People: Myself & Gareth
Date : 01/05/09
Venue: Springwater Meadow, County Down
Duration: 12:00 - 19:00
Weather: Windy at times, NW, Rain and sunny spells
Flies: Black Buzzers and Teal Nymphs
Tactics: Floating line with 20’ cast consisting of one dropper
Results: 12 rainbow trout to 3¾ lb
Report :
Reached the fishery around about midday and proceeded to pay our £12 for the days C&R. Quick chat and of we went. Upon arriving at the first bay we found many small fish rising so we decided to try our luck here to get the confidence level up. Gareth was quickly into a fish and another before I had even cast a line. My first cast and I was into a fish of about 1¼ lb, these small fish put up one hell of a fight and definitely punch above their weight, this fish took the point fly of a black and green wire buzzer.
My first of the day
I then decided to try the next bay leaving Gareth to enjoy the sport. On arriving at the next bay I noticed that the activity was pretty much the same as the previous with plenty of fish rising. First cast and fish on, again to the point fly, this fish was a tad bigger than the previous but fought just as well. Fish netted and returned then a quick check of my knots and second cast saw me again connect with the point fly. Once again a hard fighting bow of 1½ lb was brought to the net and quickly returned.
I decided to explore the rest of the lake and try and seek some of the bigger fish. I started to fan cast along the banks moving along 20’ every couple of casts in the hope of hitting the bigger fish but unfortunately did not come across anything. I decided to try my luck on the island so made my way over.
View from the island
I saw plenty of bigger fish topping and tailing in this deeper water and cast towards a few that I saw. On my sixth cast I eventually hooked a better fish which took me down to the backing twice. This fish fought like stink and I thought I was into one of the resident biggies but after a fight of about 6 minutes I slipped the net under a fish of around 3½ that took the dropper of a teal nymph.
A fine hard fighting 3lber
A few more casts and the fish seemed to have disappeared. I noticed Gareth was getting some good sport in the first bay so decided to join him in the next peg.
Gareth into one of many
This was a good decision because the rest of the day was spent hooking and fighting some very strong fish between 1-1¾ lb, when I say strong I mean strong, these fish are bionic and very testing even on a 7# rod. The highlight of this bay was a cracking fish of about 3¾ lb which took the point fly.
Highlight of the day
It put up a tremendous fight which cramped up my arm and put a smile on my face at the same time. This turned out to be my last fish of the day and the icing on the cake of a 12 fish haul. All in all Springwater Meadow is a great small fishery and one I will be returning to again very shortly.
The successful point fly: Thread less wire buzzer
Springwater Meadow, Northern Ireland
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