Derbyshire "Diary"
Post by richardw on Jan 2, 2004, 9:13am

River walks are the sole fare at the moment. Water levels still low for the time
of year but the weather is forecast moist for a while so there is still time to
get things right. Large Dark Olive are about the only fly I've noticed, but I
live in hope to see a winter hatch of Iron Blue Dun once again.

Spawning seems to be coming to a conclusion now with fewer fish running the
weirs and almost none standing guard over places on the redds. The adults' job
now is to eat and recover from the after effects of such strenuous work. Some
are certainly doomed by fungus but most seem to be in pretty good form. Their
eggs will be eyed now and the process of preserving their unique gene pool will
be well under way.

On a favourite tributary to the Derbyshire Wye, the keepers have been working
hard to increase habitat whilst repairing erosion at the same time. The labour
intensive woven living fences are in evidence reinforcing the banks. The willow
in these fences has already begun to sprout, a sure sign that it is rooting and
creating vegetation that will stop erosion whilst providing overhanging cover
for fish and thus new habitat for new occupants. We can expect our casting to be
tested for accuracy here if we want to make personal acquaintance with these
fish.

New to these rivers, again to protect eroding banks and to make even more safe
places for fish, are underwater "coffee tables". Each comprises a split tree
trunk anchored by concealed steel rods that pass through the "table top" and
drilled out "legs". They are submerged along the edge of the eroding banks and
the legs make a space about 6 inches high all the way along under the "table".
Fish are already using these, in fact some were in place within a few hours of
the tables being erected.

The main river (Peacock stretch of the Derbyshire Wye) will benefit greatly from
work done in 2003 to get more sunlight to the riverbed. More, thick, billowing,
fronds of Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans) will mean more food and more hidy
holes for many more fish. We are in for more treats this season, methinks...<br>
My advice if you want to be sure of some mayfly fishing here this year is to get
booked in as soon as you can. The 12 rods per day rule will be just as strictly
adhered to as in 2003 so it's a case of "first come first served".

I called in the Peacock last year to book my fishing but you can book over the
'phone just as well.

The number is 01629 733518 from the UK and +44 1629 733 518 from abroad.

The Season starts April 1 and ends October 7.

The tickets are the same price as last year:

£60 per day from 15 May to 20 June

£30 a day at all other times.

To email the Peacock it is

reception@thepeacockatrowsley.com

The Peacock can provide you with tickets on the Derbyshire Wye and, if you stay
as a resident, on the Derbyshire Derwent. Dry fly only and no wading are the
only rules for the Wye with fly only being the rule for the Derwent. The Derwent
is full of fish and quite a bit easier than the Wye but you will need to wade
(breast high) to get the most out of it.

Ask the Peacock to send you their "Six frequent observations from our regular
anglers". It's a free sheet of half a dozen tips. The bits about stealth are the
most important. As mentioned last year, I can't catch a thing here if the fish
know of my presence. Hide though and sport is often very brisk indeed.

All the best

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by enfieldspares on Jan 7, 2004, 9:44pm

But aren't the two Peacock Hotel waters nowadays "catch and release" only?

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Jan 8, 2004, 5:48am

Certainly not! You can fish C & R if you wish.

Many anglers have their catch or part of their catch cooked by the hotel chef...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by enfieldspares on Jan 8, 2004, 8:59am

Excellent! My father an I used to stay there some thirty-five years ago when
George Brown also used to stay and drink his brandy neat from a teapot...so all
watching thought it was just that...tea!

It still had that beautiful "pot" peacock then that was sold recently for a
small fortune.

No bag limit?

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Jan 8, 2004, 11:10am

I'm sure there is a limit but I don't know what it will be this season. Ask at
the Peacock for the up-to-date information.

When are you coming over this year?

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by enfieldspares on Jan 8, 2004, 1:33pm

I will come when it is a lot warmer than it is here, in Leicester UK, at the
moment. I can only imagine that Rowsley must be freezing!

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Jan 9, 2004, 6:12am

I can thoroughly recommend April. Many rods still wait until May 15 (that used
to be the opening day) not realising what they are missing. Of course high
summer evenings on the Derbyshire Wye with Sherry Spinner imitations is the
absolute cream of dry fly fishing but April in the day time is still well worth
the effort. Certainly it is harder to hide as the bank side vegetation is
seasonally low, but the flip side of that is the casting is much easier and less
likely to be interrupted by frustrating moments retrieving the fly from
aggressive herbage.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by WarrenSlaney on Jan 9, 2004, 7:34am

April fishing, although rated by richardw, is a very specialist affair when
following the dry fly only way. The wind can stay in the east for most of the
month which may restrict fly hatches to the period around lunch time or very
early afternoon. You can pick fish up either side of the peak period but please
dont come expecting a river covered in dimples. One thing that you can count on,
the fish will be hungry!

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Jan 9, 2004, 8:44am

Fair comment Warren. One must not be afraid to blank in April but it is still
worth the effort...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Jan 21, 2004, 5:51am

A couple of good river walks this weekend showed that by and large some of the
aquifers are now at decent winter levels. Springs that have been dry for nearly
a year are running well again. The water is as clear as gin and one or two of
the gushers had a fair head of pressure on them when I placed my foot over the
outlets. There is one valley to go that is still not back to rights yet so we
still need a lot more rain in the Peak before the season gets under way. Here's
hoping...

The first one on this list might help:

http://www.eskimo.com/~lhowell/bcp16...y/prayers.html

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Jan 31, 2004, 2:34pm

Lovely rain!

Second on this list is appropriate:

http://www.eskimo.com/~lhowell/bcp16...ksgivings.html

The Wye is really pushing along very well indeed today.

It's all brown, not a chance of watching any fish, but the imagination runs as
fast as the river when considering what all this power is doing to the river
bed.

Good authority insists that rainfall in January has been twice the average. Well
it was needed and now the recuperation can take place. Next weekend should see
the water cleared and maybe a fish or two will be observed?

Any ornithologists out there?

Will dippers have had young already?

One aldermanic beauty by a back water in Bakewell today was certainly carrying
what appeared to be food across its beak. Could it be feeding young or maybe a
mate sitting on eggs somewhere? Taking insects under water is a great strategy,
no need to wait for warm weather!

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Feb 20, 2004, 6:56am

Came out of the office last night and didn't need to put on the car's lights
(17:50). There was a softer feel to everything despite it being only 4 Celsius.

This morning it is blazing sunshine and outside my office window the bullfinch
is snaffling a few buds on a prunus. He has two wives in patient attendance.

Five and a half weeks to go - I'm ready. I bet some of you are too...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by Cothi on Feb 20, 2004, 9:06am

Sweltering here on this coral isle, I so enjoy reading these notes of yours.

The Bullfinch and the cherry tree is an uplifting image and takes me very far
back.

Thank you.

Before you correct me I have just remembered that a Prunus could be any of:
Almond, Apricot, Cherry, Nectarine, Peach and Plum.

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Feb 20, 2004, 12:02pm

You were right first time. Sadly, this prunus only delivers flowers. I think it
is some F1 sterile hybrid. The buds appear to be edible though, as he has been
partaking for a while now and looks extremely well on these pretty victuals.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by robh on Feb 24, 2004, 6:14am

Richard,
Dippers shouldn't be even laying yet. They are usually mid March onwards.What
you saw is more likely the avian equivalent of a bunch of fl;owers and a box of
chocs!The Dovedale birds are doing their courting now too.
Regarding the bullfinch , they are one of very few small birds that stay paired
up through the winter. They are normally monogamous and life faithful so it is
more likely that the other female tagged on to the pair.
regards
robh

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Feb 24, 2004, 9:07am

Thanks for that robh. I thought it was amazingly early for the dipper. The
courtship gift sounds more plausible.

Each year at this time the prunus tree gets visited by the bullfinches. Surely
the individuals must be new ones after a year or two but the birds I see have
been as trios since 1999. Could it be that male bullfinches are at a premium
round Chesterfield and so females in pairs end up sharing them?

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by robh on Feb 24, 2004, 10:23am

Richard,
I will read up but from personal observation in my garden, they are just the
pair once the young are fledged.They are a very difficult bird to study IME as ,
when nesting , they become very shy.I believe they are long lived as the same
pair visit my feeders every day and have done for 4 years plus. The reason I
"know" they are the same is that there isn't a significant break which , I
assume , there would be if one or both died.Unless they time it to my leave!
And the reason males are in short supply in N Derbyshire is because anyone with
any sense would move north to become a tyke!
regards
robh


Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Feb 24, 2004, 6:01pm

Tyke eh? Born and bred in Yorkshire. Married a Yorkshire lass (who looks after
me in the traditional grand manner). Live still in Yorkshire. Work and play in
Derbyshire...

I get the best of both world's and maybe the bullfinch is better off staying
South? If he moved to Yorkshire he might find he was sharing rather than being
shared! (Unless the poor little chap is "hen" pecked...)

