UnexpectedlyHooked

Finally caught a fish here! A small but perfectly formed brown trout of just over 1lb. Caught with a cat’s whisker I made myself.

The promotional DVD we were filming at Duncton Mill has now been released.

Peter and I went to Weston, part of the Albury estate near Guildford. A very enjoyable morning’s fishing marred only by the lack of fish (but I got to keep the 2 fish tickets for use anywhere on the Albury estate before April next year).

Started on the Lower Millhouse lake, where there was a pair of coots (fulica atra) with 4 black fluffy young with red and yellow markings on their heads. There were lots of Common Blue Damselflies (enallagma cyathigera) and an emerald green one, possibly Emerald Damselfly (lestes sponsa).

We then moved to the main Weston Lake where there was a veritable whirlpool of trout leaping out of the water like dolphins. But it appeared that we were witnessing the display team in action. We could see fish everywhere but they were totally uninterested in feeding. By the time we left at 11.30 only one person seemed to have caught anything!

This morning while I was casting in the field, I spotted the bird of prey who I have seen several times, but been unable to identify. This time she obligingly stayed visible while I went to get my camera, so I have been able to confirm that she is a female or immature sparrowhawk.

I’ve wondered if she has been assessing my hunting skills – if so she must be pretty unimpressed. I haven’t caught anything in the field yet apart from daisies!

07 January 2009

Actually I am reliably informed that my sparrowhawk is actually a kestrel!