Looked out of the window this morning at 4am and the world was white over with frost. Unbelievable for the middle of May but by nine o'clock it was all gone. So, today I decided to go fishing on a local pond near my house.

Due to my old car failing it's MOT I had to strap all my gear to my bike, so traveling light was a must!


When I arrived at the pond it started to rain and by the time I'd set up hailstones had gathered on my bag! It was freezing! Tying on a size 18 nymph was an ordeal in itself. One minute it rained the next the sun would come out. This would be very unsettling for the fish.


The first ten minutes into fishing I had a pull on the line which nearly wrenched the tiny wt4 brook rod from my hands. Next cast the same thing happened, almost ripping the tiny size 18 pheasant tail nymph off the tippet. Next cast, the same thing happened but this time I was ready! The little brook rod hooped over as the unseen fish turned with the nymph. I was only using a light tippet (0.09mm- 2.2lbs) so I had to take great care and landed a nice ide.

I fished on through the changeable weather and caught some tiny rudd. The bites were unmissable as the fly line darted forward.

More rudd followed. They were either taking a pheasant tail nymph or a hares ear nymph with or without a gold bead. Action seemed to get better as the sun came out, these tiny fish providing great sport.

Then a roll cast sent the double taper line over to an area of lily pads where the nymph slowly sank near the island. The line twitched then went taught. The fish had hooked itself. On feeling the hook the fish leapt from the water. This is quite common for ide, they are very acrobatic!

More ide and rudd followed throughout the afternoon. I landed a total of 16. Missed quite a few bites and lost a few fish, yet despite the weather it was good fishing! These fish loved the fly. I was even watching rudd taking tiny insects from the surface. Using light tackle made these fish feel like monsters!!

Thanks for the write-up. I fish for chub, perch and roach on the fly, but with much less success as you!

Alan

Hi Paul,

Not being a coarse angler; having no real interest! I must say that reading your post and seeing the photos, was a real pleasure!! Now, what is an Ide? I said I was not a coarse angler! The blo-ody weather is awful everywhere; and I'm sorry to hear of the old car failing the MOT. If you lived a little closer to south wales, I'd sell you my Toyota Corolla -it's a 98, lift-back model -in immaculate condition and only done 47000, miles from new with full service history! I have two cars and I'm the only one that drives either, but I'm a bit reluctant to sell one of them! Anyhow, I enjoyed reading your post; and the photos were great! Just going by the description of the weather conditions in your area, you deserved to have a good day's fishing; if only for braving the elements!

Regards

Mostyn

Hi Paul

Enjoyed your post. The sight of bike with rod attached brings back happy memories of early morning schoolboy fishing trips with my mates.

I still do it when I can, usually on the family camping holiday in the summer.

Nigel

Hi Paul,
thank you for this fine report of your fishing, great photos.

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Jens

Ide originally come from Europe I believe but many have been stocked into British waters as they will feed all year round.

It's a bit like a cross between a Chub and a Roach and can grow to over 4lb and fight hard. A member of the orfe family.

That was great. Thanks for posting.
I'd like to get some action like that. Lovely looking fish as well!

What a superb poast Paul!!! Like Nigel said, brings back memories of school boy fishing trips in the summer holidays....Magic. I fish the leeds and liverpool quite regularly for roach, pearch and ide, really only using size 18 - 16 buzzers. Looking at your fish I think some tiny nymphs are next on my tying list.
Well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best regards

Rob

Thanks everyone for your kind replies I am pleased you liked the article, fly fishing for coarse fish is really good fun more people should try it!
Mostyn an ide is exactly what Sunrider described, they can be caught at any time of the year and they put up a good fight on light tackle.
Dan gill yes I enjoyed going fishing on my bike I used to do it a lot as a kid when I went coarse fishing, the old fibre glass rod tied to the crossbar of a raliegh chopper with some old shoe laces! In fact I went fishing on the river today on my Honda step-thru what a great time motorcycling through the country with a tiny rod strapped on my back and the trout bag in my top box! I was trying for a brownie as I am sure I had seen some last week, but instead I ended up with a perch and three roach. So I packed up and came home as river coarse fish are out of season till June 16.
Roders yes you must tie up some tiny flies size 18 20 22 nothing fancy just hares ears and Pheasant tail nymphs ones with tiny gold beads work well. Chris at Lathkill flytying is really helpfull and can supply the tiny beads and hooks he is also a a thoroughly nice bloke. I get my stuff from him. Also remember to use a light tippet 0.12 or 0.10 even 0.08 I use fine hooklength material that I have when I have been coarse fishing it works very well.

Paul, that sounds like great fun - surely this country's closest equivalent to the bass and panfishing (bluegill, crappie etc) that they enjoy in the States!

Wish that pond of yours were closer to me too... great report... more please.

Theo

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