Fly Fishing

And So It Changed

2009-07-17T09:45:00.003+01:00

I don't know who's done a strange dance but for the last 24 hours it has rained constantly, and the report for the next few days is more of the same.

I'm not complaining though as the ground and rivers need it. - The problem is that we get extremes of low and then extremes of high water as it is just drained out very quickly by (those who drain the rivers who shall remain anonymous).

I have a week next week where I am free from the chattels of work or family between jobs. - Lets hope that I can get at least a few full days in!

Almost Desiccated

2009-07-14T07:36:00.009+01:00

It stayed black for the rest of the evening, never really getting light. It was like being in a Stephen King novel as we kept waiting for the demons to leap out and drag us screaming into the darkness. It was eerie how the sun never broke through the milling grey clouds, not a breath of wind and you could almost hear the dead whispering 'It's your time . . . .'

Wrong blog!

Myself and Johnny bravely ventured out at about 7:15. By then the clouds had darkened even more and there was the ever threat of a downpour. One of us or both of us would get a drenching tonight - we just knew it, so we both donned the wading jackets and accepted that we would be hot and bothered as it was a close clammy evening.

We left the car, parked next to the cricket pitch and set off to the very bottom of the limit leaving the sounds of leather against willow behind us. It was a typical English summer evening, guaranteed to rain but the mad dogs and Englishmen going about their business.

The river wasup about 3 inches, and it was very welcome too as it meant that at last there would be some water over the fish's heads and they would be more likely to move out of the faster water into some of the deeper, slower runs. We navigated the first gate and it started to shower slightly. But conditions were perfect.

Down, down to the very end of the fishery limit we searched for the inlet stream that designated the end. There it was, downstream, so we navigated the undergrowth about 50 yards above it, apologising to the partridge and pheasant that we disturbed and eased in to the water.

I left Johnny setting up a new leader and fished a wet spider down and across. Here the river was an almost uniform 18 inches to 2 feet deep and was perfect, with a fast run below me just above the afore-mentioned stream. As I moved down Johnny got in and started working his dry fly.

By now the rain had stopped and I worked down whilst Johnny worked up.

Not a thing. Not a rise. Not a fish. Nothing. But it felt and looked perfect. We were still dry.

I worked the rapid water below and the pool below it, ambushing a totally surprised trout with a Gold-Head PTN, JB had nothing. Perhaps this would be my night.

I caught up with Johnny and we discussed tactics. Well at least we are both dry he joked as I headed for the far bank to negotiate through the trees and bracken to a pool ahead that we knew held fish. It did. 1 for me first cast, but nothing else, but on a dry fly at least.

Still nothing was rising and it started to drizzle again.

I worked upstream and back out into the bar in the middle and again ambushed another unbelieving fish. By now the drizzle had stopped again but it was still as dark as a wrestlers armpit as I worked my way upstream on the dry fly.

Johnny had disappeared minutes ago, and just I was contemplating sending the search party out he appeared on the bank behind me. Nothing doing for him and I was now 3-up. Could be that this would not be Johnny's day.

Still dry though, albeit hot and sweaty under the gear, we both worked different swims on the dry fly. Johnny got into a fish and whilst he was playing it I had another. Hmmmm.

We both stopped for a chat and decided to head upstream, then we saw a rising fish. As JB was again in mid-retackle I cast to it, had a take almost immediately and missed it. As he laughed at me another fish rose. I cast to it and had the fish on immediately.

From then it was 15-20 minutes of bedlam. The fish started rising and as we cast to them we hooked up. We switched rods for a while and continued catching. Then the fish switched off again.

As we got out of the water and trudged upstream it started to rain harder, perhaps this would be where we got a soaking.

It was still a wonderful summer's evening though and still very fishy. As if to confirm that there was a stately heron catching his supper.

'Well' I said, 'a good evening and we aren't wet. Shall we have the last 10 minutes under the bridge on the way back?' The answer was the affirmative and so we headed back, discussing the evenings happenings as the rain stopped again.

A quarter to 10 and by now visibility was poor. 15 minutes under the bridge brought us both fish, JB caught one suicidal fish whilst he was undoing a tangle, and we decided to call it a day. The rain had happily held off and we were both bone dry as we waded back ashore.

I knew that one of us would get drenched, and JB obliged as, 3 feet from the bank, he slipped and went A over T into the water. Of course his rod was saved but he (dear chap) got a soaking. Of course I helped him out but it wasn't easy as I was shaking with laughter and (to be fair) JB was too as we walked back to the car.

So, what an evening. Some good fishing for half an hour, found some new stretches that we will return to and fish again, again great company and a complete scream as JB fell in.

I said that we would get a drenching. I was half right, only one of us would.

Enjoy the cruise John. For God's sake don't fall in there!

Wet or Very Wet

2009-07-13T18:14:00.001+01:00

I'm just sitting in the car listening to Bon Jovi on the stereo waiting to pick up my daughter from dancing.
Then it's off down la rivière, but the sky is starting to look as black as a very black thing.
Will I get wet or very wet?

Stay tuned!

