Fished the Wylye at Stapleford today. First thing I saw on reaching the water was these.






I gave up counting at 45! By the time I got to the bottom of the beat there must have been over 60 of them.


I gave up after a couple of hours, but not before I got this on one of my COmparaStack thingys, Haystack
Also missed a few splashy rises on the CDC and Elk.



There was still a reasonable amount of Danica coming off.

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Retired
www.ukflydressing.co.uk

There were two pairs on the stretch that I fish - a few weeks ago. Females on nests. Males very aggressive, monitoring my activities, buggering up my fishing, wings held arched and akimbo behind their backs but worst of all, rooting away at the few clumps of weed that were there. I wonder if they are there because it is so easy to get at the tasty weed roots - given the relatively low water levels?

My only other real experience of swans and a fishery was on a stretch of the Towy - between them and the Canadian Honkers they made a hell of a mess of everything - in the river and on the bank.

they taste lovely,or so i've been told.

jim

PS thats a lovely trout braveheart.did it taste nice,

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

The bank along this stretch was covered in their muck in places.
There is good weed growth there as well, unlike the Avon, but 60 Swans will soon strip that away.
One amusing thing that happened though, one of the Swans
passed wind, I never knew they could be so loud.

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www.ukflydressing.co.uk

Yep Swan was at one time a table bird, wish it still was.
I don't eat fish Jim, so that one, like all my other fish went back.

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Retired
www.ukflydressing.co.uk

I pitty you the swans.

Nice picture of the trout and fly though and good to see it (the fish) still in the water.

Nice pics Braveheart. I also fish that stretch on the Wylie. Had a cracking day a couple of weeks ago, plenty of mayfly about although not all the fish were on them. Caught lots of grayling and half a dozen trout to 1 1/2 lbs.

The swans are a real nightmare and something needs doing about it. (eg a major cull). Once last year when I was at Stapleford, I was virtually chased off by 50-60 of them who wouldn't let me anywhere near the water.

I had great hopes for bird flu. The lower Frome has been stripped of weed in the shallow areas by the white plague. This cant be good for the river and all the wildlife that depends on it. They really do need culling but can you see the "namby pamby ah its lovely" public or the "head up ass, birds before everything" RSPB allowing it to happen.


Andy

Just thought I'd post you a present.

Print out this photo, next time you see that view full of swans simply stick the photo to your glasses and hey presto, no swan problem!





photoshop is a wonderful thing!

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ugly casts catch fish too
http://nadder-diary.net

Mind you (assuming this is the S&DC beat) just think what a nuisance the swans must be to the stroppy, foul mouthed, 'no fishing behind my house' , women at the top of the beat.