Silver on the Derbyshire Wye

The dull and frequently windy weather of late gave way to a sunny day yesterday, 17^th December.

It was cold and clear; I wrapped up well and set off to the river.

I had been reading Fly fishing and fly tying and noticed a letter referring to a 5 bead tungsten nymph by John Tyzack in a 2003 edition of the mag. I had also looked at the ‘Fish On productions’ site (which features John Tyzack) and noted a nymph tied using a cdc feather to make it leggy and shrimpy. With no idea what the 5 bead nymph looked like I created a good sinking fly that I hoped would work. It did. I caught 2 grayling, a rainbow and an out of season small trout.

The tying details are on the 'River fly diary' page - Silver fly for a silver fish

I was also trying a long leader. I had set up an extra reel already and left it at home!

So I quickly looped up a long length of 8lb line, a pink braid indicator and tied on a couple of flies. I use a figure of 8 loop to attach line to leader etc. For the dropper I use a ‘dropper loop’.

Having decorated a tree with the 2 flies I retied on using just one fly - which I cast and fish with much more confidently. At this point I almost gave up and went back to the car for the tenkara rod, which I find much easier for nymph fishing. 

Then I tied on my silver fly and found fish.

Chris Worthy appeared and gave me one of his much more visible braid indicators which improved the situation further. Thanks Chris.

It took a little while to get used to casting with no fly line out of the rod tip. Fortunately the lack of wind and weight of the nymphs allowed me to develop a method of getting the fly to the river. As there is no wading, lifting the line at the end of its run and casting using the resistance on the water to load the rod only worked when casting close to the bank. Generally this was too close in and snagged in the edge growth.

Being a right hander on the left bank I held some of the slack to shorten the line, then swung the line behind with the rod across my left shoulder, (clear backspace needed) keeping an open loop (slight elipse on the rod tip) and returning the fly upriver, where it quickly sank.

Keep an eye on the fly and rod tip whilst you get used to casting. If you have any tips or web links to this casting let me know please!

Just searching for a few grayling flies to tie

The internet is a blessing and a curse. Brilliant for finding flies that hopefully catch fish, but dreadful for being so pleasantly distracting. I had ordered a few bits from Fish On Productions and noticed that they had some videos......

If the link to the video doesn't work just go to the page showing all the videos through Fish On Productions
Now I must get on and tie some flies to fish with tomorrow.... for the grayling... of which there is another video on the site above.

Hoping its not too windy to try fishing with a long leader tomorrow.

What's in the Derbyshire Wye this month?

Though the river was rather high at the Rowsley end I thought I would challenge myself by trying to fish it. Just gathering my thoughts when Bernie Maher appeared armed with his kick-sampling kit. The colourfull results are shown in the photo. There were many shrimps of varied sizes (all smaller than the ones I have been tying). Cased caddis; quite large and dark, and a mayfly nymph.
And no, I didn't catch any fish, clearly the shrimps were too large!

Fishing for grayling

Fly fishing is defined for me when fishing with a dry fly, but with the grayling season and winter weather ahead of us, it is time for me to try to fish deeper into the water.
The talk at the end of the season given by Glen Pointon at the club meeting at the Peacock, was, therefore, well timed. Glen demonstrated making his soft touch shrimp and talked about how to fish it, and the pros and cons of sub surface fishing. He also gave me a tungsten headed fly, which he said he will fish with through winter.
Armed with copies of this and my Tenkara rod, I headed out to the river. Nymph fishing is something I get a little impatient with as I usually cast too far to hold the fly in the current correctly. The Tenkara would prevent me doing this. Thus, I went to a fishy bit of water cast upstream, followed down and - fish on. Fish returned (unfortunately a rainbow not a grayling). I recast, and amazingly, another fish on. Gently bring in a grayling was Glen's advice; unfortunately I rushed it and lost it as I steered it to the net. But, hey ho, I was not complaining.

This is Glen's fly, you can see my copies of it and the materials used on the 'River fly diary' page.

A bird in the hand....

The wonderful thing about fishing is that it isn’t just about fishing. The Lathkill is a beautiful clear river, which, even after rain, runs clear. The other bonus is that there is no public access, which means that it is quiet and peaceful, the wildlife untroubled.