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by robh on Feb 26, 2004, 11:39am

Richard,
The Bullfinch has a maximum life span of 17 years so you probably are seeing the
same ones. Presumably , any with 2 wives die younger! And no Yorkshire man is
hen pecked-my wife tells me so anyway
regards
robh

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Feb 26, 2004, 3:29pm

17 years! That is wonderful. He is almost certainly the same one, in fact I was
working it out, I have been watching him and his wives since 1998 at least. He
and his wives are in immaculate condition.

I don't know why I still marvel at the great condition that most things in the
wild are usually in. It is silly really, as animals, birds and fish not in
perfect condition are soon killed and eaten. Nevertheless, it is always a joy to
behold such healthy condition in any creature. That a bird smaller than a man's
hand can cause a gasp in awe is not bad eh? This trio has more than once helped
me get through a day in chains at my desk. No doubt they will do it again...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by donnie on Feb 26, 2004, 7:06pm

there has been some really wonderful bird life in my garden in glasgow over the
winter. litterally a dozen blue/great tits and so on, and many other wee birds.
and one particular black bird which only has half a tail and has lived in the
area for quite a while. 'the tailess' is his official name.

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Feb 27, 2004, 4:04am

Make sure you keep their larder stocked in this weather.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by WarrenSlaney on Feb 27, 2004, 6:37am


Quote:Make sure you keep their larder stocked in this weather.

richard

Our 'flock' are on their third 25kg sack of peanuts!

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by snudz on Feb 27, 2004, 4:31pm


Quote:Our 'flock' are on their third 25kg sack of peanuts!

Blimey.......what's flocking to your garden? Ostriches??

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Feb 28, 2004, 5:31pm

Snow on the ground, sunshine between cloudy moments. In the main, conditions
were bright. Walked some of the Peacock water and a couple of tributaries and
although there is snow on every North facing slope, including the molehills, the
year is still marching on and out of Winter.

Every willow is tinting up with buds getting fatter by the day and hazel catkins
stand out like golden froth against the bare bark of their own trunks and those
of the other trees. The next prolonged mild spell is going to see an explosion
of new life, growth and the start of this year's cover for our creepings and
sneakings. Why I even saw one or two lesser celandine already in flower! Rich
yolky spots of colour prompting me to think of April...

Fish spotting was productive. Bird spotting not. I'm ashamed to admit that in my
yearnings to see the peregrine I kept raising my hopes and heart rate on all
sorts of mundane things like wood pigeons and crows. No sign yet although Warren
kindly directed my gaze to a lovely soaring buzzard, so that had to do for my
quota of rapture over raptors.

On and near the water - dabchick, heron, tufted duck, mallard, coot, moorhen,
grey wagtail, dipper and discreet wren abounded. I'm sure the kingfisher will be
around somewhere but I missed him today.

The gravel looks in wonderful clean and tidy order. Ranunculus has been shorn by
the floods but is already making fresh, bright green growth. Leaning over one of
the bridges on the Wye it was possible to see fish making use of what cover the
ranunculus is already able to provide.

I'll be needing cover too. Happily the beds of Flag Iris are sprouted well and
in places must be almost a foot up now from the tubers. One of my favourite
ambush points will certainly be ready to hide me by the April Fool's Day start
of the season!

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by Cicada on Feb 28, 2004, 6:57pm

Richard
A wonderful poetic report today but no mention of the hemp agrimony - not even
an early shoot? What will you do for cover come May?
Cicada

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Feb 29, 2004, 10:45am

Hemp agrimony is not much help until May. The way the fishing is at the start of
the season always seems very fair and equitable. The fish are easy to fool but
anglers find it harder to hide. Just as we find it easier to hide the fish are
harder to convince into accepting the artificial as food.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by WarrenSlaney on Mar 2, 2004, 7:01am

Our local small stream kingfisher has been conspicuous by its absence over the
last month. Yesterday the dog found it amongst other flood debris, well away
from the river in an adjacent meadow. She scented her scruff with the corpse.
Long periods of high water followed by north winds and sharp overnight frosts
must have done for it.

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Mar 2, 2004, 8:00am

Winter is a tough season. Do you think its mate is still with us? Will we get a
new recruit this year? How long does it take for a newcomer to find the vacancy?
A cup of tea by the fishing house will not be the same without the piping song,
the high speed blue and orange approach and the decelleration for the 90 degree
bend...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by Theo on Mar 2, 2004, 8:12am

Deceleration for the bend?

Dahn sarf Lunnon, our kingfishers are like our boy racers... they put pedal to
the metal just before the corners... swings the tail out for an extra flourish
with the fluoro undercarriage lighting!

More seriously, very sorry to hear of the loss of your *spirita loci*. May her
daughter soon replace her.

Theo

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by charlieH on Mar 2, 2004, 12:00pm

Theo, I think you may have to start a 'Sarf Lunnon 2004' thread to keep up with
the Derbys. lot. I have yet to see a kingfisher there, though was impressed to
hear that Alan S saw 4 in the course of one walk recently. It was good to see
pairs of both pied and yellow wagtails, though, just downstream from the
Sainsburys Savacentre, feeding merrily on a nice hatch of Iron Blue Duns. Great
invertebrate life on those submerged pieces of carpet, too!

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by Cicada on Mar 3, 2004, 6:38pm

Charlie
I know it's warm in Sarf Lunnon but Yellow Wagtails usually spend the winter in
Africa and don't return for another month or so.
So if your report is a recent one those 'yellow' wagtails were probably Grey
Wagtails who confusingly are more yellow than grey!

Anyway, it's great to hear the Wandle is in such fine fettle but wouldn't want
the Derbyshire boys to think us Southern Softies didn't know our onions.....
Cicada

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by charlieH on Mar 4, 2004, 5:31am

Yes, you're quite right, they were definitely grey wagtails, and my onion
knowledge is sufficient to have identified them as such at the time - brain must
have been in neutral when posting, though!

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Mar 4, 2004, 11:30am

What about those Iron Blue Duns?

They are far from common up here in Derbyshire. I wish I could predict when we
will see them again. Rare they may be, but it is always worth carrying a few
efforts at the sub imago in readiness. (Sounds posh that - what I mean is some
little dark Grey Dusters, with tails, and variants thereof with crimson thread
and maybe mole fur or black thread, rabbit under fur and bluish or even badger
hackle with a heavy black list...)

Worthwhile because the fish go barmy for them. Why? I don't know, the fly is
tiny, the hatch is short and sweet but the fish do like them.

richard

Booking at the Peacock
Post by WarrenSlaney on Mar 9, 2004, 9:50am

I get phone calls every day from anglers who would like to fish the Derbyshire
Wye but think they have to stay in the Peacock to do so, especially during
Mayfly.

The fishing diary is now open for non-residents to book to fish the Wye at
Rowsley during some high season(Mayfly) days. Prices have stayed the same for
2004.

Telephone number of the Hotel: 01629 733518

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by Ifor on Mar 10, 2004, 10:06am

Warren,

Are you saying that we can book to fish your part of the Wye during High Season
and we dont have to stop at the Peacock, that not the impression I was given a
few weeks ago when I enquired, I was quoted £60 for the fishing (thats OK) but
£125 for B&B at the hotel and the price of the hotel was likely to be going up.
I did not book as I thought the hotel price was a bit over the top.

If it is possible to book high season without staying at the hotel then there
are 4 rods here wanting to book a couple of days.

Ifor

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Mar 10, 2004, 10:54am

Ifor I believe that once the rooms are booked by non-anglers then the rods they
could have had become available for non-staying anglers to book. I didn't want
to chance it, so last year I booked in to stay to guarantee my favourite days.
I'd call the Peacock again if I were you. If I could get more time off I'd book
some of those days myself...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Mar 28, 2004, 10:05am

Last river walk before the start on Thursday proved worthwhile. Following the
Duke of Wellington's maxim that "Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted"
showed that fish were taking up station especially around the middle of the day.
The new bridge into the Show Ground at Bakewell was a good spot to observe as
the light fell just right into the ranunculus beds downstream. Quite a lot of
fish showing with a three pound plus brown in pride of place at the head of a
run down the left bank. The fly being taken seemed to be a small grey midge.
Only duns noticed were Large Dark Olive but they were few and far between.

The really uplifting aspect was the abundance of fresh green buds and shoots.
The hard work by the keepers will really bear fruit when the sun gets going, as
a lot more light is now getting to parts of the river bed that for at least
three decades have been overshaded.

Expect a report after Thursday as I intend to open proceedings on April Fool's
Day.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 1, 2004, 6:35pm

To the tributary as planned. On a beat about two miles upstream from its
confluence with the Wye. This beat is the haunt of big, strong brownies that are
often so orangie red that if you painted an accurate picture of one folks would
ridicule the bright colours as being "unrealistic".

