A fantastic BFFI 2009 !! Spending far too much money on tying materials, books, and various accessories but who cares it was just a great day. Meeting fishing friends from Fly Forums and learning how to create that new fly. Fly tyers row this year was certainly in a different league. A superb day had by all and my thanks goes out to all exhibitors who made the day a memorable one.
Thank you all !! See you next year at BFFI 2010.
Until next Time.................Tight Lines
The Eye for a Fly - 30th October 2009
We headed to the Welsh Dee once again and after a brief and informative chat to the guys from the EA, plus a check of the rod licence which is always good to see, and they were off downriver checking any angler for the licence as they go. Time to head down to the river.
Question.....What do you need to spot this, 
in this ?
Simple a pair of these.....
It is unbelievable how the Lady of the stream can spot a size 18 F-Fly in amongst the thousands of leaves making there way along the Dee.
in this ?
Simple a pair of these.....
It is unbelievable how the Lady of the stream can spot a size 18 F-Fly in amongst the thousands of leaves making there way along the Dee.The morning was slow as it accounted for only an out of season trout, but a perfect day for being out on the river. The Dee was once again Ice cold and the usual spots fished through with the bugs didn't produce, water temperature playing a major role in how the Ladys react to the flies and if they choose to feed. We fished the usual club water today and the morning session only accounted for small Grayling and one trout between us.
The sun decided to come through and warm up the Welsh valley, and we both decided to change back to the dry which didn't see much action earlier. I opted for the F-fly a good all round fly for the river and had produced the goods in the past. My dad was first into the fish and a nice fish about a 1lb graced his net. They were switching onto the dry, and we were both amazed how they were able to spot a fly travelling at pace on the current in amongst all the leaves. These fish certainly don't need to go to Specsavers !!.
Great sport finally arrived on the dry, nothing better in our opinion. My dad spotted a nice fish rising on the far bank
and after several refusals to his fly he kindly said ' Go on Lad, have a go for it' . I didn't need asking twice and the fish came up from the deeps twice for the fly and I missed it on both occasions, much to the amusement of the old man who stood knee deep in the Dee chuckling to himself, nothing like a confidence booster.....cheers mate!.
and after several refusals to his fly he kindly said ' Go on Lad, have a go for it' . I didn't need asking twice and the fish came up from the deeps twice for the fly and I missed it on both occasions, much to the amusement of the old man who stood knee deep in the Dee chuckling to himself, nothing like a confidence booster.....cheers mate!.It hadn't gone down, the fish was still there and this time the fly stuck and the rod bent into a nice fish, a great scrap and a good fish measuring 45cm came to the net. The afternoons sport finished as the light started to go, it was only 4.45pm !!! . On the drive home we reflected on the day, and it turned out to be a difficult but very enjoyable day. The lady certainly has an eye for a fly.
Until Next time.............................Tight Lines
The Changing Season...17th October 2009
Both my fishing buddy and I headed towards the Dee after the usual breakfast stop. The mist was covering the Welsh valleys and the drive to the river although a long one is well worth it this time of year. The changing colour of the trees on route to a variety of copper colours signifies that autumn and inevitably winter is just around the corner.
On arrival the mist was still hanging on the water, but as the sun poked through it would lift and certainly warm the air, which really did have a cold nip to it. We were however both well prepared with the thermals seeing their first outing.
I decided to start on the bugs as the river looked to be carrying some colour as well as plenty of leaves. Wading through the likely runs the first drift produced a Grayling around the pound mark, a cracking start. Leaves a plenty trundled down the river each drift of the flies taking a nice leaf, it certainly helped in quickening up my reactions. Fishing through all runs and a change of tactics between us we had accounted for only one fish........???. The water however was ice cold a good chance that a release of water was to blame.
A quick phone call and we decided to change beats, to meet up with a good mate Dylan, our paths had only crossed a few times this season and it was great to meet up again. He had been out looking for the silver tourist. The afternoon was spent on the dry fly and accounted for numerous Grayling, the larger Lady's were however being rather shy today.
We were all in agreement that the water had really turned ice cold later in the day and the fish had just stopped feeding. It didn't matter however as we all had time to catch up and go through various flies and test out a new rod that Dyl had purchased.......a cracking outfit.
With the shortening days and the changing season it was time to call it a day, yet another brilliant day on the river, it doesn't matter if the fish weren't on form but just to be out in the country waist deep in water and good company, really cant be beaten.
Until next Time....................Tight Lines
Three day Fishing Fix - 23rd - 25th September 2009
After a holiday in the sun and only a four hour stint reef fishing in the Algarve, I was ready for for my fishing fix. I had booked three days off work and was going to make the most of it.......how I had missed the river.
Day 1 - River Severn
I travelled to the Severn with my dad on the ususal day ticket stretch, and after a hearty full English we were ready to do battle. The day was overcast but warm and a pleasant day greeted us as we tackled up. I decided to start on the dry a small sedge pattern in a 16s, a couple of gold head nymphs for the old man. I was into a fish on the dry straight away albeit a small Grayling , but very welcome. Numerous fish hitting the dry as I waded up river, it was great to be back.
