Flyfishing FWSW

With the predicited warm weather my hopes for catching fish where pretty high but the reality was different.
The main task for this day was to get my second fishing license so I could
fish the feeder stream of the main river again.
As this particular feeder ran just beside the clubhouse I did wet a line in the hope to catch a chub or dace.
The water was clear but I could not spot any fish at all.

The morning was pretty cold and so the lack of action did not surpise me.
One thing in the afternoon was notable, the high number of insects I encountered in the countryside.
With my chub hotspot letting me down the only thing to do was to check out the main river and see if something was moving there.
Just by chance I managed two dace on the nymph in the upstream section.

At a slow moving mill stretch dace where actively hunting the surface.
The fish where small though and with the low sun I could not spot any larger fish.
The only thing to do was to drop an emerger at rising fish and hope for the best.
I missed most of the lightning fast strikes but one small fish stuck.
In hindsight expectations where a bit too high as it was still winter.

The end of the day was as usual reserved for the pub.
The day trippers and bikers had populated the beer garden in numbers but with the sun going town the temperature rapidly went to freezing.
At the pub they told me the bad news … they where out of dark wheat beer … not a problem for me though as the regular stuff also tasted great.

As I lately had some extra time on my hands I went out again for another trip to the river.
The unusual warm weather had changed to a somewhat cooler and windier version.
I was a bit unprepared for the predicted “light rain”, it was heavy.

Despite the rain the river had almost returned to a more or less normal level and the clarity had greatly improved.
I still could not spot any moving fish but the first spot that I fished yielded a brown trout and a dace which was promising.

With the wind and rather dull conditions I did not expect to see any dace in the surface at the section above the mill dam but they where present near a bridge where the water was calmer.
A spot unfishable during the last weeks yielded quite a few takes and brought two more dace and a roach to the surface.

The last spot of the day where I always used to catch fish was now void of fish.
I spotted one fish but only because a brown rat that scurried on the bank I was fishing was startled by my presence.
The rat decided the best option was to jump in the river and make for the other bank, in the process I spotted a larger fish scooting off.

In a couple of days the river will return to a normal level and with the rising temperature fishing might pick up even more.

Another glorious day at the river, still slow fishing but catching a dace on a dry fly in the middle of february is exceptional.
Again very warm … maybe that is why the buzzard finally stayed long enough still for a picture. Spotted the first lapwing … nature is moving on.

Cabin fever got the better of me so I went out fishing despite the fact that the river was still carrying too much water.
The morning was quite chilly with temperatures just above freezing while later in the day the sun actually produced some warmth.

I fished my various hotspots that usually produce fish later in the season but nothing showed.
Near sunset I finally got a hit on the nymph and could land one dace.
On the plus side it was the first time I spotted insects hovering over the water so nature is going into spring mode.

The snowdrops are blooming everywhere and the winter aconites have also sprung up.
During the night I heard the common cranes fly over and they where heading north, all inspiring signs.

Blanked … again.
Floodstage on the river, no show at the reservoir.
The only thing left to do was to flush my sorrow away with beers at the pub.

So off I went for another go at catching fish in February.
It was a stormy day, strong wind gusts and some rain.
On my way to the water I came across a white cat in the field and thought
it would be a good omen.

First stop was the reservoir where I figured I would soon hook into some sort of perch or maybe a pike … not so.
The water was clear, no life to be seen except for some cormorants, gulls and crows.
I wondered what the crows where doing on the shoreline, I checked it out and found a two dead fish on the shore.
A good day for the crows, I had no bites or following fish.
The wind had picked up considerably during the morning which made casting difficult.
The streamer was more often found in the shrubs lining the water or my clothes than at the fish level … next stop river.

With all the rains the river was once again high and dirty … 
On my sure shot spot nothing was moving despite trying several depths and weighted nymphs. 
In fact almost all spots I normally fished where unfishable due to strong current and stained water.
The last spot finally delivered some fish to my surprise.
A few small dace and a small brown trout took the nymph at the end of the day.
Finished the day at the pub for a meal and

The snowdrops start to bloom, usually the white flowers are the first in spring but I already noticed a yellow flower springing up.
Fish activity was minimal but after all it is still winter.

Fourth session on the water, third blank …
No signs of fish … no bites at all. On the plus side they opened the pub for me even though it was closed so I ended the day well. Afterwards I went to the syndicate to renew my licenses.
Next time I will fish the reservoir hoping that the perch might have a go at the flies I toss.

With the rain and snow melt I should have known that todays fishing outing would be a mission impossible but then when you want to catch fish you have to go to the water.
The bike ride in the morning was a tad challenging as the head wind even at 05:45 in the morning was pretty strong.

When I past the first major stream and heard the roar of the water I knew what I was in for.
The last leg of my ride was at daybreak and although I spotted numerous deer I was upwind from them and the odor of my socks sent them running.

At the stream visibility was very poor, the current very strong.
I tried all the known hotspots but not a single bite, still I did spot one fish.
The only other fisherman was a two legged feathered one, first time I came so close to a silver heron and subsequently the pics came out quite nice.
I had hoped the short break in the weather temperature wise would yield some dace and roach but
there was just too much current and stirred up silt (at least for my taste).

My wellies where once again too short for these water levels and the cold water reached all the
way to the toes.
After a couple of hours it was pretty clear to me that I could spent my time better at the pub and dry out at the fire.
Weather forecast for the next few weeks is dismal so I guess time is better spent tying flies.

Second time out on the river and now with some lower water as it had not been raining for a few days.
The reason it had not been raining was the fact that cold weather had arrived.
Winds had shifted to the east as high pressure over Russia dictated the weather.
I opted for a late and short trip this day due to the cold and hoped to fish a while when the temperature would climb just above freezing in the afternoon.
The river looked fine, some clarity in the water.

The conditions and small time window meant I would fish the best spot first and indeed it yielded my first fish of the season, a small brown trout.
At the other spots I visited I could get no strikes and also did not spot any fish moving about.
With the sun low in the sky and nothing showing I opted for the pub visit.
On the menu today Broccoli soup, porkchops with egg, bacon, baked onions and potatoes, dessert coffee with a Tiramisu cake.

When I left the pub the temperature had already dropped to 19,4 F … I think fishing will be slow in the coming weeks / months.
On the plus side I spotted the first snowdrop blooming, always a sign of hope.