Flyfishing FWSW

Before the weekend summer storms brought lots of rain to certain local areas.
I skipped fishing Saturday as the stream was blown out.
I watched the river gage carefully during the weekend and figured on Sunday
conditions might be fishable.

I went out early to beat the crowds at my first spot of the day.
The water was dirty and flow was fast but I had confidence I would catch something.
Last week yielded some nice trout and I hoped to get a few more.

With the low visibility the weapon of choice was the squirmy but I hardly got hits.
I probed the deeper spots but could only scrap a few fish together.
With heavy cloud cover insects activity was minimal.
Nevertheless I noticed some small dace rising to the few insects that where around.

I also spotted a few big mayflies and hoped trout would go for them but it did not happen.
The spots that yielded the trout last week did not produce fish either.
I took a break midday at the water’s edge and sat down on an old deadfall.
I failed to notice how rotten it was, before I knew it the deadfall gave way and I
landed several feet lower in the stream.

Luckily only my ego was bruised and all equipment though wet survived without
any damage.
I however looked like a pig, dirt everywhere and the waders filled to the brim.
I dried out the gear as best as I could, cleaned up and headed up the nearby hill
in order to dry out.

That hill was the first major high point to the east.
It housed not only a communication tower but also a derelict missile base from
the good old days (detachment of Dutch Airforce and an US army artillery).
I nested onto a bench on top of the hill and the wind dried out my wet clothes.

When I finally found myself presentable enough I went on my way and made a short
stop at the new pond of our local fishing club.
One of the members was feeding the fish and I watched the roach and grass carp
go berserk, alas not open for fishing yet until further notice.

I continued my trek and eventually landed at the beer garden where I met up
with my fellow club member.
The cloudy weather had scared the crowds off so I could pick any seating I wanted.
This was the first week when the full menu was available so I got the tasty Parmesano burger
with as desert a piece of cheese cake, good days.

With the river running at a more or less normal spring level I tried the chub section today.
In a blustery wind with low temperatures and rain action was non-existent to slow.
The dead end side channel a feeder stream yielded my first couple of small chub along with some roach and roach.
The feeder stream was dead with the exception of some rising bleak.
Way to early in the season of course but you got to check the regular haunts to see what is happening.
Spring is in progress and the landscape already looks a little bit green.
Hopefully the temperatures will rise and insect activity will increase in order to have some early season
dace action.

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.

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.