An exciting and dynamic couple of weeks, have been had, with clients on the wild streams. Iām sure, it kind of draws them back to their childhood days, the diminutive, ever rolling, secret stream, is one location, that brings lots of interest each season. And, I will say, even though itās not the size of the trout, that draws anglers like a magnet, itās the hard work required, to present your dry fly, in this tough, sometimes overgrown environment, and then to hook a feisty little, stunning fish, and admire him in the net, before releasing that āfinny jewelā ā¦ā¦. Just magic !!!
The hatches have been fantastic over the last fourteen days too !!! I always say, these Welsh, secret streams come into their own, normally just after the May Day, bank holiday ā¦.. Itās like a switch, and all of a sudden, these feisty, small stream fish, are looking up, and eager to take a well presented Wickhams Fancy, or an Orange Otter ā¦ā¦
Insect life, on three or four of the streams locally, have a particular window of intensity !!!! I like to get clients on there, āwarmed upā, with an assessment of their casting skills, and then, get amongst the party, which, has generally been, between half eleven and half two. This season, itās been great to see masses of olive uprights, large brook duns and the usual myriad of black gnats. Itās funny how feeding fish, can be quite happy to be guzzling flies hard, in only six inches of water. Itās very rewarding to get your cast right on those fish, particularly when they take off, in one powerful run, having engulfed your fly !!!!
I liken insect hatches to a tub of Cadburys Heroās to us. Weāve all got our favourites !!!! The resident trout have their favourites too ā¦ā¦ Iāve watched them intently, and Iām plumbing for olive uprights, as number one ā¦ā¦Theyāre certainly relished by the fish, followed by large brook duns, which they also nail with vigourā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦
The various rise forms are something Iāve been studying over the last few seasons too ā¦. Various insect hatches can, and usually are approached differently by the resident fish. Itās fun to watch the mayfly hatches. Little excitable fish , slashing at the hapless insect, as it flutters on the stream surface. It takes them a while to zone in to this substantial mouthful !!!! One of the wild streams I take clients on, has two lovely āMayfly glidesā ā¦. When it all goes right, these long, serene, almost canalised sections, become alive with aggressive trout, smashing the mayfly !!! The sub imago, or dun stage of the mayfly, is vulnerable, with opaque wings, and microscopic hairs, to aid in it leaving the water. Itās funny to watch these sailing insects coming downstream, one flutter of those wings, and it can be all over in an instant ā¦.. The movement attracts beady eyes sub surfaceā¦ā¦ and bang !!!! A tasty snack for the trout ā¦..
This season seems particularly ājungle likeā on a lot of these streams. To think I gave some of these a hack back in February, and last season also, and yet as I mooch upstream now, the early spring growth seems like Iāve done nothing at all ā¦. Nature will always win the fight. My motto is, little and often, and I frequently take my secateurs with me, on a cordura belt pouch, and do some clipping as I slowly wade upstream. Just a little bit of clearing now and again, keeps those trouty pools open, and just about workable, with a tight, accurate, keyhole cast ā¦ā¦ just what we like !!!!
As Iām writing this quick blog, we are expecting some decent rain today ā¦. Nothing has transpired yet !!! The streams could do with a top up, just to freshen things up, before the main mayfly hatches start . Lots of clients are actually newcomers to the small stream environment. Theyāve fished the bigger, more serene rivers of the Wye and Usk, but, they just fancy the challenge and skill required on the smaller, more tricky streams. The tight cast, the slow, gentle wade, the positioning of that delicate dry fly, no room for error here. That single, hanging ash bough behind you, swaying in the breeze, just waiting to grab your fly. Did you see it ??? In the excitement of that splashy rise in front of you ā¦. Did you have that quick glance behind you ???. In the police, that used to be called the āLifesaverāā¦. It applies here too, if it snags, the games over !!!!
On the slow methodical wades upstream, things that make me smile, apart from some rising fish, is the nesting kingfisher, in a covert burrow on that outer meander. The dippers beautifully made nest, tight under that old bridge, and that roe buck, thatās nervously sipping water as the edge of the stream. He hasnāt seen me yet, keep still Joe, donāt move, donāt even blink. Heās ten yards awayā¦.. Just enjoy the moment, donāt reach for the phone, heāll be gone in a secondā¦. I watch him, heās suitably quenchedā¦. He slinks off, back into the deep woodland ā¦ā¦ Magic !!!!!
Ahhhhhh, as Iām writing this, we are just getting some of that very light drizzleā¦ That annoying stuff that gets you really soaked and you donāt even realise it !!! Do we ever get any decent āhorror movieā rain any more !!!! This pathetic effort for precipitation certainly isnāt enough to refresh the rivers, and itās just enough to wet the garden and provide some moisture for the soil ā¦ still, I suppose some is better than none at all.
Today would have been a great day to wet a line on the mighty Claerwen Reservoir. Perfect weather in fairness, with a decent breeze. No doubt, up there, on the vastness of that huge sheet of water, itās amplified, and thereāll be a nice rolling wave. Some good sport would be had today ā¦. āCarlsberg weatherā for the big wild stillwaters !!!!
Well, thatās me folks, more stream days into next week, and a rare, lesser spotted weekend off, from guiding. So, itās catch up, some garden chores, a few beers in town, with mates, and a good, long hike tommorrow with Dawnie and Phoebeā¦. Superbā¦ looking forward to that !!!! Choices, choices, thereās a million and one awesome hikes in the Cwm Elan. Difficult to choose. Right folks, onwards and upwards, enjoy your angling, whether it be on a river, stream, or a lonely mountain Llyn. Stay safe, fish well, enjoy the moments, and Iāll catch you all sooooooooooooooon !!!!!
