First trip of the Trout season

The season is now 2 days old,  Due to work commitments I couldnt fish the first day,  But today I managed to squeeze in a couple of hours on the local beck.  Today was cold and the water was low and clear. But it feels good to be back after the trout.   The lttle section I chose to fish is approached under the old rail vaduct that once carried the Scarborough to Whitby line.

Like most of the little valley that the beck runs through wild garlic carpets the bank.  It is just starting to grow now. Another few weeks and on still evenings the smell of garlic will be overpowering

This pool is at the head of a series of three wears and pools and this is the largest .  As well as trout this pool holds a few chub , I would think there are grayling here but have never caught one in the pool.  This stream is right in the edge of town the bridge carries a main A road out of town and yet you can fish oblivious to everything else.

I had tried a dry fly through the runs in the lower pools and didnt see a single sign of movement to the fly. The Red tag and John Storey both failed to work their magic and as I moved into the tail of this the top pool I put on a size 16 bead head PTN.  Third cast in the leader slid away and my first brownie of the season came in. Not the prettiest fish I have ever caught but the first brownie of the season is a pretty special thing. I reckon it was one of this years stockies that went in a few weeks ago.

After catching a couple of fish that looked pretty much the same I noticed an odd fish rising in the fast water at the head of the pool . So on went a size 14 klink and third cast a good swirl ended up with this nice fish.  Judging by the shape condition and size it is one of last years stocked fish . It gave a good account of itself on the little 4 wt rod,  The rod was a new purchase at the end of last year, a 7ft6" 4wt St Croix Avid.  I have to say it is one of the sweetest little rods I have ever had the pleasure of using.  St Croix arent well known over this side of the pond but I have to say this little rod is superb.

My last fish of the afternoon was this little brownie .  This one is a true wild fish the slimmer shape , bars and larger head and big red spots give it away.  It is lovely to catch these and to know the beck is supporting a healthy head of breeding fish .  Today whilst wading the shallows there was shoals of minnows and I spotted a couple of loaches and bullheads in the shallow water.  I havent seen the kingfisher today.  I hope its survived the freezing weather during the winter.