Harry and I headed out on Rutland again today to do battle with the trout. It was a quiet day for everyone and the fishing people back at base told us that very few fish had been taken. Harry and I had one fish apiece.
Rutland is, very crudely, a V shaped body of water with one arm north of the other and so they are called the north and south arms respectively. On the far side of where they meet, again very crudely, is the club house where boats can be hired (there are 65 of them) and you can buy a ticket to fish it. The boats float (an important design feature in my view) and have an engine at the back. You need an engine here as it is a big water – 3100 acres.
Today we were joined by one of Harry´s sons, John, who is a vet and a horse specialist living only a few miles away. John is another keen fisherman. Unfortunately he joined us only in the afternoon and by then the fishing had slowed to a standstill and we didn´t touch a fish all evening.
Rutland is a very highly-ranked stillwater fishery. According to the little booklet thing I found in Harry´s living room it is ranked number 2 in the top 100 fisheries in the UK and Ireland. It was pipped to the post by Grafham. It can fish brilliantly but the it can also be dour which, unfortunately, it proved to be today.
Even if the fishing was poor I was in excellent company with John and Harry. Hopefully we will have a chance to fish some time in the future when it is on song.
Off to the CLA Game Fair tomorrow to sign copies of my book Dry River. That should be fun!
This is my first legitimate Rutland trout. It took a hare´s ear nymph.
Harry with a handsome brown trout.
Harry and John letting the good times roll.
These are some of Harry´s flies. He does´t actually use most of these ones but I think they look great.
The fishing this evening was “dour”, which is a euphemism for crap. But this was certainly not true of the scenery.
It is lovely here.
fishydreams 
Dry River…excellent read…it is making me really naustalgic for all the great times I have enjoyed on fishing trips. I want to visit that bach at Lake Onslow, I want to float lazily on Conceptión another time looking for bass, I want to stalk those wonderful barbel again…you recreate those magical times in your writing.
Your skill with words leaves me speechless and full of admiration! Well done!
Thank you so much for your kind words Harry. I am delighted you enjoyed the book. It was a long time in the making! Best wishes to Amy and thanks again for your hospitality. It was great to see you both again. We have to do these things more often!