Thought I would start a little thread off. So I can try and keep updated on the rivers I fish and hopefully other members of the club will join in and update as well.

Anyway on Saturday morning I fished the Hamps early nothing for an hour then a loverly fish taken off the bottom on a pink/brown goldhead on a size 12 - fished upstream - see photo

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...MAGE_00089.jpg


In the afternoon I fished the Dove from Dovedale. There is a little trout that taunts me from just a above the carpark weir - same place for two weeks now - but on the hotel side.

Then I saw a number of Grayling in the Nursery pool - some looked of decent size and they were certainly in a fiesty mood.

Further up the river I had a couple of very long releases but not much else until the bridge where I spent about a hour bouncing about a dozen different nymphs over two nice browns but they were not a bit interested.

Nice fish Alex.

I had a day on the Churnet yesterday. Some success on the Ramblers Retreat stretch, all fish from below the weir, nothing above it.



Then moved on and went upstream of Eastwall farm. It's the second time on this stretch and I've blanked both times. It could be a different river - the water is more coloured (greenish) and there are loads of fallen trees. The flow is slower and I'm struggling to spot fish holding areas. Elsewhere, most of my fish are coming on goldheaded nymph, fished where fast water slackens.

Kev

Hi Alex,

Hope you enjoyed the woking party day !

I went on The Hamps yesterday again only below the bridge. Some nice "fishy" looking runs. But still not even a pull never mind a fish.

In fact I am struggling to spot any fish in there unlike the Bentley Brook when I went for a fish-spotting trip there.

I've also balnked on The Churnet at Eastwall Farm (tried this for this the Grayling earlier on in the year).

So now its only the Dove and Bentely Brook that I need to blank on and then I have the full set !!!

Think i'll try The Churnet again this weekend,

Cheers.

Good day Sat. 14 fish of which 4 were Grayling.

Went down to the Churnet at Lords Bridge - and I think the egg box scheme is working.

I used a goldhead nymph looks like this

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000636.jpg

At one stage (a sorry about this Kev) just past the weir, I was getting either a fish a take or a long release on every cast.

They were all small about 4- 6 inchs - the grayling as well, So I assumed they are all last years egg box perhaps (apart from the grayling)?

One was very small - in fact my smallest trout caught on a rod.

He took a long time to get right - my hand nearly freezing off - anyway had time for a photo.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000641.jpg

Feeling confident I moved up to Eastwall Farm and had one Grayling but felt like I needed to fix my vendetta up on the Dove. The liitle trout by the weir was still there and still in hotel water.

Then had nothing all afternoon apart from long releases and spooked fish.

But did have a very nice trout about a pound in the nursey pool on the way back to my car - also saw some bloody huge Grayling spawning in the top end of it

Not a great shot - can you buy polerising filters?

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000654.jpg

Nice one Alex. It's a nice spot below the weir. All on the nymph? Any on the dry?

I've got a couple of weeks off now and plan to get on the Dove most days. Not sure I can beat 14 fish, though the last time I saw a fish that small it was in a tin

Kev

Still very frustrating that almost no fly coming off and no rises yet, if global warming ever reaches Staffordshire , at least the fish will start looking upwards again. We are due a good Hawthorn hatch soon so the Dove will be favourite as this normally has the best , this is one fly that rewards bad casting . As the natural lands like a brick , splashy casts work best
Good luck
Rob

Last appointment of the day was in Uttoxeter so managed a couple of hours on the Churnet this evening. 4 perfect brownies up to 25cm, and a Dace that took a PTN!

Quite a few large upwinged flies showing but no obvious hatches, and no rises. All fish taken on nymphs.

There was a kingfisher flitting up and down that was the brightest neon blue. My photo challenge for this year is to get one in flight - perhaps an entry for the LADFFA photo competition.

I had a dace on a gold head on the churnet - last time I was out. Just debating whether or not to go up to the Dove in an hour or so - have a go at those stockies.

I fished from the Milldale end the day after the stocking. Got 5 fish and lost a fair few. All fish were a good size and no blue spots, so I assume they weren't new stock (I take it the stock fish are marked?).

At Ilam again this weekend and will be in Dovedale Sat evening and possibly early on Sunday morning.

Went up from the car park end last night.

It was a busy day - Loads of guys on from the hotel.

Had a stockie on nypmh right at the start of the water by the bridge (they have a little blue spot on their bellies).

There was a good rise on further upstream - with large dark olives coming off as well as loads of tiny midges. Four fell to my only fly that looked remotely like the hatch - until I lost it (2 on long release though!) the best about 1lb and both wild.

There was also a hatch of very dark brown flys - big legs - almost like daddies in flight skill - the fish wern't turned on to them and I am not sure what they were.

It was nice to see lots of small fish about two - the second fish was only 6 inch and probably only a year old.

The goosanders are still there - last time there was three. But only the pair now. They definatly know an angler when they see one as they scarper - but not from walkers - so note to drop rod before picking up rocks to throw - I know some members carry a catapult - so that shoudl do as well.

The rise tailed off about 5/6 with only action on the nursey pool late on - and unfortunatly a dead fish on teh bottom of it - I could not reach it so not sure from what - although the goosanders were hanging round there.