An evening with Johnny Beerling

2009-07-11T18:11:00.001+01:00

Last night was another of those eye-openers down the river.
You see me and Johnny had decided that we would give Friday a bash earlier in the week, so he had left his gear at my gaff so that we could just get there easier. 5:30 was the expected call out but I managed to be at John's for 5.

Casting our minds back to the start of this little missive, do you remember the trip on Wednesday? That was a tough outing but we managed to pick up the colour and shape of the flies that the fish were taking. So between Wednesday and Friday I had invented a couple of artificial variations that may just do the buisness.

On arriving at John's I gave him a few of the flies and off we popped.
Amazingly the parking spaces were free so as we unloaded we were fairly comfortable that it would be a good evening.
But, as we started with the gear JB realised that we were light a set of waders - mine.
JB was left to tackle up and back home I went. Luckily a local bobby was speeding in the same direction as me so I kept in his slipstream back to Skipton and let the natural slingshot effect throw the car towards home.
I threw the waders in the car and set off again.

Of course JB was already fishing when I arrived, getting takes on the flies that I had tied up and given to him. So we split up and I went down river.
Some time later we found ourselves fishing together further downstream and I suggested to JB that he could get across and fish a pool that we had great sucess with 12 months ago.
JB isn't as robust in the river as he used to be so I helped him over and settled back into my fishing.
15 minutes later John is into a good fish. 'Which fly' is the usual question to which the answer came back 'The pheasant tail nymph that you recommended earlier'. Now I hadn't bothered to listen to my own words or wisdom and put one on, but JB is a cannier soul than me and he had, and this was the result.
Another 10 minutes and no more fish so we moved upstream. Again we split up on the understanding that JB had to be home by 9 pm.
20 minutes later he's walking along the bank with another clunker that he had caught. Again 'Which fly?' was the question, to which the repost was 'The one that you tied up and gave me - saw the fish rise, put this over him first cast and Bang! Good fly that'.
And so we went home.
That's my evening with JB. I've looked after his tackle, been his chauffeur, ghillied for him, advised on the fly to catch, given him the fly to catch and I've been very very happy to do so as he's a great great friend. What was my reward? - He stuffed me on the fish stakes. Sort of makes you understand why he's been such a great success in life! If he ever writes another book perhaps he could not write about his time as controller of BBC Radio 1 but instead his stories like this one tonight.

We may go again on Monday. I wonder which life lesson he will teach me that day?

We shall see.

A Bit of a Rant

2009-07-09T08:04:00.002+01:00

Rant Starts.

Well, here we go, venting my spleen against those fishing manufacturers who have no view on the practicality of the product.

Firstly I would say that there are some great products, small, inexpensive yet essential and a real boost to your fishing. Examples are the monomaster which is a great way of getting rid of ends of nylon and wrecked leaders, then there's the Spudz, again an essential for cleaning glasses whilst out fishing.

But I have had the misfortune to buy a job lot of Froghair Fluorocarbon Tapered Leaders (3lb point) which are undoubtedly the worst leaders that I have ever used.

I always use Fluorocarbon whenever I can as I think that its ability to become transparent in water is a major plus to the fly fisherman. A disadvantage is its propensity to sink (which can be an advantage sometimes) and undoubtedly it is thicker than mono. But these leaders are the worst that I have ever used and they will be going back for a refund.

Its the memory you see.

They have the memory of an elephant and no matter how many times I stretch them they always end up kinking. So badly in fact that I have wondered if my casting is rubbish, but the butt section is so thick and coiled that the energy of the cast cannot dissipate down to the fly which results in a head of coils landing on the water followed by a finer tip section about 3 feet away from the coils.

Come on Froghair - do yourselves a favour and sort this out - memory is a bad thing. Stiff butt section coils are a very bad thing. Sinking so badly that it drags down 2 feet of the 2 weight fly line is an incredibly bad thing.

I've learnt a lesson - no more Fluoro tapered leaders, at least not Froghair!

Rant over.

Switch on - then Switch off

2009-07-08T23:33:00.002+01:00

Johnny and I managed to get down the river for a couple of hours again tonight. Sound weather, probably manage 2-3 hours, and hopefully be able to get to a different swim.

So off we set.

Nothing doing really for the first hour, then we switched swims again and JB attacked it from the slower water whilst I waded down fishing the rapids.
John had a take but lost it, whilst I experimented with different wets - but nothing doing.
By now we were virtually fishing shoulder to shoulder. I miss a take on an olive nymph and JB moves down to the next swim - probably fed up with me nattering on.
So I begin to contemplate my navel and start to ring the changes.

There are fish around but not taking. I try about a dozen different flies and tactics but only get marginal interest although the fish are now starting to rise more freely.
Then they really switch on - bur still no interest, almost as if there's a caenis hatch. That rings a bell in the grey matter so I tie on a size 20 caenis - the smallest thing that you could see. There's a rising fish - I cast to it and its gently sipped away! Striking too early I miss it.
Senselessly I cast again (a fish would never rise twice after all that messing about) and there's a gentle sip, 1.. 2.. 3.. strike and there's a fighting fit trout of about 2lbs. It shakes the hook after a
decent scrap - but that's ok.

