Another Whopper (+P.S.)(+happy ending)

Not only have some fairly big Carp and PIke been apprehended since the Winter season started, and a few very respectable Barbel, but Beat 3a became home to a huge dead Ash tree recently. I was too slow to snap the whole tree (after it had snapped itself, you understand), but you can get an idea from this pic of what was left after Nigel and the rest of the Work-Party had butchered it.

Several big logs were cut out of the trunk, after it had been gently lowered into the river of course, and were floated down to create several new deflectors in the shallower,wide stretches above the really big pool on the bend.

As usual, there was a very good turnout, and the weather was surprisingly mild, and the river conveniently low. The usual high quality coffee and doughnuts were available to Andy, Chris, John, Keith, 2 Pauls, 2 Peters and a Nigel, and a good time was had by all, not to mention some very valuable work improving the river for the fish and other wildlife, as well as the anglers.

Meanwhile, back on the river, the Winter fishers are getting stuck in, but of course we don't ask for Catch Returns from those who are coarse fishing, so I can't comment on numbers. Some members (like me) do carry on fly-fishing for Grayling, and for any others that do the same, please submit a Return for any Grayling caught, but not for any out-of-season Trout accidentally caught (and returned of course).

My Grayling season has not been too successful so far, and I've been using tiny nymphs (in the cloudy water) size 18 where possible, to try and avoid tempting any trout. I did also switch to dries last week up at the outfall pool where some fish were rising occasionally, and managed a Dace and a Chub there on tiny dries, but also saw a few better fish, possibly Grayling, turn away from a size 20 Wickham's Hackle. I think it was due to the 6x tippet, so it'll be 7x with those flies next time.

I had thought I'd achieved a personal best by catching such a tiny Grayling (on a size 18 Perdigon) but NIgel managed to get a photo of a Bullhead in the river, which is definitely superior, though I doubt even he could catch one.

Don't forget to try the Reservoir sometime, and we do require a Catch Return for any visits there (Club rules), and don't forget it is fly-fishing only there, but is open all year round, and don't try driving down to the reservoir side if it's at all wet or muddy.

I hope we'll see as many of you as possible at the Chequers pub at 7pm on 27th November for the AGM,

Cheers

Peter B

P.S. By the way, I forgot to add a warning about something dangerous in the water at the bottom end of that big pool, about 2 feet long, with a ferocious array of razor-sharp teeth. So if you happen to find a Silky pruning saw thereabouts, please get in touch. It fell into a rather deep bit just as we were removing a protruding tree. I plan to 'fish' for it with a magnet on a string, as soon as the water is a bit clearer and ideally a bit lower. I'll put in a Catch Return if I manage to land it.

P.P.S. I wandered down today (15th) for a bit of Magnet Fishing, and landed the vicious beast without incident, as witnessed by Nigel.

Cheers

PeterB