Finally, I have wet a line in 2021. I would love to report I had “opened my account” with even a solitary fish to claim for my first time out this year, but it wasn’t to be.
To be fair I wasn’t even that sure if I would manage to throw out more than a few casts, my arthritic elbow problems seem to continue unabated, that’s 6 months and it’s not for budging unless I take some fairly strong anti-inflammatories that I am loathe to take for any length of time, so I have it strapped up and basically grin and bear it.
But while it ached a little on Friday it didn’t cause me as much of an issue as I feared it might and I lasted a couple of hours at Swanswater ( the only fishery within my 5 mile radius and inside my local authority jurisdiction). It disappoints me when I see anglers I know posting photos on Social Media of their outings to rivers that are well beyond what is allowed for essential travel ( is angling ever “essential”? ) when many like me are doing our best to stick to the rules. While being alone on a river in itself may not be doing much “harm” it then makes the temptation for others to follow suit, all the stronger…. and when these same people are being sponsored by some pretty big angling brands it is to me at least, reward for having a selfish attitude. Anyway enough of my gripes.
Swanswater was bathed in the early spring sunshine ( if you consider this to be springtime- I don’t in my book its still firmly late winter until the Spring Equinox). But it was proper cold. I had been doing a wee job in the garden before I ventured out and it felt quite pleasant but I did notice the temperature gauge in the car saying it was 4C and when I arrived at Swanswater Alastair mentioned how cold it was. Right enough when exposed to the breeze it was nippy.
While the car park looked busy there weren’t that many anglers out, and on the main water, the four that were there were all clustered around the dam wall, plus one in a boat. I wasn’t sure if this was for company/banter or because the fish were all there. That really only left the Island as an area that might pick up fish if they were indeed all down that end so I trudged round. My first cast saw me attract a fish ( a Golden Trout) in for a look and a bit of a chase before it swam off, and that as they say, was that. I never had so much as a pull or a follow after that first cast. I did move around the island and tried a few different spots where I saw the odd fish move within casting range but not a fish did I tempt. The wind was cold and very changeable too and seemed to veer around from almost westerly at times to Southeasterly and back again. I never think this sort of thing is conducive to good fishing.
Just as I arrived one of the chaps at the dam wall was netting a Rainbow and I saw one fish caught from the boat under a bung I think, and it looked like a couple of the regulars fishing on the wall hooked and lost a few but that was about it. I did start heading back towards that area myself in the latter period of my couple of hours but the space left by one of the anglers who had gone along the wall was quickly filled as soon as they saw me moving in that direction. I did ask if that was evidently where all the fish were and was told there was a big pod of golden trout all shoaled up against the wall but none were being caught, only the odd rainbow had been netted.
I went down to the pond by the house and had a final 20 minutes there and it was much the same, I soon realised there was a pod of maybe a dozen Golden Trout in one corner. You could cast into them but they would chase but not take. I do wonder also if the way they chase is more to do with territorial protection than any interest in feeding? I am inclined to think the former as it looked more like they were seeing the fly off than any curiosity as to what it might taste like!
Anyway, that was pretty much that, the best news was the arm held up reasonably well, certainly it was no worse for the experience than when I arrived. There is still hope for the new season in a mere 8 more days!
Tight lines when it comes.
Glad your elbow held up. I always enjoy reading your blog posts. Tight lines for the new season.
Thank you.
Good to read your posts Kenny. Sorry to hear your elbow is still giving you problems. I am suffering from “tennis elbow” caused by making wooden spoons over the winter. Wish I had never started! Catching some nice sea trout in the salt up here mostly on my sand eel pattern. Hope the weather warms up and your elbow gets better.
Tight lines and best wishes
Mike
That sounds amazing. So do you fish for the Sea trout through the winter, are these “true” Sea trout or fish that seem to lurk around the coast most of their lives and come in and out of estuaries or rivers as the whim takes them. I think the latter is how it seems to be around Islay for instance. Should start warming up a bit soon, though it’s been sleet and snow today, it did cross my mind to perhaps venture out locally but between the horrible heavy sleet showers and the very gusty wind I think I will stay home. Hope your elbow sorts itself out too, I found a support that helps it a lot, (as long as I remember to put it on) and hope it eases off a bit as things warm up, though I think, like you it was a bit DIY that provoked mines- I was building a planter for potatoes! Take care and tight lines for the new season.