A present from an Aunt sees Dan visit his first chalkstream. Having moved across from stillwaters more recently, it was to power application, speed and stopping points we concentrated our efforts in order to make the switch from general distance to presentation.

The ‘klink & dink’ is always a great place to start… it gives an angler visual stimulation when trying to understand basic nymphing, the result of a cast, fly presentation, drifts and strike detection all rolled into one.

Putting it all together – a fish from the margins opposite to the nymph

all be it a trout… forgiven?… most definitely

The temperature fairs no better than 3 degrees, the sun remains low and shadows long… there’s a slight wind but its chill cuts right through you… even more so as the afternoon sun diminishes.

In search of grayling we struggle early on as we do our utmost to avoid trout where we could. Some open gravel patches masked by troubled water beckon our attention close to the opposite bank.

Applying a hi-vis hot spot to this free swimming caddis pattern proves irresistible

… and the grayling start to play ball… at last, Dan starts to take charge and picks up on a shoal

The man looks a natural in this environment, earlier learning’s embedded, there’s no turning back

Numerous grayling later and with Dan satisfied after his afternoons hard work, we return shimmying upstream making speculative casts at any sign of movement with visibility all but lost to poor light.

Dan leans into a submarine… we’re waiting for a ‘PING’ as it wrestles with the caddis

Fittest rainbow I’ve ever seen in a chalkstream?… a bullet with fins

A last blind cast in the top pool… Dan hooks another trout that runs him raggid… the rod capitulates, or is that Dan?… which ever is the weakest. The fish has him downstream so runs for freedom.

I head him off before he hits the weir, Dan’s had enough – that’ll do it.

Awesome casting and fishing today Dan… be no longer afraid of the 10 footer. Very well done mate.