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Thanks for dropping by.
Hopefully you will have noticed a NEW addition to
this site. Seven pages of advanced casting tips. Have
a look. OK I know they're not all completely
straightforward. And I know that diagrams are needed.
And some animations would certainly help. And as for
run-time videos...
BUT the feedback so
far has been positive. I have some other stuff in the
pipeline too; so watch this space! If you have any
suggestions, then please email me, and if I
like them I'll act on them; I am looking on ways to
improve this site, before I go abroad again.
Ardleigh
Report
Last month I mentioned
that the fishing during June hadn't been up to
expectations. Freak weather conditions have been one
explanation offered. However this alone is not
enough. We are getting no midge hatch worthy of
speaking. This is a real shame because Ardleigh was
once famous for it's great fly hatches. Sure the
caddis this year has been good, and there is plenty
of fry around, but we have a problem.
The problem is ferric
sulphate (my opinion). The water management still
dose Ardleigh with this chemical, and this has
destroyed midge populations. Even if they stop dosing
tomorrow the midge won't return immediately. But they
have no intention of stopping tomorrow. So long term
prospects are poor for this fishery. Anglers are
demonstrating their lack of optimism with their feet.
And I don't blame them.
However it's not all
doom and gloom. You can still catch fish. Trout
can be seen moving to fry during overcast conditions
and a floating fry pattern is always worth a chuck.
Ants will take to the wing and fall on the lake at
some point during the month, so make sure you've got
some suitable dries for those warm muggy evenings.
And the muddler can and often does produce great
sport as the article I've attached to this report
hints.
August
Techniques
And here is a
tantalising clip frommy book, for those
disadvantaged anglers unfortunate enough not to own a
copy of your own (be disadvantaged no longer -
buy a copy today through my secure ordering platform - only £5 + post, all over the world -
plug plug):
Terrestrials
are a large feature of the trout's diet in all
summer months. However, in August it is possible
for trout to feed on such flies to the exclusion
of all else. We are talking ants and hoverfly as
the two big rise producers. These land-bred
insects are blown on to the water, so get upwind.
This can be a very frustrating time, often it is
the case that the trout can be seen rising in a
berserk fashion some fifty yards or so in the
distance with not so much as a dimple within
casting range. Under these circumstances the only
option is to get afloat or miss the action. You must
carry ant imitations. If you do you can get some
of the most incredible sport two or three times a
season. If you don't you will age drastically.
Hoverfly rises are big slashing events and can be
dealt with using greased up Invictas. But best is
to carry a few close copies. I find a hoverfly,
on its day, can bring fish up when nothing is
showing. A great fly when the trout are tuned in.
So
there you go then.
Fenland
Fair
I have
another date for you diary: The Fenland
Fair.29th-30th August somewhere near Cambridge and
really quite good fun. Last year I got to cast all
around a huge arena for about half an hour on both
days... in front of thousands of non-anglers (this is
an exaggeration, there were perhaps a dozen anglers
also present). Hopefully a few more this year.
Henry
Lowe (APGAI) will also be demonstrating (not
surprisingly - as this is his territory) so expect
some great casting.
We
have a small tent down by the pond - find the pond
and you find us.
------
And
now here is a link to the muddler article I spoke of
earlier:
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