangling.com/waters.html">Llyn Gamallt</a> with Dick;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a mid summer evening at <a href="http://www.cambrianangling.com/waters.html">Llyn Conlog</a> with Marc; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the wager I agreed to with Mike and Anthony at Lake Vyrnwy; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a summer night with Morgan on the Towy; and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(just maybe) a day in May with David on the Avon.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thoughts of these trips will no doubt ease me through the coming weeks.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-6301527605430405432013-02-13T20:49:00.002+00:002014-07-09T12:13:36.477+01:00Usk Salmon 2012<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/?page_id=37#ysbytty">Ysbytty Beat</a>, June 2012</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a warm June Sunday afternoon and I'd been toying with the idea of going to the pub for a few pints of perry (as I thought the river was still too high and coloured to fish after the recent rain). Whilst walking my lurcher along the river in Usk, it became apparent that I was wrong and that the colour was dropping out nicely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I returned home, called in my booking for the Ysbytty beat, and excused the wife from her pub taxi duty. It was five o'clock and I promised to be home by eight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Ysbytty or Chicken Factory beat belongs to <a href="http://www.mtaa.co.uk/">Merthyr Tydfil Angling Association</a> and, during the season, I probably fish it once a fortnight. I can cover the holding spots comfortably in a few hours and it is fished less than the other MTAA beats. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By five thirty I was on the bank rigging up my fourteen foot #9 Greys XF2 T series with a Hardy Mach 55 floating line and fast sinking 5ft poly leader, to which I looped 6 foot of 15lb Seaguar Ace and tied on a size 10 double Ally's Shrimp. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ally's Shrimp</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hook: Partridge salar double or Ken Sawada low water salmon 8-12</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Tail: A few strands of orange crystal hair over fire orange bucktail </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Tag: Silver oval or wire (I've used wire as I often snap oval)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Body - back half: Fluorescent orange floss (I've used glo brite)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Body - front half: Black floss</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Rib: Silver oval or wire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Underwing: Natural squirrel (cloaked)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Wing: Dyed orange golden pheasant tippet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Hackle: Orange cock</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I hastily made my way to the bottom of the beat and fished through a good run varying the angle, speed and depth of my fly. I then fished back up the run with no success. After changing to a heavier fly, I also fished fruitlessly through the </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">next deep pool. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I wasn't too disheartened by the lack of action as I was saving the best water until last; there was plenty of time left to fish the head of a long slow glide (back at the top end of the beat) where the fish lie behind a horizontal line of large boulders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I changed back to the size 10 salar double Ally's, waded in quietly and cast a fourty five degree angle across the flow. A single upstream mend and my fly was swimming at what felt like the right speed. A few casts (and steps) later, I was over the prime area and had the feeling that I was in with a shout. Expectantly, I cast, mended the line and fished the fly around. Nothing. Remaining in position, I again cast to the opposite bank and put in a larger mend. As the line started to swing around and swim the fly, it tightened. One 'Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' later and I lifted into what felt like a good fish. 'Please don't be a trout!' I uttered under my breath.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It very quickly became apparent that this was no trout and within five minutes I managed to slip the gye net under a 33 inch silver hen salmon. After unhooking and supporting the fish for a minute or so in the flow, it swam away strongly. I left the river ecstatic with my first fish of the season (and arived home in time for my tea). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apologies for the quality of the fish pictures in this entry, but I try to be careful and quick when handling and returning salmon and sea trout. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">33 inch Ysbytty Beat hen salmon being returned</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Money well spent</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have pursued Usk salmon for a number of seasons; at first very unsuccessfully with a single handed rod (although I caught some big trout) and then, mainly unsuccessfully with a double handed rod. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially I taught myself double handed casting, often watching others on the river bank. I am now in no doubt that this was a mistake and I am still trying to shake off many of the bad habits that I picked up whilst splashing away on the Usk. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three seasons ago I admitted that I needed to pay for some lessons and arranged a session with Mark Roberts of <a href="http://www.gwentanglingsociety.co.uk/">Gwent Angling Society</a>. Then came the realisation that I had to start again and completely remodel my top hand dominant action. Mark invited me to the Gwent Angling casting clinics that he hosted over the summer months along with <a href="http://theenigmaticangler.com/about/">Alun Rees</a>, <a href="http://www.castingwithstyle.co.uk/">Chris Price</a>, <a href="http://www.garethlewisflyfishing.com/">Gareth Lewis</a> and others. These proved invaluable and I quickly improved</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I could give any advice to a beginner it would be to take lessons and, even though I am now relatively proficient with the double hander, I still attend casting clinics whenever I can. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the Kemmeys beat of the Usk, probably using too much top hand on a snap C cast</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I caught (and released) 2 Usk salmon in 2012. The above fish is one of 13 salmon caught on the Ysbytty beat, one of 5 to the fly, in 160 member visits (averaging 12 member visits per fish). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The average across the three MTAA Usk beats was just under 10 visits per fish, with 92 salmon and 3 seatrout caught. The reported catch and release rate was 64%. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In a good year for salmon on the Usk, the visit numbers per fish indicate why catches are so highly valued. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/fishing/obs/beat_details.php?beat=chainbridge">Chainbridge</a>, September 2012</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had originally booked this beat for my birthday at the start of May but the river was too high to fish. Our summer was so wet that every time the day was rearranged it was washed off. Sod's law dictated that on the September Friday I finally managed to get out on the WUF water, the river was at the summer low level. I was also greeted by a stiff northerly breeze, but the birds were singing and I felt confident on this relatively prolific beat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was using my fourteen footer with a floating line, slow sinking polyleader and a size 12 double Bann Special Shrimp variant (similar to the Usk Grub). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Hook: Partridge salar double or Ken Sawada low water salmon 8-12</span><br _zipidx="1" /><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Thread: Red</span><br _zipidx="1" /><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Tag: Silver oval or wire</span><br _zipidx="1" /><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Tail: Red g</span>olden pheasant breast feather<br _zipidx="1" /><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Rear Body: Orange </span>floss</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Rib: </span>Silver wire<br _zipidx="1" /><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Mid Hackle: </span>Hot orange cock (I've used dyed badger)<br _zipidx="1" /><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Front Body: </span>Black floss<br _zipidx="1" /><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Cheeks: </span>Jungle cock<br _zipidx="1" /><span _zipidx="1" class="bold">Front Hackle: </span>Badger cock</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I started at the Rock Pool, a prime spot. On the third or fourth cast, the line stopped suddenly as I felt the take of a good salmon. I lifted the the rod and the fish was on. For two minutes I varied the angle of pressure until the 32 inch hen was bullied, head up, over the net. Salmon fishing was easy after all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As soon as the fish was back in the current I tried to take a better picture with my iPhone; I am clueless with modern gadgets and, unknowingly, the device was in filming mode, so caught a little footage of the release before it went back into my pocket. When in my jacket, the phone continued to record and you can hear the fish kicking strongly over my dodgy heavy breathing. You also hear me let out an embarrassing celebratory cheer when the fish swims off (after less than a minute). See below:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spent a few more enjoyable hours covering the short beat with the double hander but, after lunch, I fished for trout. I caught around twenty fish on the duo method, with half of them taking the olive klink variant (featured in my previous entry) and the others a size 18 PTN jig. Most were under 10 inches but provided great sport on my #3 weight. </span></div>
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At the end of the day, I went directly to meet my wife for a meal in the <a href="http://www.theblackbearinn.co.uk/">Black Bear</a> at Bettws Newydd (less than a mile up the road from the beat, and a pub that we regularly frequent). I spent most of the evening talking with the other locals (many of whom are fishemen) about the river over a few pints of <a href="http://www.wyevalleybrewery.co.uk/beers/hpa.html">Wye Valley HPA</a>. The perfect end to a superb day on the Usk. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-15488970448203055132013-01-17T22:43:00.000+00:002014-07-09T12:13:36.430+01:00The Upper Taff, Summer 2012 - No Fish in There!<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">June 2012</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'There's no fucking fish in there!' Barked a woman in her forties as she strutted up the pavement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'You're a rubbish fisherman!' Shouted a teenager from a passing car window as he threw a bread roll and the driver tooted the horn. My friend Dan responded with a two fingered salute, I put my hood up in case I saw anyone I knew. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Later, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">another hilarious fellow would shout (from a packed minibus), </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">'I'm coming back with my maggots tonight!' Much to the amusement of his drinking buddies on the bus. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were fishing near Merthyr Tydfil town centre on a Saturday afternoon in June and the fish were concentrated on the far edge of a slow shallow pool, feeding on large dark olive duns. There were several splashy rises from smaller fish interspersed with the tell tale sips of larger more efficient feeders. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was using my 11ft #3 weight rod, employing leader to hand tactics with an olive klinkhammer type fly. After watching Dan return a couple of good sized trout -and landing a decent fish of my own- I noticed a small sip further out into the pool (about 8 metres directly opposite me). The fish lay in less than 1.5 metres of water and rose every minute or so. Not risking spooking the target in the shallow clear water, I remained in the same spot. Ideally I would have moved downstream, but it is far easier to ensure drag free drift for longer using leader to hand techniques, so this was not critical. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another rise, I waited until what felt like the right moment and cast well upstream of where the dimpled rise form had been. Nothing. Then, another small rise to a beatis dun, accompanied by that barely audible sound. I waited a little longer this time and made my second cast, a tiny sip and (yes!) the fish was on. After a few strong runs and a very brief photo opportunity, this slim early summer fish was safely returned. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is typical of how the summer fishing on the Taff unfolded. I often accompanied Dan (an almost ever-present figure on the upper river), surface feeding fish could usually be located and I experimented with leader to hand techniques (with varying degrees of success).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A reluctant reintroduction</span></h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I first became a member of Merthyr Tydfil Angling Association in 1986 and have been an on-off member ever since. I have retained constant membership for the the last ten years, but in this time, I have concentrated on fishing club beats on the Usk and Talybont Reservoir. Prior to last year, I hadn't ventured onto the upper Taff since before I left home, aged eighteen. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This all changed in April last season when I bumped into the aforementioned MTAA member Dan Popp on the Mardy beat of the Usk. Being someone that has always enjoyed peace and quiet when fishing, I was sceptical when Dan asked if I wanted to join him on Merthyr Town water for a day on the following weekend. Despite the excellent reports (two pounders are very common on the Taff), I was dubious that I'd enjoy myself in the cluttered urban surroundings. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recalled fishing there as a boy and catching plenty of fish on the only five patterns in my box: Grey dusters, dry pheasant tails, partridge and orange spiders, pheasant tail nymphs and gold ribbed hare's ear nymphs. I also remembered plastic bags, old settees, being threatened by someone with a hammer and wondering what all the submerged sanitary towels were. It was against my better judgement that I agreed to meet Dan in the car park of the local leisure centre on the following Saturday in the third week of April. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The river</span></h4>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Taff has spluttered its way from the north of the Merthyr valley down grade to Cardiff through two centuries of heavy industry. For a long time much of the river was rendered </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">unfishable; Tony Rees MBE (the chairman of Merthyr Angling Association) <span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">once wrote a letter to the chairman of Welsh Water requesting miners' lamps for the fish in order that they could find their way up river, such was the extent of the pollution. Since the decline of the industry, the river continues to recover. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Management is minimal. It is stocked with several thousand fish annually, poached extensively, its mouth is barraged, there are numerous sewage outfalls, mink and cormorant abound and yet in many ways, the river thrives. Aquatic life is prolific and the upwing hatches can be huge. This is no doubt attributed to the improved water quality resulting from the industrial decline and absence of diffuse agricultural pollution. Fifteen years ago, the Morlais Brook tributary in Merthyr Tydfil was dubbed by Environment Agency staff as the most polluted stream in Wales. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'There were toilets flushing directly into it. It was like Calcutta’, an ex EA officer once told me. This year, trout have been recorded spawning at the confluence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The urban main river at Merthyr Vale</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stockies</span></h4>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The debate often rages on the <a href="http://www.flyforums.co.uk/river-taff/1573-river-taff-cardiff-416.html">Taff thread on Fly Fishing Forums</a> as to which image is of a grown on stocked fish or a wild brown trout. Some of you reading this may suspect that the fish pictured here are grown on stockies. For me, this is not a significant issue. The trout fought superbly, were feeding naturally when I caught them (on methods I enjoy) and I have fond memories. That's all that matters to me. I have no reason to think they are stocked but I'll admit that unless a fish has been introduced in the season I catch it, or it has stunted or damaged fins, I am unsure as to whether I could identify it as a stocked fish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 2012</span> </h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was early September and I had taken the day off work. Dan and I met near Merthyr Tydfil in the early afternoon. It was a muggy day and the fishing was slower than usual, but by early evening blue winged olive spinners danced in the air, many complete with egg sacks. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BWOSpinners_zpsfe332985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" jea="true" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BWOSpinners_zpsfe332985.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The town centre air thick with blue winged olive spinners</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As there was little surface activity I was using the duo method and Dan his favoured French leader. We caught some decent fish on pheasant tail nymphs and I had a few smaller fish to Dan's favourite olive klink variant. All season we had caught well on this fly (on the Taff and the Usk) but I had been trying to tweak it; changing to a dubbed thorax instead of peacock, a pearly rib, a more neutral coloured post, a different hook. But I couldn't improve upon the catch rate of Dan's version and I am reminded of the adage, 'if it ain't broke'...