It was surprising though to see a hawk sitting on the stone wall close to the bridge and hut on the middle beat. I had starting setting up my fishing equipment, when I suddenly spotted it. I got out the camera, moving carefully, and took several shots of it.

It sat there, watching me, moving its head just a little. Hmm, strange, I thought! Fishing in isolated spots I have had a hawk land on a dead tree above me, but it moved as soon as it realised I was there. This one was going nowhere. Clearly it had a problem.

Fortunately, river keeper Jan turned up. The bird still didn’t move. I pointed it out to Jan, who first couldn’t spot it, it being rather nearer than he expected. He recognised it as a Kestrel.

We had a discussion – should we leave it and let nature take its course, or should we intervene rather than leave it to starve to death slowly.

It had now started moving off the wall, but clearly could not fly. Was it wet and starving?

We should try and catch it was the decision.

So I armed Jan with my Tenkara extending landing net. Fortunately the landing net I use for the Peacock water has a very long handle, as there is no wading. Its length proved useful, as Jan gingerly and slowly raised the net toward the kestrel; now back up on a metal post on the wall. Amazingly as the net moved toward it, it jumped into the net!

Having placed it in a mink trap in the back of his car, Jan phoned Andy Heath of Trent Rivers Trust who has kept hawks. He was home, so off Jan went.

He phoned me later, by which time the bird was perched on the back of a chair in Andy’s kitchen being fed some chopped up mouse.

It had seemed very calm throughout its capture and as Jan carefully held it, I do wonder if it had already had human contact – or perhaps it was so hungry and exhausted it was beyond worrying!

Grayling Society Winter meetings in Bakewell, Derbyshire

Just received an email detailing the winter meetings of the Derbyhire branch of the Grayling Society. There are always some excellent speakers, so well worth the trip.
The cost is just £3.
Details below:

As usual we meet at the Rutland Hotel, Bakewell, starting at 7.30pm.

We kick off on Tuesday 15th October with a new Fly-tying demonstration from Stuart Crofts.   

With the grayling season underway Stuart will be tying patterns specifically with grayling in mind. These will be both nymphs and dry flies that will see you though a typical grayling season on our rivers up and down the land.

Dates below.  All welcome, please feel free to bring along you friends.

Tues October 15^th:         Stuart Crofts: Fly-tying demonstration

Thursday November 7^th: Dave Southall:  Tenkara

Tues December 10^th:      Paul Procter: Destination fly-fishing

            Tues January 14^th:         Peter Hayes:  TBA

Tues February 11^th:       Jon Beer:  Trout in Wild Places

Tues March 11^th:           TBA

An unfortunate fish

It's not often that a fish swims towards you on the clear water of the Derbyshire Wye. So I was puzzled when a large rainbow did exactly that. As I watched, it became clear it had a problem.

The top half of its tail had gone. The fish’s ability to manoeuvre was severely constricted. It was slowly swimming about in sunny open shallow water, facing downriver when I took these shots.

I had caught a grayling nearer the Rowsley stretch a few weeks ago, with distinct marks of a sawbill (Goosander or Merganser) on its flanks.

Whilst fishing the Manifold on Derbyshire CountyAngling Club water, a few years ago, walking along the high bank of this small waterway, I spotted 2 strange creatures swimming fast, together upriver. As I watched, wondering what kind of fish they could be, they suddenly emerged from the water and flew off!

The RSPB site gives excellent images and sounds of the Red-breasted Merganser and the Goosander.

What with mink, otters, osprey, sawbills, and poachers, it’s a surprise there are so many fish in the river.

The test for an apparently empty river is, of course, bread. I delighted my granddaughter on a visit to Rowsley Mill using a little bread saved from her lunch which she tossed into the river, just where the water comes out of the mill (no ducks here). We saw no fish until the second piece of bread. How many fish appeared from nowhere in seconds was amazing. Big fish they were too. Now dare I tie and use a white fly? Perhaps, but I would need to put on a stronger tippet.

