Well, an unbelievable amount of the wet stuff has incessantly fallen over much of the U.K., really since 2026 started !!! We’ve had only a few decent, dry days, here in mid Wales, and in all honesty, I think I can count them on one hand …. Pretty grim. And, as we creep along to the start of the magical river season, for wild brown trout, I’ve got a horrible feeling, we’re going to be greeted with rivers raging along, in full spate, with little chance of wetting that first magical line. I hope I’m wrong, and that Met Office app is just swagging it for next week ……. We’ll see !!!
I’ve done a recce of several favourite streams, and all I can say is, they’re not looking good at the moment. Hoofing, muddy, silt carrying monsters. The photo above, tells you everything….. Huge amounts of agricultural run off, and masses of fine sediment, mixed in with the powerful flooded water. Sad to see in fairness, and here’s hoping it’s not going to be a regular late Winter event !!! If you hark back to the start of last season …… Just blissful !
This time last year, I’d done several wild stream beat days, for the Wye and Usk Foundation, cutting, sawing and tidying up some of the stretches of streams that are littered all over mid Wales. I was pretty pleased with myself by the end of February, as I’d successfully managed to work my way up, and give quite a few of the streams a decent “ haircut “ prior to the start of the season in March. But this season, well, that’s been a totally different kettle of fish !!!! I haven’t managed one stream maintenance day yet, not one, very sad. I’ve stretches on the Lugg, Llynfi and Llynfi Dulas in my sights. I’m just waiting for the streams to drop, to a safe, workable level, to enable me to wade upstream, cutting boughs, clipping off overhanging annoying vegetation, and also creating some dropped branches, to provide sanctuary for young trout …..
So, I wait with anticipation. Well, we as anglers, all do !!! The weather has a huge effect on what we can do, particularly us river anglers. We pray to the weather gods often, and, when it does all come together, it’s just fantastic. A perfect river, the hatch is on, the smell of a good day is almost in the balmy spring air, the dry fly sport is exceptional, and your morale download is at the “max” ….. It does wonders for the soul, and general wellbeing . Not just the trout, coming angrily to an anticipated net, but the ambience of being in the stream. The wildlife is superb, and, wading seems to blanket your existence. I’ve had otters swim right past me, roe deer come down to the waters edge for a leisurely drink, just metres away from me, and, I’ve been snarled at by grumpy mink !!!! such a huge variety of stunning animals…. Ohhh and then there’s that flick of a jewel, heading down stream. It’s shrill call. He’s the king of the stream. A Faberge egg with wings. The kingfisher, just a magical sight. And, another favourite is the dipper. A stunningly mischievous little devil. A real fun bird to watch, while you’re contemplating your next dry fly option !!! And, if your lucky enough to see one of their nests, under a secretive bridge, you’ll be amazed how chunky and well made they are….. They’ll put a smile on your face !!
Today, being a Saturday, is a mix of fine drizzle and dare I say it, I think there’s a battle going on, between rain clouds and that blazing ball of fire in the sky !!! Needless to say, guess who’s winning !!!
There is always an air of great excitement in late February. I’ve got plenty of clients pencilled in my bookings diary. I know what you’re thinking, old school, a diary ??? Yeah, that’s correct, you heard right, a lot of my admin is still done old school. The great thing about it, it’s there in black and white, it doesn’t let you down, it’s comforting, and also pleasing, when potential clients ring, or email me, and we arrange, and organise a couple of days in mid May. The last bit of detail, is writing their info in my bookings diary. That, always gives me a glowing feeling…….. I buzz off guiding anglers in this barren, beautiful landscape. Whether they’re fishing up a babbling stream, or bringing to the net, buttery brownies from a lonesome Llyn, high up in the Elenydd ….. it’s just a sublime experience, I love it !!!!!
Looking ahead, next week isn’t looking great either, weather wise.. It looks like Tuesday is the only day without a rain cloud symbol !!! Joyous. Another week in gotetex….. Ohhhhhh well !!!! At least we can be sure of one thing. It has to stop at some stage….. Doesn’t it ?????
All my fishing equipment, and extra bits n bobs for clients has been sorted out, and I’m champing at the bit if I’m honest, to get out on the water. Permits are all purchased, both river and the big wild stillwaters. Liability insurance, which is an absolute must if you’re guiding, has been arranged, and, I’ve touched base with landowners that allow me to fish private stretches of rivers, that meander through their land. As I mentioned, in return, I’ll thin out vermin, on their patch. That might be rabbits, grey squirrels, or even a mink patrolling that stretch of river. A slow bimble upstream with my trustee old Webley .410 is an effective tactic. A close range dispatch is achievable then, if you know their bankside haunts ………
It’s certainly been a wet one for range work too !! When there’s driving rain, it’s just not pleasant setting up targets, and getting the best out of a favourite rifle, even from the shooting arrangements up at Mid Wales Rifle Club. They have a superb under cover setup. It’s great for grouping and zeroing a rifle from. Winter time, in between beating and loading etc etc, I do love my trigger time up at Mid Wales Rifle Club . Having confidence in one of my springer rifles or one of the pneumatics is so important, especially for pinpoint precision shots on live quarry. A humane, clean kill is always what should be achieved, no questions. It’s imperative with me. Accuracy, knowing your rifle, and the capabilities of your kit, and you, are hugely important. I do enjoy putting half a dozen rabbits in the bag, knowing they’ve been shot cleanly, safely and they are a delicious, organic food source. A rabbit hotpot is an absolute favourite of mine. That said, a rabbit madras is a winner too ………
Time to grab a quick cuppa, and a couple of the very hard to find, malted milk biccies. Why is it, a lot of old favourites, in the supermarket, are now hard to find. These, apparently are “dunkable” ….. Would you believe it !!!! As Peter Kay said in a comedy stand up sketch, along with hobnobs, these might well be the new special forces of the biscuit world !!!!! A field test will most definitely be carried out by yours truly ……… Lol !!!!
Right folks, that’s me, stay safe out there, and, if you get out on the 3rd March, be careful !!!! Me, I’m praying to the weather gods for a spring like start…. I think it’s a wasted pray in fairness, but, we live in hope. That said, the big reservoirs of the Cwm Elan, and the mountain llyns open only two weeks later, so that’s also a pleasing thought. One thing that is a huge plus factor of living here, is the amount of game angling I have available….. If the word “ oodles “ was in the English dictionary, then describing trout waters, be it river, stream, reservoir or mountain llyns, then that would be it !!!! If the rivers are up, it’s out to a mountain llyn, just as much fun, and you can bet it’s hardly fished. Three or four, moorland fit, dynamic anglers in a season maybe…….
Lastly, have a great season ahead, when you do get out. Soak in the ambience, smile at that first trout of the season. Enjoy that splashy release. Cold hands, ruddy cheeks, your first cast ….. That tightening of the line…. A fish is on. The rod dances, your heart pounds…. The season has begun !!!!!! 🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐟🏴