John and the Ladies

With the trout season ending at the end of the month, I decided, on Sunday, to have another go at catching one on dry fly on stretch I've never managed to. I've caught them on wets, nymphs, lures, even luncheon meat, but never of the surface.

Upon arrival the wind had got up again and was gust straight down the best of the trout swims. I wished I brought a #5 rod instead of the #4. The only fly life I'd seen while having a wander was a few daddy long legs tumbling over the grass banks. So I stated off with one on the end of the leader, an Airflo Polyleader which helped turn the large fly over onto the wind. A couple of small fish had a tentative nudge at the fly, but nothing more.

 



























 As I wandered upstream and the wind eased I gradually decreased the size of the fly via Klinkhammer, APT, down to a size size 18 IOTBB Humpy. Near the top of the length the sun popped out and quite a few fish were rising. All I got were splashy rises and the occasional nudge though. Rooting through the fly box for inspiration sense finally prevailed and a John Storey was tied on. After all the fly was invented on the Rye. First cast with it produced a small grayling followed by several more over the the next three swims.

 










Just as I was beginning to enjoy my self a chill wind got up and the sky turned black. The rises stopped and then it started spitting with rain. Despite the lack of trout I decided to call it a day. I made it back to the car before the heavens opened. While I sat there having a cup of tea and waiting for the rain to stop, so I could get out of the chesties a herd of bullocks gathered round the car. I decide to drive out of this field before getting changed and was escorted by them all the way to the gate. Just before arriving at the gate a hare bolted from cover and caused them to stampede away.