Post by chardranger on Jul 30, 2017 20:11:11 GMT
I fancied a return to Fernworthy Reservoir, having read the SW Lakes Trust July report for July (which was very positive) and which specifically called out Fernworthy as performing well. So I left Bristol at stupid o'clock on Saturday morning and had a great little trip. The M5 and A30 were both pretty empty and the lanes up onto the moor beautiful. On arrival I found the lake was almost full and very different to how I remembered it. Having said that I've just checked my old fishing diary and realise that my only other trip was in 1997 (I got 4 on small black dries)! Not surprising that my recollections of the place were rather vague. Where has that all gone...
In short I brought 7 fish to hand, the best about a pound and a quarter, plus lost several and had plenty of other interest, including one much better fish (2lbs+) which turned on the fly as it landed. 3 of the fish were 9" wildies with razor sharp fins, the rest were stockies. All scrapped hard.
Nothing was rising. None of the action was more than about 15 yards out and some was within 2 or 3 yards of the bank, casting parallel to the shore. A floater with a copolymer leader and team of sparse zulus and a 14# beadhead black spider on the point did the damage. I tried a small sedgehog but had no takers.
I walked right round the lake and some to find spots I could fish in view of the prevailing wind direction (I'm a lefty) and space for a back cast. This was hardwork as I didn't follow the path very closely but the wildflowers were lovely and gave me a good workout. It also provided a major highlight which was seeing an adder basking on a rock, which began to get a bit up-tight as I went in for a close up.
I'll be back up to the lake again when time permits, definitely not leaving another 20 year gap. It's just a shame there isn't a boat.
In short I brought 7 fish to hand, the best about a pound and a quarter, plus lost several and had plenty of other interest, including one much better fish (2lbs+) which turned on the fly as it landed. 3 of the fish were 9" wildies with razor sharp fins, the rest were stockies. All scrapped hard.
Nothing was rising. None of the action was more than about 15 yards out and some was within 2 or 3 yards of the bank, casting parallel to the shore. A floater with a copolymer leader and team of sparse zulus and a 14# beadhead black spider on the point did the damage. I tried a small sedgehog but had no takers.
I walked right round the lake and some to find spots I could fish in view of the prevailing wind direction (I'm a lefty) and space for a back cast. This was hardwork as I didn't follow the path very closely but the wildflowers were lovely and gave me a good workout. It also provided a major highlight which was seeing an adder basking on a rock, which began to get a bit up-tight as I went in for a close up.
I'll be back up to the lake again when time permits, definitely not leaving another 20 year gap. It's just a shame there isn't a boat.
