Its hot and the fish are still making the most of the dwindling Mayfly...

Fished the River Chew on a muggy hot afternoon. Mayfly still trickling off and a few lazy rises from the large fish that frequent this section of the river. I have not learnt my lesson and the first fish, a good fish, snaps my 3lb leader. I change my set up to a 5lb fluro straight through to the dry. I miss a few rises but then hook a nice wild fish of about a 1lb.

The banks are like a jungle as I scramble between entry and exit points with nettles chest high. At this time of year parts of the Chew become unfishable with vegetation but it keeps the fishing pressure down and provides lots of cover. Next fish a stocked or escapee Rainbow that provides a test for my little Fladen, this time taking a brassie nymph on a deeper section. I finish off with another nice Brown that I watched come from a deep undercut to inspect and engulf the dry. I caught some smaller wildies which was good to see as this section is often dominated with stocked fish.

 

 

 

 

Small stream and kayak exploits in Cornwall

Spent the week in my second home Cornwall with the family. Weather wasn't great all the time and the surf was underwhelming to say the least. However as ever I was out to make the most of a well deserved break from work. The Mullet were out in force and despite a concerted effort I avoided hooking one on the fly. The fish I was targeting this time round were quite a way up the creeks and large in the 4-8lb range. At times I watched as they grazed algae from the boat moorings and tempted the Mullet with green algae flies, red bead head diawl bachs, bloodworm imitations, shrimp patterns, ghostbusters and bread flies. The only one that seem to illicit any sort of interest was the algae fly but not sufficient to result in a solid hook up. Arghhh is all I can say. Still the challenge remains to catch a really good sized Mullet (2lb+) on the fly.

Back to more successful forays. I fished the smallest stream in a wooded valley in the heart of Cornwall. My 7' Fladen totally over gunned but adequate to flick a leader of 4' 3lb fluro into the crevices and creases of the meandering stream. Some of the pools (puddles) gave up some beautiful adult wild miniature browns. Stealth and patience were fundamental to success as the fish readily rose to a passing dry fly should it land with success. Such was the confining space at times I was not sure who was most startled after disturbing both Dipper and Roe Deer within feet of me. 

On the sea and a couple of kayak trips brought a variety of fish including Lance, Pollack and Wrasse. Pollack were abundant although small in size. The Mackerel and Bass seemed to be taking an extended Spring break!

Typical inshore Pollack

A wonderful Wrasse caught on some small feathers.