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Post by johnesmithson on Apr 22, 2019 18:28:21 GMT
Any news from the moorland streams? I’m hoping that they’ve started to move up there with this warm spell.
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Post by johnesmithson on Apr 30, 2019 17:45:28 GMT
Decided to have a crack at the East Dart near Bellever this past weekend. I was quickly reminded what tough going it is below Laughter Hole, wading amongst slippery boulders and fighting through the bankside gorse and bramble. Weather cool and drizzly with an unhelpful downstream breeze. Hardly any fish rising despite a trickle of upwinged flies hatching, so I opted for a Duo set-up of small Foam Klink on a short dropper above a Greenwell's nymph. I decided against a bead-head to avoid getting hung up in the shallower runs. Two regulation junior brownies fell for the wet fly, but I found it very difficult to spot the rises in the low light and tumbling water. I was almost ready to pack up when the Klink was taken in a fast broken run by my best ever East Dart brownie which, as you can see, was in excellent condition. It was on and pulling hard before I knew what had happened! I need lots more practice at this Klink and Dink business... Tight lines to you Moorland enthusiasts! Johnny
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Post by terry on May 1, 2019 8:38:09 GMT
Well done Johnny that is a very nice fish. After the usual quiet start up on the moor perhaps things are picking up. I had a good fish on literally my first cast of the season on the west dart and b****r all since. Terry
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Post by johnesmithson on May 26, 2019 12:38:10 GMT
Blackbrook River yesterday; conditions looked good except for a gusty downstream breeze that got up as the day went on. Very hard to present a dry fly properly with my little 3wt rod. Plenty of large olives coming off and a strong midge hatch late afternoon. Only one small fish to a tiny Griffiths Black Gnat from a short stretch where I could get the wind to work for me. The water levels are now very low; the river bed is slimy and could do with a good flush to freshen things up. I'll be back up there once we've had a decent flood. Got a great view of a sparrowhawk as it made a racing turn close to me and headed up the river.
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Post by terry on May 26, 2019 14:49:27 GMT
Your right with regard to low water levels Johnie I don’t remember the east and west dart being so low at this time of year. I hope it’s not a sign of things to come. I’ll try my rain dance tonight, the garden could certainly use it at the mo. Terry
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Post by johnesmithson on Jun 16, 2019 15:10:46 GMT
Well the rivers have had a mighty good flush during this past week. The East Dart still hadn't fallen to summer level yesterday, and although it was running fast and swirly, there wasn't too much colour so I had a day below Bellever. Blustery wind made presentation tricky, and despite hanging new decorations in a few trees I managed to winkle out a few small fish. Most were taken on a beaded GRHE below a Foam Klink. I still find it hard to detect the takes in the fast water and probably missed loads that came and had a look. Came across a big colony of freshly emerged fritillaries, plus a mixed herd of Red Devons with calves and bull. Gave the latter a wide berth! Anyone who is out after seatrout should have good prospects in the next couple of weeks.
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