Being a regular, almost weekly blogger on client and friend fishing escapades, I’ve been out of sorts recently having not posted anything for almost a month. Not that anything revolutionary happens here, it’s more of a journal for me and those I spend precious fishing time with.

Such as Ian Jones below who nailed some stunning fish on his first ever river outing.

Also, good friends John…

…and Richard enjoying a first similar fly fishing experience.

Meanwhile, Kuze (coo-say) a more experienced fly angler who regularly nymphs managed to sort out his leader set up and casting to confidently entice more free rising fish when opportunities arise.

From local Open Days, demonstrating casting and fishing techniques like this one in Gloucester…

I can’t remember being christened with Reaves as a surname (Oops!)… and I definitely wasn’t gonna sing for those attending. There be a typo in that there poster??

Welcome to my world

…to the Salisbury and District Angling Club the following day for a demonstration and tuition with fellow AAPGAI instructors and club members.

Charles Jardine kick starts the morning with an overview of fly casting and fishing techniques.

Back then to the day job with David Cunningham, a first chance for him to get back out on the water since a superb Test day back in February.

And it seems having not lost any of his acquired skills either.

Post the apocalyptic rainfall, the river thrives producing great sport and fine fish.

Welcome as always, olives are just not there in numbers at present although those that are do seem to be stirring the fish… I just wish they were more plentiful.

Finally and after a fantastic few weeks weather… it had to be just too good to last. We expected a soaking which was avoided in part only due to the 30–40 mph winds rattling around our heads.

Tim Volk the Production Manager at Lamson/Waterworks. Having had no sleep for the last 30 hours, he landed in at Heathrow, boarded a train, hopped in my car from the station and straight into waders for a fish on the river, and…

…very much into the thick of it, gusts and all. He managed to beguile his first ever grayling as well as a number of fine trout to both dry and nymph.

A last brown trout before jet lag took its toll and a need to retire to the local for some sustenance.

After a good nights sleep and an early morning fish we’ll then be popping across the county to spend the next few days with Vision and Guide Fly Fishing at the Sportfish show in Reading.

We’ll look forward to seeing you there if you’ve nowt better to do… come to think of it, even if you have – Cancel it and come anyway.

Putting Ian Mays ‘Oak’ F&B embellished rod stand to good use, many descended upon Bossington Estate last weekend for a charity Event organised by Gilly Bate amongst others in support of The Wessex Haven Appeal.

In the presence of some esteemed guests, volunteers and supporters, the day was to be filled with fishing demonstrations, falconry, shooting and many other countryside activities to keep them active.

Howard Taylor and Bill Latham early morning ready for the onslaught… (Note the word DRY)

Matt McHugh from Fly Odyssey extoling the virtues of fishing abroad for exotic species…

Jon Beer ready with his ingenious fly selector thingy!…

For those with deep pockets there was many a 4×4, painting or impressive bronze to be obtained so as to have pride of place in the North, South, East or West wing of your palatial estate.

The clock struck 10.50am and as forecast all but the clouds fell out of the sky, for the next nine hours or more there was literally no let up… the rain just kept coming, sometimes horizontally when accompanied by the howling winds.

It did sadly put a dampener on the joy of being outdoors. Many that had donned appropriate clothing to experience the fishing guided by a number of attending instructors enjoyed a great day, especially on the lake. Those slightly under prepared did what comes naturally at such events, take root in the hospitality tents and get ‘smashed’. Not quite what we all had in mind of course.

Never the less, the important reason for them being there was to raise money. There’s an upside to having lots of merry people in a marquee at the start of an auction for all the goodies supplied by so many great people, companies and folk throughout the UK.

In total and after all costs, £41,000 was raised for the charity which was astonishing given the day. Congratulations to all, and especially those that put in such hard work leading up to and on the day of the actual event, thanks Gilly for the invite.

The following day and in need of some solitude and less rain, friend Warren and I meet up with George and his son to drool over a mesmerising stretch of chalkstream at the bottom of his garden.

What a coincidence that we’d both arrived with fishing gear. Not needing to be asked twice whether we’d like to fish it… we did, even though the previous days rain ‘et al’ Bossington had applied here also… we cared not a jot for the colour.

Meandering through the valley…

…until reaching a likable spot to fish, that meant pretty much everywhere then. Tucking into several fish of which were no bigger than 4 inches or so, the place was truly stunning.

I wish this could say more about how it looked even on a miserable day!. Which leads nicely onto…

…yesterday, we hired the services of photographic expert Andy from Going Digital.

I’m a keen photographer all be it with many limitations. I have a decent but humble camera, I get and understand the terminology and technical stuff: ISO, SS, AV, P, EV and so on and so forth. But!…

…I didn’t have the wear-with-all to put them together or know what went with what to shoot ‘X’

Andy was superb, he dispelled many a myth and in such a way so as to make it easy to understand.

Composition, shutter speeds, ISO’s, flash use, matrix, spotting, macro, wildlife and landscapes to name but a few… in a word awesome. We extol to many a would be angler to seek guidance from a professional, if you want to know your camera and how to use it then do the same – you won’t regret it… I wish I’d done it years ago.

The only problem now is resisting the temptation to spend a shed load of money on a better camera and lenses, it’s becoming overwhelmingly difficult… I’ve a birthday in May.

Oh yes! my pictures on this blog or anywhere else for that matter, are they going to improve? errr… No (Just thought I’d manage expectations). It just means I’ve now got the skill to capture what I do already in the camera rather than having to post edit in Photoshop.

This one’s just for Fiona (Warren’s good lady)… Gorgeous ‘Fi’ thank you.

I might even get a chance to get out on the river shortly… they’re looking stunningly healthy, just need the tornado like conditions to wander elsewhere.

Good fishing all ~ Jim