A couple of river brownies

[Whitebridges]

I'm finding it hard going on the river at the moment, Everything seems three weeks behind. The weather has been atrocious, windy and cold and i've hardly seen any fly. How are others fairing or is it just me?

Heres a couple of last seasons best.

 

 

[Lord Geordie]

VERY nice

 

LG

[stupidsalmon]

Beautiful fish mate,

are they wild?

SS

[hawkeye]

Beautiful fish mate,

are they wild?

SS

cause they are wild you would be if you had a hook stuck in you

[Whitebridges]

Both wild. No stockies.

Might try Grafham soon, see if I can boost my confidence a bit.

[ChrisNicholls]

Lovely fish, Grafham fishing well apparently.

[Whitebridges]

Lovely fish, Grafham fishing well apparently.

Thanks Chris. I've heard Grafham is on song, so planning to go Friday. Until we get some plant life and fly, I think i'll give the river a bit of a rest for a while. :(

[king ratcatcher]

lovely looking fish m8 :(

[Catamong]

I fished Grafham on the very first day it opened, if my memory serves me correct, it would have been on or about 3rd May 1970 - I remember it was a cold day and I only caught one stockie Rainbow.

 

I fished it every week of the season from '70 through to '76, when the lake nearly dried up..!!

 

Bank day tickets cost £1, with an 8 fish limit, a rowing boat was an extra £3.50, and carbon fibre rods hadn't been invented then.

 

My best fish was a 6lb 3oz Brownie, caught using a Muddler Minnow up near Savages Creek in early October.

 

I gave all that up in '76 to concentrate on shooting, but I'm looking forward to getting back into fly fishing seriously when I can afford to give up work.

 

Cat.

[ChrisNicholls]

Some good info here,

 

http://www.fish4ituk.co.uk/magazine/WebMag...ype=news&id=308

[Kenzie]

Nice looking fish mate.

I hope to get up to foremark soon to see if i can winckle one or two out

[Whitebridges]

I fished Grafham on the very first day it opened, if my memory serves me correct, it would have been on or about 3rd May 1970 - I remember it was a cold day and I only caught one stockie Rainbow.

 

I fished it every week of the season from '70 through to '76, when the lake nearly dried up..!!

 

Bank day tickets cost £1, with an 8 fish limit, a rowing boat was an extra £3.50, and carbon fibre rods hadn't been invented then.

 

My best fish was a 6lb 3oz Brownie, caught using a Muddler Minnow up near Savages Creek in early October.

 

I gave all that up in '76 to concentrate on shooting, but I'm looking forward to getting back into fly fishing seriously when I can afford to give up work.

 

Cat.

Cat, I've always had a soft spot for Grafham. I make a few trips there every year usually early in the season. I prefer fishing from a boat, but the banter with the old boys on the bank off the G buoy is superb. It's a great crack.

[Catamong]

WB,

 

The quality of bank fishing must have suffered over the years, as when I cycled around the entire lake last year I only saw one bank fisherman.

 

Admittedly there would probably be a few more come evening time, but back in the 70's they were literally shoulder to shoulder, all around the lake, all day long.

 

When Rutland opened, in the mid 70's, it took a bit of pressure off Grafham, but I'm sure things took a turn for the worse when some bright spark in the newly privatised fishery had the bright idea of saving money by putting fewer stock fish in the lake.

 

Also, Pike were a major problem, with many fish suffering Pike scars, but Cormorants, (which now appear to be everywhere), were simply nowhere to be seen.

 

Cat.

[Whitebridges]

Cat, I had a business meeting canned today, so I went to Grafham!

I got five fish, biggest 3.5lb and lost a big big brown at the net. I fished in a boat off the seat and along to gaynes at anchor, creeping along the bank 50 yards out. The wind was a bit too stiff to drift, it was set to go over to the G buoy.

I've been fishing Grafham since 1981 and haven't missed a year. I used to fish it a lot from the bank but the erosion is a problem, so now usually go in a boat. If the levels get lower then it seems to fish better from the bank.

