Thanks to Emma
Well, as the river season has come to and end today I have at last had a chance to sit down and write a new blog. It has been a little frantic of late but as ever a heap of fun. Last Tuesday I was on the Culm with Stephen. It was one of the first cooler nights we had and so it took a little bit of sun to finally get things going and as ever the Culm worked us hard but Stephen was up to the challenge!
Wednesday I took out Ann who is a newcomer to fly fishing. Her husband John is a mad keen fly fisher and she is looking to join him on a few of his fishing trips. I took her down to the lake where she was throwing a nice line in no time and we had some real fun catching our rainbows with a mix of flies including Chernobyl Ants. Whilst Ann was busy on our lake Mark took John down to the river and pointed him in the direction of a few wild browns.
On Thursday I met up with Rupert on the Bray. Rupert is an experienced angler and again it took a little bit of time to warm up but he hammered some browns on dries but we also came across a fair few salmon that were holding up. We spent some time sight casting to them but sadly we couldn’t get them to bite. At one stage he was casting to a small pod of sea trout and a really nice salmon while I hid in a bush shouting directions to him. I watched a fly pass right in front of a salmon but it just wouldn’t have it!
I had decided to take Friday off as I wouldn’t be able to fish the close season and headed up to the Moors. I started a little too early but by 11 the fish were jumping all over the fly. I had a look at the West Dart and headed over to Cherry Brook where I found a nice new spot. It was tiny but hugely entertaining. On the way back I thought I should pop into the Taw for a quick look and had an enjoyable hour or so until I got out. I had snipped off my fly as my season had ended and I clambered up the bank a contented angler. I was walking along the field and had gently been waggling my rod behind me when it dawned on me that the rod felt stiffer than normal. It hadn’t changed action, I had lost the top section! I’m not sure what happened but it had come off. I thought I might have caught it on some foliage getting out but didn’t see it anywhere. I spent an hour looking but no sign. I have been using my little Scott 2 wt just about everywhere but couldn’t see it. I was distraught and told Emma what had happened. We decided to go back and look next morning. Thankfully Emma spotted it within 5 minutes and I was a very happy bunny! Emma, you’re the best!
At the weekend we teamed up with South West Lakes Trust for a day of fly fishing and fly fishing from a kayak at Roadford. We had the full team out to offer tuition for fly casting and Alex provided all the tips for aspiring kayakers. The highlights were Bob’s demo showing what happens if you were to fall out of a kayak wearing waders and Champos cooking demo. We even had some trout sushi from a trout I’d caught that morning. There was also a draw and we had offered a brand new Emotion Fishing Kayak as the prize. The weather was stunning and it all went off really well.
Monday I took Dave for a day of guided fly fishing and I will never forget the look on his face as he hooked into something that must have been a lively sea trout it came off but had us both laughing. We also found a pod of them a little later that sent him into overdrive! We then headed off to another venue for some real small stream stuff which he excelled at and was a perfect end to the day!
I was due to be on the river with Jim today but we decided that the weather was going to be against us so we’ll be heading off after grayling shortly. He was coming from Bath and it seemed a bit far to offer a miserable day, I’d much rather try and make the whole experience a memorable one for all the right reasons! I’m up country to the end of the week for some guiding and looks like we might have some more settled weather.
Champo has been going great guns on the Tamar for us and has been putting a dent in the migratory fish! Theres still a few days left there so if I get a chance I might try and pop down.
Although it has been a great time there have been a couple of highlights. Both of them involve Charlie my daughter. When I got home on Wednesday night she asked if she could do some casting in the garden with me. This was a real joy! Apparently when I was in Scotland she had helped out with Richard Sharpes birthday group by offering drinks and helping out generally but she had been watching the tuition and at the end of the day asked to have a go. She did really well and caught the most fish of the day and under Mark’s tutelage she got going in no time. This was certainly the case when we had a throw and she was double hauling after a short time. We spent a good hour and a half of solid casting which was a dream come true but things were to get better. When we decided to look for my rod tip on Saturday morning she asked if she could go fishing for a bit. I couldn’t believe my ears! I have always wanted her to come fishing and she has on a few occasions but more as company than as a fisherman. This time though I was in “work” mode and guiding her on the river!! Although early, she managed to rise a few fish on a dry and I think she might just be getting the bug. It is easy to try and force your passion on to your children but this often doesn’t work but by just leaving things a bit you are in with chance…you never know she might just come to Colorado next year!!
Lots more happening, more of which soon……
Tags: Fly Casting, Fly Fishing, fly fishing guide, Fly Fishing Lessons Devon, Fly Fishing Tuition Devon, Pete Tyjas, Scott Fly Fishing School
