….. Ha ha , the title is one that in my youth, often lead me astray, and probably fishing a little stream or river that I shouldn’t be on !!! As mum used to say to me, what the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over !!!! I stick by that adage to this day, and, when I’m blue lining a stretch of river, I’ve identified on a map, I always hark back to her saying this …….. The Elenydd is vast, and even though I practice catch and release, folks can still puff out their chest and get all perturbed if they spot an angler fishing. My motto is, it’s just someone enjoying their sport, in a world of violence and mayhem, live and let live !!!! On a feeder stream, in the vastness of the Cambrian Mountains, angling is a sport where peace and serenity reign, the last thing you want is someone getting all uptight about what your doing blah blah blah !!!! I’ve experienced this, and, the best plan of action is to do absolutely nothing … I actually proceeded upstream totally ignoring the said individual . A tourist on holiday I’d say, pretty little white trainers, dazzling white socks, and a t shirt to match !!! lol …… A Yapping dog, off a lead, no surprise there, and language that would make Gordon Ramsay seem like a Saint !!!! Its only happened the once, most of the time I’m well off grid, where I don’t see a soul all day, or fishing an overgrown stream, that no one even knows about !!!! No harm done is my motto …. Leave no trace….
…… This week again has seen some seriously hot weather. I did have a mooch on three of the Elan lakes. I must say, very hard going, with the bankside profile, in a lot of areas, hard work. It’s either two extremes, deep soft mud, or a real tough old scramble over loose scree and rocks. Roll on some decent rain I say. I’ve put a couple of clients on hold, as this weather isn’t pleasant being out in the Elenydd for eight to ten hours, which is the norm, on a reservoir day, or a mountain Llyn day. And besides, sport on a day like this is generally dour on the big wild stillwaters and the lakes deep up in the Elenydd …. A dirty, dull, overcast windy day is much more to salmo truttas liking ……
I’ve fished some stupidly low brooks the last week. But, what I will say, is something I always do in the summer, and every good angler should !!!! Temperature dip the river …. On three occasions, the beats I was fishing all read 14 degrees. They’re kept cool, because I specifically chose these, with good thick tree canopies over the streams, which shades the riverbed superbly, therefore keeping the temps, considerably cooler than some of the bigger rivers. Both the Wye and the Usk are, in lot of places very open, and exposed to the relentless sun all day. This has an adverse knock on effect, by heating the water up. Remember folks, with water temps of twenty degrees, it’s time to think about leaving the rod at home and doing something else. It always amazes me on the WUF catch returns how few people temperature dip the river …. Like lemmings, they assume it’ll be ok for fishing because they’ve just purchased a ticket, or have a season permit ….. My advice folks , temperature dip the river, It’s only fair on the fish and you, especially if you get an embarrassing visit by an E.A. or NRW bailiff mentioning the warm water …. Yeah yeah, I know what your thinking , the last time I saw a bailiff on a river was some twenty years ago, highly populated angling venues seem to be “in vogue” now. “Happy clappy” photos, checking numerous rod licences, along with social media coverage…. All paints a good picture ….. But, the average angler that is passionate about his or her hobby, obviously purchases a rod licence, so, the likes of Llyn Clywedog is an easy number…. Lots checked, no dramas, happy days. Looks great on paper. However, swing that around, skulk around Usk reservoir at eight bells on a Friday evening, and, I’m sure their incident log would be full, and their Sepura radios on permenant send !!!! So yes, of course bailiffs are limited, they are on the bones of their arse with regards to numbers, but, at least go where poaching is regularly taking place !!!! Start looking at catch returns etc etc …. It isn’t rocket science to work out at venues, what anglers are finding, ie; power bait, spinners, night lines, floats, nets, etc etc etc …. Be proactive, be nosey, go to these locations !!!! Anyway, that’s me jumping off my proverbial soapbox …..
As I’m writing this, it’s another scorching one in sunny Rhayader. I might take a mooch up the Wye later on, for a recce, just out of town. Tis best to leave the actual town stretch, in Rhayader, for the kids, dogs and countless folks cooling themselves down in this seriously warm weather. Far from the Madding crowd is very much on my agenda. Silence, with just the hum drum of the A470… I blissfully loose myself and doooooooh, before I know it I’m nearly in LLangurig !!!! I jest ………
It looks like this warm spell is here for another few days . Stealth has certainly been the key to success on these tiny streams. That, and very very fine tackle. I do fish a six foot, one weight a lot of the season anyway, so it’s like an extension to my arm, I can literally place a size twenty dry, an inch from that annoying alder root system….. Sport has been fun, but, half a dozen fish and a big pat on the back is in order. Skill, accuracy , stealth and fine presentation all have to be applied here, so that, that little seven inch jewel will confidently nail your well presented dry !!!! I love the etiquette, the tactics, and working these small streams. Maybe it’s why I’ve carried on with it since the age of Fourteen !!!! I guess they’re now like a part of me, part of my soul, and my kind of life force …..
I’ve just had a peep at the Met Office APP, warm all week it seems, here in mid Wales, with temps up into the twenties….. Looks like possibly another couple of days under some serious canopy of one of the wilder streams. Two I have in mind, are actually in a gorge, so, staying cool down there is very much a god send I can tell you. It’s fun in one of the beats, but “boy oh boy,” it’s a serious assault course, hard earned trout from there I can tell you !!! But, it’s an adventure, and it’s fun ……. Majorly !!!!
Obviously, as stated before, even before I tackle up at a possible venue, I’ll dig out my trustee Hardy thermometer, and dip the water. To me, that’s soooooooooooooo important, and every angler should have one in his fly vest or chest pack. They don’t exactly take up much space, and if it reads twenty degrees, guess what, you’re doing something else for the day, simples !!!!!
Well, that leaves me to say, have a fantastic week folks, and, if you’re angling, remember, especially if you’re chasing trout, water temperature is very, very important !!!! It’s a task that takes all of thirty seconds, so, trust me, it won’t eat into your possible fishing time !!!! And, you’ll feel comfortable knowing that, as a responsible angler you’re putting the fishes welfare first, and that my friends is everything !!!! Tight lines my piscatorial posse …………