Checking the fly I cast to another riser only to be net almost immediately by another gentle sip and another 2- pounder.
Yet again, again, and again I cast the tiny white dry fly to rising fish and get a gentle take every time. This is real fly fishing.
It gets to 9:30 and they are calming down so I up sticks and find Johnny.
Altogether I've caught 5 and lost that number again. Johnny has also had a bagfull.
Comparing flies the only similarity is that they are both dry and tied to monofilament. Sizes couldn't be more different and colours and styles are amazingly dissimilar.
It's a strange sport and you can never second guess the outcome of the next trip.
At 9:30 they had also switched off in Johhnys swim - he timed it - switched on at 8:30 and off at 9:30 - matched my swim exactly but two different parts of the river fishing different flies with a similar outcome.
A great evening and another learning stage.
Theta one thing about fishing - you never stop learning!
It's 11:30 now and my bedtime, however if I get chance I will post again tomorrow, firstly with a rant about Froghair leaders, and secondly with some thougts about other fishy things.

Speak soon!

A Reprieve and Frustration

2009-07-06T22:59:00.002+01:00

So amazingly all of the arrangements changed and I am not away this week - whey-hey - what shall I do?
Guess
JB cannot one as he's on a promise to watch yesterdays final with Sue, so it's just me.
It's been a strange day, poured down in the afternoon and a good six degrees cooler. It's also never really got bright either, not dull just sort of dim. Low light I suppose, rather like somebody has thrown a muslin cloth over the sun. That makes for good conditions but
possibly a problem later for my crappy eyesight putting the flies on.
I'm not in the riverbank until 8 so at bet I've 2 hours to go at - so I don't want to go far.
Swim 1 - a few risers but not a pull. 6 flies later it's off to swim 2, and it's raining.
Now it forecasted thunder so it's a bit of a risk and run if it gets harder. There's a rumble in the distance. No matter.
Swim 2 is full of fish but the next hour and a half is the most frustrating that I've had for some time. 2 fish and lost 3 bit by 10 o'clock there must be about 20 flies in my patch. I threw everything at them and should have caught a cricket score but no dice. After 10 I could no longer change fly as I couldn't make out the eye of the hook.
It's a good job my life doesn't depend on it.
Would it make a difference if I knew what the flies were that were coming off? Would it make a difference if I had the casting grace of JR Hartley?
Beats me!
As I sit here keying this in I wonder if I can actually fish? (everybody shakes their head).
Ok - until Wednesday - different beats, different approach.
Until then . . . .

Sunday Night - Weekend Over

2009-07-05T23:23:00.003+01:00

I'm sitting here writing this at 25 past 11 on Sunday night - weekend is over.

Outside its cooler than last week, but there's still not been much rain and the Aire (as I drove over it earlier) is very low. If it doesn't rain soon we will be in trouble as there's simply not enough water shipping through.

A fishless weekend - hence tonight's Blog. I was hoping to get out Saturday morning - but my very good friend came over Friday night, a couple of bottle of Rioja later and driving on Saturday wasn't the best idea in the world.

Then again tonight - I was hoping to get a couple of hours after I took my dad home. But Mr Federer's inability to finish off Roddick meant a late tea and therefore it was turning 8 when I got back home.

Trout - you got off lightly this weekend!

So, will I get out this week?

Monday night is off - Grassington meeting

Tuesday night may be driving to Uxbridge

Wednesday night may be driving back from Uxbridge

Thursday night - Catherine works therefore it makes sense for me to stick around

Friday night - a big possibility!

The weather forecast for the week is for some rain - so Friday may be good - it all depends as a week is a long time in the scheme of things.

I may also regroup and hit some new swims - possibly start concentrating on Burnsall!

We shall see.

Night all!

PS - tied up some new wets and F-flies though - all with my own little twist - looking forwards to trying the March Browns and the white F-flies. It will be a massacre!

Whilst I was busy - John's Blog - July 2 2009

2009-07-03T08:22:00.001+01:00

After three weeks of exceptionally hot weather the forecasters tell us it’s about to change to cool, wet and windy. In other words normal for a Skipton summer so I decide to have one last evening on the Wharfe.

I call Craig but he, poor chap, is confined to barracks for unspecified domestic chores whereas my wife is away. I revel in the unfettered freedom, have fished three nights this week and set off for the river at 7.30 pm. It’s perfect evening, temperature now down to around 26 degrees and very little wind or cloud.

Where shall I go? We’ve flogged the member’s stretch and I decide to go down stream to the lower limits of our stretch which is somewhat remote and doesn’t get fished as much. I have to push my way through four foot high grass to get there and wonder why the river keeper does no maintenance? In fact I wonder what he does do as I haven’t seen him for four years!

I get to a remote bend where there is a convenient bench to tackle up. I have never, in five years, seen the river so low, rain is desperately needed to increase the flow and all sorts of rocky outcrops that are not normally seen are now very exposed. It’s incredibly quiet, not much birdsong and I passed a racing pigeon sitting on a fence post and he looked at me with disinterest and couldn’t even be bothered to fly off!

