Still Catching Fish

There have been some good waters over the last week or so and some not so good with the water heights up and down like a yoyo, but when the water has been holding steady or falling and clearing, (whilst we are not seeing many fish) there have been a few good opportunities to catch a fish or two and we have taken advantage of them.

Steve Earl and Mike Donaghue were with me toward the end of last week and they were predominantly interested in the Spey casting techniques as aposed to just fishing although they did dabble a little bit toward the end of the day when their casting had most definitely improved, but despite quite a good water the fish did not oblige although to be fair to the guys they only actually fished for a very short time.

Following there successful visit last year Christian Woolfenden (above left) and John Schofield (right) arrived the next day for another two days casting tuition and fishing and once again they kept up there 100% record  with two cock Salmon of around 10lb and 5lb both of which they returned as they were a bit on the coloured side, although this did not stop them giving the lads a run for their money as they were very hard fighting fish. Well Done! 

Piaras, Conal and Ryan travelled over from N. Ireland for what was to be their second visit to the Eden with me, only to encounter mixed conditions on the river and when there are not many fish showing at a time when there should be plenty it was hard work for the lads at times.

                                                       
With the water rising slightly during the first day on Warwick Hall and more rain falling with only one or two fish showing, nobody caught, although Piaras did make contact with a fish on the fly but lost it, despite the beat producing 17 fish to 26 and a half pounds the week before.

The next day we were higher up the river and fingers crossed for the water to drop, but when we got there it was still holding a fair amount of colour which did begin to clear toward the end of the day and this time it was Conal's turn to make contact with a Salmon on the fly only to lose it too, although he did catch a trout on a tube fly as a consolation prize.

The final day was to be on the lower Eden and with the rain we had encountered the previous day as well as there being three rivers below us all entering the main system I was a bit sceptical of their chances, but after checking it out the evening before I was pleasantly surprised with regard to water clarity which left me a little more optimistic and sure enough when we arrived the next day, although the water was high, the colour was good and the day produced some good sport albeit with mixed results which saw the lads hooking and loosing three fish between them, one of which looked to be a big trout but the other two definitely Salmon including a very good double figure fish which we got a good look at before it parted company and to top it off Ryan managed to hook and land two additional Salmon a cock fish and a hen fish. Nice one lads!

Since the lads returned home the water has yet again been up and down like a yoyo with some unfishable days, but as usual it is coming good again and I will be out on the river tomorrow for more of the same.