I've just filleted the fish, they are going in the fridge to marinade in salt, sugar and a dram and I'll smoke 'em tomorrow.

:blink:

[Whitebridges]

I forgot to add, I landed a 8lb pike there last year and have even caught small Zander as well. :blink:

[Catamong]

WB,

 

Well done matey, thats good going, I can see I'll have to blow the dust off my 10' Bob Church Fibreglass special..!!

 

Cat.

[Whitebridges]

WB,

 

Well done matey, thats good going, I can see I'll have to blow the dust off my 10' Bob Church Fibreglass special..!!

 

Cat.

Cat, you want to do just that. Nothing wrong with old stockie bashers (BC) gear. When it comes to boat gear I'm no tackle tart, good equipment just gets banged around. There were only a few boats out but most seemed to be catching, my fish were in cracking condition and fought like stink. Best flies were the Diawl bach, blakestones buzzer and I got one on a Coves Peasant tail for all times sake. I tell you what the CovesPT is still a top fly at Grafham.You probably came across Arthur Cove a few years back?

I tried the old stick fly but no joy. Anything with peacock hearl in it generally works well at Grafham don't you think?

Cheers mate, maybe we will meet there one day. The trout are in the smoker!

Yum. :blink:

[Wookie]

Grafham? As in Grafham water near St. Neots/Huntingdon? If it is, that's a damned good excuse to dust off my old fishing gear, find the fly rod and reel and see if I can remember how to cast!

 

Wookie

[Catamong]

WB,

 

Well done matey, thats good going, I can see I'll have to blow the dust off my 10' Bob Church Fibreglass special..!!

 

Cat.

Cat, you want to do just that. Nothing wrong with old stockie bashers (BC) gear. When it comes to boat gear I'm no tackle tart, good equipment just gets banged around. There were only a few boats out but most seemed to be catching, my fish were in cracking condition and fought like stink. Best flies were the Diawl bach, blakestones buzzer and I got one on a Coves Peasant tail for all times sake. I tell you what the CovesPT is still a top fly at Grafham.You probably came across Arthur Cove a few years back?

I tried the old stick fly but no joy. Anything with peacock hearl in it generally works well at Grafham don't you think?

Cheers mate, maybe we will meet there one day. The trout are in the smoker!

Yum. :blink:

WB,

 

We used to do a lot of deep water fishing with lead cored lines during the day from a boat when it was quiet on top, then get the floaters out come evening time.

 

Back in the 70's we used to get some fantastic hatches on warm evenings, I hear that doesn't happen so often nowadays.

 

Yes, I remember Arthur Cove, he was one of the best Nymph fisherman around, other names from the past were **** Shrives and Bev Perkins, from Northampton, both legends in their time.

 

I also think that nowaday's they're stocking with better sized fish, so there are fewer Pike / Cormorant kills, in my day every stockie was a 12oz sprat with a tatty tail..!!

 

Cat.

[pavman]

well done WB

 

nice fish, just need 5 loaves for a nice suppa

[will_cox]

couple of nice fish there mate !

[Whitebridges]

WB,

 

Well done matey, thats good going, I can see I'll have to blow the dust off my 10' Bob Church Fibreglass special..!!

 

Cat.

Cat, you want to do just that. Nothing wrong with old stockie bashers (BC) gear. When it comes to boat gear I'm no tackle tart, good equipment just gets banged around. There were only a few boats out but most seemed to be catching, my fish were in cracking condition and fought like stink. Best flies were the Diawl bach, blakestones buzzer and I got one on a Coves Peasant tail for all times sake. I tell you what the CovesPT is still a top fly at Grafham.You probably came across Arthur Cove a few years back?

I tried the old stick fly but no joy. Anything with peacock hearl in it generally works well at Grafham don't you think?

Cheers mate, maybe we will meet there one day. The trout are in the smoker!

Yum.

