In last year's MFA auction I was lucky enough to have the winning bid for a day on the Leek & District water on the Dove in Dovedale. We took the day on Thursday and after a few very windy days in Northumberland where we had been on holiday, I was relieved to find a calm day with the promise of some sunshine.

We met at the Charles Cotton hotel in Hartington and fortified ourselves with a full breakfast. At about 9.30 we approached the river at Milldale and Neil's face fell - the river was VERY low though he told me he was confident we would catch fish! It is a lovely river, low water or not



Neil started with a dry and it has to be said he is a much better dry fly angler than I am, this isn't saying much actually, many are better with the dry than I am. I opted for the duo with a para adams supporting a size 18 tungsten beaded PTN, a fly which accounts for most of my fish (John Tyzak pattern, see his Small Streams DVD for the details). I looked for pockets of deeper, slacker water round the big rocks and this quickly paid off



and another shortly after



This was pretty typical of the water we were searching



and we picked up fish steadily, Neil mainly on the dry, me mainly on the nymph (though I did connect with one on the dry!!). A switch to the duo in a deep pool paid off for Neil with a lovely fish



and this deep, quite slow run produced a number of fish for me, including a brownie around the pound mark.

I finished with a very good grayling



from here



and Neil wound up for us with another good fish on the dry



This was a really nice day. The MFA raised some cash, I had a wonderful day fishing and I'm sure Neil did too. Thanks mate, really enjoyed fishing with you.

Regards

Peter

__________________
Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans
John Lennon

http://walksandfishes.blogspot.com/

Peter

You've been burgling someone elses water . Well done, sounds like a top day.

regards

Vince

As you know Vince, I'm always happy to fish somebody else's water! It was good, on a par with Wellow Brook!

P

__________________
Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans
John Lennon

http://walksandfishes.blogspot.com/

I'm not sure what I can add to Peter's great report (other than it's probably time I went on a diet )

I hadn't fished the Dove for a couple of months and my heart really did sink when I saw just how low the water was at Milldale. Not only that, the lack of flow has led to that horrible brown scummy algae taking hold over much of the river - something I haven't really seen before. Here's hoping for a wet winter.

The morning was pretty quiet but around midday fish began to rise - a few were of the splashy rise type, probably taking the smallish olives that were hatching in some abundance, but most were of the more gentle swirling type. Anyway, small (size 18 and 20) f flys did the trick for me and we caught consistently from then on, which was a relief as Peter had travelled some way and blanking just wasn't an option. Despite the low water all the fish were in great condition.

A few pictures to add to those posted by Peter




Smallest of the day, but possibly the prettiest


This shot shows all too well just how low the water is




Spot the angler


my best of the day


fish of the day went to Peter

A great day's fishing in good company - can't really ask for more can you

Good to meet the pair of you on the water yesterday. I was there with my son Dave as my guest. We had a few, but not as many as you. The river badly needs a considerable period of steady rain to bring its level up, but good to know it can still produce even in these low conditions.
Paul

Good to meet you Paul and always good to put a face to a FFF name

Nice to get some feedback on this auction lot. Thanks to both of you, Neil for offering the day, and P for bidding so generously. WHich reminds me...

...this year's auction will be posted soon, just need to contact potential donors

__________________
"A homeward tramp thro' mist wrapped night,
With heart and creel in common light,
Complete content, the day has brought it,
They fished for pleasure - and they caught it"

P F Morgan
taken from the catch record book at Llanthony Hotel, Honddu Valley, Aug 1942

www.monnowlogue.com
www.monnow.org.uk

Neil & Peter,

Enjoyed reading your reports and seeing the photos, really does sound (and look) like you had a wonderful days fishing together.

Spot the angler Neil??? I'd know that hat anywhere! Eh Peter?

Cheers

M

I really don't make a pretty picture do I.....

__________________
Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans
John Lennon

http://walksandfishes.blogspot.com/