Hi' All. Yes, it was a good day. The weather was kind, but the fish were hard to find, making it disappointing for mrt and I because conditions looked so very promising, and we really wanted to see Adz pick up a grayling or two. As I have just said in a PM to Adz, the hatch of Large Dark Olives that we saw trickling down the river Eden from mid-day until after 4pm was a bit of compensation. In fifty years on the river, I can't recall seeing a better show of LDO (There's a bit of poetry for you!) at this time of year. I've known poorer hatches after the trout season started. Not a flurry, just a few now and again, but I believe we noted about five rises among us.
Best was the appearance of an upwing markedly bigger than an LDO. It had to be Large Brook Dun. I know it shouldn't appear on our waters until April, and it always overlaps with Olive Upright, but it couldn't have been anything else. I won't say that it was an unprecedented occurrence, but it must surely be pretty unusual. Sadly, I couldn't pursue it down the water. So, we have some conjecture here.
Shortly after I saw the big fly, I turned over a few rocks to show Adz a few denizens of the river. Some of the ecdyonurids were well advanced, but none showing signs of imminent emergence. Tuesday, a few developing stonefly
creepers in the shallows on Eden at Langwathby, again today, on Eamont, even more. More all round than I have seen in many years of monitoring the local rivers. Global warming may be responsible in part, but I can't help hoping that last year's resurgence of our river bugs is producing a better than average crop, which will entertain us during the months ahead.
I make no predictions -- I refuse to tempt providence.
Heard this week that a fresh-run spring salmon has been caught and released on lower Eden. Plenty kelts caught!! One clean, fresh spring salmon in six weeks!! I'll say no more, I used to fish for them myself.
Finally. I suspect that rod pressure on some of our water, locally, might have had an adverse effect on the 'silver ladies' this year. We'll definitely be having Adz over here next October, when dry fly will be a great option for him to try. Thanks mrtrout for arranging things. Good luck, all. T'aint long now. I won't be fishing, but I'll be out in the opening weeks. Cheers, TC