Mulberry Whin Early June 2013 Update (HUGE BROWN TROUT!!!!!)
Well, after a very cold start to the year with some challenging fishing and no Hawthorn flies worth calling, things have started to liven up. The brown trout are beginning to rise a bit more consistently in the late mornings and afternoons. There are sparse hatches of Olives, a few Black Gnats, some adult Sedges and Daddies about, plus the usual Midges. The fish are generally not being too fussy about fly choice, but are being very fussy about presentation.
Search fishing with weighted nymphs are producing a few fish when there are no risers to be seen, as is an Elk Hair Caddis drifted tight against the far banks. However, as usual, more consistent success is coming to dry flies cast to risers. Don’t be tempted to strike too fast; give the fish time to turn down with the fly: yesterday I missed 3 fish whilst demonstrating through being too eager. Be prepared for the first Agapetus Caddis pupae to emerge: have a size 20 unweighted Hare’s Ear nymph or Stuart Croft’s Agapetus Pupa ready to cast across the flow & then retrieve with short pulls between dead-drifts. You’ll know the fish are taking these by the presence of 5mm long grey/brown Sedges hiding in the bankside vegetation and the fish rising fairly aggressively, moving across the flow to intercept the swimming pupae.
Yesterday, 30th May, we saw a huge brown trout, well over 10 lb and probably more like 15 lb, feeding on nymphs. Three times it followed Peter’s nymph but it would not take!!!! I’ve seen some massive trout in New Zealand, but never a trout like this one in the UK.
Water levels are still over the bank in a few places, so make sure you have thigh waders, or at least wellingtons. Take great care when approaching the bank edges when landing fish and take a long-handled landing net.
Dave Southall
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