Wet, Windy and barely above freezing was how the weather looked today. But it was the last day my season ticket was valid so I had to get at least a couple of hours in.
Went to G Bank about 1.30, was the only one there at the time but I was soon joined by another at G , a couple of guys went onto the stone jetty and I saw someone on the Dam as well. Hardy fellows or just fools? Who knows.
Set up a floating line, 15ft leader and 2 flies. Apetiser on the point and a Wooly Bugger on the dropper.
A few casts and I got a fish on that had taken the Apetiser. A 2lb Rainbow put up a reasonable fight and was soon in the net.
Kept the same set up and after about 30mins or so got another good pull and a similar sized rainbow was on having taken the Wooly Bugger. I soon netted this one too and decided to release it. I figured there were more to catch but yet again I was wrong.
Nothing more followed despite sticking it out in freezing rain and wind, tried several different flies, boobies, minkies and a Pitsford Pea but no pulls so went home at 4.00.
All in all not a bad season really. 63 fish taken so got reasonably close to the 75 fish limit, 10th in the club competition and 5th in the winter plate.
Time now to tie up loads of flies during the winter ready for next season.
Sunday 30 November 2008
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Snowbee challenge update
Back in September I caught a Brown trout on a red Diawl Bach at the South corner of the Dam. I entered this fish for The Snowbee Challenge in Total Flyfisher Magazine.
Well finally they have updated their site and my entry is acknowledged on the site in the Large Water Brown Category.
Snowbee Challenge details are here http://www.totalflyfisher.com/Snowbee-Challenge/
The same fish also qualified me for next years Troutmaster fish off.
It tasted great too.
:-)))
Well finally they have updated their site and my entry is acknowledged on the site in the Large Water Brown Category.
Snowbee Challenge details are here http://www.totalflyfisher.com/Snowbee-Challenge/
The same fish also qualified me for next years Troutmaster fish off.
It tasted great too.
:-)))
Monday 17 November 2008
Winter Plate
On Sunday I fished the GWFFA Winter Plate competition.
After doing some recon on Saturday afternoon the best looking spot seemed to be on Long Bank on the North Shore. The wind was going to be Westerly in the morning moving to a Northerly by lunchtime so logic seemed to suggest the North Shore was a good bet. On Saturday I walked the bank and saw fish moving and there was a boat drifting along Long Bank. I had a chat with the boat and they had got 12 fish between the 2 of them on minkies. So with the wind report from www.xcweather.co.uk confirming the wind direction a good plan was forming.
I got to Long Bank at 7.45. the match didn't start till 8.30 so I had plenty of time to walk the length of the bank looking for fish. Didn't see a single thing move.
Set up the floating line with a minkie on the point, PNT on first dropper and a black buzzer on the top dropper. 8.30 arrived and I waded in. 2nd cast and i was into a fish on the minkie. A good fish too which put up a good fight. Just before the net the hook pulled loose and it was away. Damn! but a good positive start.
10 mins later and I had a 2lb rainbow in the bag. It had taken the PNT. By 9.30 I had another fish in the bag. This one was a bit bigger, 2.5lb maybe?
Went quiet after that till about lunchtime when I hooked in to another fish but lost it after a few seconds.
Peter rang me, he was on The Seat and had 4 and rumour was that Steve Ellerbeck had a fish over 6lb from Gaynes Cove. I stuck it out at Long Bank but probably should have moved.
At the weigh in it seemed I had the tactics wrong again! Gaynes Cove and The Seat where the spots to be in despite the wind directions. Peter had 7 fish in total although one was from G Bank. Steve Ellerbeck did indeed have a cracking fish over 6lb and 4 more good fish but it wasn't enough to beat Peter's 7.
I finished 5th with my 2 fish weighing in just over 4lb.
Full results and Peters winning report should be avaiable here www.gwffa.co.uk
After doing some recon on Saturday afternoon the best looking spot seemed to be on Long Bank on the North Shore. The wind was going to be Westerly in the morning moving to a Northerly by lunchtime so logic seemed to suggest the North Shore was a good bet. On Saturday I walked the bank and saw fish moving and there was a boat drifting along Long Bank. I had a chat with the boat and they had got 12 fish between the 2 of them on minkies. So with the wind report from www.xcweather.co.uk confirming the wind direction a good plan was forming.
I got to Long Bank at 7.45. the match didn't start till 8.30 so I had plenty of time to walk the length of the bank looking for fish. Didn't see a single thing move.
Set up the floating line with a minkie on the point, PNT on first dropper and a black buzzer on the top dropper. 8.30 arrived and I waded in. 2nd cast and i was into a fish on the minkie. A good fish too which put up a good fight. Just before the net the hook pulled loose and it was away. Damn! but a good positive start.
10 mins later and I had a 2lb rainbow in the bag. It had taken the PNT. By 9.30 I had another fish in the bag. This one was a bit bigger, 2.5lb maybe?
Went quiet after that till about lunchtime when I hooked in to another fish but lost it after a few seconds.
Peter rang me, he was on The Seat and had 4 and rumour was that Steve Ellerbeck had a fish over 6lb from Gaynes Cove. I stuck it out at Long Bank but probably should have moved.
At the weigh in it seemed I had the tactics wrong again! Gaynes Cove and The Seat where the spots to be in despite the wind directions. Peter had 7 fish in total although one was from G Bank. Steve Ellerbeck did indeed have a cracking fish over 6lb and 4 more good fish but it wasn't enough to beat Peter's 7.