Milder than last opening day but still got rained on. Many fish around but only
one or two seen rising properly to naturals. Resorted to casting a bushy
concoction to drift over fish high in the water in an effort to trick them into
rising. Some of them fell for it.

Some new "coffee tables" that The Head River Keeper has created out of split
tree trunks anchored on short legs to the river bed have introduced new bolt
holes and cover for trout. In these places where last year there may have been
one fish, now there are three. Very clever stuff this husbandry....

Had a break about 14:00 for a cuppa with THRK and a New Rod. Convivial, THRK
brought flapjack and didn't laugh at my fire going out first time I lit it under
the Kelly Kettle. Turns out the NR can fish a bit too and had instantly fallen
in love with the place.

Very pleasant interlude.

Having donned Barbour instead of windshirt and weskit, I was ready to go hunting
again and wandered off upstream. A tall and violent weir discharges highly
oxygenated water and all sorts of titbits into a long weir pool that has two
fish filled eddies, one on either side of the river. The bigger fish dominate
here. Only the very strongest fish can cope and small fish would be eaten
anyway. At this time of year there is no cover for the angler just here. The
only thing to do is creep down to the water's edge and sit crosslegged and bowed
until the trout settle down again and overlook the brown huddled lump that has
recently taken up position by their haunt.

You get one cast.

Sometimes it works.

It did today. One of the most beautiful brown trout I have ever caught took my
Double Badger and after a violent few moments I was able to net, unhook, weigh
and even take a photograph before slipping it back to surge away into the long
eddy where it came from.

It was a special day. That fish was the pinnacle. No need to fish on after such
a high, so I didn't.

Daffodils and lesser celandine provided some welcome yellow punctuation among
all the green shoots. Won't be long before the water avens bud and hide their
faces like embarrassed school girls. They will be followed by foaming
meadowsweet and then the place will suddenly be covered in wild flowers of all
sorts. I can wait. There is no need to hurry...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 4, 2004, 11:04am

Even the most determined angler can find himself deciding to give up before he
planned to...

In many years of angling I've had a number of dreadful things happen that have
still failed to stop me having my day out in full. You know the sort of thing:
falling in, breaking a rod, losing a fist fight by the waterside, billiousness,
torn ligaments, insect bites and stings, bulls, the list is endless. What
happened to me on Saturday I know not.

The day started with a very mild irritation that meant I was (as far as a fellow
rod was concerned) on the wrong beat! No problem, a call to THRK and I move
cheerfully to another beat. I have been looking forward to fishing this beat
this year but mentally had set it aside until the second week so going earlier
niggled a little bit. There have been some brilliant improvements made that stem
from two new bridges to gain easier and greater access to the right bank and
very skilfull extraction of certain trees to allow more light to the river bed.
By the end of the season there will be many new ranunculus beds and all their
attendant communities to add their input to the riverine community.

The fishing started well enough. I crept into a couple of newly accessible spots
and winkled a rising brownie out of each. Mid-afternoon and a pleasant tea break
with THRK and Dill had me in jovial mood and ready to continue where I left off.

Two hours later I was unfulfilled. Sure the fish were not rising, hardly
surprising, the rain and wind had increased in intensity and the sporadic fly
hatches had ceased utterly. But that wasn't it! I toddled back to the fishing
hut and made another brew. That did nowt for my negative frame of mind so I did
the decent thing and packed up. I didn't deserve to be there, miserable ******
that I had become. Quite out of place in such a lovely part of the world. Going
home was the right thing.

There were a number of very positive aspects to the day: lapwings almost ready
for nesting in the meadow that this year has been harrowed early just for their
protection, the two adult buzzards with their one youngster from last year
wheeled over head four or five times, there is a new kingfisher, Deo Gratias, to
replace the one THRK found in flood debris this winter, the fish I caught were
in immaculate condition for so early in the season, the new in-stream features
THRK made this winter have already improved the numbers of lies and hidy holes
for resident trout. The stage is set for a wonderful year of growth and
consolidation. So what the devil was wrong with me?

Maybe a few days back at work will knock some sense back into my silly head...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by ScottRods on Apr 4, 2004, 12:09pm

I'm keen to get out on the water, where should I go.
I've got a bit of choice being a member of DCAC, but not sure where as a
beginner to start off.

What set up should I use. I plan to use my 9' five weight, Snowbee prestige
floater. But not sure about a tapered leader, mono filament or fluoro?

help please

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 4, 2004, 5:14pm

You have a fair bit of choice in the DCAC. Your tackle is eminently suitable for
the Derwent, Dove and the Manifold. Tapered leader is best made to suit the
water perhaps 9 to 12 feet long. Reply #2 on this thread

http://flyforums.proboards53.com/ind...ead=1079520698

will show you how to make them up.

You may find a visit to Ogston or one of the other still waters at this early
stage of the season will give you more chance of a fish but the rivers will
usually be more interesting (unless you spot the ospreys at Ogston that is).

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by ScottRods on Apr 4, 2004, 6:00pm

I went to willington on Fri and it was poor. The water cloudy, too many birds
polluting it - they need to cull those. They need some more sedge grass there to
cultivate fly life.

There were nets spread out on the banks. Couldn't work out why.

Would you reccomend Ogston?

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 5, 2004, 5:57am

It's years since I went last but it was okay for me then. I was learning how to
fly fish in still waters at the time but still managed to catch a fish or two.
However, in those days I did have some eminent company to help me and short
circuit the error strewn learning process...

It's a good sized place and you can get plenty of bank to yourself.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 5, 2004, 11:00am

What to do if you have come a long way to fish the Peacock water and in the
night the rain has coloured the water spoiling your prospects for a day of
fly-fishing?

Check the water before buying your ticket. The Peacock staff will understand if
you decide to give it a miss under adverse conditions.

You may want to have a try anyway so okay get your ticket and let's think about
rescuing matters at some time during the day...<br>
You will have more chance (if it has slowed or stopped raining) later in the
day. So don't give up in disgust too soon. To give yourself a chance, whilst you
wait for things to fine down a little, go upstream. The map from the Peacock
will show you how far you can go.

Let's consider some of the locations.

At the very top of the fishery is Lakeside. The river is narrow here so will be
moving rapidly but at the top, below where a high weir from a lake feeds in on
the left bank there is a flatter area, rich in ranunculus and it is here where
the river will clear first. Pay attention to fish in the very edges of the runs
as well as those that live in the pockets of the ranunculus beds. Just below the
big weir you will see a large eddy on the left side of the river and fish
frequent it making a very stern test of your line and fly control because up
here you will be on the right bank with quite a current between you and the eddy
fish! Usually these include several two pounders, so it is worth the struggle.
There is room on this top stretch for a couple of rods who don't know each other
and if you do know each other then you could probably manage one more.

Moving downstream to Lumford there are shallows here after an island has split
the river. On the right bank is an old millrace in which quite large fish can be
seen from the little bridge near the medieval sheep wash. This section is often
more clear then the main river and a single angler can spend several happy hours
here stalking these millrace fish.

A few yards away, on the river proper an old packhorse bridge spans rich gravels
with a very large number of fish holding station. Here the water is also
filtered by the ranunculus, the shallows here are often fishable when the river
is still clouded. Above the packhorse bridge you have some more wide gravel
beds. On the left bank here the splitting of the river by the aforesaid island
slows the flow. It's another fine place for an hour or so of sitting in ambush.

Much further downstream of Bakewell, at Meaden Bridge, you will find another
filtered back eddy on the left bank immediately downstream of this new bridge.
Fish are resident here all the time and in dirty water conditions more join
them. This causes the fish to be quite active as territory and feeding rights
are at stake. You have a good chance of one making a mistake and asserting these
rights on your bushy artificial!

It is best when the river has fined down so occupy yourself as best you can on
these spots and others like them until things settle. Then you will find that
the fish start to make up for lost time and feed very well. Sport can be very
brisk towards the end of these days.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 7, 2004, 12:57pm

I don't care if is wet tomorrow - there is a scive coming on even if it is only
for a few hours. Maundy Thursday means I have to be away for Jackson in G and
Byrd Ave Verum by 16:00. We have had so much very welcome water these last few
days that I can't wait to see what it has been doing. If I'm lucky the sun will
come out and we shall have a few terrestrials on the menu. Methinks a Double
Badger to begin with, size 12?

Anyone else been fishing in Derbyshire since All Fool's?

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by fluffflicker on Apr 8, 2004, 6:45am

Hi Richard,

One reply to both of your last two posts.

I have ventured forth twice, 1st and 7th and what a difference between the two
days. Had some superb sport on All Fools with terrestrials and a reasonable
hatch of olives around 1pm. The real fools were those who stayed away - I never
saw another angler...

Yesterday, having failed to check beforehand with the hotel staff, and (to be
completely honest) on a bit of a scive myself, I was disappointed to see the
river high and coloured. I hadn't read your post from the 5th (I have only just
seen it today), but my reasoning followed your own quite closely.

