Caldwell’s Chronicles

I went out during the first week in March and felt the cold more than at any other time during the Winter. The culprit was a steady easterly wind that felt as if it was escaping from Siberia. There were two or three others fishing during the morning but they soon scuttled around the fishery for some sheltered spot to get relief from the wind. I began to understand what is meant by the term ‘wind chill factor’ so beloved of TV weather forecasters.

Returning a ‘bluey’ (click for bigger picture)

Contrary to perceived wisdom, there was a lot fish activity. Many fishermen will not even go out and fish in an easterly wind but, on this particular day, it did not lessen the trout’s enthusiasm for the fly.

I found a little platform near the western end of the water with the wind blowing in behind and slightly left of me and tackled up a six weight rod and line with a fourteen foot leader which tapered down to a four pound monofilament leader. There was a fair wave crashing into the bank about twenty five yards away and I decided to try the dry fly first and, after fifteen minutes without a swirl of curiosity, off it came and on with a weighted Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear that I let sink for about ten seconds before starting a slow retrieve in the clouded water.

The reaction was fairly quick and I think I pulled the nymph out of the first taker’s mouth as I felt a typical pull. Anyway it served to show me that there was some life down in the deeper water. Did I but know it, but that tug signalled a couple of hours excellent sport and demonstrated how different one trout can be from another.

The first fish to be hooked snatched the fly and took off for the middle of the lake. I let it fight the clutch and began to gain line back slowly but surely. I had not yet had sight of the fish and it put in several more deep runs before it came up to the surface. I thought I had it well mastered until it came near to the bank and then it was off again. I thought for a moment I had a fresh run salmon of about seven or eight pounds on my line. It was a magnificent silver fish in mint condition and I wondered if the fishery owner had slipped in an early season bonus for the lads!

Just as it approached the net it gave one final twist and surge and seemed to use the rim of the net as a spring board to gain its freedom as it flashed through the waves and spray and headed back to the depths (I prefer the description ‘long distance release’). It was a blue trout, the first I had ever hooked and I hold my hands up – it defeated me on the day.

A dogged brown trout
Within a couple of minutes, a big brown trout of about four pounds took the GRHE and stayed put, shaking his head in a war of attrition that lasted quite some time. He did not move very far but resisted in a dogged and determined manner. He had a big jaw and some pale areas around the head which the fishery owner later ascribed to banging heads with other aggressive brown males. He recovered very quickly and kicked his way back to his lair to rest up before his next fight.

A fighting rainbow
A few minutes later I had another good scrap on my hands in the shape of an over-wintered rainbow. He did all his fighting on and above the surface; he jumped, skidded, walked on his tail and then jumped some more before I got the net under him. He was about half the size of the brownie and a quarter that of the blue trout but what a merry dance he led me. Of the three he put up the most spectacular fight and this kind of surface activity is always a thrill for the angler. I’m not trying to put them in rank order of courage or pugnacity but rather demonstrating the different strategies that trout employ to evade capture.

New season
My club waters are now open for the season, both still and river and I’ve stocked up with floatant and degreaser, monofilament and fluorocarbon, new waterproof jacket and waders, flies and a landing net and so I’m all enthusiastic for the coming months which represent perhaps the most exciting time of the year. I’ve already booked fishing trips to Scotland in April, Wales in May and Ireland in June. I’m just keeping my finger crossed for the good health in which to enjoy it all and hoping that the God who smiled on Kevin Keegan’s lads last weekend will continue to smile on me!

Blue Army! & Tight Lines!

Eddie Caldwell