This is my first post of the 2018 fly fishing season and many apologies for not keeping my Blog up to date during the last year.
I decided to focus more on Social Media during that time but realise that many people still do not use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media apps.  So I will now update my Blog regularly again with the latest fishing news and catches.

Chew Valley Lake - Trout

The trout fishing on Chew Valley Lake has been amazing since opening day in early March.  Hollowbrook has - and still is - holding large numbers of trout due to the massive bloodworm beds and buzzer hatches.  You can catch in the shallow margins using Washing Line tactics with a FAB or Booby on the point and nymphs such as Diawl Bachs, Crunchers or Buzzers on the droppers.  If you drift out into the deeper water - around 10 to 15 feet, then substitute a heavy Buzzer for the point fly and let the flies get right down.  But be warned, these fish are fighting like tigers and strong fluorocarbon such as 8lb or 10lb Rio Fluoroflex is highly recommended.
Herons Green has also been fishing well all season and now Villice Bay is coming alive.

When the winds drop and the air temperatures rise, head over to Stratford bay and Herriots.  These areas hold some of the biggest rainbow and brown trout that I have seen rising on Chew for many years.  Recently, on a flat calm, bright, sunny day, My guest Ron Howard and I spent a day casting at huge rising fish using dries.  The good old Claret Hopper proved to be the top fly and Ron's best fish was a fin perfect, overwintered Brown Trout weighing 5lbs 8ozs.  My best two Rainbows weighed in at 6lbs 4ozs and 6lbs 6ozs.  We also had plenty of other fish to dries that day, plus plenty to nymphs in other areas of the lake.

Blagdon Lake - Trout

Blagdon's Top End has been the best place all season, with boats catching literally hundreds of fish each day at times.  With many people now practicing catch and release, these fish have survived and are now amazingly fit and getting bigger by the day.  The same nymph tactics work here as on Chew and if there are rising fish to be seen, try the dries - Hoppers, Bobs Bits and Carrot Flies.

Butcombe bay started off very slowly this season, but now it is fishing well, as is Cheddar Water and in front of the Lodge at Polish Water.

Why not enter the Blagdon Heat of the Anglers World Individual Championships this coming Sunday 3rd June?  Simply go to: flyfishingchampionships.uk to enter online

Chew Valley - Pike

The pike fishing has been pretty tricky so far this season, but since the warmer weather, they are now beginning to feed properly.  Several 20's and a 32:00 have come out in the past few days, with lots of smaller fish around the 6lbs to 8lbs mark being caught.  Plenty of VERY big fish have also been spotted following the fly and lots are being caught on small flies by trout anglers.
I actually had a 16:04 pike on a size 10 Buzzer last week - hooked fairly and squarely in the mouth!

Well it had to happen; a long, dry, wind free and generally mild Winter - then just as the Lake is due to reopen for Pike Fishing - WHAM!  Gale force winds and driving rain are forecast for the West Country, driving right across Chew Valley Lake and causing the cancellation of the 1st two days of the 2017 Pike Trials on Thursday and Friday!
Don't get me wrong, we desperately need lots of rain to fill both Chew and Blagdon, but why did the winds have to pick up to ruin the start of another Pike Trials Session?  Exactly the same happened last year and another Opening Day was lost.

Still, if the forecasters are right, then the worst of it should have passed by Saturday and the boats should be let out to sample the best pike fishing in Europe - if not the World!

I am doing 10 days for Bristol Water as their official Pike Guide and there are still 2 days free in November - simply ring Bristol Water Fisheries at Woodford Lodge, Chew on 01275 332339 to book a day for 1 or 2 rods (the price is the same).

Guided Trout Fishing for 2017

This will be my 23rd year as a Professional Fishing Guide and hopes are high for a great season on the Bristol Waters.  Early season until July last year saw both Chew and Blagdon enjoy amazing trout fishing.  Huge hatches of buzzer brought fish to the surface as early as Opening Day and nymph fishing became the norm throughout March and April. 

Then once the warm weather came, massive hatches of damsel flies drove the trout into a frenzy - particularly on Blagdon.  In all my years fishing the Bristol Waters, I have never witnessed the trout feed so voraciously on damsels - and the fishing with washing line tactics or dries - was electric!

This year Chew opens first on 9th March and Blagdon opens a week later on the 16th March.  The lakes are currently lower than would be hoped, with Chew at 68% and Blagdon just 56% of capacity.  However, this rain will certainly push both lakes up a bit and that will be a good thing.

I can provide the latest Hardy Rods and Reels plus any other tackle if necessary.  Comfortable boat seats come as standard in my boat and all you need to bring is a packed lunch and some drinks!

Litton is also a great place for tuition or Corporate Days and where else in the country can you get not 1, but 2 lakes exclusively to yourself?

Guided Pike Fishing

Pike on the fly is a fantastic way to target Chew's mammoth fish and unlike the Pike Trials, where getting a boat is like rocking horse manure, access on the fly is available throughout the season.  Also, unlike using treble hooks, a single debarbed pike fly is really unintrusive as regards capture.  So there is far less chance of damaging the pike and due to the nature of the weather conditions here in the West Country, the oxygen levels rarely deplete, meaning that the pike are fighting fit throughout the Summer months.

I can supply top of the range Hardy rods and reels plus all terminal tackle, flies, nets and crash mats to target these amazing creatures.

So why not book a day with me in 2017?  Simply go to "Contact" and I will be in touch.