I began at the very top with a coffee and a few minutes "river watching". The
clarity here was not good but it was most certainly better than downstream. It
was belting through, but close inspection revealed a quartet of fish moving
right in the edges and in the slightly slacker water. No olives visible; only
small black beetle-y things (I'm no entomologist). A small black beetle took 3
of these in-the-edges fish, interestingly a Wye MacNab (Rainbow, then grayling,
then brown) - always a good way to start.

Down above the sheepwash bridge, tucked up into the bank under the big sycamore,
I spied another riser. Tricky presentation here. Not only the sidecast
necessary, but also the drag from the slightly quicker water where you need to
cast from... Sidecasting? Drag? Old enemies, but overcome once again, and
another lovely wild rainbow came skittering to hand.

Time was marching on and the scive was nearing its end, but I noticed a couple
of decent looking fish above the weir on the left hand bank. Got the first one,
a grayling, on the black, and the second kept rising... Closer inspection showed
it to be a biggish rainbow. My cast was perfect, up until the thin unseen twig
above it got in the way and snared my fly. You can't, and don't win 'em all.

I saw the good fish below the bridge, but had no time for the Ward-esque "creep
and wait" which would have been necessary, so I'll leave them for another day.

Good fishing...

fluff

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by HarryOtter on Apr 8, 2004, 10:21am

Great post....."Wye MacNab"...brilliant!

HO

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 8, 2004, 7:22pm

That was nice fluff. Your second trip turned out quite special despite the
coloured water...

Today's scive was a delight (with some bizarre moments).

Buzzards wheeling over head, sunshine to get a few duns up, bumblebees working
over the Lesser Celandine and also drawing my attention to some tiny purple
flowered Dead Nettle that was already in bloom. The stinging nettles are getting
going and boy are they painful right now. At this time of year it is as well to
watch where you put your hands when you are getting up to move - there are no
dock leaves yet!!!

There was a very strong hatch of Large Dark Olives from about 12:45 through to
14:30. The sun definitely had plenty to do with this. No real difference in
temperature but plenty to do with light values. Once the clouds came over the
LDO stopped hatching. Only to start again as soon as the light improved.

Started with a Double Badger and caught two small rainbows immediately. Decided
to go and try in the edges of the violent water near the weirs so put up a Red
Hackle. Very effective but changed over to a large Grey Duster to be more in
keeping with the LDO. I would have changed to the Grey Duster eventually but was
forced to change from my Red Hackle after an experience I have never had with
trout before ----

Almost all of us who have fished for roach have occasionally had them stolen by
big pike on the retrieve. The poor little fish is just grabbed and that's it!
Gone! If a small pike gets hold sometimes you can end up landing them, but a
big'un just breaks everything and clears off with your prize. Today I was
quickly bringing a 4 or 5 ounce brownie to me for release. It was a couple of
yards from me (and safety) when a brown of about 5 lbs just shot forwards,
grabbed my little trout and just kept going. It was so violent in the rush that
it straightened the hook almost as straight as a needle. There was blood in the
water. It was just like a shark attack in miniature. The pool is in the tail of
a very powerful weir. I bet these big fish just hang around in wait for any
smaller fish that slip over the weir and get knocked about a bit. Roll on mayfly
time when I will try to meet up with the whopper on more favourable terms.

Just before packing up I caught a 2lbs plus hen brownie that on the right side
was immaculate but on the left had a big wound that must have once been life
threatening. She was in great condition for so early in the year and I really
think she is going to make it. The wound was from no big fish though. My
diagnosis was - heron. Eyes bigger than his belly no doubt.

The recent rain has done wonders. The river is bank high and really flowing
quite hard. Every fish was punching above its weight in these great conditions.

Have any of you listened to the song of a wren at this time of year? One was so
loud this afternoon during tea break that I had to ask THRK what it was - it was
so LOUD!

Another creature punching above his weight, eh?

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by ACW on Apr 9, 2004, 11:19am

Richard ,yes we wrens are noisy beggars theres one flits around the local
Highbury gardens and out sings many larger birds and at length .
Think I,ll hit the garden for a wee while its the nicest day for weeks .

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 9, 2004, 5:52pm

I bet you punch above your weight too!

I'm out again tomorrow after completing a few chores. We have had bright weather
today so if it is repeated tomorrow I'm expecting more Large Dark Olives...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by The Otter Startler on Apr 10, 2004, 6:26am

Quote:Think I,ll hit the garden for a wee while its the nicest day for weeks .

I think you'll find it scorches the grass, best use the borders. Mind you down
in Wales we use "the Water Closet" when at home, the bush when not!

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by ACW on Apr 10, 2004, 12:42pm

OS Punctuation was never one of my stronger points ,maybe I should edit my daft
comment ,but then it would confuse the thread .

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 11, 2004, 9:37am

Saturday, and to a beat on a favourite tributary of the Wye that is about 2
miles upstream from its confluence with the mother river. Here the fish are just
about always in very strong condition. Here a 12 oz fish pulls like one 4 oz
over the pound rather than under it. It goes on like that up the range. They are
wonderful fish, often tinged in red and they do very well. I imagine the river
is a tough place to live. If any creature is the slightest bit out of sorts it
is unlikely to survive very long as there is always something bigger and more
vigorous to eat it! Why are these famous fish so very, very strong?

I believe it all started when Pangea was the world. A piece of the planet that
eventually ended up as a valley and some small hills in Derbyshire was part of a
vast freshwater lake, rich in calcium and magnesium salts from the enormous
quantity of shelled creatures that lived and died here. A moss lived in the lake
and a bacterium lived in this moss. The Earth's upheavals distributed this piece
of Pangea about the globe and the moss with its symbiotic colleague bacterium
was distributed to this bit of Derbyshire and about 6 other places on the
planet. The moss and the partner took and still take nutrients from the fresh
water and produce a gritty by-product that forms clumps of rock called tufa
(pronounced 'tewfha').

Ice ages came and went. After the last receding of the ice, this tributary's
valley found itself with water flowing as a limestone spring fed river that
contained the special moss and its symbiotic bacteria. Brown trout colonised the
river. They may have found it easy to make redds in the very beginning but the
moss and bacteria were soon to make it harder for them. The tufa formed and
still forms a matrix in the gravel, the equivalent to Nature's own concrete!
Gradually, the only female trout left that could successfully spawn in this
river were very strong, able to withstand and recover from appalling
self-inflicted injuries as they struggled to break the matrix and build redds.
Thousands of years later, only strong fish exist in this river. Add in the rich
food supply and the recipe for naturally producing a "super" fish strain is
complete. So before I even start to fish I feel pretty lucky that I am allowed
to be there at all! Saturday was like that with knobs on...<br>
The Large Dark Olive made itself very conspicuous by its welcome presence. (THRK
even caught me an Iron Blue Dun to show me, but it was the only one I saw all
day.) LDO was plenty to be going on with, the fish were very keen. One had the
feeling that the year was really getting under way now with fly life in relative
abundance (for early April in the North of England anyway) and fish very quickly
moving to the upper layers of the water to take advantage of the new bounty.

As the afternoon moved past three o'clock, it became just a bit too easy. So it
was with pleasure I stopped fishing and watched the proceedings over the next
hour, until the light started to dim, the air turned a little cooler, the fly
stopped hatching and all went quiet.

In reflective mood, yours truly tiptoed away - quietly...<br>
richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 15, 2004, 4:35pm

For some strange reason Easter Monday was actually a little harder than Saturday
had been. Fewer flies out and hence fewer fish making themselves available to
me. Nevertheless, the Sport was steady enough to satisfy my humble ambitions for
this time of the year, I even managed a couple of biggish browns (both hens I'm
almost certain).

A feature in this first fortnight has been regular sightings of at least three
buzzards who soar over the valley so frequently that it must be worth their
while. I stopped fishing at one point so that I could observe a single bird
criss crossing the valley in effortless looking glides and drifts until it
settled in a tree at the top of a grassy and very steep hillside. Noting its
form in the branches I found that I could spot it again at will when I came by
this area later. What a healthy place for birds this estate must be: kestrels,
sparrow hawks, tawny owls, buzzards and peregrines all seem able to get a living
here. What next? Kites moving up from the M40?

I AM worried about the voles though. I haven't seen any at all this season. I
will keep a special look out for them tomorrow - yes a scive is definitely in
the offing...

Have any of you seen voles this season?

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 19, 2004, 6:03am

BLANK!

Blank?

How can a day by the water ever be dismissed in so curt a fashion? It was wet,
yes. It was cool in the fairly strong South Westerly. I didn't catch any fish so
it was technically - BLANK!

But... The riverside is a great place to be even when catching nowt.

