First Double of the Season

The weather forecast was basically a very British one, wet and windy. The rivers don't seem to have any idea whether they're going up, down, or whatever. The River Wharfe it was then, for no particular reason. This was nearly thwarted as I set off. I was reliably informed Google maps that there was a thirty minute delay on my chosen route due to a crash. The other route wasn't an awful lot quicker as I, along with several others, got stuck behind somebody who thinks 45mph is reasonable on a 60mph road. They also thought the same speed was acceptable in the 30mph stretches through the villages. When I got to the river it was, as expected about two foot or so up and the swim I intended to fish was occupied by one of the two other anglers on the stretch. The only other accessible swim, with out a long walk, was one I'd fished before and didn't really want to fish as it is prone to debris drifting down.  It had, however, a reasonably sized flat bit near river level meaning fish could be landed easily. While I was faffing about setting up a heron struggled  up the river against the wind making slow headway.

 








The line of attack was to be half way across in the crease with a largish piece of garlic meat and a lob worm under an overhanging willow downstream. I wasn't going to bother with lose feed as I didn't think it would stay put in the current and I've often found smelly meat or lob worms do just as well on their own. The down stream gusty wind wasn't going to help bite detection on the worm rod. Between the wind and squally showers it wasn't the most pleasant of days. The brolly had to be firmly anchored as the ground was very soft bank sticks were used to anchor it. Apart from having to recast the baits because of debris nothing much happened until lunchtime. Just as I got my cuppa, pack of crisps and sandwich out the meat rod hooped over. I didn't rush as it had gone over slowly as if a large clump of weed had hit the line. Having carefully ticked my food and drink out of the wind and rain I lifted the rod which was nearly ripped out of my hand. After an initial short run the fish came in quite easily though it felt heavy a bit like it was covered in weed. About a rod length out I could see the fish, a large one at that, free of weed. At this point it took a dislike to me and plodded out into the current again. Where it hung with the taut line singing in the wind. It was just a case of slowly and steadily hauling it back. It then carefully bypassed the landing net and attempted to lodge it's self into the bankside vegetation. Thankfully it failed in this endeavour and after swimming round in circles finally came to the net. As I was weighing it another angler, having a walk along the length, commented how tidy it was, no split fins or marks at all. I was pleasantly surprised when it weighed in at 11lb. I could quite easily have given up at this point, very satisfied. 

 








As I went to recast a family of swans crash landed in the swim. Managed to feather the lead short of them or I would of ended up killing one. A couple of hours later the tip of the worm rod pulled slowly round, similar to the first bite. This time I suck straight away and was rewarded with a little chub around the 2lb mark which put up very little resistance until it was on the bank. When I returned it the chub swam straight back into the bankside grass where it stayed for quite a while before making a splashy return to the river. That was it for the day. I decided to leave well before dark as I didn't fancy messing about on a very steep on slippy bank in the dark.

 








Despite the wind and rain a rather pleasant day in the end. I had taken my big coat with me, but didn't need it.  I timed my departure just right as it started to tip it down just after I left and I hate packing up in the rain.