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/DansOliveKlink_zpsb648eb73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" jea="true" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/DansOliveKlink_zpsb648eb73.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dan's Olive Klink</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: Kamasan B100</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post: Light pink aerodry</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body: Light olive dubbing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rib: Olive tying thread</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thorax: Peacock herl</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hackle: Light blue dun</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By seven o'clock we had (intentionally) worked our way up to a pool that usually holds a good number of surface feeders and we were greeted by a few fish rising to what I assumed where the spent BWOs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Off came the nymph and klink and on went a yellow single plume tip, then a yellow quill spinner, then a red quill spinner. For over an hour I caught smaller fish on all of these flies, but the large fish -that I could see rising- ignored my offerings. Meanwhile, further down the pool, Dan had a caught a fish that weighed over 2lb on his favourite fly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the fading light (when I could no longer see many of the rising fish) -it is likely that I'd put a few of them down- on went the klink. As darkness set in I could just make out a regular rise by the light of a streetlamp. I covered the fish and, sip, there it was (tinged in sulphur yellow). This well conditioned fish made four or five powerful runs before a few last gasp lunges saw it into the net. I don't normally weigh and measure fish, but I very carefully did this, as Dan and I disagreed on its size. (I'd underestimated and Dan turned out to be correct). I'd be interested to know how long and heavy any readers of this think the fish below is. </span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A river of contradictions</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Taff is a river of contradictions; dirty but clean, urban yet wild, neglected and thriving. An ugly lovely river favoured by many, but not for everyone.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UpperTafFechan_zps540bb81c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" jea="true" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/UpperTafFechan_zps540bb81c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rural Taff Fechan - a tributary of the main river</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8793820391941691156.post-56228536058182271292013-01-05T18:35:00.002+00:002014-07-09T12:13:36.466+01:00Upland Lakes on Foot, by Boat and Tube - May 2012<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In May I was lucky enough to fish three upland lakes in Mid and North Wales - Llyn Gwyddior, Lake Vyrnwy and Llyn Morwynion. All three are picturesque, contain brown trout and can be very productive at certain times of year and in the right conditions.</span><br />
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Llyn Morwynion on Foot</h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a long day of meetings in North Wales I was to stay in Blaenau Ffestiniog (a few miles from the next day's fishing). For the uninitiated I'll describe Blaenau as a unique place and leave it at that, except to say that it has a rich fishing heritage. There are Welsh language books that feature flies from the region, and in times past many of the slate workers were notorious for their use of the 'styllen' or otter board. Locals have told me that they had special hiding places near the the lakes or llynoedd for their boards, and often others would know of these and borrow them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a decent steak and chips and a pint at The Grapes in Maentwrog, I arrived at my clean but basic guest house only to discover that the beds were not designed for modern man.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BlaenauFfestiniogBampB_zpsbebaddfa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/BlaenauFfestiniogBampB_zpsbebaddfa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On foot...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It made for a long night, but I consoled myself with a few home comforts!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Revels_zps732f779f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Revels_zps732f779f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blaenau essentials (minus styllen)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day I purchased my day ticket at the </span><a href="http://www.cambrianangling.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Post Office in Llanffestiniog</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (for about £15 I think)and drove a few miles to the remote roadside car park from where the Llyn is a short uphill walk. <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/359811">Llyn Morwynion</a> contains a good head of small(ish) brown trout and at one time was lightly stocked with rainbows. I had chosen Morwynion and not the more popular </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Llyn </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gamallt</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, as I was due to fish Gamallt a month</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> or so later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of the Cambrian lakes, Gamallt is my favourite; suited to float tubing, it holds some excellent quality, good sized brown trout. I believe that it was restocked a number of years ago with trout from another Llyn and they have since thrived on the (relatively) abundant terrestrial and aquatic insects. I recently saw a photograph of the stomach contents of a summer Gamallt trout (in a work meeting) and it had consumed a number of different terrestrial species. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was a cold cloudy day with some heavy showers and an easterly blast, but from my elevated position you could see for miles. Conditions were hardly ideal but I was happy to be there in my neoprene gloves and fleece jacket.