A couple of hours spent on a stream in mid July was about as good as it gets. My outing started about 9am, brookies like to sleep in and I firmly believe this because of my experience over many years. The sun was out and it had been shinning for several hours but the air was still very cool. As I reached the easy part of the path that leads to the brook I saw several flowers coming into bloom, they are such wonderful sights.
The stream was at typical summer flows and the water a comfortable 60 degrees. Some of the fish were located in the shadows and some were in the sun. One day I might figure out why they do stuff like that.
The day was dedicated to fishing Tenkara style flies. While most of them were fished like soft-hackles some of them received a bit of Gink to make them skid on the surface. The brookies loved them fished either way.
This is the rod I fish most of the time. Here is a little story. I placed the rod down on the log so I could free up my hands so as to be able to best navigate my way around the fallen tree. Well I managed to get around it OK but when I reached around for my rod I grabbed some "big" thorns..ouch. I still have one in my thumb, it broke off and I'm trying to dig it out.
There is a lot of action in these flies. Folks try one or two of these and you will not believe the results.
As always a lovely post. I love that flower that looks a bit like lavender, beautiful colour. Sue and I are trying to arrange a trip north to Yorkshire and County Durham to do some 'proper' fishing in September when 100 year old mum goes to stay with relations for a month. Grayling or trout I don't care. I do like the look of that fly too. An edible tying. Keep up the posts, they're a pleasure. regards, John
ReplyDeleteLet me know when your coming up this end of the country John, Im sure I can get you onto some nice water in North Yorkshire.
DeleteMany thanks George when we get the care sorted out we can make firmer plans. Your offer is much appreciated. Best wishes, John
DeleteThe Two Terriers
DeleteThanks
John, fishing in the land of the spider. I can't wait for that report.
Edible indeed, but to whom?
More than welcome John
DeleteLovely piece again Alan, you sure are spoilt for lovely scenery & lovely fish. The fly looks familiar, what is the brown body fibres?
ReplyDeleteGeorge
DeleteThanks
The body is touched dubbed using mole. I found a skin that had been dyed sort of a rust color.
Cheers Alan, May have to make a couple of them up, they look really nice cheers
DeleteI'm not going to turn my game over to Tenkara anytime soon, but that fly is absolutely beautiful. I'll echo George's question: what did you use for the body fiber?
ReplyDeletemike
DeleteThanks
Mike I don't fish Tenkara. I still use my conventional fly gear. I do however like to fish the Kebari style of flies.
In my view, nothing dubs as easily or as nicely as mole fur. I add it, as a collar to many soft hackle patterns. Touch dubbed very lightly over a silk thread body is also deadly (think waterhen bloa).
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
DeleteThanks
John mole is a pleasure to work with, it behaves so nicely. In the water it moves so natural like and draws strikes in any position. The Waterhen Bloa is a great example.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI hope you fair well with the thorn----you must have had little humidity at that time of day. It is a killer here, so bad that it rains every afternoon, because of the heat build up. Ready for fall---beautiful brook---thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
DeleteThanks
Bill I finally got the thorn out, painful little sucker. It was humid, but the coolness of the stream felt good. I'm always ready for fall That Glorious Season.