This got a mention of a few lines' worth in the Rivers Updates section, but I thought it was worth flagging more generally too:

A visiting (German?) angler entered a 53cm wild brownie into his catch return from one of the "Peak Passport" scheme beats on the Manifold.

This does tie in with previous electric-fishing population surveys carried out by the E.A. and I can tell you that these fish are by no means limited to just one beat! This, along with the very healthy numbers turning up on some of the other catch returns is a very positive message after the very slow and very cold start to this year's trout season on the Peak Passport waters.

More complete news on this link: Trent Rivers Trust - Peak Passport


Some pics of Andy Heath showing the way on the small "wild fish" streams of the Peak Passport:


Stay off the skyline (and pretend you are creeping up on a rabbit, not a stock fish)


Use natural cover....


...Both behind you....


...and in front (put structure between you and your target fish)


A little chap from the stream in which he was spawned


A much, much bigger "chap" sitting in his den of bankside branches/tree roots (taken through my polaroid sunglasses in front of the camera lense)


A little fella goes back

I think I know the German chap you are talking about that caught the big Brownie. I sold him his ticket while I was helping Pete out at the shop in Bakewell. We had quite a long chat about fishing. He comes over to Derbyshire every couple of years, so hopefully catching such a lovely fish will tempt him back for more.

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If you're a defender and he heads it that low you take his head off, it's as simple as that. - Roy Keane

Nice photos, thanks,and good news on that big fish. Glad to see Andy has a monster net handy just in case! Can't spot a damn thing in the last but one photo though My pal was intending to have his first dabble on Peak Passport beats today, not sure if he did, heavy rain last night my have put him off, I'm waiting for a text back. He had some Eden Rivers Trust vouchers left from our recent Cumbria week so if you find some of them in the box I know the cuplrit! I haven't had chance to fish Peak Passport water since my first early season trip.

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JeffR and anyone else confused by my blurry improvised polarising filter shot

Below is an annotated version. Fish is sitting in the middle of the frame in amongst the cover. Note length of head to pectoral versus width of tree trunk.
A sizeable fish.

Thanks for your efforts Paul - still squinting and struggling to make much out tho! Combination of my duff eyes and laptop resolution probably - normally I'm good at spotting, in reality anyway, if not when its on a PC screen in front of me with two big fat arrows!

Just had text back from pal - he did fish passport beat today - Windy Arbour bridge - had plenty of babbies, couple around 8oz and one of 1lb. There were 3 others fishing other beats. Enjoyed himself

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[QUOTE=JeffR;730999]Thanks for your efforts Paul - still squinting and struggling to make much out tho! Combination of my duff eyes and laptop resolution probably - normally I'm good at spotting, in reality anyway, if not when its on a PC screen in front of me with two big fat arrows!

Sorry, I'm with you Jeff, I can't see it either.
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

To help with the lack of focus etc. here is a rough outline of the fish:



If it doesn't show up on the original photo on your monitor then you'll just have to take it on faith!!

Hurrah, i had actually spotted it in the earlier photo, but then your yellow lines seemed to suggest it was 90degrees to the angle it's lying at. yes, looks like a decent fish alright, shame he's on a heron's perfect spot!

Aha! third time lucky I was chub spotting the other day on my local small coarse river - mind you, those big fat white lips help in their case

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Don't know why but this came to mind ....

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