Sundays spent fishing are rare for me. However, right now is the short break
after Easter and the Choir is "resting" until next week, so out to the water.
The day started well enough with a chance at the little fishing house to enjoy a
cuppa and light refreshments with the River Keeper (RK), his Better Half (BH)
and the New Keeper (NK), who had joined the Estate a whole 24 hours earlier.

The early afternoon was spent waiting for the rain to abate and watching
Lapwings in the great meadow on the right bank. This year the farmer was good
enough to have all his chain harrowing etc. completed well before April so the
birds would be undisturbed during nesting time. They seem to be taking the
benefit of the peace and the fact that it is a long way for the badgers to go,
from their woods to the middle expanses of this big space, if they fancied a few
eggs or chicks. Some of the birds are marked in the most exotic fashion and it
was particularly noticeable how they varied from each other in colour and degree
of lightness or darkness in their plumage. It IS a far cry from the days of my
childhood when Lapwing flocks were measured in hundreds. Today one is delighted
to see a flock that might just be qualified for counting in dozens. So it was
good to see what might be the start of a growth in population in these parts. I
will keep an eye on them and report accordingly.

Some fly struggled off the water and the first fish I saw made one very splashy
attack right next to the fishing house about twelve feet from me whilst I was
drinking tea. This (very short) area I leave alone. These fish are for me to
watch and for guests and other rods to catch (if they can). Mid-afternoon and
the RK and his BH had to leave but the NK was welcome company as we wandered off
down river to slowly work our way up and see if there was a chance. One fish
rose twice on our way down and I made a note to approach it on the way back up
after I crossed the river by the lower footbridge as the right bank would be the
better side for its lie.

The grass is now peppered liberally with lesser celandine but in the rain the
colour was more towards ochre than bright chrome yellow, each flower head being
tightly folded closed until the return of the sun. What will the bees do in the
meantime? Visit the kingcups no doubt, now that they are fully open and don't
hide themselves as much as the lesser celandine.

The water fined off a little and it was possible to see fish in some of the
smoother water but they were all firmly ensconced on or very near the riverbed
and nothing seemed to be on the fin. Wandering slowly back up stream, now on the
right bank, the solitary riser's lie was approached. Hmm!

There was absolutely no sign of it...<br>
Never mind. There was much else to see. Blossoms were opening on the Blackthorn
and I noticed one or two very straight shoots that will do for rod tips to cut
between Michaelmas and Candlemas next. Here and there a token cast was made to
likely looking runs but the day was growing a hard shade of grey now and the
rain was getting slightly heavier in the chilling wind. Butter burr has gained
ascendancy once more over gravel and stone by thrusting its pink flowering
spikes skywards. Make a mental note that their rhubarb shaped leaves will make
welcome hiding places come high Summer.

Meanwhile, it would be nice if Spring would be a little less shy and made an
early return to the year's proceedings...<br>
The upper footbridge was eventually reached and after lingering awhile we
crossed to the fishing house where the Kelly Kettle was waiting for fresh water
and a new fire. Hot tea and a few chocolate digestives (donated earlier by the
RK) saved us both from hypothermia. We watched a pair of Lapwings emphatically
dismiss a stalking Heron from the centre of the meadow and then restate their
marriage vows with a brilliant aerobatic display to each other before settling
back down again. Interesting that the Heron was working the ground rather than
the river. Are they a threat to Lapwing eggs or chicks?

It was well past four so we decided to pack up and go home.

Blank? No. I had a lovely time...


After all, "The riverside is a great place to be even when catching nowt."


But...




I really would have liked to catch just one little trout!





Blank? Yes. BLANK!



richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by swifty on Apr 19, 2004, 7:03am


Quote:


The early afternoon was spent waiting for the rain to
richard



Richard,

I take the point about blank days being time well spent in their own way. The
river I mostly fish is sometimes coloured by artificial spates from the dams
up-river. In these conditions I usually do a bit of recce on stretches I am not
familiar with. Also watch for kingfishers and raptors.

On the subject of rain, are there tactics that work better when its actually
falling? I will usually just fish through showers.

Cheers,


S

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 19, 2004, 8:18am


Quote:

Richard,

I take the point about blank days being time well spent in their own
way. The river I mostly fish is sometimes coloured by artificial
spates from the dams up-river. In these conditions I usually do a
bit of recce on stretches I am not familiar with. Also watch for
kingfishers and raptors.

On the subject of rain, are there tactics that work better when its
actually falling? I will usually just fish through showers.

Cheers,


S



If the fly are pushing through regardless then it is certainly worth fishing
through. In fact last season I stopped fishing during prolonged rainfall and
coloured water, not because of lack of fish, but because the fish were flinging
themselves at the fly and I couldn't see them beforehand, a) I was catching too
many and b) I was unable to control which fish were presented to.

It is easy when you can see the quarry to reduce the numbers being caught simply
by being very selective as to which fish will be cast to. My only option on that
day was to stop fishing.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Apr 26, 2004, 11:03am

Saturday, lower beat of a much loved tributary and a very peculiar experience
indeed...

Arrived at the water somewhat late. I was looking forward to a pleasant
afternoon after all the recent cold and wet. Passed through the gate upstream of
the fishing house and entering a tiny streamside copse I became aware of a
commotion at the water's edge.

On first examination it appeared that a coot was engaged in a furious battle
with a large, overdone, crusty farmhouse loaf! The loaf was certainly doing
quite well as it kept climbing up into her nest despite an astonishing onslaught
of peckings that would have killed most rats or other pillagers of nests.

I moved in for a better view. Aha! The loaf has legs! It also poked out a head
with yellow green stripes over the eyes, under which a mouth with pinkish
insides snapped in ostentatious malevolence.

This was a creature of quite different character from my old tortoise that in
the '50s crawled around my grandad's lawn dragging his tether that was affixed
through a neat hole drilled in the rear of his carapace.

The coot was losing the battle to keep this miniature Abrams away from her eggs
and so, as this was no native egg thief, I intervened and went to the rescue.

The terrapin (for such it was) didn't care for my presence one jot, turned and
with a strong kick from its hind legs was soon in the water and swimming quite
well in urgent evacuation. I pushed forward getting in front of it and when it
turned to try another route it swam into my landing net that was waiting for
just such evasion. A few minutes later it was locked in the fishing house
awaiting later attention.

What clots there are! Clots for bringing in foreign species. Clots for buying
them as pets. Clots for disposing of them carelessly when they get big and
awkward.

Does anyone on these fora know of any zoos or respectable collectors that might
want this particular specimen?

Back to Derbyshire fishing as opposed to Derbyshire "terrapinning", it was a
glorous afternoon but the fly was sparse and mixed. There were craneflies,
sedges, midges and one or two olives, a very strange mix for the time of year.
Sport was to be had though but it demanded a lot of careful observation before
casting. Grey Duster worked but I found the bushy Double Badger served better.

The voles were out and busy, which pleased me enormously as I had seen sign but
no actual voles until now.

Water Avens are just starting to poke through and the yellow heads of Lesser
Celandine have become the main subject matter of the meadows instead of mere
punctuation.

On a big island, I sat under a tall beech tree surrounded by cowslips. The fish
I was hoping to see near there were hidden by the reflections so I will have to
try another time in different light conditions. It was still worth a few
minutes, simply to be surrounded by such beauty.

Late on I wandered up the right bank of the upper stretch of this beat. I have
always used the left bank here but for a change this year I am trying all the
places no one bothers with. I approached a pool under a giant ash tree that on
the left bank is noted for its excellent sport. On the right bank the afternoon
light proved perfect for observation. A trout rose mid-stream and took a clumsy
sedge that had just been involved in what now turned out to be a fatal accident.
I cast to where I thought the trout was and got it wrong by about 6 feet too
much. The trout, now lined by my incompetence, immediately moved away. I decided
to wait and watch awhile. How pleased I am that I waited. I didn't catch any
fish but I watched a shoal of decent grayling begin their spawning on the gravel
lift at the exit of this pool. Trout are impressive when spawning but grayling
are just so very much more graceful and beautiful in their movements together.
An hour soon went.

Despite the foreign invader, it was a lovely afternoon.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by WarrenSlaney on May 2, 2004, 4:41am

While I was dealing with a barrow full of knocked up quick drying concrete and
pluging leaks in a pipe line to a fish pond, I was unable to attend the usual
problems of a bank holiday on the rivers. Thanks for your help Richard. You
reprimanded a local gardener for tipping garden waste and grass cuttings into
the river (treating it like a drain) and caught two poachers and seized tackle.
You were then quite willing to follow it all up with statements and witness
accounts.

Thanks

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 2, 2004, 10:18am

Aye the things I see when I don't have a gun...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 4, 2004, 8:17am

Friday, Saturday and Monday - not a lot of fish rising but those that were
proved catchable.

