The trout season is just about over now, in fact looking at the weather forecast and my diary for the next weekend I think its unlikely I will be fishing for trout again this year. As visitors to my blog may have already learned I do like to start and finish the season on home turf. This little beck is 5 mins from my door and has been a companion either as a playground or more for nearly half a century. It is very very low at the moment but I felt it had one more days fishing for me it was a day for soft footfalls and long leaders...
I like nothing more than to start on the beach and walk upstream I have caught many trout in the first pool up from the beach a freshwater pool full of sea weed from the high tides. But working upstream the beck changes from an almost upland beck falling quickly along a rocky valley to a tumbling stream hidden in a tree lined valley all that in less than a mile.
The trout here are small but beautiful. Rising freely to a well presented fly but soon hiding from a careless footfall. Usually you get one chance at each little pool , the leader should be the only thing that lands on the pool in fact I often aim to drop the fly line on a rock at the tail of the pool so as not to disturb these tiny little oasis. If you miss the first rise you rarely get another chance so you have to keep moving ...
Within half a mile it chances from the beck above to the one below. Here it fishes like a totally different stream . The fish hiding in the roots and dubs that are often no more than a yard wide. The wildlife and plants change from the wild orchids and slow worms of the open banks to the dragon flies and deer of the valley sides.
Pools like the one below start to develop after a few hundred yards into the woods the resident fish here are small rarely over a pound but they test the reflexes of anyone rising quickly . Today the fish rose well to a size 18 red tag. I reckon I hooked a third of those I rose.
When you do manage to persuade one to join you this is what they look like : Perfect small wild brown trout full finned and beautifully spotted. just as nature intended.
Personally I cant think of a nicer way to sign of another trout season . A good match on home water. On a beautiful September day. Now its Grayling time bring on the lady of the stream....
3 comments:
The water sure looks a lot more "trouty" the further up the creek you go. The bottom part looks like the water is very warm. A fine way to end the year.
Very nice, the Beck you described sounds beautiful with it's changing landscape. Thanks for taking us all there for a moment
That's some beautiful looking water you have there! Hard to beat that kind of water and wild brown trout.
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