Rain, rain, rain !!!! That’s been the theme of the weather yet again, and only in the last ten days or so, has it been semi reasonable !!! And, we’ve had sun too, in deepest mid Wales…..
I must admit, I’ve had a lot of catching up to do, on stream maintenance, that I wasn’t able to do in the ravages of our delightfully wet winter. Now that the streams are settling down a bit, and are at a workable height for wading, I can finally manage some proper river clearing, and giving allocated streams, a dam good haircut !!!! Last week, I did get round three beats, and I must say, by the end of day three, my legs and arms were like lead !!! Some serious cutting, trimming and also laying cover, for the star of the show, Salmo Trutta !!!
I’m hoping that I can get around two more beats, over in the Usk catchment, next week…… I just need the weather to behave , and not tooooooooo much of the wet stuff !!! Then, I may actually get out on one of the streams myself. Generally, they take a bit of cranking up, and the fish, certainly aren’t as amicable as the brownies on the Usk, or the Wye. The March browns and LDO’s there, really get them looking up early !!!! Some good healthy fish, have been caught too, looking at the returns, on the WUF FISHING PASSPORT …… Lovely to see……
With the wild still waters of the Cwm Elan, open for the season this coming Friday, it’s all go from then on for me, and my guiding days ……I buzz about it in fairness, and, with the variety of game angling that surrounds Rhayader, I have quite a few anglers already, that want a reservoir day, followed by a wild stream day….. just fabulous !!!!
I have been studying over the winter months , with a view to doing my BASC AIRGUN instructor award, this summer, followed by my shotgun coaching award, later this year. Also, I’m brushing up on my shotgun loaders skills and etiquette, with a course being run by the very talented Ann Litchfield, of Country Pursuits and Training Ltd. You never stop learning, and improving folks ………….
So, another prayer to the elusive “weather gods” …. For none of the wet stuff !!! That said, looking at the forecast, Tuesday onwards, is looking pretty good I must say, with the sun symbol, ruling the roost !!! Now, that’s more like it !!! Great weather for getting this work nailed on some of these unloved streams, and it just does wonders for your morale doesn’t it !!!! A sunny, balmy spring day is the essence of new life . Birds calling, hedges bursting into life, bumblebee queens, frantically searching for a suitable bankside nesting site, and those fist eager rises in the pools of a secretive stream …… I love it !!!!!
Sometimes, when I fancy a trout for the table, I’ll take the odd Rainbow trout, as I did very recently at an old favourite trout fishery. If folks aren’t in the know, I’ll briefly explain…….These fisheries stock with sustainable rainbow trout, and taking the odd fish, is perfectly acceptable. But, as you all know, I’m a staunch wild brown trout angler, and have been since the age of fourteen, on and off. All wild fish are always, always, always released. A wild fish, is a precious fish !!!!!
Well, tis only a brief blog this one guys and girls, but, I wish you all a very safe, fun and memorable season ahead. Tis looking like things will actually warm up next week. It’s needed in all honesty, and some balmy, double figure afternoons will be just the treat !!!! A chilled out admin day today for me, before another busy few days on the streams. A few are ear marked, one over Brecon way, another towards Leominster, with a final sortie on one, more closer to home !!!! If I can muster up the energy, I’ll venture back over to the Usk catchment, next weekend to have a crack at another secretive stream over there …After that lot, I think I’ll deserve a medal. I know the one in particular will be like hacking through primary jungle !!!! But alas, I can only do my best ….. Have a super week ahead folks, cheerio for now…… Joe .