Beaten in the race to my tripped sedge by two younger fish (but still over 3lbs
apiece!) in a violent white spuming weir pool, a brassy, green and primrose
finned 6lb-er dissolve before my eyes at the commotion I had just caused with
her colleagues. One fish-splashing session and the monster was still happy to
hold her preferred position. The second was too much. After releasing the second
fish. I crept into position again hoping that now the sentries were both
downstream she might fancy a bit of a sedge. Followed then a bitter sweet
moment, as with the tripping sedge overhead she eased back a little and then
edged to her right, into the white water, and simply dissolved. Come mayfly time
and I will be back (but of course her attendants will be as well...).

Saturday was drawn to an early conclusion as some house proud gardener thought a
really neat way to get rid of the lawn clippings was to chuck 'em in the river.
Everything stopped. I had a quiet but clear word with the culprit who lamely
said that he didn't know it was a problem!

So, heading home for an early bath and passing the lower beat I see two ne'er do
wells poaching! I would have needed two vehicles, not just the one I had, to
block them in - so they did escape in the end...

The light on Monday evening was exquisite. The day was ended by sitting at the
fishing house with a bottle of ginger beer gazing in awe at the two great beech
trees just downstream of me. The left bank beech has its roots in an island
built of ancient sediments and limestone tuffa rock. There are cowslips at its
feet. The right bank beech is rooted in soil peppered with sizeable stones and
has a spring on its upstream side. It is much taller but instead of cowslips it
has flag iris between its roots. They both have that lovely fresh cloak of new
leaves and the evening sun picked it out to perfection against the deep blue
sky.

Aye the things I see when I don't have a frame left in my camera...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by keenfisher on May 4, 2004, 4:05pm

Richard

Fished the wye (Peacock water) on Saturday.

Water very high, bottom stretch (hotel) almost unfishable.

Water coloured until about 10.30 then cleared.

Lots of Hawthorn flys and hatches of Olives till about six.

Fished till about 7.30 then gave it neck. Landed 9 lost loads!

The "Dry Fly" only rule can be quite challenging in such conditions!

Regards

Chris

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 5, 2004, 8:33am


Quote:Richard

Fished the wye (Peacock water) on Saturday.

Water very high, bottom stretch (hotel) almost unfishable.

Water coloured until about 10.30 then cleared.

Lots of Hawthorn flys and hatches of Olives till about six.

Fished till about 7.30 then gave it neck. Landed 9 lost loads!

The "Dry Fly" only rule can be quite challenging in such conditions!

Regards

Chris



Sounds like a very satisfying day Chris. Do you agree with me that the strict
"single dry fly only" rule actually adds to the pleasure when such hard
conditions have to be overcome?

Did you find the fish accepting hawthorns or were they still preferring olives?

richard



Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by keenfisher on May 7, 2004, 11:12am

Apoligies for the delay in replying Richard but i have been at work earning
fishing tokens.

>Do you agree with me that the strict "single dry fly only" rule actually adds
to the pleasure when such hard conditions have to be overcome?

Yes however on days like last saturday the challenge can become almost
unbearable. Im not a stockie basher and as such prefer to walk a river even if
im not catching. The thrill of a fish taking a dry fly cannot be matched by any
other type of fishing imho.

>Did you find the fish accepting hawthorns or were they still preferring olives?

I didnt see any hawthorn flys being taken however the fish were certainly
gorging on the olives mid day and late afternoon.

It did seem to fall very flat late afternoon. And fish were very shy to rise let
alone take.

I have another day booked and cannot wait. The best river in England imho for
fishing quality and splendid senery.

Chris

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by keenfisher on May 7, 2004, 11:13am

Please ignore the silly smilies in the previous quote. heaven knows were they
came from!

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by keenfisher on May 8, 2004, 2:13pm

Just back from another day on the Wye.

River much higher than last week and coloured on the hotel stretch.

No fly life at all till about 12 (very cold and windy early on).

Mainly olives hatching but not in any quantity.

Mixed bag of Browns, Rainbows and grayling.

Saw a large brown (circa 2.5 lbs) sitting the the most obviously difficult spot
to cast to. Still it was an excellent sight and will provide some rod bending
sport for someone.

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 8, 2004, 5:50pm

Great stuff Chris.

I too found it hard today, in fact at one stage I jotted in my little book that
it was a slow start to the season. Having written this opinion it dawned on me I
should actualy flick through the pages to the same time last year. Guess what.
It was just the same last season. You cannot beat keeping a log! No matter how
simple it may be, it will prove useful sooner or later.

Personally speaking, I found today one of the most satisfying days (afternoon
really) fishing of my life. I was on a Wye tributary and every fish that was
prepared to rise was in a difficult spot. I had to work hard and think hard to
even get the fly on the water in the right places and then of course deal with
the presentation.

Charles Cotton's Black Fly was accepted early on but later the Kite's Imperial
in only size 16 was the recipe for the quite small (two settae) olives that were
in abundance but only occasionally being taken.

It was a superb day. Late afternoon I sat on a corner and watched a tiny trout
(one of this year's) holding station in a miniature lie amongst the marginal
cress and darting to intercept food. Three yards away a one and quarter pounder
was doing the same thing but mid-stream. I wonder if it was the baby's mother...

Having sat so quietly watching for about 20 minutes, I must have seemed part of
the scenery as a hare came down to the water's edge on the opposite bank
(roughly 4 or 5 yards from me) and drank from the river, oblivious of my
presence.

The lapwings were dive bombing anything and everything that ventured near their
territory in the big meadow opposite. Possibly 5 or even 6 pairs by my attempts
at counting. There were none last year due to ill-timed chain harrowing. This
year the harrow was used before April, leading to these marvellous results.

I'm taking a day next week on the Wye so your updates will prove most helpful to
me, thanks.

Now exactly where was that 2.5 pounder? (So I know to leave it alone of
course...)

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by WarrenSlaney on May 9, 2004, 6:38am


Quote:

Having sat so quietly watching for about 20 minutes, I must have
seemed part of the scenery as a hare came down to the water's edge
on the opposite bank (roughly 4 or 5 yards from me) and drank from
the river, oblivious of my presence.




Lucky devil!. Was it at the back of the 'Brothers'? In the whirling dervish that
is pre-mayfly, we get to see nowt. When you fish the Wye, pack your Chatsworth
Aphids Richard.

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 9, 2004, 5:33pm

Goodness me! I might have known you would know exactly where to expect a
sighting. Yes it was right on the apex of the bend exactly where you had done
all that bank work this last winter. I was sat at the water's edge in front of
the "Three Brothers".

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by PSB on May 10, 2004, 2:39pm

Greetings to Richard, whether near or far, I have been walking and fishing the
river in a virtual sense via your posts and through your diary notes its
possible to gain a feel for the seasons development, all the time waiting for a
gap in my schedule to actually do some real fishing. Well the big day beckons
and Wednesday & Thursday this week will find me wandering the banks of the Wye
in the hope of a fish or two. The weather today in Manchester has been dreadful
with thunder storms and loads of rain. Fingers crossed on that front !
The kit is ready and tomorrow night is dedicated to a good few hours of tying,
any advice of what a mere novice like me should be tying will be gratefully
recieved. I will update the site on Friday with how the fishing gods have
treated me. Rgds Paul B

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 10, 2004, 5:34pm


Quote:
The kit is ready and tomorrow night is dedicated to a good few hours
of tying, any advice of what a mere novice like me should be tying
will be gratefully recieved. I will update the site on Friday with
how the fishing gods have treated me. Rgds Paul B



I used all sorts of flies today because the fish although willing to rise were
swapping about as different flies came down.

Positive IDs today:

Large Dark Olive
Turkey Brown
"Small" Dark Olive
Midge
Alder
Sedges large and small
Drake
Hawthorn (although now only a few)
Daddy-Longlegs
Several other olives (one type with a gold and green body and two settae)

You will have your own favourites. I caught on Kite's Imperial, Grey Duster
(sparse), Grey Duster (bushy), Cotton's Black Fly (big), Sturdy's Fancy (18 as a
midge).

A tip that may come to nought but if it works will be important: Warren told me
about the greenfly bloom that occurred on Sunday. It carpetted the water and
fish were taking them. Today no greenfly! What follows a bloom of greenfly?
Swarms of Ladybirds. What is the underside of a ladybird like? A black oval.
Maybe a little foam beetle like the Hi Vis is worth having ready in case of the
opportunity?

Two more weeks and the fish will be paying a lot more attention to the surface
when looking for a meal.

Don't forget your overtrousers and wear them so you instinctively sit, kneel and
crawl as needed.

Have a good time. Blow the weir at Black Barn a kiss from me...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 10, 2004, 6:02pm

For those of you who get to the Wye over the next week or so, you might enjoy
pausing from the casting and have a look at some of the life going on in the
water right now.

Today every margin where the current was "just right" (you'll see what I mean)
there were little shoals of fry. I asked Warren and Gareth what they were and
they were unanimous that the tiny fish were grayling. My word! What fast little
beasts they must be compared to trout that will sit in the gravel for weeks and
weeks. Grayling eggs must hatch in only a day or so. I was watching grayling
spawn last week. Now millions of tiny results are all working for a living.