I tackle up, I’ve obtained some new size 14 olive coloured klinkhammers which I think should do the job. I wade in, goodness the water is warm, and I make my way to where there’s a little faster water. If there’s oxygen there the trout may well be lying waiting for a tasty fly. After a quarter of an hour there’s no action so I move downstream to where the water is deeper and there is some flow, bang I’m into a good one and he comes to the net at just under 2 lbs. The fly is pretty smashed up from this encounter so I treat the remaining trout to a fresh one. I fish the whole area, very few rises, one or two fish who think they are of the flying variety leap clear of the water, not to feed but to take a look at me. They are merely curious and wondering why Craig isn’t here too. I try a few more flies but nothing rises.

It’s now just after 9.00 and I think I’ll try our favourite pool between the two bridges for the last hour as we did really well there late on Monday. By the time I’ve walked back the sun has made a spectacle of itself, setting in a glorious red sky and all is well with the world. What do they say “Red sky at night is shepherds’ delight”, we shall see.

When I get to our pool there is no-one else there so I wade out to the middle to a gravel bar from which I can cast to the deeper water on either side. I try all kinds of flies, including the ones that worked three days ago but nothing was rising or taking. It was as if the pools were dead.

The light was fading as it got to 10.00 when, as if switched on by a time clock, fish erupted from the water in both pools but they don’t like my klinkhammers. What fly shall I try? I know, a size 18 grey spinner, only problem the light is going fast and trying to tie one on quickly is a frustrating experience when you are in a hurry and you eyes are 72 years old. This fly too is ignored, help me Craig what is the magic fly tonight? With trembling fingers I desperately try a couple of alternatives while all around me in the growing gloom fish are splashing away like teenagers in a swimming pool. It’s no use I can’t get a single rise, it’s too dark and I have to stop, reluctantly I paddle back to the shore and the waiting car.

Now I have another problem, having had a knee replaced I’m not as flexible as I was so how to remove the waders without my pal to pull them off? After a struggle lying on the grass trying to avoid rolling in the dog’s mess I manage to disrobe and drive off home.

As I do so I notice that the rising moon is a strange orange colour with a halo of mist and as I get out of the car at home there’s a cooler breeze blowing. Yes, the weather is definitely on the change. Perhaps with a decent rainfall we shall see the behaviour of the trout revert to something like normal, in other words even more difficult to catch. However hope springs eternal and Craig and I will try again next week.

Here comes the night

2009-06-30T07:42:00.005+01:00

The hottest day yet this year, uncomfortably so in fact, all day long sticky, humid and slightly misty with the sun not quite burning through.

Loads to do at home after work - take the car to the garage for some work, pick the daughter up from dancing, run some more errands, and watch Murray on TV at Wimbledon.

At 7:45 that evening my time is my own. There isn't a breath of wind and the sun has finally burnt through then cloud and mist - in fact it's the best part of the day.

Phone Johnny and 20 minutes later we have managed to get a parking space in the rare 6 slots and we are tackling up. Shirt-sleeves ready and off we trot.

Gosh it’s hot.

I've made a bit of a boo-boo. In my eagerness to load the kit into the car I’ve made the mistake of not putting in my polarized prescription glasses, so instead I get my emergency reading glasses out of the glove box. – I know that this is going to bite me later on.

We start off by heading upstream – there’s no point fishing the flat water tonight as we need some movement, so after a 100 yard walk upstream we slide down to the river only to find another angler tucked into the nearside bank. Now normally this wouldn’t be a problem as there are more swims upstream of that and we could have worked down. Unfortunately upstream there’s some kids lashing the water to a foam (possibly no license given the state of them) and the chappy in the swim is fishing the wrong bank and standing on the fish – thereby trashing that run.

150 yards downstream later we get to another faster run and both gingerly wade in. By now we haven’t much daylight left.

It IS perfect though, another ‘stop it in time’ moment. A truly beautiful evening with the dippers bobbing under the trees at the far bank, and a kingfisher zipping along the water’s edge. Oh, and the fish rising.

An hour and a half later neither of us have had a tickle. Thrown lots of different flies at them, different techniques and not a sniff. They are taking sub-surface, but what? Beats me (and John). But like the old veterans we soldier on. There’s no point in moving as the light is fading fast.

A last ditch effort I put on a small size 18 grey klinkhammer. (Note here – to all fly tyers on and offshore – NEVER LEAVE THE HOOK EYE VARNISHED UP. – What a pain in the derriere and shop-bought flies should be banished if they ever sell them like that) Rant Over.

At last, first cast, a small twitch and the trout hits it hard. Not a bad fish but no trophy. JB changes fly and he’s into a fish as well, plays it forever as if the camera is rolling, and pops it on the head for supper.

By now the light is fading and the fish are going berserk, taking surface flies all over the river. JB reties his fly and recasts. By now I’ve cast to 4 fish and not had a tickle so there must be a problem. I examine the fly and the hackle has come unwound from the klinkhammer wing-post – if I was a fish I would be laughing at the fly and avoiding it like the plague. JB gets a small Grayling (first of the year) and recasts.

