FISHING FRUSTRATION
Fishing a dry fly for the first time
Dry fly fishing is regarded by many trout fishermen as the most satisfying and challenging aspect of trout fishing. I still remember in detail the fist time I caught a trout with a dry fly. I take no great credit for this but it was early in the coarse closed season at Hayfield Angler’s picturesque water just off the road to Kinder Dam and the high moor land plateau of north Derbyshire.
The club decided to put some rainbows in to the old lodge, much I suspect, to give members an excuse to wet a line until mid-June rolled around. I had just purchased a nine foot rod, a bargain from Mullarkey’s mail order catalogue. I tied on a size sixteen Iron Blue Dun dry fly and flicked it out into a ripple about ten feet from the bank. I watched in fascination as a small ‘stockie’ rainbow approached, sniffed the fly and then suddenly swallowed it. It was on the hook and, without really trying or even knowing, I had a trout on the bank next to one of those lovely flowering rhododendron bushes that used to surround the fishery in the ’60s. It’s amazing how clear the recollection is after forty-odd years, like the first kiss or the first time one rides a two wheeled bike without dad’s protective arm.
It has rarely been that straightforward since. I was out yesterday (early June) at Cowpe reservoir in hot sunny weather, flawless blue sky and a fitful breeze that came and went unpredictably. There were fish everywhere on the surface. Heads and fins and tails kept appearing and the surface was broken more violently every few minutes as fish shot skywards in pursuit of tasty morsels.
Dry fly on a hot day
After watching anglers catch on small black flies last week I decided to follow their example and try something similar. The water was clear, the sun was bright and presentation was going to be the key. A contrary factor was the strength and fighting spirit of Cowpe trout. They all seem to punch well above their weight and nearly every fish I have hooked at this water feels at least a pound heavier than the fish that eventually comes to the net.
I opted for a six weight forward floating line with a leader that started off at eight pounds down to Froghair tippet of just over four pounds. I fully expected to get plenty of action with this set-up; the line was almost invisible, so much so that I had problems tying the knots. I put on a little black patterned Klinhammer and went into action.
Frustration!
It was to be a frustrating hour! Firstly, I was immediately unhappy with the rod selected – too soft. Then the breeze was wrong – coming from my right. The fly proved too small to see at any distance. The sun was in my eyes. I was over-dressed for such a warm day. And, to cap the lot, the evidently and obviously hungry fish were totally disinterested in whatever I had on my line even when I managed to drop the fly two inches in front of their noses. I sincerely trust that all other anglers experience such a session.
I did what many trout fishermen do when frustration levels mount. I gently placed my rod on the ground, went for a walk along the bank, then had a contemplative sandwich whilst viewing the activity on and in the water. I did a complete re-evaluation. I did not like the way in which the very fine Froghair tippet was making the final delivery of the fly to the water. (Froghair in fine diameters is not for the elderly; neither my fingers nor my eyes could really cope with knot tying). Trout were milling in the top six inches of the water and were investigating all and everything. I would not need to float a fly for any length of time; if the fly was not attacked within a second or two it was going to be rejected.
Change of tactics
I changed tippet and tied on a terminal length of Fulling Mill fluorocarbon with a four pound breaking strain. I decided also on a complete change of fly and put up a lovely new GRHE emerger just purchased from the admirable Sport Flies. I intended the fly to float in the surface film and even drop just below. The fluorocarbon tipper would see to that after a short while. I must confess to using fluorocarbon frequently when fishing a dry fly. I find that on most casts the fly is investigated and, if I’m lucky, taken by the trout within a couple of seconds of landing in the water. I do not usually want my fly to sit there waiting for a trout to come along; I try and target individual fish. Consequently, on most occasions, fluorocarbon does the job.
It certainly did on this occasion. I found that I was casting into a light breeze but strong enough to cause a ripple and also I was casting into the sun. That meant that I was casting into the path of hungry fish and the second hour became suddenly very rewarding with half a dozen fit rainbows up to three and a half pounds caught and banked.
P.S. I have received a report from Cowpe Fly Anglers, which featured Dave Colclough’s lovely brownie in its magazine, to the effect that a four and a half brown trout has since been hooked and netted by a club member. This adds further fuel to the speculation that some very large brownies inhabit Cowpe reservoir, descendants from a stocking some twenty to thirty years ago and supported by two reports of anglers hooking fish that they just could not control and found themselves run out of line and then snapped off.
Contacts:
Sportflies of Grantham: www.sportflies.com
Day tickets enquiries for Cowpe Reservoir: 01706 214892: www.cowpeflyanglers.co.uk.
