Found: 1 rather large Sun, apparently lost way back when in August 2012… I found it but a mere 93,020,000 miles from the river, quite heavy at about two nonillion kilograms and approximately 4.60 billion feet wide… I was surprised to stumble on it, how lucky am I?
Would the owner please come and claim it, I think it belongs to someone in the tropics!
It was a finding and a prerequisite to a fantastic day on the river, the first of this season actually… all be it that such only started on the 1st April.
I was due to spend today with Simon Grimwade travelling across from Cardiff, unfortunately 15 minutes away from his first days fly fishing his car went into melt down. Spending the weekend in the area with his beloved – it wasn’t a great start, with a need to get it sorted we postponed the day for a future date.
Not wishing to put such a lovely day to waste I took the opportunity to wet a line for a wee while.
Even with a bright blue sky the early morning temperature barely got above 2d/c, made bearable in the absence of the wind which has been so harsh of late. Nothing much in the way of activity dictated a nymphing start.
The water was crystal clear… as seen from the river bed (up).
A non too ‘blingy’ fly therefor the food of choice… Warren’s superb Olive quill with a CDC hackle.
From a wading perspective the water was mirror like, speculating likely lies proved fruitful almost from the off.
Unfortunately as with trout post their season, the grayling hadn’t read the script.
They were nailing the fly with vigour and not a care for their own well being… nothing spectacular in terms of girth but crikey!, it was carnage.
11.12am registered the first Dark Olive, and the hope of something top side to come.
Sadly not, it was still far too early for the evasive trout. Fishing on into the early afternoon, the temperature rising throughout, activity at last. The first rise I see, it’s 1.15pm… another some 20 minutes later, followed by another, then another without lull.
Now tempted and happy that they’re more consistent… tis to an olive CDC imitation I am bound.
It took a while to get into the accuracy zone having spent many months extoling the fly fishermans version of ledgering… but once there, the fish were on song and not a grayling to follow, just a heady number of trout.
The sky may have a warming glow but the waters still ruddy cold… a couple of seconds and the fingers were done for.
Blessed be the start of a prosperous season, not wishing it to be a Red Letter Day, I hope yours is as much enjoyable as mine was today… and hopefully tomorrow.
