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!

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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?