San River

Just back from my trip to fish the wonderful San River, Poland. Fishing was again excellent, even with the high & cold water. Just need the organisers to do some organising and it will be perfect!

The San River

From San River Album

Mayfly

Today I fished under Poundbury. Conditions were absolutely ideal with a light east wind, an overcast sky and plenty of water in the river after the recent rain.

Yesterday I saw no Mayflies down at Bockhampton. Today, on my first sight of the river at the bottom of Poundbury, I saw a large Mayfly emerge from the depths and float majestically downstream. There was no great hatch but the odd Mayfly appeared on the surface every 10 minutes or so. I continued to fish with a small greenwell and by lunchtime I had released quite a few trout including one of over 1lb.

After my sandwich I saw a Mayfly being taken by a trout so I thought that it might be worth trying a Grey Wulff. Although the trout were not rising consistently, casts into likely looking spots where often rewarded with a take. The fish were certainly
keen to sample the Grey Wulff and I soon came to the conclusion that the Mayfly season had started.

I fished until 16.30 and I lost count of the fish that were netted. Although many of them were of no great size, mostly between 7 and 9 inches in length, it was a very absorbing day on the river. No other members were around to enjoy the fun. I was delighted to see a Kingfisher but not so thrilled by the swan that paddled down from time to time. As you can see from the photo, this time I remembered my landing net.

Cheers,
Jim.

Bockhampton

John,

I spent a couple of hours on the Bockhampton stretch this morning. The river was very slightly coloured after the overnight rain but very fishable. There was not so much action until about 11.30 when a hatch of small upwinged flies started. This encouraged trout to the surface in one or two isolated spots. I landed three fish between 8 and 11 inches.

There was no need for the bucket this time as the fish could be stranded on the top of a ranunculus bed and unhooked before being slid back into the river. I met two other anglers taking the opportunity to fish on a day ticket before the start of the members only mayfly season.

I did not see any mayflies but one of the visitors said that he had seen one taken by a trout. It should not be long before they are hatching in numbers but the exact timing is always impossible to predict. Will they be late because of the cold spring or early because of the recent hot spell? I hope that the fishing in Poland went well.

Cheers,
Jim.

Fish in a Bucket!

I had another session on the Bockhampton stretch this morning. I arrived at 10.15 to start fishing in ideal conditions; overcast, with a light, warm east wind and lots of grannom on the water.Given the conditions, not so many fish were rising but enough to provide some reasonable sport.

The first problem of the day was the realisation that I had left my landing net at home, however a solution was to hand in the form of a small bucket that I found snagged in some willow branches overhanging the river.

The bucket was soon in action. Although the fish were very reluctant to be bucketed, once they were inside they remained remarkably still, content to rest in an inch or so of water while they were unhooked and then gently slopped out back into the river. Despite a small thunderstorm and some heavy rain, fish continued to rise and by the time I had left the water at about 13.00 five trout had been bucketed and about the same number had slipped my size 16 greenwell fly before they could be scooped. None of the fish were that big, all between 9 and 12 inches in length but as aways, the biggest (about 1lb) got away.

No other members were about. Perhaps the rain put them off but for me there is nothing like a bit of fishing in the rain.

Cheers,
Jim

Easterly Wind

Last trip before I head east to fish the fantastic San River in Poland.

At last a warm hazy day, but with a rather nasty easterly wind. Fished up under Poundbury in the vain hope of finding some shelter. The river was still coloured from the previous weeks rain and only a few grannom hatching, with even less fish rising. I tied on a size 16 GRHE and fished on up to the railway bridge catching only small fish, but missed a few larger fishing by striking too fast!

NOTE: We have two volunteers to help with the restocking on the 19th May, but we need a few more, so if you are free please can you email John Aplin - many thanks

Coloured Water