The first time since trout opener that the river had returned to a normal level so it was off to the stream. A pretty cold day with a steady northerly breeze that made being outside uncomfortable.
It had not frozen during the previous night so I hoped on increased fish activity. At the first spot I found out pretty soon that that was not the case. Spend several hours before I finally found a spot that yielded fish. A deep fished Perdigon and Squirmy caught the fish today.
The dace where no surprise, the gudgeon was. To topp it all off I caught a nice brown trout in one of the rapid flowing spots. Warmer weather is on the way so fishing might finally improve.
The mission to catch fish after a week of stormy weather with lots of rain was sort of a mission impossible. All the water on the fields and in the ditches did not forebode anything good. As expected all the streams where filled to the brim and had coffee colored water.
The plan C of last session was now plan A but when I arrived at the side channel of the feeder stream water was blasting through. I had hoped for better clarity but alas it was not to be. I had exactly one hit on the squirmy and that was it. Had to shelter for an intense rain shower, it was cold rain.
Plan B was to fish the forest section way upstream on the main river. Flow rate was extreme and with the murky water nothing worked. In hindsight pretty normal for this time of year. Conclusion of the day … a total blank. At least I spotted another blue winged olive, if it gets a little warmer fishing might actually improve.
After a short glimpse of spring temperatures went down again. Yesterday the morning started with -5 C. I went out late in the morning when the temperature rose.
During the week I noticed that a fellow club member had caught a quite big chub on one of the streams I fish. Normally I would go there only in high summer, catching a large fish however seemed a welcome change.
I checked out the best summer spots but the water was completely dead. Water was up a bit but clarity was ok, current a tad too fast. The only action was on land with lots of roe deer roaming around and oddly many pheasants.
Plan B was to fish behind the clubhouse where the stream was wide and relative shallow. That spot had to be the day saver but it was completely dead, could not spot any fish activity at all.
Already late in the afternoon the sun was low in the sky and I was still fishless. Could it be, first skunk of the year … nah … plan C was drafted. There was one spot where the local council had done some stream restauration. A formerly straightened part had been changed in a freely meandering stream with a side channel that flooded during extreme high water.
The side channel was my target as it was slow moving to stagnant and functioned as a shelter for the stream fish. When i arrived I noticed many rings on the water so my hopes where high. I fishing only a short time but at least I caught a couple of small roach and bleak. Small fish but skunk avoided.
Next week the weather will change to a more wetter and warmer type. Maybe I will put in some more time at the plan C spot as there are bigger fish in there.
Another week with different conditions. The heatwave had passed, this morning weather was chilly … it was actually freezing. I opted for a late start and went out when the temperature was just above freezing as I hated deicing guides all the time. The skies where clear and blue in the city, as soon as I entered the farmland low clouds and fog rolled in.
Another change from last week was the fact that the water in the stream had dropped 8 inches and was a lot clearer. The good spot from last week was worthless, tried everything but could only muster a tiny dace on the squirminator. The plus side was that I noticed the first small mayfly plus a rising fish.
A spot in the forest yielded more dace with the largest one of the day. Fishing was slow, to cold during the night I figure. Trout season starts March 16th. so I hope they toss in a few stockies for some more action.
As the first day of my season yielded fish in difficult circumstances I figured a second try might be in place. This time I had more time on my hands to check out the stream
Off course the water was still high and dirty but the spot that worked a day before fished well in the morning. Plenty of bites with lots of misses as the fish would often grab the tail of the squirminator. You would feel the resistance of the bite and the moment when the fish let go.
I caught the same mix of roach and dace but this time one of the roach had had some size to it. I tried other spots nearby but had no luck. With the crowds coming out on a sunny warm day I retreated to the forest where I had no luck the day before.
In the forest I tried a few of the deeper spots and felt takes. Did not run into any trout but one of the dace I caught had some size to it. Although temperatures will taper off to more normal values for February the lack of rainfall will hopefully clear the river for next weekend trips.
Alas no food pictures due to lockdown in Germany for the foreseeable future as all eateries are closed. Same as in the Netherlands where there also is a curfew between 21.00 and 04.30 hours. Trying times.
Within one week we went from a cold snow storm to warm springs days. As I had to renew one of my fishing licenses I opted to fish the stream for the first time this year.
Off course it would be difficult as all the snow had melted and all ditches and stream where in flooding stage. The spot I choose to start my fishing session had fast colored water. Whatever I tried I did not get any bites.
I tried an hour or so to no avail, as I had some time to kill before picking up the license I did some sightseeing in the area. I went up what the locals call the mountain which is the first major hill in an otherwise flat landscape.
The license process did not take up much time so I had time left over to spend at the water. Off course I could not end my first fishing day in a blank so I went to the one and only spot that could save me.
The good spot also suffered from the high colored water. The plus side however was the large current seem with slow moving water. Fly of choice was the squirminator that was heavy enough to get deep and had a large enough profile to be detectable by the fish.
It took some time before I had the right depth and speed figured out but then I ran quickly into fish. Small fish but at least some action in difficult circumstances. I was happy to end this nice day with the first fish of the season.
