A last foray on the river before shooting off to do some Dogging in Canada (oooh matron!). Joined again by David Cunningham twas to the Test we descended, our last trip although eventful was tough going on the Itchen in conditions I can describe no better than totally CARP!

Today was an afternoon of wonderfulness, all be it on still yet another darn freezin, grey, overcast and damp mother of a day.

Klink and dink was thy tactic, very much similar to a day out with Paul Lewis last week who although saw much success, everything that pretty much nailed his fly was trout as opposed to the elusive silver gems we were otherwise banking on.

This GH emerger imitation seemed to nail all that gazed upon it, whether a welcome species or not.

David… lurking and working the marginal drifts and current seams

Ker-plunk!… it was but perseverance and only a matter of time

before we hit trout… god forbid

After plucking a few of them initially, we were only too pleased to see this split dorsal cutie

The grayling played just hard to get, they didn’t seem as on it as the trout wanted to be… for every willing grayling there were 3 or 4 trout to contend with first. A result of being speculative no doubt… 

Utter steam trains though… David’s #2 being put through the mill

again and again

Thankfully amongst the multitude of trout we did get some worthy grayling and although not matching weight pound for pound, they certainly felt like equal sparring partners.

An aerodynamic missile in any other guise

Some of the more welcome marauders we’d come to target.

A superb day that made up for the frustrating one on the Itchen. Thanks David as always, now to cut it short and go pack dog things, thermals and camera stuff… and on… and on.

The weather to come in Prince Albert (Canadian Challenge Race Start)… truly tropical

Catch each and all at the end of the month, unless I find wireless and blog you to death with how the Dogging is going… tbc

Surrounded by many a drought stricken county, ever hopeful Warren & I descend on the Nadder.

The forecast was absolutely abysmal but we decided regardless, to commit to fishing with the dry fly.

In all my years of fishing I’d never seen such volume in a hatch of Grannom as was witnessed today.

We were extremely lucky in that the bank laden tree line kept the wind impact to a minimum, thus allowing todays menu choice the opportunity to go about it’s business pretty much unhindered.

In their thousands Warren tries to capture the un-gamely and erratic flight of the Grannom. Sadly the light and nature of the compact camera doesn’t make for a good shot of the flies micro world.

The boil and an onslaught of grayling, trout and chub nailing both pupae and emergers with vigour.

The occasional skyward flush of rain & hail did nothing to halt otherwise committed Grannom in their quest to emerge and make for bankside vegetation before being devoured by chasing predators.

We didn’t get many opportunities to choose our species in otherwise murky waters, just nail the cast to the rise… there… there… no there… that one… or, in fly fishing lingo were Warren’s words of wisdom… “just go for the f—king fat one”

Amongst many tiny parr was the gorgeousness that is todays out of season pest – a wee ‘Lady’…

Warren nailed this stunning wild brownie, best fish of the day on a retirer sedge pattern

Note the blue spot behind the eye… a stamp of beautifulness no doubt

I seemed to attract everything other than what I was supposed to be aiming for. A nice chublet found my CDC emerger irresistible, a pity the trout didn’t feel the same.

My CDC emerger took an absolute pasting this afternoon

Late afternoon… the Grannom has waned, the fish are fed and the waters are calm… the day is done.

Whether permitting it’s due a return visit on Saturday having spotted some utter lunkers… till then!

(Oh – If you’re wondering about the title – it’s an anagram of the river and todays fly life)