A final venture out to the test today before halting for the festive interruption that is Christmas. Joined by Ian May, Warren McCarthy, Keith Passant and Lord John of Hoban we lay siege in the hope of catching a cuddle with some ‘ladies’ before returning home to cuddle our own.

The best of company – a breakfast of bacon baps and tactics… Warren, Keith & Ian prepare

finally great friend Lord John who’s in fine fettle

Splitting up we all make our way to the river, all though it rained for most of the day yesterday there seemed little evidence of it; we were greeted with good glides and gin like clarity.

Concentrating on the drift, Ian tried the odd nymph but has most success on the dry… top man

Warren tried the dry but found his best fish coming to the nymph, sadly the last ‘lunker’ so to speak being his highlight of the day set herself free at the rim of the net

Keith had great success early on in the upper beats – John trying the same beat for a second time

I stick to the nymph light lining with a familiar set up

Focusing on the mid to upper reaches it was lovely to be on the end of a fly rod myself today. The first lady to the net for me… and oh what joy was to follow

Ian May was in close proximity to capture a deep sitter that took some encouraging via inducement

This one barely made the net

Slightly further upstream, Warren passing by (sort of) was there on hand to capture another using the same dead drift tactic targeting another deep pocket sitter.

I just seemed to spend the day waiting for a passers by, John on time to capture me with this one

And finally…

Ian – A few last casts to back end risers as the sun fades,

We conclude by reminiscing on what has been a glorious day… both in company and fishing

Merry Christmas to everyone… see you on the other side.

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