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/LlynMorynion_zpsf0817322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/LlynMorynion_zpsf0817322.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The view from Llyn Morwynion</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The morning session went as expected. Fishless. Dim sosej as my mate Aled would say. I had started out fishing two of the<a href="http://www.cambrianangling.com/flytying.html"> local wet fly patterns</a> on a six weight clear intermediate line but when this brought no success, I tried various tactics, on top and deep with a floating line.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When changing back to the intermediate, I decided to shake things up. <span style="font-family: Arial;">These dark thoughts coincided with me being directly opposite where I had started, having cast and stepped half way around the lake. Using 3X (5lb bs) Fulling Mill fluorocarbon, I knotted a 12 foot leader with a single dropper about 4 foot from the point fly. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I tied a size 10 black and white muddler (see below) on the point and a size 14 pearly black pennell on the dropper. Also for the first time that day, I waded in very carefully up to my waste. I cast up the bank that I had not yet fished (very close in) and stripped fast in order to try and entice a take from the fish that I knew were in the three foot of water. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Muddler_zps1336e413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="102" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Muddler_zps1336e413.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shetland-type muddler </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: 10 wet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tail: Black marabou with two strands of holo tinsel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body: Crystal hair wrapped around shank</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wing: Black marabou and a few strands of crystal hair</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Head: White deer hair (I've used elk)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is my version of a fly I saw in an article tied by Stephen Breivik of Lerwick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It worked like a charm with most fish coming to the dropper and any feelings of guilt being banished by thoughts of the styllen. Over the next two hours I caught over ten wild brown trout to eleven inches, slowly working my way up the bank but remaining in the water. The fish were not very big, but very welcome and the muddler clearly fulfilled its role as an attractor pattern. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Moryniontrout_zps29724348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="179" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Moryniontrout_zps29724348.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Average sized Morwynion trout</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By around 4pm the weather took a turn for the worse and and so I walked down the mountain back to the car. I was due to meet my friend Aled at a guest house on Lake Vyrnwy and was looking forward to a meal and a few beers in the <a href="http://www.lakevyrnwy.com/">hotel</a>. </span></div>
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<h3>
Lake Vyrnwy by Boat</h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the map it looks an easy journey east from Llanfestiniog to Lake Vyrnwy. You travel over mountains roads past the sweeping Llyn Celyn and down to Bala and <a href="http://www.balaangling.co.uk/page8.html">Llyn Tegid</a> which contains grayling and gwniad (a whitefish native to the lake). From there you take a narrow road that nearly reaches the wild summit of Foel y Geifr (roughly translated as Goats Hill ) and then delivers you down to Llyn Efyrnwy, or Lake Vyrnwy. On the mountain track, in torrential hail showers, it was pretty hairy and I was glad to be in my small four wheel drive (definitely not a hairdresser's car). It was like a different world when I arrived at the guesthouse and saw Aled sitting in the sunny garden, such is our variable weather. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That evening we ate at the hotel bar and enjoyed more than a few beers over some games of pool. After a terrible night's sleep listening to Aled's deafening snores we picked up the permits, batteries and motor from the hotel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Unfortunately that day we experienced torrential rain and strong winds and those photographs I did take between downpours were even worse than usual. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We caught fish from the off. Previous experience told us to fish wet flies close to the inlet streams in the shallower north end, and the fish did not disappoint. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">These Loch Leven derived fish averaged 10 inches with the largest being around 13 inches. What they lacked in size they made up for in number with frantic sport at times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The best fly of the day proved to be a size 12 Kate Maclaren variant but I also experimented with the muddler again. With this gaudy mini-lure on the point and a fast strip of my intermediate line the dropper flies definitely took more fish, and a few also took the muddler (much to Aled's distaste). As part of the muddler experiment I moved it to the middle and top droppers, and experienced far less success than when it was in the point position. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/MaclarenC_zpscfed0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="195" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/MaclarenC_zpscfed0578.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kate Maclaren variant</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: 10-14 wetfly (this is Varivas 2400)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tag: Silver mylar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tail: Golden pheasant tipped (hot orange)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Body: Black spectra</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Palmer: Black cock / hen (I've used cock here but I also use hen especially for middle dropper flies)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Front hackle: Brown hen</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I think I saw this variant, or something like it, in <a href="http://www.flyfishing-and-flytying.co.uk/">FF&FT</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">By late afternoon the weather had dried up and Aled and I were happily tired after a successful day talking nonsense in a boat. It was a long journey home but as I travelled back through Welshpool, Newtown and Builth Wells I felt lucky to have the opportunity to fish with my good mate in such surroundings. </span><br />
