...or that's how it feels anyway!

I have only been fishing for two months and have been greatly assisted with all sorts of hints and tips, free flies and some kit from friends of mine. Bought a great rod and lines and had a casting session with a renown local fisherman. The cast is pretty good now, and I'm getting good on distance. I've been out four times and have not failed to catch - smallest 2.5lb to largest 4.75lb rainbow.

I did, however, venture out on Saturday - and blanked. Now there's meant to be a spectacular mayfly hatch at this particular fishery nearby, (Powdermills - Hastings Fly Fishing Club), which although we are a bit late in the day and the recent rainfall has spooked the mayfly/fish a bit, should still mean that there is some fishing to be had.

That said, I thought I would start off with some obvious flies which I have caught with recently and perhaps start using mayfly at certain points -particularly should I see some mayfly action coming off the water - which I did at a later stage as it happens.

Out in a boat then, floating line, damsel on the nose, buzzer on one dropper - not so much as a nibble. Changed to a nymph and a different buzzer but with no luck. I then went off the bank with the same kit with no luck. Back in the boat then - tried everything from nymphs, hairs ears, 3 types of mayfly and then damsels and nymphs on a 15 ft leader with my intermediate to get way down - not a nibble. I also tried just about every form of retrieve. The weather was overcast with sunny patches and there was a nice ripple on the water

I was there for six hours from about 6:30 am.

Just wanted to paint this rather unfortunate picture for all those to tell me where I may have been going wrong I greatly welcome any input and advice.

Many thanks.

J.

Some Days you Blank.
Despite trying the entire contents of your fly collection and every method you know.............You will have days like this....

That's why its called Fishing, not Catching.

It's still a lot better than going to work........................birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

Welcome to the World of Fishing mate!!!! If one caught dish every cast believe me you'd soon get bored.It'st the frustrating days that drive angling forward, making us think where and what to do next. Accept it as part of angling and you'll realise that this sentiment is true soon enough.I know I'm sounding like a Red Indian Chief, but don't worry we all get days/weeks like this, just wait until you've booked weeks salmon fishing only to have the river washed out, and lost all your rental,hotel and travelling fees!!

It could be that they were taking SNAILS! They migrate at this time of year and float off to a new area of the water. Until you can take a stomach sample and a switch to a black & peacock spider fishing can be very frustrating.
Rod.

macsas - I hear you loud and clear and am very aware that you have good days and bad days. I suppose I was looking for some pointers in terms of what to do having tried out everything as I listed because I felt there was something I hadn't thought of like Rod3's "snail" comment. I guess I'll take a look at these spider thingies...bad news about your salmon trip by the way, makes me seem like a bit of a whinger!!

J.

Hi Jezza, we're all whingers lol "it's too low,it's too high, the caenis were up,it's too bright, it's too cold/hot" Trout can come on the take at the drop of a hat, I don't know what time you left the fishery but sometimes you have to stay to the bitter end, I've done it lots of times,fished all day and not a sniff, then once the sun goes off the water and the fish start to feed,you can bag up. The most critical factor with trout feeding is depth.I went out with a guy who used a fish finder and it was an education. We located fish at 30ft down and once we got the right lines to get down to them, we started catching. Trout will feed throughout the day you've just got to experiment with different weighted lines until you get the depth at which they're at.

Floating lines are a great way to fish, but sometimes you've got to get the sinkers on.It's not as aesthetic as floating line fishing but when the line goes tight, you forget about that. I fish Farmoor alot and the place is full of fish, good ones too, but they get preoccupied on taking buzzers as soon as they leave the clay on the lake bed in 25-35 feet of water.The trout are stuffed to the gills with them, but if you went by fish showing on the surface, you'd swear there wasn't a fish in the lake.

Another important factor is the role daphnia plays in trout feeding habits. The daphnia rises and falls subject to light conditions and water temperature,find the daphnia, find the fish.

If you look at the top reservoir anglers they all experiment with finding the depth the fish are cruising,one angler will use an intermediate whilst his partner may use a DI 5 or suchlike. Once one angler locates a fish, that's the depth.

I hope this makes up for my tongue in cheek previous post to your thread, hang in there and never give up, if something doesn't work, experiment.

Stop moaning - you've caught the same disease as your brother in law! I'll sort you out with some alternatives next time you're in The Halt - let me know. The list of options is endless but there is a simple method in this fishing madness in terms of ringing the changes at somewhere like Powdermill. I'm at Bewl all weekend but the week after if you're up for a small half of shandy or a G+T on the train with the crazy gang!

Mike

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We pass this way but once and in so doing grab a handful!

Thanks Rod3 and macsas for your support and tips - I've bought a few black & peacock spiders now so will give them a try!

Gillaroo - as for the brother-in-law comment, you know how to make it hurt don't you!!!

That increases my incentive to beat the ******!

See you soon!

J.