Hi guys

As requested I thought I'd let the people who gave me advice know how I got on during my recent trip to the Lake District.

So Monday was Ghyll Head, the morning of which can be described thus: wet and frustrating.
Not a good morning to discover that I'd made my waterproof jacket non-waterproof by washing with detergent!
(an error that will never be repeated)
So after only one fish hooked (and lost) in 3 hours, I decided to retire to a pub in Bowness with my girlfriend to dry off and re-waterproof my jacket with a spray hastily bought from a walking shop.

With a belly full of a delicious cumberland sausage baguette and 2 pints of ale, I felt ready for round 2.
Fortunately the rain had stopped and there were plenty of fish rising.

The next 2 hours were some of the most enjoyable I've ever had, as we wandered round the lake stopping to have a few casts at likely looking spots or rises.
I ended up with 4 rainbows and a beautiful wild brownie, with plenty more takes missed.
All were caught on Klinkhammers or Daiwl Bachs on or just under the surface.

I can honestly say that Ghyll Head is one of the nicest spots I've ever fished and I'm insanely jealous of the regulars who I chatted to who get to fish it all the time!...








Wednesday was High Newton, I had prepared myself for it to be very windy but by some miracle we managed to luck out with only a very light South Westerly wind, perfect!
On arrival I had a chat with a few regulars who said it was fishing pretty hard.

There were rises all over the lake while I was setting up and I couldn't quite believe how the guy fishing from the wooden platform hadn't caught anything as there was constant movement in front of him.
After my success with Klinks on Monday I decided to stick with those to start off with.
But after an hour or so of tentative interest to a few different dries but no solid takes I decided a change of plan was needed.
My hunch was that the fish were taking just under the surface rather that on it.
So I changed my dropper to a black buzzer but kept the Klink on the point.
First cast and a turbo changed rainbow smashed the buzzer moments after it hit the water.
It took me on a tour of the lake before I netted it, it may have only been a couple of pounds but it fought like a double!
A few casts later and the buzzer had it's second victim of the day.

The water then quietened down a bit so we decided to head to The Crown in Newton in Cartmel for lunch.
But when we arrived the chef had just gone home!
After seeing our crestfallen faces the lovely owners said they'd rustle up something for us.
Well, if the lunch they brought out was 'rustling something up' then I would love to see what they provide when the chef is there!
Big bowls of roasted tomato soup and hot chicken sandwiches, the perfect pub lunch!
To say thanks I gave them my 2 trout, so everyone was a winner!

So back to the lake and the story was the same as the morning, plenty of surface movement but boy are they picky!
I had 2 more rainbows, one on a buzzer and finally one off the surface with a small black Klink.
Then about 4pm the wind suddenly changed to a brisk northerly and some very angry black clouds started approaching.
The regulars started packing up and leaving, so we bowed down to their local knowledge and did the same!

I was pretty pleased with my day, as there were a few regulars there who blanked, so it was nice to get some action.

Special mention has to go to the lovely 91 year old gentleman who was fishing off the wooden platform.
He was a real character, who told me he fishes there all the time but rarely catches anything.
I ended up having to tie his flies on for him as his eyesight wasn't too great, not sure how he manages normally!
I was gutted to see him hook and lose a good fish at one point but he seemed pretty happy despite that.

So a cracking day and I would love to go back and try to fool some of those wily surface feeders again some time!





On Friday I got to have a bonus 2 hour session at Ghyll Head, while my girlfriend did some shopping.
First cast was a Klink flicked under an overhanging tree and it was duly sipped down by a rainbow, which was quickly played and carefully returned.
But from then on I hooked a succession of rudd of various sizes and despite up sizing and changing my fly I just couldn't put them off!
Not sure what you regulars do at this point?... but I tried damsel for the last half hour with no luck.

Still a lovely afternoon though and I'm desperate to get back up there soon for another visit.

Thanks to all the people who gave me great advice.
Now back to the grim reality of working in London!...


Dan

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In a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate,
My fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion.

Bit special up there isn't it. Great report and thanks for posting it.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

Thanks for sharing Dan
Nice report and great pictures. Brought back some good memories. I must get back to High Newton with a team of buzzers.

SharkeyP

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Often thinks not travel widens,
Stay at home the Trout obliges.