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Back to Ladybower

I am often asked by clients if working as a fly fishing instructor means I get bored of fishing, in fact the opposite is true.  When you spend day after day watching others fly fishing it makes you even more hungry to get out there and do some fishing. Fishing time is in short supply these days and I tend try make it a social occasion and meet up with fishing friends and colleagues.

So when an opportunity came up I decided on going back to Ladybower to see how the new tenants are getting on. They are doing a fantastic job and have put a huge amount of effort in to getting things up and running. The welcome is warm and friendly and they have implemented a good stocking programme to try and bring the fish numbers back up. The boats have been revamped and some trees and bushes have been trimmed. The place has a welcome breath of fresh air about it.

So far as the fishing went it was a really tricky day with the wind hitting us from all directions and the fish not knowing what they were doing. I still managed to catch this nice 3 pound rainbow though!

Cracking start to river season

With the river season now underway, clients have had a cracking start learning to fly fish on our beat of river Derwent in Derbyshire. Wild brownies have fallen to pheasant tails and GRHE and some beautiful Grayling have come to the net. This recent spell of warm weather has encouraged a few decent hatches just after lunch time which seem to have stirred the fish from their hidey holes!

A client chuffed with his first ever Trout on the fly

Nice wild River Dewent Brown Trout



Beautiful Grayling comes to the net



Water craft for Fly Fishing (Stop Look & Listen!)

When I read people discussing watercraft on blogs and in books I often hear phrases like "reading the river" - what does this actually mean?
I like to think of watercraft as observation time. Time to use a variety of techniques to measure, record and observe to give the angler a sense of the likely behaviour of his quarry, much like the horse racing tipster hanging round the training school watching horses being schooled and walking the track in the morning to assess the exact nature of the turf - we need every last morsel of information to make a more informed decision.
What is the water temperature and air temperature?

Is the wind from the east or west?

What the PH of the water?

What colour is the water?

What's the water level?

Are fish rising?

If so what are they feeding on?

Many of these measurements are relative which is why I urge all of my clients to keep a fishing diary to make brief notes to help inform future decisions. There's an old saying which goes something like time spent in reconnaissance is seldom time wasted and this could not be more true in fishing.

Some of the most enjoyable time by the water is spent sitting completely still, hidden behind the reeds just watching, waiting and listening. Suddenly what you thought was a barren river bed has shapes and shadows sliding out of the weeds, a fin of a feeding trout creases through the water under the willow tree and you hear the plop of a beetle falling from the overhanging branch as it lands in the slack water.

It continually amazes me how many anglers turn up at the water side thumping a heavy bag down or chatting in full voice making no attempt to disguise their shadow against the skyline, they then put on their usual fly and cast out as far as they can thrashing the water as they go!
These are usually the anglers who then complain how hard the fishing is that day saying "its a bit slow!" - well no wonder! Every self respecting Trout in the vicinity has legged it!
Watercraft is essential to fishing but try not to think in simple terms of reading the river, think of it as intelligence gathering and reconnaissance - time spent blending in with the natural environment and letting nature carry on in front of you.

That's all for know. Have fun and hopefully see you soon.

Huge Double Figure Trout on Derwent at Matlock

Another Massive 11lb fish has been landed on the Derwent at Matlock in Derbyshire - http://www.matlockanglingclub.co.uk/news_2_19.html

Must be all the trout pellets that go in from the Barbel anglers! -

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If you are looking for a great fishing gift this Christmas then how about buying your loved one a day of fly fishing tuition?

Our fly fishing gift vouchers start from just £25 and are valid for one year. Vouchers are valid for either our river or still water and make an unusual and interesting fishing present!

Click here for more information and to order online!

Nymph fishing for fussy trout on Still Waters

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