What is it with the weather???? Global warming heh? it was to say the least quite chilly and blowing a gale, I didn't metion the rain did I? arrived at the fishery 6.00pm only one other there so had almost every swim to myself and the ducks, that is those not exposed to the wind, this left me with the choice of three! nothing showing in any of them so dumped the gear and tossed a few biscuits out and waited and waited!! as it was getting quite dark and threatening to chuck it down again, I started to make my way back to the carpark, when I notice movement under a bush (ripples) so by poking the rod over the rushes and under the branches was able to let the fly drop about 4" (alright you eurocrats 10cm) away from a fish, now I have never done this before and nearly wet myself for what happened next, how shall I put it!! the water erupted no exploded into a flurry of spray, I caught some of it in my face? and something was trying to rip my rod from my hand!! fortunately it took off out into the lake - where I was able to get some kind of control over it, but being limited to how high or low I could lift my rod to how how I could apply pressure with my rod. it took a long time to get my fish to the net, several times it took off first to the left and then to the right both times under the bushes I was peering through!!

It was not my biggest fish but under the conditions it gave me the best fight to date, as you can see it was a lovely Common Carp and weighed exactly 11lb on my Avons. If you look at the rod butt you will see my fly, I pinned it to the cork as it had already fallen out in the net.



As it really was just about to pour hard again, packed up and went home whistling a happy tune, the time 7.40pm

Regards and good fishing to All - Alan

__________________
Alan

Nice fish!
never fly fished for carp before, im off the the local pond.
mike

Hope you were successful? this weather has put the fish down and fly casting almost out of the question

__________________
Alan

Nope, didnt get anything last night. apart from a bit wet. there were a couple of fish taking something from the surface but didnt fancy what i had to offer.

Is that a little bread fly you were using? might have to try and tie myself a couple of them for next time.

Mike

Hi Mike, yes its spun deer hair, then stained 'tan' using a permanent marker pen in light Walnut, its the nearest I can get to the dog biscuit 'chum mixer' used by the 'Carp' chap on the complex. Used white might work if the fish are used to seeing a lot of bread (feeding the birds), I've tried black but that was a complete no-no, it was ignored even when there were several fish all nosing about together? but still worth a try as would almost any other colour you have.

__________________
Alan

I was just over the road last Friday at our local fishery and was able to hook and land a small mirror on a 3 weight for fun. I was using a biscuit/bread floating pattern from Rainey flies which seemed to work quite well. Not my usual style as I much prefer stalking with a nymph but can't complain as it was a lot of fun. Hope to go over a lot more often before work once it dries up a little and see what else I can find.
Paul

I picked a tip up a couple of years ago regarding dying Mallard Flank Feathers in Black Coffee (cold) to get various shades of Tan. Do you think it would work for Deer Hair? I've not tried it yet myself.

Warmest Regards.

Ernie

__________________
May the fluff be with you

Hi Ernie, Its certainly worth trying! thanks for the tip

__________________
Alan

You say not your usual style as you prefer to stalk! how did you fish the other night, I stalk my fish all the time see a fish and cast to it! cast as close as possible just ahead of it, too close or over it and its goodbye! you have just spooked it, keep it close and you have a very good chance of a hook-up, too far away gives the fish the chance of inspecting and rejecting! Now you really will have to forgive my ignorance but I am not a trout angler but surely a nymph is an artificial fly fished sunken/below the surface? how do you stalk with one of these, I can understand with a dry or emerger casting to a fish you can see? but how does one stalk something you cannot see??

But I am glad you enjoyed your experience, not everyone catches as these fish can be very wary especially on heavily fished waters.

__________________
Alan

Cheers Ditch, ive made a couple out of natural deer hair and they look prety good, The sun is shining so might go out for an hours "test"

Cheers
Mike