Saturday, March 24, 2012

Out in the sunshine

Early reports suggest decent hatches of Large Dark Olives (Baetis rhodani) and good numbers of March Browns (Rhithrogena germanica) for those that have been out in favourable conditions, the latter has been rarely seen on our local waters for a number of years now so it would be great to see them back on a regular basis.
Unfortunately for me... on my two outings of the season so far the conditions have been far from perfect and these two early season upwings have been quite elusive or non-existent in the case of the March Brown.

Today (Thursday) there wasn't a cloud in the sky when I ventured out, I saw one large dark olive dun and no rising fish, our spring olives are not sun lovers and those that do show face are off the water in a flash giving the fish no chance of an afternoon snack on newly emerged duns.
Luckily for me, fish were willing to feed sub-surface and a pair of beaded nymphs pitched upstream into any likely looking areas produced a few out of season Grayling and a number of Trout with the best (shown below) measuring 18 1/4 inches (46.5cm). I'm afraid it's not the best of photos, soon after hooking this fish I realised I'd forgot my net so I was forced to play it longer than I like and beach it, so it was a quick photo, a quick measure and a quick release.


The couple of bead head nymphs....



Monday, March 19, 2012

The waiting is over

The long awaited start to the 2012 Brown Trout season has arrived at last.
On Thursday 15th March I awoke to glorious sunshine and the usual feeling of excitement and anticipation.... a feeling I've had on every opening day for nearly 40 years and one that I hope I never lose.


By lunchtime the sun had gone to be replaced by cloud and conditions were perfect, when I got to the river there was a trickle of Large Dark Olives (Baetis Rhodani) coming off but no sign of rising fish so it was on with the nymph - a single Hares Ear beadhead on a tapered leader so I had the option of a quick change to a dry should I come across a surface feeding brownie.


Fishing the single nymph upstream and working any likely looking areas provided a few opening day fish, one at approximately 15 inches (38cm) and the rest around 12 (30cm).





The afternoon cloud brought a drop in temperature and a very sparse hatch of Olives.... not enough to tempt the trout to the surface, although  I did come across one rising fish which succumbed to a dry Olive Paradun.

Great to get my string pulled on opening day though and the rest of the season to look forward to.... Happy days !!