Feedback & Reports

I was stitched up by the weather forecasters today. When I booked this trip the forecast was for cloud spreading down from the north and temperatures above freezing. When I arrived the car temp gauge was reading -6 without a cloud in the sky. I arrived about 9:30 and as I had never fished here before, I decided to walk the beat first in the hope that temperatures would rise during the day. I probably made it about halfway up the beat before returning to the car for sustenance. I made the trotting rod up anyway and headed back to the river, more in hope than anticipation. Starting about 11:30 just up from the church the line was still freezing in the rings and the river looked lifeless and the float failed to submerge. I carried on upstream looking for some pacier water which I found about 100 yards or so above the wier. After a few trots down, I managed to find a good line which took the float down through the turbulent water into the steadier water towards the far bank. The float went under and a strike was met with resistance which then started to thump back. Thinking this was going to be my only chance of the day I played the fish very, very carefully until a lovely looking Grayling came into view. Apologies to the game fishermen but I measure my fish by weight rather than length and this one tipped the scales at 1lb 10ozs. I carried on fishing this pool and caught 3 more Graying of a similar size and one tiddler about 8ozs. The trout then showed up and 3 were caught and released in the water before it then went quiet. With the sun dropping behind the hills I called it a day feeling rather chuffed that a very unpromising day yielded some satisfying large Grayling.

5 Grayling

Fine day on the river, levels were a bit lower than we would of liked. Long trotting accounted for 15 Grayling and 20 trout, ranging for 5" to 17".

20 Trout, 15 Grayling

Great day to be out, 8 grayling, 7 around the half pound mark and one decent fish. An otter working its upstream towards me totally oblivious to me until 10 feet away was a highlight, kingfishers, red kites, woodpecker...great day.

8 Grayling

Persevered with nymphs despite the temptation to get the trotting gear out of the car! Still refining my technique but managed two 9 inch fish. Gauge was at 0.58m. Family of otters living in the Grandstand Pool. Salmon swimming under my feet.

2 Grayling

12 x grayling 9-17 inches, 11 x out of season trout 6-18 inches, long trotting. Level 0.70 on the Cilmery gauge, slowly dropping and only slight colour. Out of season trout are still being a nuisance. Since the high water, the presence of numbers of salmon is very evident.

12 Grayling

8 Grayling

Similar conditions to yesterday, grayling still in same area. Leaves a bit of a problem later on in the day. However, two excellent days fishing.

3 Trout, 12 Grayling

River reasonable height fished mid/lower section only for very short period no fish caught, plenty of debris floating down river after a number of rain shower. One section of the river I was surrounded by salmon either jumping or breaching at least 6 one occasion 3 jumped at same time and another 4 further down stream. Need to improve on my attempts to catch Grayling.

First time grayling fishing trotting with maggots. Both of us caught fish on and off throughout the day. River in good condition.

3 Trout, 10 Grayling

The river was up but running clear, so there was some hope. The early frost and mist kept things quiet until late morning when the fish started to move to heavy nymphs.By Mid day the sun had burnt through and there were a few small upwing flies hatching. The flies stayed mid river and my eyes are the wrongs side of 50 so I couldn't tell you what they were. The fish however were looking up and happy to rise to a size 16 winged grey spider. To be able to cast a dry fly to rising fish in November always feels like a bonus.To do it on a beautiful stretch of water made for a memorable day.
Many Thanks
LB

1 Trout, 6 Grayling