Lamprey spawning on the Derbyshire Wye

Early May 2016 saw me fly fishing along the banks of the River Wye, not far from Bakewell. After recovering my fly line from the edge of the river - those wild rainbows occasionally do a dash to the bankside to drop the hook - I looked into the clear water and saw.......

something in the water....

Closer inspection revealed spawning lamprey. The first time in my adult life that I had seen them. I counted about 8 of them. The upper photo shows the size of the 'scrape' that they had made. They were about 5" or 12.5cm long. Impressively one of them was fanning its tail end across the gravel, shifting the stones, preparing the spawning bed.
Lamprey were spotted on another stretch of the river some days later - on the Peacock Open Day in fact.
They belong to a primitive group of fish that have sucker-like mouths instead of teeth and jaws. As they mature they stop feeding and develop the sucker typical of a lamprey. Once the adults have spawned, they die. So having spent the first part of their lives hiding away in the mud of the river bed they emerge, spawn and die - apparently!

Peacock Fly Fishing Club Open Day on May 7th

Wow! Try the fly fishing on the beautiful Wye in Bakewell on May 7th. See the attached flyer Peacock Fly Fishing Club Open Day for full details. Bring your rod - and your Environment Agency rod licence of course! See Licence to fish page if you need one just for the day, the week or the season. Make sure your fishing gear is clean and dry too!
Tight lines

Lets get more women fishing! 2016 fishing days begin this month for Ladies of the Stream

Getting the balance - Ladies of the Stream fishing events

To start off the new season, we have two days organised for April. These and more events will be posted on the Womens fishing days page as details are confirmed.

These events have been organised and fishing generously given to encourage more women and girls to get on the water fly fishing. Lets get the balance a lot or even a little more even? 

Reservoir day

Tuesday 19^th April

Carsington Water – including an educative training session in the morning with Don Staziker. Then out on the boats in the afternoon.

There will be a cost for this day which includes:

Training session in club room

Boat and engine hire

Fishing for the afternoon

The cost depends on numbers - the more fishers the lower the cost

Please make contact for further details

River days

Tuesday 26^th April

Fly fishing on the Wye – Bakewell and area stretch of the Wye. Dry fly only, no wading, barbless hooks preferred, catch and release. Clean and dry kit and boots please.  Would suggest a long handled landing net makes fish releasing much easier.

Make contact for further details.

Not 1 woman fly fishing but many women fly fishing

Ladies of the Stream fly fishing news

You may have noted the page 'Womens fishing days'? Finally I am not the 1 woman fishing - we now have quite a group. We have had a couple of meetings and I will be updating the page with all the days given very generously by a number of clubs. We also hope to fly fish further and are looking into organising some fishing holidays.
If you wish to join us get in touch by email or keep checking the blog for updates.
Fly fishing is a wonderful sport, which if you fly fish I am sure you already know. If you know anyone who wishes to learn or is interested in learning more please refer them to the blog.
Let's get more children fishing too. How many of us are fishing now because we were entranced by rivers and stillwaters as children - I certainly was and am still unable to walk straight on past any river. The river does everyone more good than sitting in front of the computer - which means I need to end here and head outside!
Tight lines for those of you who fish.
Enjoy!

Have you remembered to buy your fishing licence?

Last years fishing licence expires on the 31st March. Finally remembered to renew mine online today!
Follow the link from the 'Licence to fish' page on the blog to renew online.

Impatiently waiting for the fly fishing season to start

My son bought me a fly tying tray for my birthday this year! He also has one - which I admired whilst visiting him - unfortunately he does not tie flies on his - he rolls the dire and dreadful roll-up cigarettes. Hmmmm!
I have been putting mine to very good use. Just need to drill the holes a little larger for the fly holders.
Tight lines to those of you fishing the 2016 season. May you wet your net. I await April 1st.

Grayling meeting Bakewell, Derbyshire

The next meeting takes place Wednesday 10th February.

Stuart Crofts will be giving a presentation entitled:

"The Famous Four, insect groups that drive our dry fly fishing"

Stuart will be discussing different insect groups and the types of flies used to represent them, when and how to fish them, giving examples of commercially available flies as well as tying some of his innovative patterns as examples.

As usual the meeting is at the Rutland Hotel, Bakewell, 7.30pm.  Entry £3, all welcome.

The last meeting will be on March 9  when Dave Southall will be giving a presentation.

All Welcome's