Remember the glasses? – I basically now have no chance of putting on a small fly as I can’t see the eye of the hook in this light, I knew that it would haunt me, and I’ve not brought the head-light. So I have to put on a large grey fly that I know will struggle.

JB gets another trout and whilst he’s playing it I catch a baby trout on the size 14 grey f-fly. I net his for him and that gets a bop on the head as well.

A couple more casts for me and I know that I’ve no chance, so I whip the fly off and wind the line in. JB is now casting like a maniac to every rise in the dark (big moon so not too bad), but as the light goes completely the fish switch off the surface fly again.

Trudging back to the car with a couple of bonny fish for supper we are attacked by midge which bite us daft, and tackling down is a race against being eaten alive.

Back in the car we turn on radio 5 to get the Murray result (10:15 pm now) and there’s the tennis highlights on. Eh-up though, its not the highlights it’s the live game – being played under the lights at the now be-roofed centre court at Wimbledon.

Murray wins.

What a great evening – picture postcard, a Murray win against the rub, some fish, some lessons learnt, and great company again.

Until tomorrow night then!

John and John and Me

2009-06-28T15:51:00.003+01:00

Sunday - a day of rest - but not for the fisher folks. The text came through at 8 "How's your head? Rubin is up we can be ready at 9.30 if you have time to come". Well of course I have time, so thick head or not I'm at John's for 9:20 and the car is loaded up.
Now John Rubin has no gear with him so I've kitted him up with a spare set of waders and my 4 weight Sage so we are well sorted and off we pop to Barden.

Calamity - the field is once again full of caravans - so nice of the Estate to not give a toss about the paying members, but we decide to give it a go.
We look like the big hunting party once we are in the gear and down we go into the water. It's once more low and warm so it's the faster deeper water that will produce again.
Now Rubes is a jolly chap and he casts a wonderful line, but he's not used to fishing the Wharfe so it's up to me and JB to sort him out with fish.

But we failed miserably - not a bite for JR, 3 fish for JB and 2 for me, the biggest winkled out of a narrow, fast run on a all olive nymph. It's really tough though - the members stretch gets hammered and I swear to God that the trout have seen so many flies that they know their names as they float above them, which makes the fish more knowledgable than us sometimes.
No matter, I've brought a fish home for my friend Miles (as promised last night) and I've spent a few hours with two of the nicest people that you could meet Johnny Beerling and John Rubin. Now I probably won't fish with Rubes again until we hit the Tweed in October, but I may fish with JB again on Friday - so I will look forwards to that. It's high time I saw Rubes with a bend in his rod so perhaps a Salmon will oblige in October.

By the way, another roasting day. Seems awful to say it but we need some rain through the river and give it some height and air. However with it being so low I did manage to suss out some new routes down the middle of the river and work out some great lies.
So until Friday perhaps . . .

Can't sleep again - so river bound!

2009-06-27T15:26:00.003+01:00

Another early morning - it's hot, sticky, daylight and 6 am. What should I do? Try to get some sleep or get the gear in the car? No contest so at 6:30 I'm tackling up as the morning mist starts to clear.

I love mornings like this. Quiet, peaceful, a little misty, warm and not a breath of wind. Somebody should freeze frame this and keep it for reference as it is as near to perfect as you can get (if you're a fly fisherman of course).

To be honest I'm not too worried if I don't catch a thing as it's just good to be alive today.
I've tackled up by the river, left the net in the car (as I never use it) and set up 3 wet flies. The river is low and clear, in my view it needs another 6 inches of flow as it is not really pushing through. No need to guess where the fish will be - in the faster water with a higher oxygen content - and there they are.

Should have taken the net as the first fish is a big lively trout who just refuses to be gathered, so I flick the fly out of his mouth and off he goes - Not a bad start!

Knots!
I have a real problem with knots - is it the end of spool that is just a little ropey or is it me? During the 4 hour morning session the 3lb leader end breaks off 5 times. I've lost too many flies this year - and I haven't time to tie up more - so I will have to resort to the
interweb for some new spiders.
Anyway back to the fish, it's not easy but well worth it as it gives me the chance to try many different techniques - but very satisfying especially at the end when I get 2 great trout by simply ambushing them by using a really long leader and working the fly hard.
Another really enjoyable morning.

My good friend John Rubin is staying with JB this weekend, so it will be great to sort him with some spare tackle tomorrow and show him the great fishing here on the Wharfe.
In the meantime, some new leaders, leader material and flies are required.
Come on Rubes, lets go fishing tomorrow.

Saturday and can't sleep

2009-06-20T13:48:00.003+01:00

So it's Saturday morning and it's 6am and I can't sleep. The rest of the house is deadly quiet and I'm at a loose end. So I sneak out of bed, slide on my fishing gear and get a quick breakfast. The house is still fast asleep as I slip the car into reverse and pull off the drive.

It's actually quite a good morning, not cold but not hot, and it must have rained overnight as the roads are still wet.

