At last a weekday away from work in London. Sonia left to go to the health club giving me the opportunity to get onto the river much earlier than normal for me. At last there was no frost last night with the temp only getting down to 6c. Today was cloudy but breezy, as with this time of year the water is still very cold. A different section of the river today, fishing it for the first time this season, last year this section was very productive, has it improved over the closed season? Checking on the river you could see that there was little chance of any surface activity. So again set up with my Hi Vis leader and 5ft tippet with one dropper 12in from the point. Two size 20 GRHEs with a bead were attached ready for battle.
First cast of the day into one of last years favourite pools, having to adjust my casting to allow for the longer rod. Third cast the leader shot off to the right, and the rod bent as only a Tenkara can! Playing the fish to the net, a Grayling of 34cm. Nothing else in the run so off to the next. A fallen tree right across the bottom of the next pool limited the water that could be fished, gave the rod a flick and the nymphs landed in the right spot, follow the leader back, it stops lift into another Grayling this time only 30cm. Moved another 100mts upstream to another good run last year, Cover the water in a fan pattern leaving the run where I expect to hook up till the last cast. Another Grayling hits the nymph, this time a large fish comes nearly into the net but a final shake of its head and it snaps the dropper.
Off to the last pool / run of the morning, I start at the end of the run making my way up flicking the nymphs ahead of me. This pool turns out to be the best of the morning, by the time I get the the head of the pool I have caught 6 more Grayling all over 30cm! What have I learnt today? Tenkara can and seems to out fish a small conventional rod on small rivers; very small nymphs produce larger numbers of fish! Using a tenkara rod with a downstream wind can be challenging as the leader tends to bow like a sail; remember to check that the underwater camera has fully charged batteries, I took some great film only to find that the camera had recorded nothing! I even managed to get home before Sonia had returned from the club. A good morning had by all.

Simon.

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A ninety minute session in the wood yesterday. First sesssion on the Tenkara with a dry and first session as a R&G member.

This little battle scarred (check the tail) brownie succumbed to a #20 parachute olive

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Don't care what your name is. No-one walks on the water where I'm fishing!
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After what seems to have been an almost endless week I am feeling shattered; while the head is suggesting it may be a good idea to have a rest the heart decides to go fishing and if it gets too much I can relax and watch the world go by. We decide to go to Worms Wood where we get kitted up, say hello to the horse who is on the other side of the fence we need to climb over and we go our separate ways. I start at the beginning of the field while Simon goes upstream, I start fishing what looks like a lovely, deep run but nothing is interested in my nymph so I have a change and still the same result – nothing. Simon suggests it may be a hard day as he hadn't caught a thing either. Moving upstream trying different runs and flies I'm struggling to connect with a fish, the sun feels wonderfully warm on my back, olives are steadily coming off the water but not a single fish is interested in them. Getting a little too close to the bank I ended up getting my fly in some vegetation in the water much to my annoyance as I am going to have to retrieve my fly ruining the rest of the run, time for a drink before moving on. Simon has now caught a trout as I keep moving and searching another deep run that gave me some wonderful fish in the past, but it was fruitless today, so yet again it was time to move upstream. I started fishing a fast flowing, deep run where I have never had a fish, after a few casts I decided to use a heavier, larger GRHE and after another few casts I thought I had hit the bottom again but as I lifted the rod it bent and moved with force. The trout briefly came to the surface where I could see the very dark ochre of a stunning brown trout, then it headed straight for the bottom of the pool before deciding to change direction. My rod was bending as I tried to bring the fish close so I could get hold of the leader, the fish had other ideas and there was no way it was interested in coming anywhere near me, one look and it headed off towards the bank. I had the feeling it was going to take some time to get the fish under control and it felt and looked like a decent fish. Moving my rod backwards I was finally able to get hold of the leader and the fish was scooped into the net at last, where I quickly removed the hook before having a longer look at my first brownie. The fish was truly stunning with deep ochre underneath and beautiful large spots, it was fin perfect and feisty, when released he darted off in a flash and I was left in need of a drink to revive my parched throat. Moving a little further upstream again the leader halted and I lifted into another brown trout but this time after a short fight it was self releasing. Feeling a little drained I decided to call it a day, I collasped my rod, put my fly and leader away before getting onto the bank and walking downstream. Crossing the river I settled down to listen to the bird song and watch the birds while enjoying the warmth of the sun after a dreadful winter. Time to go home.
Sonia.

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"Grayling" the Lady of the Stream.

Top trouting Sonia.
Simon tells me it was a cracker

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Don't care what your name is. No-one walks on the water where I'm fishing!
http://pedrosonthefly.blogspot.com/