2021 … the Summer that never was … 

With the pandemic in place the pressure on the fishing water was greater than ever.
Lockdowns and border closings meant I missed the start of the trout season.
When travel was possible almost all trout where cleared out.

I tried my luck at with the chub but unlike last year it rained a lot and the streams carried a lot of water unusual for summer time.
The days with nice weather caused other troubles as apparently some tour operator had started canoeing trips on the little stream. Loud people … empty floating beer cans every where and no fish anymore.

Last week I tried my luck again in off conditions and managed only 1 chub on the hopper on Saturday. 
I had some shots at other fish but no solid hookups other than that one fish.
It was a day saver and the first time that I have actually seen a chub jump out of the water during a fight.

The Sunday was predicted as a full rain day but I figured you will not catch any fish if you are not at the water.
Off course it did not rain all day …
With the rain in mind I choose to fish the upper section of the stream where chub where absent.
The quarry would be either dace, roach or small gudgeons.
I fished a yellow/orange perdigon that yielded quite a few fish from the shallow water.

Still the lack of trout bugged me and so a little poaching was in order.
I was absolutely sure that one spot would hold a trout but it was a no fishing section.
As I knew the owner of the property and it was late in day I tried that spot.
A small deeper pool with a good flow that always held fish.
At first I fished the perdigon and got hits from the small dace and gudgeons.

There was a trout in there and little flies would not convince it for a take.
I broke out the squirmy and after a dozen or so runs trough the pool I hooked up.
I was now connected to a decent trout on the four weight glass only connected with light tippet and a barbless squirmy worm.
The fish was strong and after the second jump I was not sure if I could land the fish.
It took patience and in the end I could safely land the fish.