I’m grateful for a number of rivers within easy reach able to survive the most dismal of weather and thus provide some exceptional fishing amongst the free fall that is Autumn, one such river is the Test. After yesterdays biblical downpour I was pretty confident that although a little more height would be expected, clarity and abundance of fish could be as much assured as I would dare to wish. 

Meeting up with trio, Nick, Matt and Gareth who’d fished rivers on only but as few occasions, oh! how we were not to be disappointed. In a warming sun and with little or no wind to be of concern we were greeted with some incredible hatches of BWO’s, I needed to look no further than a cdc emerger imitation from my good friend Tony Riley for top ‘o’ the water stuff, and…

… Warren McCarthy’s Copperhead Olive Quill nymph.

Given their casting prowess the guys were into fish almost immediately, carnage ensued.

At times they just didn’t know where to cast for rises and scurrying fish.

From top to bottom, there was not a jot of disappointment

Targeting visible fish where possible in only but the slightest of tinged water

We hit upon some stunning fish, those in season and very welcome…

…and those perhaps not so.

How contort can a man be to grab a fish… Nick finds out.

Gareth in the lower reaches putting the residents under yet more pressure.

A sequence of events, we stand and watch just prior to lunch.

Cast at the fishy type shape on a gravel lie…

The shape moves and nails your fly…

Take control of said fishy shape…

Bag said shape and grin like the proverbial…

Realise this fishy shape was not what you were otherwise after… but be no less disappointed.

Lunch… loads to talk about, the biggest, the strongest, the heaviest and the smallest – who’s?

Afterwards and although with temperatures dropping… the carnage continued.

Looking out upon what was just an incredible session of fishing, personal bests in one way or another set by each. Guys it was an absolute blast, days like these could only be bettered if I’d actually had a rod in my hand. Terrific fun – look forward to the next.

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…pretty much describes how the frazzled face looks this morning having spent the last 5 days solid on the river with clients. A veritable mixed bag of visitors: Carsten from Denmark, Steve from Michigan, Seven wonderful guys led by Tom out of London, Harkman from Bosnia and Andrew all the way from Malmesbury just down the road.

A river full of superb brown trout, what they lack in size is made up for in an uncooperative strain of aggression that makes our light line tackle work hard, a truly awesome weeks fishing.

With the water high, a wash with colour and pushing through at pace…

…It did nothing to otherwise deter fish keen to munch on an easy offering ~ Andrew looks pleased.

Rob was the star of the ‘Magnificent 7’ ~ reaching out the fish suddenly looks bigger

With a beating Sun, very little cloud cover and the water at a comfortable 15.6 D/C, all just wanted to stay put if nothing more than to just keep cool. The urge to dunk thy self almost overwhelming.

Jimbo with his first – all be it unfortunately the only grayling from the ‘M7’

An unimpressed resident…

…rooted to the spot for obvious reasons ~ future ranunculi gorgers in the making

Master angler Steve from Michigan ~ he has a passion for wild trout from small rivers back in the States ~ he feels at home. An active TU supporter and exceptional fly fisherman.

Carsten ~ his short line dry fly tactics pulled him in an incredible number of fish on Sunday

Although Mayfly were in abundance they were by no means the focus of the fish over the last 5 days, more fish were taken on a red neck pheasant tail in a #18 than anything else… the fish just not yet quite on the ever increasing hatch. June however should be an absolute fish fest if this keeps up.

Nothing more required than a simple Wulff for those few interested in surface feeding.

Carstens first ever time on a river provides him with an incentive to return

His red letter day will be difficult to match… a few of his finest

I dare not calculate how many miles I’ve walked in the last 5 days back and forth along this river, I should feel fit and not totally f*****d… oh yes that’ll be it ~ an age thing.

I hope your fishing is plentiful and you’re making the most of any mayfly ~ see you on the water.