I finished 5th with my 2 fish weighing in just over 4lb.
Full results and Peters winning report should be avaiable here www.gwffa.co.uk
Sunday 9 November 2008
There must be easier hobbies
Had a few hours out this afternoon in the disillusioned hope of finding the fish and method ready for Next Sunday.
Quite a strong SW wind so only the South Shore available to fish so went to Plummers again. Started Gaynes Cove end, no signs of fish so moved right down to the Dam. Had a few minutes on the Dam wall but I hate fishing there so moved into the water behind the trees in the South Corner.
Still nothing, decided to move back to Gaynes Cove but as I was reeling the line in a fish chased the Booby on the point. Got a good pull from it but it never hooked. Bugger! Spent the last 30 mins trying to tempt that fish again but nothing more happened.
Back to the drawing board then.
Quite a strong SW wind so only the South Shore available to fish so went to Plummers again. Started Gaynes Cove end, no signs of fish so moved right down to the Dam. Had a few minutes on the Dam wall but I hate fishing there so moved into the water behind the trees in the South Corner.
Still nothing, decided to move back to Gaynes Cove but as I was reeling the line in a fish chased the Booby on the point. Got a good pull from it but it never hooked. Bugger! Spent the last 30 mins trying to tempt that fish again but nothing more happened.
Back to the drawing board then.
Friday 7 November 2008
Another Blank
Grafham seems to fishing really hard at the moment. 2 hours in Plummers this afternoon produced another blank.
There are fish in Plummers for sure, I saw one or two move and even had one rise 2 rod lengths away from me. I covered it and it did chase the fly but it missed and turned away. That was the only excitement.
I'll have another bash on Sunday and may even try Perry Point or The Seat. Got to find some fish before next Sunday's Winter Plate Competition.
There are fish in Plummers for sure, I saw one or two move and even had one rise 2 rod lengths away from me. I covered it and it did chase the fly but it missed and turned away. That was the only excitement.
I'll have another bash on Sunday and may even try Perry Point or The Seat. Got to find some fish before next Sunday's Winter Plate Competition.
Monday 3 November 2008
North Shore
Took the day of work today and had planned to have the morning fishing.
Started the day really early, in fact it was still dark at 6.00 when i got to Church Road. Eventually dawn broke and i walked around from Deep Water past Pylon Point and into Church Bay where Peter had caught 6 the day before. The breeze was from the north so i walked around Church Bay to Long Bank. Saw a couple of fish move so set up with an Orange Blob on the dropper and an appetizer on the point.
Just after 7.00 I had a fish follow the appetizer but it turned away. A few minutes later I had one on but it shook the hook, damn and blast!
No more fish showing so moved along the bank to Hedge End where again I saw a fish move. No offers though.
Damon was meeting me around 9.00 so I walked back to Deep Water Point, had a few casts saw one fish move but again to takes. Eventually decided it was worth moving to G so met Damon there.
Well, 3 hours later and not a fish to be seen. Despite the near perfect conditions, overcast skies, good breeze and a decent ripple the fish just didn't play the game.
3 Other anglers at G and no one catching and 2 guys on the stone jetty all morning had nothing to show for their efforts.
Always next time.
Started the day really early, in fact it was still dark at 6.00 when i got to Church Road. Eventually dawn broke and i walked around from Deep Water past Pylon Point and into Church Bay where Peter had caught 6 the day before. The breeze was from the north so i walked around Church Bay to Long Bank. Saw a couple of fish move so set up with an Orange Blob on the dropper and an appetizer on the point.
Just after 7.00 I had a fish follow the appetizer but it turned away. A few minutes later I had one on but it shook the hook, damn and blast!
No more fish showing so moved along the bank to Hedge End where again I saw a fish move. No offers though.
Damon was meeting me around 9.00 so I walked back to Deep Water Point, had a few casts saw one fish move but again to takes. Eventually decided it was worth moving to G so met Damon there.
Well, 3 hours later and not a fish to be seen. Despite the near perfect conditions, overcast skies, good breeze and a decent ripple the fish just didn't play the game.
3 Other anglers at G and no one catching and 2 guys on the stone jetty all morning had nothing to show for their efforts.
Always next time.
Sunday 2 November 2008
G Bank
Popped over to G bank again for a couple of hours. Had heard there were fish been caught so was hopeful.
Not a sniff! didn't see anyone catch anything along G bank and there were a few there as well. Ken Dainty arrived the same time as me, Lianne and Chris Bobby were also there. Chris had caught a small brownie before i arrived.
After 2 hours I gave up and went home. Peter had walked past with the dogs and rang me after I got home to say he was in Church Bay and had 3 on the bank and lost another 2 on Orange Blob with an appetiser on point.
Fishing early tomorrow morning so just might head for Deep Water Point, Pylon Point and Church Bay.
Not a sniff! didn't see anyone catch anything along G bank and there were a few there as well. Ken Dainty arrived the same time as me, Lianne and Chris Bobby were also there. Chris had caught a small brownie before i arrived.
After 2 hours I gave up and went home. Peter had walked past with the dogs and rang me after I got home to say he was in Church Bay and had 3 on the bank and lost another 2 on Orange Blob with an appetiser on point.
Fishing early tomorrow morning so just might head for Deep Water Point, Pylon Point and Church Bay.
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