New trout season, Grayling and Covid

 There is something very special about the first day of the trout season and on this years opening day we had 16 degrees C and bright sunshine. Normally opening day in Yorkshire is barely above freezing,  windy and a day for tossing the leaded nymphs about .  On Saturday I decided it was dries or bust 

So looking at the conditions low clear water and sunshine I decided it was time for my little 6ft 2 wt ...

fishing here is about short rods delicate casts into pools and runs the size of dining table

This little fella is one two or three rods I fish here  I have always been a fan of the Orvis superfine touch the gentle action suits the small streams that I fish superbly.  This one was an ebay used bargain some time ago.   I think when i bought it it was completely unused.  

On the day the weather was very still . but when its windy it is very exposed.  I often bring two rods with me to cover the bases.  The other rod which on the day got no use.  Is an original Sage LL 7ft 3 4 wt ,  A lovely old fashioned medium action rod.

There was plenty of evidence of the effect of the early spring mild weather .  Bumble bees , butterflies and nesting birds were all in evidence .  This old lass and her two lambs stayed still long enough for a photo unlike the bees and butterflies .

Strangely today the Brown trout were absent , The Grayling which are now out of season.  were taking dries with abandon .  Although the only flies on the water were tiny midges ,  There was many risers each cast I hoped for a trout but each time disappointed . Tiny black dubbed f fly worked ever so well. Even tiny nymphs cast to trouty spots brought Grayling.   

No grip and grin shots today , The fish are out of season and I like to slip the hook out in the water , Just one quick snap before I released it.  Ridiculous really if I had been fishing for Grayling I would have had a great day I had 9 whilst trying to avoid them...

Anyway fishing is bolloxed now for a week or so.   I suppose it was only a matter of time....

Farewell Orvis they have joined the race to the bottom....

 

Over the years Orvis has produced some very nice stuff ,  I have spent a fair chunk of money in the store and online. Some very good reels and nice rods.. As a small stream angler the Superfine touch were splendid ,  good reels too.  Who couldn`t help but love the CFO on a small stream rod . I even have a fair collection of shirts , jackets and chest waders .  All bought because I could visit a shop to check them out first.  It was the thing that set Orvis apart , 

For many years my family have known that for Christmas and birthday Orvis vouchers were always welcome.  Sadly this has gone to I have instructed them to buy no more.  The decision to just sell fishing tackle was I guess an accountants idea. So they are now entering that race to the bottom which is the internet,  the Orvis price premium was somehow acceptable given the high street presence and the quality image.  It would appear now that actually they are just another online seller.  Furthermore I would say not a very good one ,  I visited their website today and was completely unable to buy anything .  I could read a online catalogue which looked pretty much like the same format as Maxcatch ,  there was a very long message from Simon saying how sorry he was, but I couldn`t actually find a way to buy anything ,  Well Simon thats a pretty poor show really and it looks like you are losing the good will of this long time customer.  Surely with all the IT knowledge of a multi national you would have had a better transition than that,  even if  its a message from Simon saying normal ish service will resume shortly ,

Anticipation new season approaching

 

It wont be long now I keep telling myself ,  as of today it is 14 days to the new trout fishing season .  I put the rods down finally a few weeks ago  As the high wind and rain put paid to the end of the Grayling fishing ,  So for the last few weeks my time looks like this.  

1. Cleaned and lubed all my reels and fly lines .The silk lines were taken of the reels last September so soon its time to treat and put them back on the reels. 
2. Rods have been checked over 
3. Attention given  to the fly boxes ,  I am always mystified on how perfectly ordered fly boxes at the start of the season can end up looking like our dustbin after a fox has been in it.  

The biggest battle for me has been avoiding convincing myself that I need another rod to a potential gap in the collection.

Anyway as the new season is nearly upon us its time my blog cover photo was a trout again.  So here is a new cover and another fond memory.  the one in this post was from another favourite river the Ure. The one on the cover was from the Rye a few years back on a stretch of river I will be fishing again this season.  Two weeks left till the new season and this weekend my first work party.   I must admit to being excited . 

lets hope for a good season.  So tight lines all...