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<h3>
Llyn Gwyddior by Tube</h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through the winter, there is probably not a week that goes by without me tying a 'fly for Gwyddior'. The lake is managed by Llanbrynmair Angling Association and is one of two that you can float tube (the other being Llyn Coch Hwyad). I first fished Gwyddior six years ago making a few trips per season ever since. It is a secluded spot and the lake is relatively prolific with larger than average hard fighting brown trout. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">May usually sees the fish preoccupied with olives and this can be a good time to catch a specimen. The largest fish I have witnessed caught there was by Aled and it measured around 16 inches. I have also heard reports of others (including a well known fishing journalist) catching a larger fish than this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It was the last week in May and I met a friend Dick in the car park at Llanbrymair. <span style="font-family: Arial;">Being a relatively recent convert to float tubing it is reassuring to fish with an experienced hand like Dick.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After calling in to see 'Emyr Lewis of Llanbrynmair' for some permits -Emyr is a very experienced fisherman and has provided me with some excellent advice on brown trout and sewin- we travelled the narrow road and then the forestry track that leads to the Llyn. While it is not essential to have a four wheel drive for this journey, it certainly helps, particularly where a brook fords the road. During wet periods this road can become impassable in a car and fishermen need to be mindful that it is possible to become stranded (as Aled and I once were). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When you arrive you can either take an off-road vehicle (through some boggy ground)down to the lake, or you can walk. When boat fishing it is preferable to drive down with electric motor and batteries, but there is no need with a float tube on your back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a a sunny day, warm for the time of year, with a stiff south westerly blow. I was using a 9 foot #5 Partridge rod (that I bought on ebay one night after the pub) with a floating line. My cast included a sooty olive with two small jungle cock cheeks on the point and an olive dabbler on the dropper. Dick fished a Harry Tom and a black palmered fly. We both experienced some excellent sport and I returned ten fish over 10 inches. </span><br />
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<a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/GwyddiorTrout_zpsda973ab3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="240" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/GwyddiorTrout_zpsda973ab3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The highlight of the day came around lunch time when there was a large hatch of olives with the airborne adult upwings being blown to the north end of the lake. Dick and I held our positions about 15 meters from a weedbed and cast to some rising fish for thirty minutes or so. Most of the fish fell to the dabbler (see below) stripped quite fast, and all were highly visible takes. It was hard work remaining in one spot in the stiff wind, but it caught us fish. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Olivedabbler_zps4479f397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="161" src="http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o699/lee_evans2/Olivedabbler_zps4479f397.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thread: Olive powersilk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: 10-14 wet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tail: Bronze mallard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Body: Olive seals fur sub (I tie this in light, medium and dark)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Rib: Pearl tinsel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Palmer: Olive cock (I also use hen depending upon the effect I want)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Front hackle: Bronze mallard (for this version I cloak the top half only)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After this action, with the sun high in the sky, things went quiet; this prompted a change to a heavily weighted nymph on the point and a jungle cock HE diawl bach (see below) on the dropper. Fished with a slow figure of eight retrieve, three good fish fish smashed the diawl, snatching the line free from my left hand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">HE diawl bach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thread: Red </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hook: Size 12 heavy wire (I think this is a Kamasan B175)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tail: Three strands of fine crystal hair</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Body: Hare's ear</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cheeks: Jungle cock</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thorax: Hair's ear</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I copied this from a fly I saw in a shop. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">By early evening I was exhausted and must admit to getting cramp every ten minutes or so. All in all, we achieved a good return in the bright conditions and I was very pleased with the the quality of the fish, the savage takes and way they fought on the five weight. Worth every minute of those winter nights on the vice and the two and half hour drive home. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09627948017015763577noreply@blogger.com2