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!

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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.