Not having had any decent fishing this last few weeks, frustration is starting to get the better of me. I have the Airflo World Bank Championship at Elinor to look forward to this Sunday but not having a single fish to my name in two weeks is somewhat knocking the old confidence. Lets not kid myself, I am just going to make up the numbers really but still would like to have something to show for the trip, a few fish would be good.
So with the forecast to be reasonable ( for the current weather) I went up to Swanswater for a two-hour session on the smaller ponds last night. The Met Office were way too optimistic with the outlook, and there wasn’t a hint of sun, just grey dankness though not totally freezing for once. ( Mind you I had the thermals on!)
I started on the top pond, nothing was moving and I opted for a small Tungsten beaded Cats Whiskers on point and a couple of buzzers above. First cast a knock. Second cast and I connected with a 2 lb Rainbow, one for the bag on the CW.
I think I had a knock every cast after this and on one I had stuck the rod between my legs to sort out something, as I recommenced retrieving I connected with a fish, unfortunately it came off in the fight that ensued!
One that got away!
I started taking a few paces up the bank ( I was fishing at the furthest corner from the house facing into a bit of a snarly stiff breeze), and was getting regular knocks. I had just read an article in Trout Fisherman saying that putting a curve into the retrieve can help with knocks converting into takes. It was aimed at float tubers but I can’t see why it wont work for bank anglers where you can move, so I cast then took a few paces to put a curve into the line. Second cast I had a fish. What was interesting was that where the fish made itself known was a few feet to the right of where I though the end of my line was, it was a blue that had picked up a buzzer and had obviously grabbed it and moved off to the right without me even detecting it before the tug became apparent. I lifted and netted a very lean and fit Blue- I suspect it’s not a recent stockie as there was not an ounce of fat on it and it was full tailed and in great condition.
Safe release of a Tiger
I had only fished 30 mins by this stage so time for a move, I headed down to the larger pond and had a go there. I had a few tugs and one Perch but after a few changes of flies I still had nothing so moved to the top end with the wind behind me, near the in-flows. Right away before I cast I spotted a fish come to the fly lying in the water- it looked like a Tiger.
After a few mins of fan casting I managed to pick up a fighting Tiger on a Pearly JC Cormorant, then a second ( smaller) tiger on the pink Bunny leach I had on point. It’s very true – they do follow you right in until they take.
I decided then to have a last 30 mins up the top pond again and with my flies intact just continued as before, Diawl Bach on top, Pearly JC Cormorant middle and Pink Bunny Leach point. A few casts and another Rainbow was on, and in about another 5 mins a final Rainbow taking the tally to 6+1 Perch, for my 2 hours sport. Great fun.