Where to go? The members stretch of the Wharfe at Barden gives me a few options but as I pull over the bridge I'm met with about a million caravans.

Bolton abbey estates do this a couple of times a year - just to make money and it makes the few hundred pounds that we pay every year seem to be a waste of good money. Anyway I park up and decide to fish the Burnsall stretch upstream of the bridge.

A few casts at the car park run results in a lost fish after 3 minutes so it may be a good day.

Partridge and orange in a size 16 is the order of the day, on a 12 foot leader and off I go upstream to find the faster water. The river is a good height and clear - there's a few fish knocking about but not too many - so I reckon that it's sub-surface all morning.

Having said all that the first pool looks a bit nymphy so it's a grhe gold head that gets me 2 small fish after 3 minutes, but somethings not right so it's back on with the partridge and orange. Bang bang bang - 4 good fish in the next 5 runs through, fit fighting fish all
over the pound and a half and beautifully coloured.

That's the order for the rest I the morning - some great fish from different runs, including 3 fish from a small feeder split in the river that I bet is never fished, one of which was a strong native
fish that I bet had never seen a fly before.

Why a great morning - good job that I couldn't sleep.

I've returned home to a daughter that's been throwing up since 7 and a wife and son both wanting to get out and play tennis. So it's patient sitting for the rest of the day and our for tea tomorrow for fathers day.

Hot and Sunny

2009-06-12T17:17:00.001+01:00

Spent a good few hours down the river again today and it was really lovely. At last some summer weather -the water was perfect height and running clear. In fact it was too warm as I allowed for showers and wore my wading jacket all day which was a bit of a discomfort.

Strange fishing today, the fish were obviously taking flies/nymphs as they rose through the layers and not interested in the surface fly at all - but I couldn't get THE fly. I went through the box but couldn't find the colour/size required. Managed a few fish nevertheless but could have done many more which was very frustrating.

However, that's fishing - if it was that easy eveybidy would do it.

Interestingly the fish went off as the sun got to it's height and started to come in again as I was leaving later. It would seem to be correct that they don't like bright light. Tonight would be a good time - but I will give it a miss tonight and light the BBQ instead.

By the way the fish are very fit and solid - they are obviously feeding well. Is it on flies or crayfish?

Back in the USSR

2009-06-11T07:51:00.003+01:00

So here we are back in the good old UK again and none the worse for wear.

Did I mention that the Swine Flu scare has decimated the Mexican economy, Cancun overnight was like a ghost town, only the hookers patrolling the streets at night, hotels empty, shops with signs declaring 'WE ARE OPEN', but everywhere empty. I estimate that it's running at 20% capacity. For sure the lodge hosts 22 (with 20 down the road at Playa Blanca) 44 in total, lastweek when I was there there were 11 in total, this week 5, next week 22, week after 3.

- A very good time to nail down some great deals!!

But I digress, back home in sunny Yorkshire. The weather is much the same as I left it - cold and wet, in fact 10 degrees and its nearly the middle of June.

Nevertheless I braved the Wharfe last evening and managed a dozen fish, but came away at 8 as it was TOO DARK, WET and COLD!

What?

Yes - it was bloody freezing after the torrential downpour, all my kit was wet, the glasses were steamed up and its was dull.

Come on Flaming June - where are you? It's by birthday in 2 weeks time and I expect better!
Perhaps another trip on Saturday, but only if it pick up!
Oh - flies used to catch . . Partridge and Orange, Cream F-Fly, GRHE nymph with a gold-head (size 16). The fish were active even if I wasn't.

Back Home

2009-06-08T09:05:00.003+01:00

The Mexico trip is over - after a long flight back Casa Blanca to Cancun, Cancun to Atlanta, Atlanta to Manchester, I am totally knackered and jet-lagged, however it could have been much worse if it hadn't have been for David getting us all an upgrade (foc) to business class (which was a lot easier).

It's easy now in retrospect to summarise the trip, but I will ket you reach the conclusions:

The lodge is excellent - but needs some tweaks, - with those it would be first class, however it is very comfortable, clean and we were all well looked after, however there were 11 of us in a lodge which usually servers over 22 - so we may have been over-pampered.

The weather was excellent and perfect for spotting fish - the Friday was amazing as the waters were like glass and I have never been so hot in my life.

Many anglers contracted Montezumas-revenge at some stage - but with the correct pills and potions that can be controlled - stay off ice and water - just drink beer - and it keeps it at bay, however the heat is a factor.

Now for the fishing.

The bonefish are small - a 3 lb fish is a big one for the area - I didn't fish for them myself as there seemed little point when there were Tarpon and Permit to throw for. However some anglers had a great time with them catching good numbers every day.

As the lodge was so under-subscribed we had a boat to ourselves for 3 of the 6 days - not doubling up. Now this is an advantage and a disadvantage - it is incredibly hard work on your own, and the Mexican guides simply do not communicate (some are worse than others) so it helps with the sanity to have a pal in the skiff - (also helps with line control, help and advice etc).