The fish coming to the dry quickly saw a change of tactics for the old man, and soon he was into fish. Wading along the Severn Andrew Cartwright had come down to have a chat. I have spoken to Andrew on a number of occassion via fly forums and always a good idea to get into contact with him for river conditions before making the long journey. Andrew was not fishing today but was looking to get out that evening for a few hours, we were chatting for ages and various sedge patterns had been fishing well recently........exactly what I had on.
The day continued much in the same vein with the smaller Grayling liking the dry, I wondered for miles fishing the deep holes with a change of tactics on the nymphs, losing a nice trout and Grayling in the process. We fished until the early evening and accounted for over 30+ grayling between us, unfortunatly the big girls wern't out today, but it was great to see the numerous small Grayling this river holds. It bodes well for the future they just need to eat well over the next few years and put on a few pounds, then they will pull your string. A great first day and a relief to have the fly rod in hand.
Day 2 - Welsh Dee - C.A.D.A.C
Headed towards the Welsh Dee nr Corwen for my second day fishing fix. The level was just above five hundred and ideal for the Grayling. On arrival there was no visable surface action, so I set up with tiny GRHE & PTN nymphs size 16s & 18S, this resulting in a few Grayling of about 12-14".
The morning session producing about half a dozen or so. The dinner bell seemed to ring about 1 o'clock and the surface was showing signs of action as the fish started to rise. I quickly changed to a small Elk hair caddis which had fished well on my last visit. The fish sipped it in gladly. I believe there is nothing better than seeing a fish take the dry and the rush you get on each take really cannot be matched for excitement.
Various Grayling over the 1lb mark made for some exciting sport in the afternoon, then wading towards another run I saw signs of a nice fish rising, as usual it was tucked into a run with overhanging trees. Ah well who said fishing was easy, I'm up for a challenge !!. I flicked the dry just short of the rise and my heart was in my mouth, thumping like a good en !. It was still rising I hadn't put it down, the second cast was on the button and the fly was taken like it was the last fly on the Dee. It was a good fish, would the size 18 hold? , it did and a nice fish graced my landing net but what a scrap. It took a bit for the fish to recover (see Video) but returned a little bit wiser!.
Another magical day on the Dee, plenty of fish falling to the dry. I love it here especially when the Grayling come out to play !!
Until Next Time.......................................Tight Lines
Day 1 - River Severn
I travelled to the Severn with my dad on the ususal day ticket stretch, and after a hearty full English we were ready to do battle. The day was overcast but warm and a pleasant day greeted us as we tackled up. I decided to start on the dry a small sedge pattern in a 16s, a couple of gold head nymphs for the old man. I was into a fish on the dry straight away albeit a small Grayling , but very welcome. Numerous fish hitting the dry as I waded up river, it was great to be back.
The fish coming to the dry quickly saw a change of tactics for the old man, and soon he was into fish. Wading along the Severn Andrew Cartwright had come down to have a chat. I have spoken to Andrew on a number of occassion via fly forums and always a good idea to get into contact with him for river conditions before making the long journey. Andrew was not fishing today but was looking to get out that evening for a few hours, we were chatting for ages and various sedge patterns had been fishing well recently........exactly what I had on.
The day continued much in the same vein with the smaller Grayling liking the dry, I wondered for miles fishing the deep holes with a change of tactics on the nymphs, losing a nice trout and Grayling in the process. We fished until the early evening and accounted for over 30+ grayling between us, unfortunatly the big girls wern't out today, but it was great to see the numerous small Grayling this river holds. It bodes well for the future they just need to eat well over the next few years and put on a few pounds, then they will pull your string. A great first day and a relief to have the fly rod in hand.
Day 2 - Welsh Dee - C.A.D.A.C
Headed towards the Welsh Dee nr Corwen for my second day fishing fix. The level was just above five hundred and ideal for the Grayling. On arrival there was no visable surface action, so I set up with tiny GRHE & PTN nymphs size 16s & 18S, this resulting in a few Grayling of about 12-14".
The morning session producing about half a dozen or so. The dinner bell seemed to ring about 1 o'clock and the surface was showing signs of action as the fish started to rise. I quickly changed to a small Elk hair caddis which had fished well on my last visit. The fish sipped it in gladly. I believe there is nothing better than seeing a fish take the dry and the rush you get on each take really cannot be matched for excitement.
Various Grayling over the 1lb mark made for some exciting sport in the afternoon, then wading towards another run I saw signs of a nice fish rising, as usual it was tucked into a run with overhanging trees. Ah well who said fishing was easy, I'm up for a challenge !!. I flicked the dry just short of the rise and my heart was in my mouth, thumping like a good en !. It was still rising I hadn't put it down, the second cast was on the button and the fly was taken like it was the last fly on the Dee. It was a good fish, would the size 18 hold? , it did and a nice fish graced my landing net but what a scrap. It took a bit for the fish to recover (see Video) but returned a little bit wiser!.
Another magical day on the Dee, plenty of fish falling to the dry. I love it here especially when the Grayling come out to play !!
Day 3 - Welsh Dee - C.A.D.A.C
I once again returned to
the Dee for my third and final day, nothing much had changed overnight, no rain and the wind had eased from the previous day, even better conditions today. I started the day on another beat of the club water, with the Grayling taking in the dry. These days don't come round that often and I was taking full advantage. Fishing different spots than the ususal , Grayling were at home. Some bigger fish today were on the feed and being caught in some unlikely spots and in some cases where you would least expect them to be lying.
Until Next Time.......................................Tight Lines
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