A phone call from Andrew Moray yesterday & we met at The Gorge on the River Gryffe at 10.30 this morning.
Day had dawned with perfect conditions & a quick look at the river confirmed she was in good nick if a wee bitty high but was running off after some heavy overnight rain. A few small Bandies could be seen rising under the overhanging tree. I commented to Andrew that is was excellent wet fly water but being a “dry fly” “nymph” man it seemed to fall of deaf ears
Leaving one car at the gorge we took mine downstream to the lay bye beside the old Rhubarb fields & crossed over the field to the river. She was running slightly up & the colour of weak tea, weather was dull but bye September standards warm with little or no wind.
I set up a two fly cast of Gold Head GRHE size 14 & my favourite Endrick Spider on first dropper. Tony meandered upstream with a PTN & and one of Han’s EHCaddis as his first choice. I fished downstream through a pool I knew fairly well but other than a half hearted pull from a wee Troot, nothing stirred. Giving Andrew bit of time to fish upstream it was my intention to fall in behind him. He had raised a few fish but none had stuck I decided to walk round to the run in to the pool about 100yds from him where he had indicated a bit of fish movement. A few small Olives flitted by & a lot of Sedge fluttering around the bank side vegetation, I contemplated changing flies to suit but decided to persevere with my first choice. A few tentative casts & a mend my line shot away & a lovely river Trout jumped clear of the water in a cascade of brown & yellow. A dogged fight ensured & it was some relief when Andrew appeared with the net, he had heard the commotion & ventured up to help. Result was this fine Trout of 14” the wee GRHE stuck in the scissors, a good fish for such a wee river. Just look at that tail, more of a paddle than anything. Nice clear photo from Mr Moray. Jealous of his American made landing net, ideal for deep wading. Me I had forgot mine, my old Sharpes Strong of some 30years old but as good as the day it was made. Still not much good lying in a cupboard at home.
A few casts later & in the exact same pot that Andrew had previously lost a good fish & got it’s younger brother a fish of around 13”
The Highlander if somewhat hot, in wet fly mode, God I miss my trusty tweed hat. Not someone a poacher would want to meet on a dark night.
One pool & I had taken two lovely river Brownies & this in a river where a 10” fish is considered good, doubly so that they were wild fish & had not been stocked which made it even better. The rest of the day was relatively uneventful with a few more “wee ones” from yours truly & around five from Andrew.
All in all we fished for 4 hours & a splendid ½ day we had in good company & even better conditions. My thanks to Andrew for a perfect day in good company & for The Frost Knife most indebted.
Tight Lines
River Gryffe, Sunday 14th Sept 2008
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