Tight lines

Figure of eight knot

A very useful knot for joining lengths of different thicknesses and making up leaders. Dry fly expert blogger showed us this one when we went a walk along the Wye with him. Watch his video
Figure of eight knot

Runnin scared!

It had been a slow day on the river. The wind had returned and with it rain.

So I headed back to the fishermens car park up the track. Saw some figures heading across the field over on my right. Clearly the car that had been parked there for some time was theirs.

They spotted me and speeded up, finally running to the car and reversing almost into me, such was their haste.

I had a similar effect on some D of E lads that were in the wrong place on the river.

Wow – a woman fly fisher – the effect is clearly alarming!

Or is it guilty conscience?

So if anyone else spots that silver BMW near the river, reg. no LD11 YAH, do ask them what frightened them off!

Or, preferably, just phone the river keeper.

Stalking on the river!

Our walk on the Wye with Regular Rod, gave us an insight into the craft of creeping up on the fish. Spotting them before they spot us.
We had a beautiful summer evening to watch and listen to the secrets of catching these wild Wye fish. Knots, leaders, tippets, flies, all were discussed, examined and considered. So yes Richard, I have changed from a furled leader. As I don't yet have a range of weights of line, I halved an impossible for me to cast, 9 metre Camou Hends french leader. Yes, it does make less splash - and less spray on recasting. I still have to learn the 'grinner knot', but I have mastered the 'figure of eight'. I also discovered I can use a much shorter tippet with it too.
Thanks from all of us for an informative evening. We all came away having learned something to assist us in enjoying our fishing.
Though I missed seeing the kingfisher that flew past us during our walk, I saw it just the other morning. A great view of it flying past, showing not just the startling turquoise, but the orange too. Beautiful!
I have put a few more of my 'catching' flies on the 'River fly diary' page. I think I am getting them a little neater don't you think?

A walk on the Wye Friday the 12th July

We have another meeting of the Womens fly fishing group. This time it is to take a walk by the River Wye and observe all things concerning the river environment. Regular Rod, our Dry Fly Expert will be our guide for the evening. Meet Meaden Bridge, Bakewell 5.30 to 6pm

Spot the fish?

Six women go fly fishing. Also the barefoot fly tyer and the lawn mower in the lake

Sunday evening, 30th June 2013. The first meeting of the Womens Fly Fishing group took place at Press Manor Fishing Lakes. (We do need to find a name for the group)

AAPGAI instructor Peter Arfield of the Bakewell fly fishing shop gave us an excellent descriptive tour of the water. With advice on how to 'read the water', including surrounding bushes and trees checked out for insect life.
Here he is conducting the session. He is not turning his back on us to conduct an apparent orchestra in the reeds, but casting across the wind that is at his back!

+

The pond dipping was immediately encouraging for the fishing prospect, as Ange caught a stickleback! The other fish caught later, were very much larger.

The barefoot fly tyer

As we proceeded round the lake, with Peter discussing casting techniques, looking for drift lanes etc. he suddenly threw himself down on the ground, saying something had bitten his foot.

He proceeded to remove his boot, then ferret in his sock. Good heavens, what was it, that had gone so deeply into his boot?
Clearly, like many of us, Peter is an untidy fly tyer. The 'biting creature' was a deep gape (fortunately) barbless hook, scantily tied in pink. The barefoot fly tyer we presume!

The lawn mower in the Lake

Fly fishing is not just about the fishing. There are the insects that need to be observed. Reading the water. Working out wind direction. Learning to tie knots and maybe even flies. Leaders tapered or furled? So many things, as well as just enjoying the places that fly fishing take us.
But the lawn mower in the Lake is not likely to be repeated - at least not by Bernie Maher, the owner of Press Manor. It was out and up and running again when I arrived at the car park. Unfortunately the iPhone wasn't. Quite how the mower got in there I am not sure. And I wasn't about to ask him!

Thanks

A thank you to Bernie and Peter for their generous help and support in getting our fledgling group off the ground.

River dancer it was!

