Hope someone can help.

I fish a small Aquifer fed stream that maintains its level pretty well and all year have had some great Brownies, Chub and Grayling.

Since the weather went a bit cold - then colder - I have had one large out of season brownie and a couple of tiddly ladies. Now I know the big ones are in there 'cos I saw them in clear summer waters and managed to trick a good few of 'em. Recently though they just dont wanna play ball.

This is my first season targetting them specifically and I am starting to despair. I have done loads of research and tried loads of techniques and different flies. I have followed the "once the frost comes they move to the deep pools" mantra and I am getting nowhere.

Can anyone give me a sage piece of wisdom that might sort me out (funny ones always welcome of course)?

Some facts;

As I said an Aquifer fed stream on the Welsh/English border.
Shallow runs and deep(15' in places) pools.
Meandering bends and slow straights some deep some shallow.
Water drops and clears very quickly after rain etc.
Mostly wading but some bank access.
Good insect life all year.

Recently tried loads of different leaders, tippetts etc bought a new quality line. Tie my own flies and tried loads.

Hopefully

Clabedoo
(I know its pelled wrong)
P.S.
One local's advice to chuck on some worms was not that welcome

I went on the River Don today, near Sheffield, looking for grayling. I tried all the swims I've been fishing over the past few weeks, to no avail, then found some ... in the slower, deeper swims.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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Thanks Tommy,

will keep on keepin' on then - they must be there somewhere

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Clabedoo
(I know its pelled wrong)

Thats what I've also found on my last few trips, trotting and nymphing. Often in near side slack water or on edge of main flow, but not in main flow. Not much good after flood or in coloured water. Need to be on the bottom too whether bait or nymph. If nymphing in slack water, nymph just teased back slowly with little lifts to induce takes, also some sort of indicator (float-do, strike yarn, small foam job, whatever) really does help detect takes which can be very delicate indeed, sometimes just a slight "bob" or a stopping of the line as if its caught bottom - which it may have, but lift anyway as it could just as likely be a fish. Scoff if you like at using an indicator but if they are shy biting it can make a difference - you have probably been getting takes and not even seeing them - trout they ain't!

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Are you getting deep enough? If your not ticking the bottom often, you probably aren't. Heavy dropper and several mends might help.

Thanks one and all.

So far -

Gop down a couple of sizes on the hooks.
Use an indicator.
Get deep.
Fish off the main feed channels.

Oka guys much a prreciated will give them al a go on saturday - weather permitting and report back.

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Clabedoo
(I know its pelled wrong)

Find the fish - that's the first step. They will shoal up and move around from pool to pool.
Keep trying - put the hours in and you'll find them eventually.

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UPDATE;

4 hours on the stream today and the smallest lady I have ever seen - surprised a size 18 fitted in her mouth - jumped onto my PTN.

To be fair the stream was on the up and a little colour started to show.

Still after all your dvice guys I was more confident than I have been and had the light not vanished I think I was starting to get the habng of it. Located some pools that dont normally fish that well but with some nice water flowing they look to me to have great potential. If my rugby team were'nt playing tomorrow I would be down there again.

Please keep the tips coming. I am sure others will benefit from the wisdom you guys have. And as I said and as I am sure all fly fishers know - just having confidence in what you are doing can make all the difference.

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Clabedoo
(I know its pelled wrong)

Nice One



S

To one and all especailly you know who you are!!! Thanks all for the help.

Broke my personal best on sunday witha 16.5" Lady - what a beautiful fish. Didnt have my phone so no pictures - excpet the one in my head And here is where you know who you are - all taken on a size 22 tungsten PTN.

Took another 8 from teh same pool of varying sizes.

I am now officially a happy man

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Clabedoo
(I know its pelled wrong)