It does appear that I am pretty useless at this blogging
caper. However this really reflects the fact that, to my shame, I have not
fished an awful lot over the last year as my rugby has become a year round
pursuit. I think I managed one very brief grayling trip over the winter,
curtailed by terminally leaking waders. The Monnow Social was as much fun as I had
remembered but the fishing was tough. I was not alone in this conclusion,
pretty much everyone struggled. An awful lot of work for not a lot of action. Strangely
though there were nice hatches of upwinged flies but no reaction from the fish.
Perhaps, after a harsh tail end to the winter, we were just too early this
year. Not a bad weekend to reflect that fishing should be more than just about
the fish with old friendships rekindled and new ones made.
Back on home waters I fished Durnford on the Avon last week
and the Wey this week in anticipation of some Mayfly action. Durnford was tough
with little evidence of rising fish and I fished the beat only casting to
rising fish and ended up with a couple of Grayling and a solitary WBT, with a
couple of ‘interested’ swirls. A very few Mayfly in evidence but I had success
on a size 16 emerger pattern.
The Wey was a little more accommodating with more actively
feeding fish at the surface. More Mayfly in evidence this time but again
ignored by the trout. I ended up bringing five WBT to hand, again an emerger was
the pattern of choice, in size 14 this time.
All pictures from the Wey...