So I took my own advice and tied up some of the River dancers which Stuart Crofts refers to as Soft-wing caddis, tan dancer.
I headed back to the river last night arriving about 6pm. The tall trees car park was full, with a group of chaps from Cromford flyfishers out on a fishing trip on the Wye. The day had been a bit mizzly and windy. But they were partaking of refreshments to carry on into the evening. My fly fishing source, Mr Worthy, had texted me that the rise wasn't starting until 9. So I passed on this info and said I would fish somewhere else, so they could divide that area up between them.
I went the other side of the Haddon Estate, downriver. I walked on down, peering at the river waiting for the rises. None came. Walked on. Tried a few casts, lost a few flies to the tree gods (they control the wind I think). Walked on down. Had a fish on and off in fast water.
Stayed on the right bank, as some of the trees have been cleared here. Spotted a rise, then another. All on the other side of the river of course. Roll casting a dry fly doesn't really work more than once, but hey ho. Managed to miss a take, so started heading back up the river for a better spot.
It was now after 9pm. I had a cup of tea and watched. There was the odd insect coming off. A very long bodied very delicate fly I noticed and various other types.
There was no apparent visible hatch of any great number, but the fish were rising - to my left, in front on the far side, to my right. I tied on a (Richard Ward) Non Descript Sedge, no takers. Then I tied on my tan river dancer, the soft-wing caddis. Cast to the rise to my left part way across the river and missed the take. Casting right across the river to the fast run with a number of rising fish, reach casting to the left, upriver, to increase my drift. Which brought me short a couple of times. Finally got it right - fish on.
When the fish goes down and doesn't show itself, you know it is a larger fish and likely a brown not a rainbow. I quickly moved upriver a few yards to clear the weed area that the fish had to come over. It tucked in once and I brought it round and clear. In with the net, then the fish splashed on seeing this. But got it safely in. Hooked perfectly on the river dancer.
Went further up river and hooked another on the same fly. It wasn't a fluke, Mr Crofts know his insect life very well.
The picture of the fly is shown here. Tying materials are on the River Fly diary page. I got the full instructions from a winter talk of Stuarts, hosted by the Grayling Society. They hold their winter meetings in Bakewell. If you haven't booked Mr Crofts for your club, I suggest you do. He is a mine of useful fishing information.

A hatch, but barely a catch!

Dancing flies on the water, but no fish rising to them.Though I do remember Stuart Crofts writing about these 'River Dancers'. He suggests they are a caddis fly swarm and though fish may not be rising beneath them, the swarm itself is a bunch of males waiting for females. The natural jostling and competition creates casualties. So walk a little further downstream for the trout waiting for them.
Perhaps I should tie up some of his river dancers or silverhorn patterns and go out tomorrow evening?

What is this red eyed beastie then? I was trying to photograph the sedges, but they moved on too quickly. Took a shot of this apparently ordinary fly and was quite surprised to see the colouration of the eyes when I saw it on the computer screen. So what is it?
Poachers on the Dove
Fished the Dove with my brother-in-law yesterday evening. The closest we came to a catch were 2 poachers though. The expected evening hatch and subsequent rise did not occur. The poachers were spinning of course so it didn't deter them. Though Gary shouted at them and whipped out his phone for the keeper, then gave chase. They had parked in the pub car park near Hanging Bridge in Ashbourne and fled almost as fast as Lathkill trout do, as you approach the river! He got a good look at them though and gave his description to the keeper.

Womens fly fishing event at Press Manor with free instruction

Having set up this blog to try and encourage women into the elegant art of fly fishing, an event has been arranged.
We will meet up at Press Manor Fishing Lakes at 5.30 on 30th June 2013.
With tuition from Peter Arfield from the Bakewell fly fishing shop at 6pm. After 2 hours instruction we are free to continue fishing.
If you are female and considering trying fly fishing or already fish and would like to meet up with like minded folk, please respond - even if you cannot join us for this event, I hope to arrange more.
If any of you fly fishermen know of any women or girls who would like to try fly fishing or already fly fish, please forward these details.
The cost will be £12 each, which is a very special price, as Bernie Maher of Press Manor has given us a discounted charge and Peter is giving his time very generously just for expenses!
Please support this event and spread the word. If the weather gods smile on us it should be an excellent evening.
Tight lines,
Irene Fly fishing

As I was walking...

...not fishing, on a walk that included the Lathkill and Bradford, we noticed a few mayflies.

