Left about 11 and had a pub lunch on the way. The lake was well stocked with fish, but we couldn’t catch them!
I tried one of my damsels and a cats whisker from last night, a mayfly on the surface (using gink to stop it sinking), a mayfly nymph and an orange nymph, but didn’t even get a sniff. It was a lovely afternoon, only starting to rain as we left. There were dragonflies all around, and bright blue damselflies, some mating with brown females. Tadpoles everywhere. And there were spent mayflies dotted over the surface, but the fish were ignoring them.
Peter has invited me to Bourley tomorrow, so I made some flies in readiness
Olive damsel nymphs based on a pattern in this month’s Trout Fisherman and
Cats whiskers based on a gwent angling video - look for the cats whisker.
I tried gold eyes on one, and smaller silver ones on the other. I’m happier now the body is the right colour, although I’m aware that the fish may not agree!
Peter and I set off at 8.30 today for a morning’s fishing at Haywards lake. Unfortunately when we arrived it was already fully booked. So I nipped into the shop and bought some olive marabou, chartreuse chenille and some olive uni-mohair thread – good and fluffy for someone who can’t do dubbing yet. Isn’t it amazing that however much stuff you have you never have the right bits to make the fly you want to? I’m hoping to make some olive damsel nymphs.
Then I nipped over to the lake for some photos which I forgot to take on Saturday:
We decided that Barn Elms was not too far away, and when we arrived it was very quiet – only 2 other cars there. Yellow flags were out, and creeping buttercups were in full flower. There were water lily pads on the other lake, and we saw families of moorhen and dabchick.
We each had a 2 fish ticket, and it didn’t take Peter long to catch his two. Tony, the bailiff, helped me first by casting for me, then lending me his own rod and casting far out. I must do some more casting practice in the field by our house. He gave me lots of tips, and his olive damsel nymph caught me my 2, but not before I had lost one, and we had seen something in the lake which moved far too fast for a fish – Tony suggested it might have been a snake. We were finished by 10.30, so it was back to the lodge for a cup of coffee and a chat before coming home.
This was my spot (the swan wasn’t there when I was fishing)
I haven’t got the right colour fritz to make a traditional cats whisker, but I tried with this dark one.
The end result was a bit fluffy (and nothing like the whiskers on my cats!)
I was invited to Iver Flyfishing Club’s meeting at Haywards Farm today. They were having a competition, but were happy for me to fish with them. It was a sunny morning with an east wind gusting, making ripples on the surface of the lake. We started at 9 and I was allowed to go to the agreed best spot as a beginner. There were blue damselflies, and sandy brown ones everywhere. Also the occasional dragonfly. I was so absorbed in my fishing that I forgot to take a picture of the venue. Next time…
Reg caught his 4 fish quite quickly. I’m not casting out very far yet, so several people who had already got their 4 fish came over to help me.
I started with an olive nymph, tying it on myself for the first time (and losing it ‘cos I didn’t tie it on properly!). Then my white nymph, which also fell off, but on the bank so I didn’t lose it.
Then one of Reg’s cats whiskers which got inextricably hooked onto my fishing bag when one of my back casts went wrong. It is now permanently on my bag as a decoration!
I tried a bright yellow thing to no effect, then one of the other fishermen (sorry, forgotten names) lent me a glittery damsel and cast for me to get my line further out which got me my first 2 rainbows including one of almost 4lb (my biggest yet).
Then he left with his fly, and I borrowed a similar fly from Reg which attracted 2 more fish. The 4th one I lost because I didn’t keep my rod up, but that turned out well as I then caught a lovely brown trout which I gather is quite rare and tastes delicious.
I found 2 flies on the ground, so I finished 1 fly up.
By 12.30 I had my limit, which was good as everyone had warned me that the fish tend to stop feeding around lunch time. Once home I gutted them all, and the smallest one I filletted. It took me over an hour to fillet it, but it was my first time. We had half of it stir fried in a Chinese-style supper. Yum!
Peter picked me up after work today and took me to Bourley lake.
May flies were everywhere. dive bombing the lake for drinks, I could see tadpoles feeding in the shallows, but the fish were not taking my flies. I tried a mayfly fly first, then an olive leaded damsel nymph, then the white nymph I made on Sunday, then a damsel I got from Orvis. No interest. Peter caught one, but I gave up at 7.30. My casting is getting better, and I apparently use the figure of eight method of bringing in line.
I wonder if fishing is so restful because you are surrounded by green…
I’m going fishing on Tuesday and have been advised to use leaded damselfly nymphs. Thought I’d tie some more, but I couldn’t find any olive marabou, so I improvised.
Made a Black Pennell this evening which actually looks OK. I’m particularly pleased with the golden pheasant feathers which make the tail.
I had some hooks with beads on, so had a go at making some buzzers. I used embroidery silk for the bodies of most of them, with heavy flat rayon floss for the thinnest red one (second from left).
I had a lot of trouble with everything unwinding, and realised that I’m being inconsistent with my winding. I noticed on Saturday that some people start their threads from underneath the hook whereas I have laid the thread over the hook to start. So I thought I’d try that, but it meant I ended up winding one way and then whip finishing in the opposite direction! With hilarious results. Thank goodness for nail varnish.
My husband was unimpressed – he wanted to see me tie some wings or at least a hackle. But I’m tying these to interest a fish, not my husband!
One of the tools I got in my mystery box was a Matarelli whip finishing tool, so I have been learning how to use it today. There are several video tutorials on the internet, but this was the one which worked for me. It is a very confusing tool, but I will persist. I have tried using just my fingers and I can do it on larger hooks, but not the small ones.