WB,

 

We used to do a lot of deep water fishing with lead cored lines during the day from a boat when it was quiet on top, then get the floaters out come evening time.

 

Back in the 70's we used to get some fantastic hatches on warm evenings, I hear that doesn't happen so often nowadays.

 

Yes, I remember Arthur Cove, he was one of the best Nymph fisherman around, other names from the past were **** Shrives and Bev Perkins, from Northampton, both legends in their time.

 

I also think that nowaday's they're stocking with better sized fish, so there are fewer Pike / Cormorant kills, in my day every stockie was a 12oz sprat with a tatty tail..!!

 

Cat.

Cat, the fish are still in the shallow water. I know what you mean about heavy sinking lines, but this is more a summer time activity to my mind. I've caught a few on "the rudder" on tubes near the pump. I've had a few off the top in May/June but you are right rising fish are the exception rather than the rule.

The last time I heard Arthur Cove now lives in Ireland apparently and flies micro light aircraft, he rarely fishes these days. **** and Bev are legends in their own lifetimes ofcourse. Go on get the gear out and have a go mate.

[Whitebridges]

couple of nice fish there mate !

Where are you from Will? Please fill in your location. Thanks WB

[old rooster]

WB,

 

Well done matey, thats good going, I can see I'll have to blow the dust off my 10' Bob Church Fibreglass special..!!

 

Cat.

Cat, you want to do just that. Nothing wrong with old stockie bashers (BC) gear. When it comes to boat gear I'm no tackle tart, good equipment just gets banged around. There were only a few boats out but most seemed to be catching, my fish were in cracking condition and fought like stink. Best flies were the Diawl bach, blakestones buzzer and I got one on a Coves Peasant tail for all times sake. I tell you what the CovesPT is still a top fly at Grafham.You probably came across Arthur Cove a few years back?

I tried the old stick fly but no joy. Anything with peacock hearl in it generally works well at Grafham don't you think?

Cheers mate, maybe we will meet there one day. The trout are in the smoker!

Yum.

WB,

 

We used to do a lot of deep water fishing with lead cored lines during the day from a boat when it was quiet on top, then get the floaters out come evening time.

 

Back in the 70's we used to get some fantastic hatches on warm evenings, I hear that doesn't happen so often nowadays.

 

Yes, I remember Arthur Cove, he was one of the best Nymph fisherman around, other names from the past were **** Shrives and Bev Perkins, from Northampton, both legends in their time.

 

I also think that nowaday's they're stocking with better sized fish, so there are fewer Pike / Cormorant kills, in my day every stockie was a 12oz sprat with a tatty tail..!!

 

Cat.

Cat, the fish are still in the shallow water. I know what you mean about heavy sinking lines, but this is more a summer time activity to my mind. I've caught a few on "the rudder" on tubes near the pump. I've had a few off the top in May/June but you are right rising fish are the exception rather than the rule.

The last time I heard Arthur Cove now lives in Ireland apparently and flies micro light aircraft, he rarely fishes these days. **** and Bev are legends in their own lifetimes ofcourse. Go on get the gear out and have a go mate.

 

Gor blimey !!! Fishing the rudder on Grafham, how the heck did you get away with that ?? Must have been ages ago as the only time they allow them there now is once a year in a rudder match as far as I'm aware. Great method for picking up big bows and browns deep down, I love fishing that method later season when the trout are on the fry.

 

Heard that Rutland has gone down hill the last couple of seasons due to some sort of fish parasite, haven't fished Grafham in ages, maybe I'll give it a go this season.

[Catamong]

OR,

 

Back in the mid 70's, there used to be a "trolling zone" in the deep water at Grafham, and me and a mate used to experiment withn the thin multi-coloured Canadian lead cored trolling line about 100 yards long - we used to get some mega size brownies using this method, plus loads of pike - I well remember an absolute monster of a brown that my mate lost just at the point of netting..that would have turned some heads, had we brought that baby on board..!!

 

Cat.