Not many though.
I have been up in Orkney for a few weeks so lost track of what was happening in Derbyshire, but it was good to walk along the rivers watching the fish - especially now the weather has improved.
Off to Pembroke soon to try fly fishing on the coast...............not landed anything yet...........could it be this time?

River flies now River fly diary

Have just updated and modified the River flies page. I will now use it to post flies that I am currently using on the river, thus it is now the 'River fly diary' page.

One swallow doesn't make a summer

Well I have certainly seen more than one swallow whilst fishing, but they are staying quite high. No startling swoops along the river yet. In fact I have only fished on one day that was not very windy this whole trout season. That was the day that I saw the bunch of D of E lads on the bank of the Lathkill. Where there is no footpath. A quick phone call to Jan the river keeper showed nothing official taking place. So I headed down to speak to them. Clearly they were lost. As I got out of the car they picked up their bags. Their route would meet mine at the bridge. They started rushing. They dashed through the gate (new gate no stile now) leaving it open. They scuttled about like blind sheep between the fence and quite high wall. At this point I hollered at them to shut the gate. One ran back to do so. He was the one I met up with at the bridge. "Whats their problem" I said to him as his group ran off away from me (I am a 5' 3" female - wow, really frightening) rucksacs and arms flying as they ran down the lane and off over the wall into the field. What a sight! It turned out they were supposed to be going to Bakewell. The exact opposite route they were running. Clearly they had a guilty conscience about something they had been doing. Just such a shame I hadn't got the camera.

The toads are congregating. Out of the wind chill under a bridge they seemed happy enough. Though possibly not so for the one I saw floating down the river, feebly attempting to navigate whilst being swept down in the current. I think that one will have missed the party!

Goin fishin

Today I will go for a less public part of the river. So hope not to meet anyone shampooing their dog in the river! This occurred on the park stretch last Tuesday on the Wye. Just 20 yards up from where I was sitting eating lunch - all my fly fishing gear propped next to me.
I would have been on the other side of the river, but the relentless strong wind would have been in my face.
Absolutely staggered at this chaps behaviour. As he had to stand on the weir to wash the dog I am sure his trainers and the dog would still smell of river.
And I must tell you about the D of E youths by the Lathkill - but no time now, off fishing - just such a shame I didn't have the camera to hand.
Tight lines

If it wasn’t for the wind –

-  it might just feel like summer! After just 2 days of relatively warmer weather the blossom is bursting on the leafless branches.

 I saw 3 butterflies on Monday, despite that strong yet warm wind. The small tortoiseshell sat basking in the sun. If it was waiting for the wind to soften, it was out of luck.

Also came upon an empty egg shell. Had the chick hatched? Or had it been eaten by the stoat I saw running along the opposite bank? 

Having arrived at the river a little late to see a fly hatch in any numbers, a variety of flies were tried.

Fishing in fast currents and a strong wind meant I missed quite a few takes. Had trouble keeping fish on too. This may have been caused by the takes sometimes being downstream of me.

An experimental dry fly finally got tied on. I like to try these when I know there are fish about and approximately where they are, so I can test it. It was a sparkly little thing, so I guessed the rainbows would like it. One certainly did, it moved across the river to it. Unfortunately as I changed position to grab the net it removed itself from the hook. The tree above caught the fly a few moments later – it didn’t let go. I have put a photo and description of the fly on the ‘River fly’ page, under the name Polyprop glitter bug.

Fortunately ‘Dry fly expert’ blogger, Richard turned up at this point and suggested casting from the left shoulder, which neatly avoided the tree!

Yes Richard, I eventually caught and netted a fish. A grayling on a dry gold ribbed hares ear.

 

Give your flies more steam!

As you go through your fly box sorting flies for this years fishing and discover flattened hackle flies; a neat and simple way to bring them back to life is steam.
You can either hold them in tweezers to steam individually or put a number of them in a sieve and hold over a steaming pan, this will bring them quite remarkably back to life and perk up the hackles. Just remember to let them dry before returning them to your box!

Is that an AAPGAI instructor on the river?

Peter Arfield of Bakewell Fly Fishing shop into a rainbow trout on Thursday. The 2 tailed (damp) cdc fly that he caught it on is shown inset.

