River Derwent

 My first trip to the river for some trouting was well overdue having been distracted so far this year by weather conditions, apathy, decorating and other piscatorial matters. Monday I was hoping that the fish may have switched onto mayfly and headed off to the Derwent at Darley Dale, arguably the jewel in the crown of the DRAC trout waters.

 The fishing I found was quite tough though and certainly not yet 'Duffers Fortnight'. My fish were taken on quite small patterns not the large budgies that I'd hoped to be throwing at the trout. JT style olives 16 and Griffiths Gnat 18 proved to be good patterns in the heat of the day.

 The river looked in great condition and running at a good level. Fish were rising through the afternoon and it was best to target these and 'fish where the fish are'.

 Hopefully next week I will be out again and catch some of the more frantic mayfly sport.

Cove's PTN

On Monday evening I again adjourned to Foremark for the last few hours. I really needed some time to wind down and so got out of the way round at Bramble and Sunblest area's. My successful fly was again the Cove PTN, what a cracking pattern it is. Retrieved very slowly, almost static, and the takes when they come almost rip the rod from your hands. Not quite as prolific as my last trip but still enough to keep interested. I never take a fish from the river but have no qualms about administering the last rights to a stillwater rainbow and the fish from Foremark do taste superb.
As I walked back to the car there was a rise starting in the sailing club bay but I had run out of time for a last cast. The latest report from the reservoir suggests the fish may be starting to move out so I'll have to think hard before having another session particularly as I've seen my first mayfly of the year tonight.

Stillwater Trout

As I didn't want to gamble on the DRAC stretch of the Dove being in nick I decided to have a couple of hours at Foremark this evening. I've always lived pretty local to this reservoir and it is now only ten minutes from Egginton. How things have changed there since I first fished it with Dad in the 70's, the latest improvement is closing before dusk can you believe! Yes, I had to vacate the premises by 2045 this evening. At one time Flamingo Bay would have been a knitting match until the anglers could just make their way back to the car park in the gloaming with talk of fish captured and chances missed.

 I made my way round to Bramble Bay and it wasn't long before I was reminded how hard Ifor's rainbows pull as the line fizzed through my fingers making my old Intrepid Dragonfly complain loudly. Traditional stillwater tactics did the damage, a Cove PTN drifted round on the breeze.

Fish also came to the nymph in Sunblest Bay where there was a great ripple with the odd fish moving. I had expected to see masses of the hawthorn fly but perhaps this would have been earlier in the day. The last take I had took me by surprise as I just checked my watch, the rod was almost pulled out of my hand! Great fishing, but it would have been good to fish until dusk as the hooter was sounded twice. All for my benefit as I walked back to the car I was the last man out. At least I got to walk the dog in the light.