Climbing in Yorkshire and no fly fishing

Expecting the heat of summer to break once the school kids started their summer break, we decided to take a trip to Yorkshire before school finished. Not to fly fish - but to do some walking.
Unfortunately schools finished on the Wednesday not Friday and the weather (of course) broke. We thus found ourselves wandering around Malham Cove in the rain! It was, at this point still reasonably warm, unlike the following two days!
The scenery was still fabulous. We walked from Malham Cove up to Malham Tarn and back via a limestone gorge that was so long I couldn't even get it into a panorama picture.
Continuing along the top edge to the further end, we then found ourselves descending steeply on damp rocks. The rain had lifted but left our descent a little slippy. Part way down we met a young lad and his father coming up. "Were we aware it becomes a bit of a climb down the waterfall further down?" said the dad. Oh, said husband Mike. "Are there plenty of hand holds?" "Yesss, plenty" came the reply. Well his son couldn't have been more than 10 so I thought it should be within my ability and physical stretch. I do not enjoy climbing, but we had already come quite a distance!
Going further down to a plateau formed behind one of the waterfalls we came upon a group of Germans who had just climbed the waterfall. "Oooh, it is DANGEROUS" said a very tall guy. Huh, think I, we have followed German guide books abroad that warned us of precipitous and dangerous drops on walks before - only to find no problem at all. Just exaggerating thinks me.
So on we went, trying to keep to the dryer bits - which soon ran out.... as we were in pools of water picking our way round.
Then we arrived at a sudden view down. Children splashing in the water, people looking up at us. Too late to turn back. I had already had a small scream as I wobbled across one rock. Mike then advised me to face the rock, rather than come down backwards. Amazingly I had realised the same thing at that very point.
Suffice it to say that the very steep bouldery climb down - with almost enough hand and foot holds - made me feel very hot and nervous. Our descent seemed slow - but perhaps terror made time stand still? I found comfort in the fact that the smoothness of the top of the hand holds meant we were choosing the correct route down - which swung this way and that as we traversed and descended.

This painting (actually preliminary sketch) by James Ward in 1811 gives a picture of our descent. I was pleased I had not turned back - but I would not do it again!
My reward came later as our walk continued past a much smaller waterfall. In the pool of which, were many, many trout.

As we watched, there must have been a short hatch - as suddenly four or five trout rose to take something from the surface - then, just as quickly, stopped.
Very pleasant. Even the sun shone strongly for those few minutes we stood there.
And, as the sun has now come out now we are home, I think it is time to head to the river to see if the fish are rising in Derbyshire.
Tight lines

Wonderful Wolfscote Dale and fly fishing on the river Dove

Ladies of the Stream
Well, we had four women fishing at Wolfscote on the Dove.

Hilary took some very good shots of the river and fish. The landscape and surroundings in this popular walking area are stunning.
The morning gave us some heavy rain - which did not dampen the spirits for fishing in this beautiful spot. The wind then set up which also did not stop us casting a fly - frequently at the trees!
Derbyshire County AC had given us this day fly fishing - for which we all say thank you very much.

The river held some large grayling (and trout). The grayling being a good indicator of clean water. Clearly a river in good heart.
There are three different groups that currently own the stretches past Charles Cottons Temple, Wolfscote and down Beresford Dale. All to be sold - as far as I have been told - to one owner. Let us hope that the fishing remains accessible to those of who appreciate fishing such water without it breaking the bank.

Ladies of the stream fly fishing at Wolfscote July 2015

The Ladies of the Stream fly fishing group meet again to fish the delightful Dove at Wolfscote Dale. Courtesy of Derbyshire County Angling Club.

More detail on "Womens fishing days" page
If you wish to join our group of fly fishers please contact through the blog.

1 woman fly fishing? No - 5 go fishing!

Ladies of the stream fly fishers met at a beautiful spot on Cressbrook & Litton stretch of the Derbyshire Wye and had a wonderful day fly fishing for the wild browns and rainbows.

The event began with bacon (or egg) butties, cooked by the erstwhile head keeper - David Percival. You may note we have a man in the picture - not chef David but Don Stazicker, GAIA qualified instructor and our man to do the kick sampling plus quite a bit of other support and guiding.

Kick sampling and an expert to advise on what is in the box - is always interesting and informative. I can now tell a leech from a midge larvae. Thank you Don.
We had a bullhead in the box - which concerned Hilary as she thought it may eat everything. Craftily a mayfly(?) nymph attached itself to the back of the bullhead - quite out of danger. It was a bit like watching films of sharks with much smaller fish hitching a ride in their slipstream.

Time to get to the river and fish!

Don was a fount of knowledge and support - showing Ange how to catch that trout!

Thank you from Ladies of the Stream

Ladies of the Stream would like to say a grand thank you to Cressbrook & Litton for giving us the opportunity to fish this lovely stretch of river. Thanks also to Hilary for organising the event.
The Cressbrook & Litton is a wonderfully organised and run club, revering both the river environment and the fly fishers. Its river stretches running through stunning Derbyshire scenery. Not only that - but they also do day tickets! Follow this link to book.

Future events

Now I must do the update of future "Womens fishing days" for Ladies of the stream, with our next event July 7th at Wolfscote, courtesy of Derbyshire County Angling Club.