The intermittent and very cold gusts of wind routinely stopped casting. Occasionally you can use the wind to 'hide' a cast across the river, so as not too spook fish. But these gusts were far too vicious, and the only thing to do was pause and turn your back to it!

I forgot it was All Fools Day

Well I guess once the kids are grown, things like April Fools day slips out of the conscious mind. Had hoped the first day of fishing this season on the Wye might at least have been sunny. I expected it to be cold, but no sun and that vicious wind. Almost gave up until another fisher person on the opposite bank said he had caught a few fish!!! So, back to the car for lunch then back to the river.
Yes, I caught fish - on a dry fly of course - as this is the 'Peacock' Wye. I quite like that rule really, and the no wading. I get very cold feet, and only being able to choose dry flies, reduces the choice a little. In fact I was told recently that it isn't the colour of the fly, it is the size of fly that needs to be correct. So I used a bushy thorax Adams, mainly because I couldn't see anything smaller. Sipped down by a beautifully marked trout. No camera, the snow flurry when I set off, had meant I left it in the car.
Other rises didn't take the Adams, so changed to a March brown, tied Olly Edwards style. It vanished from the surface to a grayling.
I will put the pictures of the flies that I tied and caught on, on the 'River fly diary' page. Good to see a dipper and the wagtails up and down the river.

Stuart Crofts and the large dark olive

Well the sun is shining brightly, the sky is blue. So maybe I will go fishing next week.
We still have snow around us and the High Peak trail yesterday looked a very suitable ski route!
I went as a guest to the Derby County Angling clubs winter talk given by Stuart Crofts on entomology and fly tying on Wednesday. He assured us that the Large Dark Olive will be rising! They just have to emerge, he said; it is their 'time'. Lets hope I am in the right place, at that 'time'......
 

Biosecurity and invasive species

Just followed a link to 'Dry fly expert blog' which shows a rather alarming photo of invasive shrimps on the waders of a fly fisher.
I uploaded the video a few days ago, showing a simple way of disinfecting your equipment with nothing more than hot tap water on the 'Fishing conservation groups' page. Take a look and if you fish at more than one water, ensure you do a hot dunk after fishing.

Oh no more snow!

Well my flyfishing on the Wye begins on the 1st of April - but will the river be in any condition to cast a dry fly on?
Currently the view outside my window says no chance and the weather forecast for the next month is for cold, cold and more cold. What to do? Tie iceberg flies?

Updated fishing conservation groups

The 'fishing conservation groups' page has been added to.
I am also preparing a page 'passport fishing', which I will upload when finished.
Thanks

New page Licence to Fish

I have added a new page - Licence to fish. Along with relevant links to pages

The interesting art of fly fishing

Women fly fishers in the UK are in a minority. It seems a shame that the popular sport of fly fishing attracts so few women. Why this is I have no idea, but I would like to change that.
Time spent by a river or still water is rarely unrewarding. Unlike coarse fishing, fly fishing includes quite a bit of walking intertwined with frequent bouts of standing watching the water and its surroundings.
Walking by a river is a pleasurable pursuit and many of us whilst out walking will have noticed the bonus of a walk that includes an amble along a river.
When fly fishing I may spend the whole day walking and observing the river life.
Not just searching for fish in the river, but watching the fly life that emerges from it. Hearing the kingfisher whistling to alert me to its rapidly vanishing vivid turquoise presence. A hawk flying along, just above the river, using the tree and shrub lined banks for an undetectable approach to its prey.
Sitting on a river bank in the long grass, eating my picnic lunch and becoming aware of something moving under my butt. Standing to reveal a very large frog hauling itself from the grass and hopping off into the river, none the worse for its brief stint as a cushion. I don't expect to repeat that experience, but then, you never know what you will see by the riverbank.
In my endeavour to encourage other women to enjoy the interesting art of fly fishing I hope to set up a get-together, hopefully close to a river bank, somewhere in Derbyshire in April of 2013 to introduce women to the elegant and interesting art of fly fishing.
Return soon to my blog for updates.
If you would like to register your interest, please see the contact page.