Well, I’ve been practising casting every morning for 4 weeks now. I had hoped to make more progress, but I suppose the piles of line are at least becoming elongated piles if not straight lines. I have had one morning of torrential rain when I tried out my new waterproof trousers and found them to be great, but realised that my waterproof jacket is only shower proof.
I have discovered something of the different properties of lines – the reel I started with didn’t fit too well on my new rod, so I am using a different reel. But although both reels have interchangeable spools they are not interchangeable with each other. I tried using the clear floating line on one spool, but with no fly on the end of the line it was very difficult to cast, and impossible to see! So I am now using a sinking line, which is significantly weightier, and visible on the grass.
Back in May I took out a subscription to Trout Fisherman magazine to take advantage of their free fishing rod offer. I’ve been enjoying the magazine, learning lots. After the requisite 28 working days it still hadn’t arrived, so I phoned to see what was going on – to be told that they had sent it on the 7th of May! They agreed to send another and it arrived today before I went to work.
Made some more olive nymphs earlier in the week:
Then had a go at cat’s whiskers. Used 2 different patterns, using lead wire to weight them.
I’ve gone into production with the weighted olive damsels. Reg reckons he can sell these for 25p each!
I’ve managed to keep the rod set up and stored in the shed so I can spend time practising casting each morning. But this morning the leader got into such a tangle that I only got 5 minutes in the field! But I’m getting the hang of bringing the rod back to just off vertical, and it does make a difference.
Got organised again today for my practice, but looking at the weather decided there’s enthusiasm and there’s stupidity and its a thin line between them. It was raining relentlessly, and I decided to give it a miss this time.
Decided to practise casting for half an hour each day. Got nearly ready for work today and set my phone alarm for 5 minutes before I needed to be back indoors to encourage tardy children to get shoes on. I had half an hour, but took so long putting the rod together and tying red wool on the end of the line that I didn’t make it into the field! Maybe I’ll keep the rod set up in the shed (although I obviously need practice in setting up the rod too!)
Reg lent me an old fishing rod and line yesterday, and today I ventured out into the field behind our house to practise casting on the wet grass. It was raining slightly, and very quiet at 7.30 on a Sunday morning, but I had decided that if challenged I would explain that I was ‘field fishing’. One dog walker gave me a funny look, but I was left to make my piles of line in the grass much as I have made them in the water. One day I will make the line sing out and land in a long line. One day…