Less common and very wonderful to behold, were the brook lampreys breeding. They
are very energetic little movers of gravel and sand. Warren was able to get some
photos of these primitive fish that make up a valuable link in the food chain.

There are lots of other things going on, but these two I'm sure you will agree
are quite special. Aren't we blessed to be anglers?

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by PSB on May 11, 2004, 3:35am

Richard, many thanks for your timely reply and advice - there's more than enough
choice there to keep me busy, fortunately I already have very good store of
black foam bugs in 16s that have saved the day before on a couple of the welsh
rivers.

Come rain or shine I will have a great time soaking up the atmosphere of the
river safe in the knowledge that whilst I am wandering the banks of the Wye I
will be in a little world of my own.

Beautiful scenery, timeless tranquilty and the chance to dream of a fin perfect
brownie all for £30 a day. Life cannot be all that bad can it ? rgds Paul

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by WarrenSlaney on May 11, 2004, 4:24am

Just a quick note to the regulars on the Wye. You will begin to see a new face
on the river bank. He is something of an investment and his name is Gareth
Pedley. I first met him seven years ago when he came to the Lathkill Valley on a
day trip with his geologist Father. After seeing our rivers and catching the bug
he disappeared to Fishery College for 4 years and after a 9 month spell in NZ
comes to us as our new Wye Keeper, formally qualified and bursting with ideas.
Gareth has a passion for habitat improvements and river restoration so I can see
a good portion of my willow coppice whips going in his direction at the back end
of the year.

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 12, 2004, 7:58am

A text message from Warren last night: "Hawthorns mating today. What date last
year Richard?"<br>
"15th" went back the reply.

The lines in my log conjured a vision of tiny black figures taking part in a
seemingly co-ordinated, whirling, courtly, aerial dance. I might be missing it
this year but reverie brings it back.

Have you ever watched the Hawthorn mating? Dragonflies, Damsel flies and our
beloved Ephemerids are rapists. Hawthorn males do not need to be. Each fly, male
and female, describes a helical path ascending. The ballroom will be a warm area
over or very near to grass. In great throngs they describe their terpsichore and
just at the right moment a male and a female will meet then join just like some
16th Century dancers meeting mid-floor to join hands.

They couple and then the female flies off but now in a direct line to her egg
laying site among the grass roots. Only the male returns to the helical
Sarabande. Another female, as yet unmated so still flying in an ascending helix,
may join him - but any straight flying female is left unaccosted to fly on her
vital mission.

There is something serene about the whole affair. Spinner give the impression of
excitement by the frenzy of their activity but the Hawthorn seem calm and
relaxed in their slower and more regal progress.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by WarrenSlaney on May 14, 2004, 3:34am

The Environment Agency insists on an eight metre wide riparian strip that is
either left unsprayed or sprayed with an aquatic-safe herbicide and their
written consent. The Farmers on our Estate have had the responsibility of weed
control within that eight metre strip relieved from them and it is up to the
Fisheries Dept to sort out any problems plants. If those mated female Hawthorn
land within the riparian zone, their offspring will have you looking for your
diary next year Richard.

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by PSB on May 14, 2004, 11:32am

Well, the river looks in fine fettle, Wednesday started out with bad omens as
one of my wellies split along the seam as I walked across the meadow upstream of
Haddon Hall. The sky was overcast with northly breeze, fly life was very sparse
and so were the rising fish. All 12 tickets seemed to be on this stretch, every
last one of them stood bolt up right like the queens guards (same colour
clothing for some)by the rivers edge.
Manged find some free river after the weir,saw odd fish moving by mid afternoon
as I made my way up stream to the show ground. Odd mayfly showing around 1700.
Ended the day with 2 small grayling & 2 raindows, the only large fish I saw were
in other anglers bass bags, which I feel goes against the spirit of the game.

Thursday was again overcast but a degree or two warmer but still very little fly
life, decided to start at the top by the fire station, lost a huge rainbow early
after the line rubbed against the stonework of the bridge, after a burst of
cursing my calm returned enough to pick off a pretty grayling and small rainbow.
After lunch with no fish rising I decided to cast into known holding areas to
induce a rise and bit by bit I managed to add a fish here & there. The best
being a brownie about 1.5lds. Called it a day around 1900 just as sun finally
broke through !. Ended with the day with 3 graying, 2 rainbows & 2 brownies and
as usual many thoughts on how to improve. Back again in June when hopefully the
weather is more favourable for the fly life.Rgds Paul


Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 14, 2004, 12:22pm


Quote:...Back again in June...




Good man! Now when you come back arrange your days so that you can stay late. It
could be worth bringing a few mayfly spinners if you get there in June's first
fortnight.

richard



Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by Ifor on May 14, 2004, 12:41pm

PSB

Three of us also fished Wednesday, not easy few fish moving although if you took
your time there were a enough to keep you interested. I managed 8 for the day 2
good sized browns, 1 good sized rainbows, 2 smaller rainbows & 3 smaller browns.
My mate also managed 8 but the other chap blanked, only his second time river
fishing and despite telling does stand bolt upright over the fish, he will learn

We caught on BWO, Pensioner, one on a mayfly and during the late afternoon on a
sherry spinner.

Speaking to a few other rods they seemed to think there were less fish about,
but as it was an odd day with few fish moving I guess it does give a false
impression, we certainly did OK.

I have to say on this occasion we did kill 2 fish but had then smoked on the
riverbank for lunch, nothing finer fresh fish ready to eat in great surroundings
in under 20min.

We are also back in June and look forward to another good day.

Ifor

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by ScottRods on May 14, 2004, 2:17pm

Any DCAC member want to take me out on the club rivers? I'm really needing to be
shown the ropes on the rivers.

I've only fished the club reservoirs so far.

Jonathan

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 14, 2004, 3:30pm


Quote:Any DCAC member want to take me out on the club rivers? I'm
really needing to be shown the ropes on the rivers.

I've only fished the club reservoirs so far.

Jonathan



Jonathan don't do that. Just get your maps out and go on your own. The waters
are pretty well neglected but they are very lovely all the same. The Dove at
Beresford Dale is very easy to get to. You use your small key to get into the
gated car park at the bottom of Beresford Lane. Cross the river either by the
ford or the little slit bridge and walk down to the very bottom of the stretch
on the left bank. Then over the next three hours or so work your way back up to
the ford.

A trip to the Manifold is a bit more strenuous and you ought to take waders for
the bottom reach around Brund.

Use the club maps (in conjunction with the yellow labelled OS map "Outdoor
Leisure" of the Peak District "White Peak") and you will be fine. Frankly both
places fish a lot better when you are alone.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by PSB on May 17, 2004, 4:20am

Ifor, well done thats a good day catch given the moody nature of last Wednesday,
it was a strange day and its telling that your friend who is not used to river
fishing blanked, that said I have learned a lot from my many blank days and
every now and then we all need one just to remind us that what worked last
week/month will not automatically work next time around.

One thing I did notice was the preference of the grayling to take grey coloured
flies and the brownies to take black coloured flies, without the grounding in
fishing the Wye that someone like Richard has I am left wondering whether that
was just a quirk of that particular day.

On the kit front my new overpants worked so well I just got on with fishing and
forgot about the nettles and other prickly plants, without good over pants you
cannot get down low enough to get the best from the river, my old but new to me
cane rod was wonderful and my new wt 4 wf dry fly line was a revalation,
delicate, accurate, easy to mend and in the dark willow colour acceptable to
spooky fish, alas I did not take as well to my new silk line, this will be going
on the classified page in the days to come.

Finally I need to dig out my fly tying books to find a reference to the
"pensioner" fly. I am back on the 2 June and this time I will not be leaving the
banks until late, rgds Paul

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 17, 2004, 4:54pm

Good spotting there Paul! We have had good hawthorn this year and plenty of them
have had accidents that meant they ended up on the water. They are a larger fly
than the little midges and olives, some of which do appear grey from a distance.
Methinks the trout are more ready to take the black hawthorn flies (and take
them quickly at that) than the grayling, which usually have further to travel
through the water to get to them.

Have you had any hook themselves on the black flies this year?

It must have happened to me half a dozen times this year, the rises have been so
violent!

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by PSB on May 18, 2004, 12:34pm

Richard, I had an instance of this on the Thursday that caught me totally
unawares. I had found a small group of trout, mainly brownies sipping down some
invisable form of life on a regular basis. This was on the bend where the split
river comes back to in to a single body up stream of Haddon.

I had crept up, watched the fish rising for 5 or 10 mins, then cast nothing,
cast agian nothing so change of fly, I repeated this 3 times with out a single
offer. I became concerned that my choice of fly was presenting the wrong
silhouette to the rising fish. A quick rumage in the fly box found me tying on a
small cdc bodied fly that was just a general representation of nothing &
everything if you know what I mean.