I actually blanked on 3 days, it so happened that the 3 days were chasing Permit and no matter what I threw at them they would not take. - Now this seems to be a waste of time, but that was my choice. I must add that my guide was not what I consider to be the best, but that's fishing, but we did see lots of Permit to cast to, but Permit being what they are it's in the lap of the Gods.

As I said on an earlier post, another day I boated 3 Tarpon, and on one of the blank days lost one, so that's an indication of what can be done if your stall is set out early doors.

This is a great mixed fishery, no sizable fish (but some big Permit were seen and one was caught at an estimated 16 lbs), and offers the chance of doing the Grand Slam (my 2 pals both managed that on the last day - both losing Snook as well), but if you want big Bones or Tarpon its not the place for you.

Would I go back?

Yes - but its a big world and next year we may do Venezuela or Cuba - we shall see.

Mid Way in Mexico

2009-06-04T05:36:00.001+01:00

It's now Wednesday morning and nobody here has yet caught Swine Flu - and I guess that nobody will. Sadly the bad press has gone quite a way to decimating the Mexico economy. The lodge here at Casa Blanca is usually full with 22 paying guests with another 20 at Playa Blanca -Playa has been temporarily closed and there are 11 of us here at Casa with 4 leaving tomorrow. Very sad.

The good news is that the waters are not as heavily fished.

It's a great spot - the lodge and staff are first class and the fishing is excellent. The Bonefish are relatively small - the average being 2lb, but there are plenty of them. I have seen and cast to Permit on 3 days (didn't look for them yesterday), and yesterday caught my first Tarpon - 3 of them in fact - all babies but great fun!

I've got to be honest but now the Tarpon have arrived that the Bones don't interest me - bigger fish maybe -but not the small ones.

What else can I tell you? If you venture into the jungle there are poisonous snakes, spiders and jaguar. There are scorpions, sharks, barracuda and crocs too. Nice!

Today I fish with David. I hope that we have better weather than yesterday!

Ttfn

Mexico - just landed

2009-05-31T16:29:00.000+01:00

Don't believe any of what you have heard - Mexico is clear and a great
place.

Arrived at the Playa Blanca lodge at 11 today - already caught a
Bonefish, had a throw at a Permit and seen 2 Tarpon.

What a way to spend your life - it's hell!

Today is a dry without guides - the serious stuff starts tomorrow.

By the way it's in the 90's and beautiful!

More soon

Bank Holiday Monday - early or late?

2009-05-25T14:55:00.000+01:00

Johnny and I decided to go early to beat the tourists on this Spring
Bank Holiday Monday - so there we were at ten to seven tackled up by
the car and ready to roll.

What a difference the sun makes! No coat just the shirt and waistcoat
- at last - so off we set, sleaves rolled up ready to fish.

We started at one of our usual spots -I had a fish third cast and
johnny lost one fourth cast - so they were on the feed. Whilst Johnny
retackled I decided to go upstream a quarter of a mile and fish the
far bank.

Sun beating down it was a massacre -I actually thought of packing up
as I was into a cricket score - some of them really good heavy fish -
well over-wintered and fighting fit.

All together a fantastic morning - life worth living and probably the
most enjoyable mornings fishing for a long long time.

Crazy Weather - but do the fish care?

2009-05-22T17:06:00.002+01:00

Had 3 hours down the river this afternoon - in a mixture of torrential rain, light showers and bright hot sunshine. The wind changed 3 time s whilst I was there. But did the fish care - did they heck!

None actually coming up for the flies that were coming off, but a wet fly sub surface, or an F-Fly sunk and twitched back under the surface had them going crazy!

I would still be there yet but had to rush off for another appointment!So - remember - whatever the weather - get out there and give it a bash - you may think it wet and miserable, but the fish don't give a jot!

Didn't find Johnny's Priest though!

Ho Hum - what do you reckon - is it worth getting out first think Bank Holiday Monday - and risking millions of walkers with their dogs and kids - or just go to the pub instead? - Or do both! - What has my dearly beloved organised? - That may just scupper it all.

As I write this it's lashing it down again!

Until next time!

Craig

The Elementals and the Pigs

2009-05-20T18:30:00.005+01:00

Hope you enjoyed John's post - I can vouch for the priest - we may find it next time we are out - but it may now be down with the gravel, the nymphs and the crayfish.

I was heartened by the fishing and thought that I may manage a few hours after work. - Think again - the heavens have opened and I've suddenly been hit with a good number of jobs at home. Tomorrow will be a late finish as I have to be in Leicester and Friday will be hard due to work and an evening in Manchester at a Nickelback concert!

Perhaps Saturday or Sunday would be a good idea - we will have to wait and see.

Anyway - there has been some good news this week, now that the Swine Fever has died down the UK is now flying out to Mexico again, so on the 30th June off I go with a couple of pals to get some Bonefish/Permit/Tarpon/Snook fishing in on the fly in Mexico. - I shall of course post daily details if I get access to the WWW or manage an iPhone connection.

Speak to you all soon!

