Huge rainbows on Chew Valley

Today I fished with my long time client and great friend Barry Hawyes.  We had planned a pike day, but they have been so difficult to tempt recently, we decided to fish for trout first.

The day was very sunny and windier than forecast - now when have I heard that before?!  Still, at least it was warm and I only had 3 layers of clothing on instead of the usual 6 or 7!

First drift we had nothing.  Then next drift off Stratford, Barry had a cracking 4lb rainbow.  Soon I followed suit with a 4lb 12oz 'bow.  Both fish were absolutely stuffed with small green buzzer and big black buzzers.  Some even had damsels - which for Chew, is most unusual.

Things were hard across the lake, with no pike being caught and very few trout - also, the wind had increased in strength, which on Chew, is always the kiss of death. But we plugged away with our Diawl Bach Nymphs, Buzzers and Orange Blobs (top dropper) on 18 foot leaders and floating fly lines.  Every hour or so, we got a take - sometimes just a mere movement of fly line, but at other times, a finger wrenching pull!  Steadily we built a bag and every one was a cracker - fin perfect and fighting like fury.

By the end of the day, we had 7 rainbows to the boat, weighing an incredible 26lbs 4ozs.

If you are thinking of getting onto the water after all this cold, wet and windy weather, I suggest you get a boat on Chew and head for Stratford - the fish are fantastic!

World Championships

In a few days I will be heading off to Slovenia with Team England for the FIPS Mouche World Fly Fishing Championships.  As usual, the event will be dominated by river fishing, as most countries competing cannot handle fishing lakes!

We will be fishing 4 river sessions and a solitary lake session.

Our team is Howard Croston, Phil Dixon, Simon Robinson, John Tyzaqck and myself, with Scott Nellins as reserve.  Paul Page will manage the World team for the first time.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!