Yesterday's mere hint at some rain turned into bigger and better things today. We had had a fair fall over night and there was plenty more this morning too. When I arrived at the brook it was up a good 5 inches or so compared with last week. There was pale 'tea' colour to the water and it looked promising.

Due to fish with Vince, and having forgotten to phone ahead (sorry Vince!) I had twenty minutes fishing some usually forgotten water. With the rain falling hard, I had decided it best to fish a biggish parachute emerger - giving any willing fish the chance to see the offering amongst the rain-splashed surface. Sure enough, within a few casts through some very inviting water a pretty fish took the fly boldly.



Vince, casting up into some streamy water:


Having been joined by Vince, we found more fish willing to rise but identyfing rises in such conditions is never easy. Eventually more contact was made and well marked fish put a good scrap: always nice to get the short carbon flexing!



As we waded up the stream, we spooked a lunker in some unlikely water - a good 16-18" fish and certainly the biggest I have seen in the brook. A few tiny sedge were in the air and the occasional appearance of upwings hatching helped to highten our expectations. Although it was hard to spot these, the hatch was likely to be Iron Blue duns - certainly they respond well to these less than summery conditions.



As the rain ceased, we struggled to find the fish again. However, with the extra water, confidence is high that a fresher river, with more willing fish, is on the cards for the next few days.

~Dave