Monday 25 February 2013

I took a walk along the wee stream this afternoon.
She is in fine fettle for the start of the season on Friday
 

 
While I was out, late afternoon there were three trout taking #18 stoneflies
from the surface - it's back to the bench for me :)


Tuesday 19 February 2013

#16 SULFUR

Soon it will be time to fish again.
They might fancy a Sulfur for lunch;
this one drifts along in the film trying to break through
 
 

Saturday 16 February 2013

Here you can download the catalog for the Wild Trout Trust Annual auction
http://www.wildtrout.org/sites/default/files/auction_files/wttauction2013.pdf

                                          This is lot #35

Monday 27 August 2012

fins

Yes, folks,
just fins
 

these wild browns are so beautiful.

This little guy took my dry Sulfur #18 first cast through a long ninety second drift.
Now, that is one long slow drift alright.
It was the first time this year that I had fished my Hardy Fibalite glass 7ft #3/4
Crisp as the day she was built and spot on accuracy this is a classic 1960's glass,
plays fish softly and positively, almost as good as bamboo
The thing is those little trouty teeth can wreck a fly.
First cast, one fly, one fish, fly gnarled beyond recognition
 
I can see the satisfaction in his eye for the perfect wreckage of a good dry fly
 
 

Sunday 19 August 2012

The river was high  so I took a trip toward the headwaters.
I found a pool where some small browns were taking emerging baetis in a slick,
 a dozen or so fish rising freely and gently.
My offering of a #18 reversed parachute Greenwells yielded five in ten minutes.
I then changed to a #20 revpara Rusty emerger with a tiny slip of bronze mallard
 for a hint of wing, tied by my neighbour and friend at Small Fly Funk, Andy Baird,
result...


another pretty brown.
I had a dozen for the evening and returned to my open fire.

Friday 10 August 2012


The local streams are low and clear
I have moved home from London to Armoy,
Northern Ireland
The streams have beautiful, sometimes fussy brown trout
taking BWO, caddis olives and Tups Indispensibles
I'm home