First on a dry.. I just love those words . It signifies so much more than just a fish caught . It signals things are up and running , the shack nasties are banished and I can start to festoon the trees with all those flies I have so carefully tied during the winter. It means the Grannon, Hawthorns and Mayfly times are just around the next bend . Warm sultry evenings with rising brown trout or even splashing sea trout. Yes the good times are here again. Well when I say here its more of a nearly here . Actually here we have blown flooded rivers, bank collapses , trees down and assorted other damage.
But the season is now officially up and running and I am happy that I rejoined the little chalk stream syndicate this year and can enjoy a spring fed river that resists the worst of the deluge.
last Sunday was the first day it was open. I left the driveway in a hailstorm and drove through heavy rain and eventually along the farm track that bore a remarkable resemblance to WW1 pictures of the Somme . Even the chalk stream was a little cloudy . Not the usual Gin clear perfection of summer .
After an hours fishing in the cold something happened which changed my whole perception , the day seemed warmer the harsh wind softened and the water cleared , in reality I saw a rising fish , then another and then I saw them. Large dark olives a mere smattering of them but enough to bring the fish to the top. The first I missed foolishly rushing the strike. The second I hit but the fish jumped and threw the barbless hook. But the third came to hand , a small fish but oh so precious..
4 comments:
That's a pretty good sized one for a "small" fish. Out here we'd have to use a fish stretcher to make one that big, at least from the local streams.
Lovely to see, particularly from that swollen river. John
Always good to start the season with a fish! Hope you have a good season, regards, Colin
Well done Andy! We are looking forward to rising over on this side but it's still a ways off
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