Ladies of the stream

"Ladies of the stream" is a get together of women to enjoy fly fishing. If you are interested in joining please make contact. Our aim is to get more women and girls fly fishing. Whether you have no knowledge of what fly fishing is, are a novice or able fly fisher please contact to join the group.
Fly fishing is a superb pastime. I can think of no other more pleasureable activity than walking along a river - fly rod, landing net - constantly observing the river and surrounding flora and fauna. Delightful fly fishing therapy.
Tight lines

Tenkara - 29 rods and counting

Choosing to attend a Tenkara tuition day on the last day of May would, I had hoped, been a summery event - but it was cold and windy - even with the sunshine. At least it didn't rain!
Paul Gaskell and John Pearson of Tenkara Centre were an entertaining and very informative duo. With John using a 10 metre leader on his rod, Paul played the part of the fish - not in the river of course. This amusing exercise explained how to handle a fish and, most importantly, bring it to the net. With no reel to wind in line, clearly a technique was needed.
We tried quite a few rods - and weren't they all very different. I had taken my old Stonefly tenkara rod, but decided to keep it hidden; aware that if I compared it to some of these I would find it wanting.
Unfortunately my free 'Mamushi Kebari' fly made from a piece of skin from a Japanese Pit Viper (Mamushi) is a little too heavy to use as a dry fly - so I will save it until the end of the trout season. I fish the 'dry fly only' stretch of the Derbyshire Wye. No wading, dry fly only - saves a lot of baggage whilst fishing!
I did not buy a rod but I did buy a 4.5m dry fly leader; the Fujino tenkara midi, a tapered leader. I tried it on the river Bradford on 4th June. The 4th of June was that very hot day last week. After the cold spell we have been through I am sure most of us noticed it.
The mayfly were not very apparent during the morning. My casting, initially, was a little erratic, but I gently got a grip on it. In fact I arrived at the river with the new leader on and then struggled to remember the knot required to hold the tippet against the stop knot I had tied. Finally my visual memory kicked in as I remembered John's demo of tying a Palomar knot which you can check out on the video link - 3rd video down the page.
It cast much better than the loop I had been forced to cast with until I remembered the correct knot. I don't suppose this system would work with a fly line would it?
Having finally got the set up and casting a little better I did proceed to catch fish and bring them in on the long leader, applying the method we had been shown at the tuition day. The video is somewhere on the Tenkara Centre site too.
Unfortunately one of the larger fish had not seen the video - it shot off across the river, I lowered the rod to the side and successfully turned the fish round, and unfortunately it was clearly disgusted at this manoeuvring and quickly did a back flip and broke off the fly.
Standing on the footpath on the Bradford chatting to a chap, for quite sometime actually - which proved extremely productive - we were watching probably more than a dozen fish, the large fish chasing off the competition (the clarity of the Bradford water is fantastic), watching the mayfly and other emergers coming up through the water and the fish following them up. In fact standing so long the mayfly spinners came back - dipping like wagtails well above the water. 
Intermittently I cast, and then, quite casually, the biggest fish we had been admiring, sauntered over to the Philip White dry emerger and took it! I took a very deep breath awaiting the explosion as I lifted the rod... the fish held it tightly..  for quite a few moments...  then... flipped it out... to my great relief.
I flicked the hook and line back, took hold of the fly, which immediately dropped off the tippet into my hand......
Clever fish those River Bradford trout!

James Ogden, fishing the Wye below Bakewell Bridge June 5th

This coming June 5th will mark 150yrs since James Ogden, fishing the Wye below Bakewell Bridge, demonstrated his original floating dry flies to an audience of locals, fishermen, agents and keepers. Dry Fly Only was adopted the following day.
As a testimony to the man, who literally risked his neck to prove his flies would catch fish, we are planning a re-enactment this coming Ogden Day.
A horse and carriage will transport 'Mr Ogden' from the Peacock at 9.30am to Bakewell where an assembled crowd will watch 'Mr Ogden' use the tackle of the age, to try and hook a fish. No pressure. The media will be there to record the occasion.
The Peacock at Rowsley invite you to join them. Peacock - 9.30am. Bakewell Bridge 10 - 10.30am depending on the horse...

You can read a downloadable version of Ogden on Fly Tying 1887 from the Fishing Museum. . Originally published in Cheltenham, 1879. First editions are now very rare and extremely expensive. The author first fished in Derbyshire before moving to Cheltenham where he perfected a practical method of dry fly fishing. This illustrated book contains fascinating and informative descriptions of his methods with the floating fly, which he claims to have invented some 40 years before his book was published. Contents include: On Fly Dressing - Favourite Standard Flies - On Salmon Flies - The May Fly - The Green Drake - On Rods _ Hints on Casting - On Reels - On Fly Lines - Minnow Fishing - Ireland - Baskets and Nets. Etc.

Tenkara tuition on 31st May 2015

Just booked myself onto the Tenkara tuition and rod testing day on Sunday 31st May hosted by Discover Tenkara. The venue is near Sheffield so not too far.

Tenkara requires a gentle casting stroke, slightly different to our regular casting technique. The rods are usually longer, but the casting line is usually restricted in length. But apparently the Discover Tenkara team have been trained to cast a very long line ie 3.1m rod and 7m line. Now that would help me try for those trout that I spot that are just outside my current line length!
I must remember to ask how you bring in the fish to the net!