It was so long since I had used this type of fly I just flicked it out in front
of my feet to see how it looked on the water, I watched it drift for about a
foot when "umpf" the water appeared to implode and the rod arched over as a good
brownie sought sanctuary below, needless to say I was off balance and the fish
was off in second.

I just had to laugh, it was a classic smash & grab raid and in many ways I was
pleased the fish got away as I was not really fishing, more a case of testing.

The other very funny event (with hindsight) was an old woman waving her arms
around pointing out the trout on the Gatso side stream, I had been hidden away
for a good 10 mins, letting the fish settle and I guess she thought that I could
not see them, when I did not respond to her gestures she helped me further by
throwing a small stone in to the stream to show me once and for all where they
were

I think it is the good book that states lifes a mystery and a day on the river
is proof enough of that. Rgds Paul

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 18, 2004, 5:02pm

Ah.. the General Public!

You might like to try one of my minor tactics to deal with "The Way of the
Public with an Angler"...

viz.

I love hats! (Bigger the better so long as I don't look too much like George
Melly). When someone like your lady seems in need of attention, before she will
subside, I make a big smile and raise my hat like a very old fashioned gentleman
from a bygone age. Mouthing a big silent "Thank you!" is a nice touch.

Shouting is out of the question and sometimes it helps to imply that I am happy
for the contribution but would rather it was kept strictly between the two of us
by plopping the hat back on my head and then making a "hush" sign with extended
index finger to my lips or a "You ain't seen me. Right?" tap on the side of the
nose followed by a brief moment of vertical index finger pointing Heavenward
whilst the head makes a tiny half nod in front of briefly hunched shoulders. (Go
through this in mime and you will see exactly what I am struggling to convey.)

It can work quite well.

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 23, 2004, 6:01pm

Saturday evening the angling fair over until the next day it was time to grab a
few moments on the lowest beat of a loved tributary to the Wye. As time was
short, I ignored the confluence pool and decided to start about two thirds of a
mile upstream near to the fishing house and where I had left Mrs W's car.

A spinner fall was under way and for once I found myself hurrying to get ready.
Crossing the river by one of the little footbridges (made just for anglers) I
was on the right bank downstream from where I knew a large red and gold brownie
lived having watched it since before the season started.

Luck was with me as I lined not one, not two but three sentries that for a
change decided just to sink to the bottom instead of dashing upstream in terror
and spooking my quarry.

Then Luck seemed to have deserted me on my first cast to the "whopper" as I
managed to get the fly (a small PPS) in the alder twigs and leaves that made a
half canopy over him. No bushy hackle to give me a good chance of extracting the
fly so my positive mental attitude was just beginning to fade but then the fly
just seemed to climb up, over, down and round and then plopped on the surface to
drift harmlessly down to me.

By gum! I was being allocated another chuck!

The next cast just missed the canopy and the fly was in perfect place to drift
down as dead as the real spinners. The fish took it exactly as it had taken all
the others and a few minutes later I was weighing it in the net as it was too
good to just guess at. Four pounds two ounces on the scale - so the fish weighed
three pounds exactly! The release was nearly as joyful as the capture. As I
eased him over the rim of the net in the shallow margin there was a slow and
steady pulse passing through his entire length. My right hand round his caudal
peduncle (wrist) held him upright and as he curved to kick I let go. He forged
steadily away, back upstream to the deep water just behind his feeding station.
I was going to fish up further and did catch one more brownie as I edged round a
90 degree left hand bend but the lapwings were irritated by my presence so I
decided to retrace my steps, cross back over the river and go downstream to
another spot, where I knew fish enjoyed spinner falls and it had the added bonus
of being away from the worried lapwings.

One more brownie and then the rises stopped. That was fine! I was so happy I
sang all the way back up to the car.

Following a similar dash to the river last year after the angling fair, I was
joyful then over one rainbow trout.

This year I fished from 19:00 to 19:50, caught a wonderful "project" fish and
two normal ones and now I had the chance to be home earlier than expected and
thus bring peace, love and harmony to chez W...

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 26, 2004, 9:49am

Twenty to three - just joined the queue on the M60 - the sign tells me I'm
twenty-eight miles from home. Half an hour then? Perhaps not...<br>
The meeting had been at Haydock. That's near Liverpool is it not? Better not
take any gear with me then or the windows will be broken and it will all be
nicked. So the gear was left at home and I had to get to the river via home.

Haydock is a lovely place and the car park was secure! I could have saved myself
this ludicrous detour and waste of fishing time if I'd taken my gear.

It was a quarter to five by the time I reached the little fishing house. A
fellow rod had left me a Permafloat bottle filled with carbon tetrachloride -
what joy! As soon as I was tackled up and dressed I took about a teaspoon full
of the solid Permafloat (THAT can still be bought) and mixed it with half a
bottle of the CT. Brilliant! Enough real Permafloat to last a season was now in
my pocket.

Drake flitting about, roughly half and half duns and spinners, my Wulffe variant
was ignored so on with a white bodied Ethafoam Bodied May (EBM). The first fish
I cast to accepted it. The next two hours passed quickly and I found myself up
at the top of the beat above a very high weir by the old mill. Lots of small
fish were dashing about and leaping to intercept airborne duns. Ignoring them I
stared hard at a dark pocket right in the edge on the opposite side where, two
weeks earlier, I had watched a good fish hard under the ivy and brambles that
hang from the wall above.

The EBM is a bit of a drogue. Shooting the last couple of yards helped to get it
under the overhang. The fly was taken almost immediately. By gum! The fish was
strong. It was by no means the biggest brownie in the river but at 2lbs 12oz it
was in perfect health and it actually took line four times before it was tired
enough for me to trick into the net. She was still full of fight in the net and
gave me a soaking as I released the fly. Then I just lowered the net down around
her and she eased over into freedom and a rapid exit towards her dark pocket. It
was worth coming just to watch her regaining her composure and her tenure of
what must be a top class residence for a top class trout.

I returned to the fishing house for refreshment then set off down river. By now
the duns had ceased hatching. I put on an experimental Polyprop Winged "Spent
Gnat". Hmm! It seems to work quite well. Inevitably sport slowed as the spinners
ceased their egg laying but one or two fish still took it. One of these was a
beauty caught by Warren after he had watched me fail to reach a fish that was
out of my reach but within his. He quietly asked, "Can I have a go?" I passed
him the rod and three casts (long casts) later he was playing a lovely trout
that proved to be 1lb 14oz. Being the pro he is he spotted a leech on the
brownie's belly and quickly removed it. We put a drop of Medi Carp Malachite
Green Gel on the wound just prior to release. One good turn deserves another eh?

The day was over by a quarter to ten. Not a full scive of course but a very
pleasant interlude all the same. I have a whole week off next week - apart from
a board meeting on Thursday morning...<br>
richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 28, 2004, 12:44pm

If you want a bit of information about the Peacock day ticket water on the
Derbyshire Wye this link on the WTT might be of help.

http://www.wildtrout.org/WTT/library...Spring04A4.pdf

richard

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by ACW on May 29, 2004, 2:57pm

PSB , please dont give up on the silk line just yet if its new it needs running
in after a few tripps it will start feeling good and then it will just get
better ,if youreally want to part with it let me know ,sure I can find a good
home .

Richard / warren ,sorry finances keeping me south .am dying to get up there .

Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on May 29, 2004, 8:10pm

Although the drake are not yet at snow storm level the fish are getting better
at eating them. This evening the spinner return was quite special. Some big fish
around and they ate my PPSG (Poly Prop Spent Gnat) with confidence. Has anyone
else tried it yet?

Out again next Tuesday and Wednesday on the Peacock water so expect gushing
feedback around Thursday.

richard



Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by pbannis on Jun 1, 2004, 7:00am

I fished the Derbyshire Derwent @ Darley Dale bank holiday monday from
1200-1800. Down to summer levels. A steady trickle of mayflies from 1300 until I
had to return to family duties and left the river. A steady number of rising
trout, some taking the mayflies but some locked onto small black things.

Reasonable success with size 12 CDC Mayfly Dun.

Treating myself (and really looking forward to) a day on the Peacock water this
Sunday. No family duties so I'll be there until sunset






Re: Derbyshire 2004
Post by richardw on Jun 3, 2004, 11:01am


Quote:I fished the Derbyshire Derwent @ Darley Dale bank holiday
monday from 1200-1800. Down to summer levels. A steady trickle of
mayflies from 1300 until I had to return to family duties and left
the river. A steady number of rising trout, some taking the mayflies
but some locked onto small black things.

Reasonable success with size 12 CDC Mayfly Dun.

Treating myself (and really looking forward to) a day on the Peacock
water this Sunday. No family duties so I'll be there until sunset




If things stay as they have been you are in for a treat.

Tie some of these:

http://flyforums.proboards53.com/ind...ead=1085580497

richard