I MEET AN UNUSUAL ANGLER
I fished a private lake in the north west last week. It was a grey, blustery day with the wind coming from the south west, a warm-ish day for late November and the radio reported that the temperature was around 14C.
The water was clear with, thankfully, a moderate ripple. The occasional fish showed itself hesitantly with just few circles and swirls rather than any acrobatics. An old heron flew in, settled and then noticed me; off he lumbered over the shrubs to look for undisturbed water. I was fishing alone.
I tied a weighted GRHE tied with a short green tail on to a three pound Drennan tippet. I find that double strength Drennan line makes a very good tippet length when used with a heavier fly to make it turn over well as the line comes in contact with the water. It is particularly effective in clear water, too.
I cast in, counted five and began a very slow retrieve. Five seconds into the retrieve the fly was taken very positively by a boisterous rainbow that tugged and dived then came up through the surface like a torpedo. He fought with a combination of brute strength and more subtle, sly runs and stops. It took nearly ten minutes to ease him into the net and he weighed a touch over four pounds.
I walked down the water some sixty yards where my attention had been caught by a series of dimples across the lake and under over-hanging trees. I kept the same fly tied to a size fourteen hook. I cast a few yards beyond the last circle, counted five and started the slow retrieve. Bang! This one must have been at least the blood-brother of the first fish. The same ferocity and doggedness, similar feigning then darting and very nearly the same weight when landed.
Another angler came on the water and took up my previous fishing position. Occasionally, and we all do it, I watched him out of the corner of my eye. You take in the casting action, the wrist, the back-cast, even the clothing. He was doing okay; nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary. I carried on fishing and had several more really good rainbows; some half a dozen to the net in the first hour. The first five all succumbed to a slow retrieve in mid water. The last one, however, snatched the fly just under the rod tip; I had spotted another rise and reeled in quickly to get on to the new target. Slow retrieve? Fast retrieve? It was one of those days when either appealed to the fish.
Eventually, the other angler came my way and asked how I was doing. He was a wee bit despondent. “Nothing, not a tug!” He asked what pattern I had on my line and I showed him, “Just Hare’s Ear tied with a bit of a green tail.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, “I can’t see it.” The penny dropped with a resounding clang. He was visually handicapped to the extent that he could not see the green on my fly from a distance of eighteen inches.
I began to think how much fly fishermen (and women) rely on their eyes. How do you tackle up? Knots can be tricky when using all of one’s senses. How can you work out where to cast? What about trees and shrubs? I positively look for fish to cast to. These and a dozens other problems came to mind. How would we cope without vision?
I had another, closer look at him. I examined his gear and everything was in good order, even the knot that held the fly.
I made up my mind that I would help him to catch and I ushered him to the spot where I had been doing well. I made sure he had a fly with some green in the pattern, in his case a Montana and directed him where to cast. I eased my way to the other side and left him to it. I silently marvelled at his determination, spirit and skill as I watched his first cast and retrieve. He put his fly exactly where directed with an effortless casting action in a tricky cross-breeze. I left him to it and made my way to the other bank to try another promising stretch of water.
I’m pleased to report that the next time I looked in his direction he was bent into a fish with his net at the ready into which he deftly eased one of those large, feisty rainbows.
WEATHER REPORTS AND WINTER ANGLING
Some waters are very exposed and the current weather conditions make fishing a little uncomfortable and casting a bit difficult. However, with warm and waterproof clothing, there is much good fishing to be had. The waterproof hats from Hawkshead have really proved their worth this past fortnight. They have kept my head warm and dry and also kept the rain of my glasses. In view of my meeting with the angler described above, it’s nothing to moan about.
Water temperatures are still quite high for the time of year and the rainbows are very active and eager to feed. I look for a bit of shelter with the wind coming from my left side if possible. I love to fish into the water just round from a little peninsula or promontory, where the wind pushes the fly (and the food) into that zone between rough waves and calm water. Fish find these areas and patrol, ready to pounce on any tasty items that come their way.
The warmer south westerly winds do not seem to put the fish down whereas a shift through the compass to the north west makes fishing much more difficult. Warm winds are favourable on many waters at this time of year. Cold winds do not encourage sport at all.
Tight lines!
Eddie Caldwell