Johnny Beerling's Guest Posting

2009-05-20T14:42:00.002+01:00

After three weeks of awfully wet and windy weather the forecast for our area looked more promising for Wednesday May 20. I set the alarm for 06.30 but from my bedroom window it still looked pretty grim, quite a wind blowing and no sign of the sun. I dragged myself from the warm bed, made a flask of coffee and drove the few miles to the members' stretch of the River Wharfe.

Conditions were not promising, a strong SSW wind with gusts up to 32mph, that's what the met office said. At least it was blowing from my rear whipping the waves into a light froth as ice formed on my fingers and the rod rings! Well it felt that cold.

I missed the company, support and advice of my mentor, Craig. I stood contemplating the scene, thought for a minute or so and then clearly heard a voice in my head. Sounding very like Alec Guinness, I heard Obi Wan Knocraig say,

"Feel The Force" John, use the Waterhen Bloa and may "The Fishing Force" will be with you!"

So I tied a WHB under a Klinkhammer but despite Obie's advice there was little action. Not enough force maybe. At least with the rear wind casting was easy but it was clear no fish were rising. I saw one small mayfly skid across the surface, tempting the fish to feed but there were no trout snapping in the foam.

Time for more underwater action. I tried a Goldheaded Hare's ear on the point with a Waterhen Bloa on the dropper and within a couple of casts there was a slashing attack from a very hungry trout. So hungry was it that the fly came off! Damn, in my haste I had forgotten to check my knots, serve me right.

Several more casts and no further tugs so I waded up stream to a faster stretch of water, changed the point fly to a Pheasant Tail and cast in the lee of a huge rock. On the second cast a mighty pull and I was into a decent fish which took it's time coming to the net. I looked in its mouth to see if it had the WHB I lost earlier in its mouth, no. I said a prayer for its soul and gave it a quick coup de grace with the priest as I had promised my wife fresh trout for tea. No more fish took in that swim so I decided to try another downstream stretch which is a favourite of ours.

In anything the wind was even stronger now and I didn't really reckon my chances though I saw at least three fish rise to snap at something so it was back to the Klinkhammer with a Waterhen Bloa underneath. A blank with this rig, then Obie Ben spoke again

"Remember "The Force" John!"

I figured if one WHB was good two would be even better. I went for it with one on the point and one on the dropper. Bang, before I knew it I was into another decent fish which was in full brown trout fancy dress, a golden wonder and as it had fought so hard I was happy to return it to its home on the river bed. Sadly it was exhausted by the fight it had out up and when released turned belly up. I tried to resuscitate it by holding it into the current but it was too far gone. I needed the priest to administer the last rites but when I reached into my fishing waistcoat it was not there! Where on earth could it be? I'd had it an hour earlier and now the priest's hole was empty. It must be on the bank where I had dispatched the first one. I searched high and low but the lost tackle gremlins from Star Wars had taken their revenge and a tool I had owned for over twenty years was gone. It's odd I must have upset them because they did the same trick with my wading stick last year. I wasted half an hour looking for the priest but it must have gone in search of a choir boy.

I fished on under an emerging but watery sun but my heart wasn't in it. I hooked and lost a couple more, was getting cold and decided to call it a day. It was 11 o'clock and I had fished for three hours. I had seen only three flies in that time but I had done much better than I had ever expected in those awful conditions and now it was time for home and a hot bath to thaw out the frozen fingers.

Will summer ever arrive in Yorkshire? Watch this space.

Monday 11th May - Winter Again!

2009-05-12T08:27:00.002+01:00

Winter time again - the wind has changed and its bloody cold - and the fish know it.

I got down the river at about 7 pm and gave it an hour and a half - it felt like November and the fish were dour - they had their heads well down - only a couple rose on an hour and half - nabbed a couple of the risers on a small grey F-fly - but they were small fish (actually a small trout parr was in perfect nick and shows how well they have spawned).

Towards the end snared a good fish on a heavy GRHE nymph - twitching it back across the current - but that was more luck that judgement.

It's a shame that this country has such variable cold weather at this time of year - on Sunday the wind had changed, air pressure low and it was warm - and the fish responded. This time dead opposite and the fish hid.

What will Friday bring? - Anybody's guess as the forecast isn't good!

Change of weather - Change of fortune

2009-05-10T12:34:00.001+01:00

Sunday came with a change of wind direction, change of barometer and change of temperature.

Fished one of the regular haunts and fished the trusty Waterhen Bloa as there were some small pale wateries coming off - the fish really wanted the fly - first cast and 8 more in the 3 hours - losing another 6. It's hard to beat that fly at this part of the season - dead drift or a small twitch and the trout hammered it. They weren't interested in the dry - they just wanted it sub-surface.

The session included 2 great fish well over 2 pounds.

Faith restored and a really enjoyable morning. Roll on Friday as I'm looking forwards to a few hours on the river with my good friend Johnny B.

And now back

2009-05-02T14:00:00.001+01:00

I got to the river at about 9 and was surprised at the amount of water
running through - so much in fact that finding a place cross was
difficult. Anyway to cut a long story short caught 2 trout, rose 6
more but didn't see a single fish.

It will come good yet - loads of Olives coming off but trutta wasn't
too interested.