So there I was, soaked to the skin before I’d even cast a line – what a great start to the new season.
Luckily for me despite being piss wet though I hadn’t put the fish down, as about 5 minutes after starting fishing I had my first ever river brownie on a self tied fly. It was a typical fish for the river, well marked and about 12oz. The fly was a tungsten beaded, hairs ear finished with red copper wire.
Heartened by this initial success i made my way slowly upriver.
Only about 10 yards further upstream, my minicon darted forwards, and i struck into what i thought was going to be another 12oz fish. After a heart stopping 5 minutes, Phil did the honours for me and this cracking fish graced the net.
To say i am pleased is an understatement. a 2.75lb wild brownie on a fly I’ve tied myself. What a fabulous way to start the season!
The rest of the afternoon was spent searching about a few swims I’d never really spent time on before, but no more fish were forthcoming. To be honest i didn’t really care – that fish was a cracker and here’s some more photos of it.
One sleeve was blue and the other red as i fell on my left side and was soaked from my shoulders to my toes, and i was making a vain attempt to dry out.
phil-k says
It was a wonderful sight to see such a big fish jump out the water with the gasps of your audience watching.Fabulous result ,well done.;)
Mike Duddy says
Ten years ago i would have put the rod down and gone for a chat with those two pretty young girls.
Now i know that its no use swimming against the tide, i realise that i have more chance with the fish than the women:(
Tony says
Great fish Mike, when your talking about the two pretty women you do relize it was me and Pete stood on the wall watching and gasping!! It’s a bit like dogs chasing cars the pretty women thing even if they catch one, driving it is a real problem .
Matthew Eastham says
Bloody nice fish Mike! As yours and Nick’s efforts prove, that system sure holds some good trout – bigger fish than many of the so called ‘famous’ rivers nearby. You could fish for example,the Wharfe for a lifetime and never catch a trout of that size class!
Well done. Now you’re catching on your own flies, you’ve unwittingly entered a black hole from which you can never escape!
ATB,
M