I am rejuvenated… having been approached by Vision, I’m honoured to join their World Team in conjunction with fishing maestro Tony Riley. After some lengthy conversations with the said man, we’ll be working on and unveiling some exiting new stuff in the new year, rods ‘n’ all… floating my boat are some nymphing 10 & 11 footers which I hope will tingle my spine.

…… Watch this BIG space! ……

With this and the recent AAPGAI event, last week has just been hectic blur, lots of hither & dither, fog & mist, duckin’ & divin’ etc. So it was a pleasure to get back to some of the day job. That being time with David Cunningham, a man on a river mission. This time Wherwell and my first Autumn jaunt. Regularly hammered it may be according to some, but fish it right and fish it well, there’s no end as to how good a day you can have on so much water.

The river is still abundant with trout and try as you might, they’re still just as keen to take your meagre offerings. David drops in from a bank position to net this stunner, his first fish of the day… a brownie it may be but we’ll forgive him that.

You can obviously tell he’s disappointed…

Some further target practice on sighted grayling lies proved bountiful…

A pewter beauty recovers in relaxed hands.

The mid reaches – marginal wading only when necessary followed by some exceptional casting…

What a pwiddy fish… they always seem to be cheerful.

Some frenchspanishczechpolishlobhighstickeuronymphing before lunch…

Posh horses doofers… medallions of bacon

My that’s a fine pair of baps you have… ooh get you sir… no sir… surely not sir

The lower reaches with an iridescent carpet of cover… an absolute b##ch to fish!

Walk by and ignore these tight neck runs at your peril… for at the end is an opening

David with one of Warrens silver bead quills, fishes an opening (Riffle)…

…and nails this ‘hunk of lurv’ (David – why does this picture not do this justice?)

Waiting for the get go… she’ll let us know when she’s good and ready.

From the same pocket on the same fly…

Autumn has crept in, the nights drawing nearer, sooner… casting into the last light

K’plunk… some times these are the best of times, you can’t see it, you just feel it.

Mate – what can I say, it was a pleasure to watch you fish today… all the hard work was yours. Well done, I look forward to the Itchen for the next river session. Now get back out there darn it! ~ Jim

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David at his tethers end on the back of having received what he described as the worst and most miserable days river fishing there was to ever experience… the fact that it was his first venture onto one was even more disappointing.

With a quite exceptional casting foundation born out of stillwater fishing there was but no more a need than to concentrate on his presentational skills. Having shared some additional leader set up secrets it was onto an afternoon of pillaging.

With no more than a guiding hand his woes were curtailed as he spent the afternoon slating trout from a high, fast but clear running river on the nymph.

His first wriggling specimen ~ a fat old madam she was too!

The grinner keeps grinning… chocolate box fish… a most beautiful specimen

Camera starts to work overtime ~ another!

Catch me would ya?… I’ll just chew your net then.

Tut!… can I get 5 minutes?

Bloody show off ~ Dances with trout

The #18 red neck draws admirers from start to finish ~ no other fly needed

Ello – does it look bigger from here?

Mate… the batteries are nearly flat

Did I say last cast?… you’ve got to be kidding

That’s it, definitely the last cast… the fly can’t take any more

Fly cruelty – a beaten Red Neck Pheasant Tail… no more

What can I say?… pics as promised of what was an awesome afternoons fishing. Keep the faith