Was in work this morning watching the grey clouds lift and patches of blue sky start to appear,thinking of the tiny little river that runs past the back of the yard.I was really trying hard to motivate myself with-"come on ,only 6 hours to go,then you can get down to the beat".Then it happened-a whopper of a Mayfly fluttered past the fence and headed toward the river!
Twenty minutes later,half day's leave wangled,I was stepping into my waist waders at the field gate.
Stepping into the stream at the bottom end of the beat and feeling that cool sensation as the water compresses the wader material against you I was so glad to have seen that Mayfly which was the catalyst for where I was now.Couple of big Mays popping off but no real hatch,anyway on goes a detached body May on a 3lb point and my little 1wt orvis sends it through the trees up to the first pool.Still really bright and nothing rising through the next few runs and pools.Now in my favourite set of riffles ,completely covered by trees and invisable from the bank only 5 metres away-theres rising fish!
Dropping the fly into a lovely pocketty piece of water sees an instant response and a wild fish of about 6 oz splashes to hand-covered in red spots with brilliant white edges to the anal fins he's slipped back gently. Couple more runs-same scenario,like peas in a pod!Then a splashy riser is missed through a loose coil of line around my feet.Still showing,I kneel down and squeeze another lucky cast through the canopy which he takes and shoots off up the pool!Nicer fish(?) of about 14 ozs,again superbly marked,slips back to the bottom of the pool.
Another missed chance and its the top of the beat,probably only a mile long,all covered with waist waders(just)3 hours of perfect,away from everything,quality time!Hardly ever see anyone else-oh and did I mention theres Grayling to over 2lbs?
Does it get ay better?