fishydreams

Things have been pretty busy recently and it has proved difficult to squeeze in a little time on the river. But I did manage a trip last Saturday and again today and am very glad that I did.

We have had a sprinkling of rain recently and the river is just looking just lovely. I had the river to myself on both of my recent visits but for the black winged stilts and little egrets. I noticed I was walking on boar tracks today and can imagine these animals moving through the rushes at dusk and into the night.

The gypsy barbel are now recovered from spawning and eager to feed. The steady current is holding good numbers of fish and, as usual, there are small groups of fish cruising in the deeper and slower pools. For my money this is the best time of year. There are good flows and it is not too hot.

Today I took three fish in the fast current, all on a nymph and a good fish in a pool. Another unseen fish was taken by pitching a nymph into a narrow inflow into the main river following a braided section of water. I figured that there was a good chance that a fish was there.

It is sometimes hard to know just how big the fish are. The fish I took from the pool rolled once or twice and its tail cleared the water. I remember thinking “Christ, that´s a big tail!” I don´t weigh fish but I think this is as good a barbel as I have had for a little while.

This is one of three fish from last Saturday just before it was off on its way again.

Wild boar have been here recently. Their tracks are often seen at the edge of the river.

A nice-looking poppy.

This was the best fish of the day.