Anyone got 2020 underway yet?

[Pete Tyjas]

Like everyone else I've been watching river heights to see if I can get some fishing done.

So far, I've only managed to time it right just the once but loved every second being on the river with some friends. The fish really were a bonus.

I've kept myself busy tying a few flies and recording some podcasts too.

Anyone else caught grayling in 2020?

[yeoman]

Hi Pete,

Got out about 10 days ago for the Grayling in a small window, river was a bit too high really but doable just.
Had one small one, a few very fit looking brownies and a circa 3lb Salmon Kelt which was a right PITA on the nymph gear.
Tight lines in 2020 to all.
Ben

[Pete Tyjas]

Good to hear someone else has managed to dodge the rain and wet a line.

Sounds like we might be in for some dry weather soon, you never know....

[boisker]

I had an hour below Hele but it was pushing through a bit too much, reading low forties on the gauge... I’d never fish it at that height normally, needs to be under 35 really, but wanted to at least wet a line.
May very well wait until the start of the new season now....
this weather had been terrible, I haven’t even been able to get over to the field to cast much, at least the rivers have had a good flush and should start the season with decent levels for the first time in 3 seasons

As an addition...

like Pete I’ve also been fly tying, I’m getting to the point where I am tying dry flies for the 2021 season

I’m sure most have already used it, but having noticed Kelly Galloup and others used EP fibres a lot for wings I picked some up, definitely the best winging material I have used for split wings/spinners, the tan and March brown look fantastic and it stays a bit straighter than some fibres....

[Pete Tyjas]

Matt, Hele can be tricky with some water.

Nice ties, I'm busily tying mayflies and dreaming of warm evenings and some rising trout....

[boisker]

More rain... can’t wait for spring

Pete what mayfly patterns do you use?
I used to tie extended bodies etc, but have gone to a very basic hook, body and wing... so simple they seem more effective than extended bodies. I get very few refusals/missed lifts with the simpler fly. When I fished the extended bodies (and prior to that Oliver Edwards Mohican) they look more realistic but hook ups were less certain.
This is pretty much what I used for mayfly last year (I don’t remember using anything else)

I’ve added some split wings for this year-




And I still use the emerger pattern that your friend developed that was in ESF, mostly if I am on the water before I spot any hatched mayfly on the wing...

[Pete Tyjas]

Hi Matt, I'm still finding it hard to look beyond the Mega May that you mention in your post. I've fished it now for a pretty long time through a variety of situations on a number of rivers and it hasn't let me down.

I'm never sure how much diameter of tippet matters but I find I don't need to go heavier/thicker like I would with a more traditional pattern that spins the tippet/leader.

I don't know if this could be called as an sort of study but I was once guiding someone who was broken by a sea trout in the 8lb range that rose to a French Partridge and popped the 5lb tippet.

As the day went on we experimented with a leader that got thicker and thicker and got up to 13lb with fish still happily eating the fly. They were hard on the hatch but it was fun seeing what we could get away with!

[yeoman]

Goes to show,when the fish are really on them you can get away with a lot!

[boisker]

I don’t go really heavy even with a large winged mayfly, sometimes drop to 4x, it’s quick enough to untwist them, assuming I remember .

Do you use the original hook... partidge Klink or extreme I think?

I’ve never really got on with those hooks, I always felt as though I missed more, probably more to do with the confidence of the fish taking the fly than the actual hook... but it’s tricky to fish a fly where you lose confidence in the hook. I think I tied on hends klinks last time.

[Pete Tyjas]

I tied some the other day and found just a bag with some hooks in but looked like the extreme version.

I can't recall what Duncan ties the original on but not sure it was an extreme.

I've been convinced confidence is a huge part of how we fish whether it be hooks, the pattern, if you've degreased the leader or anything else.

If it doesn't feel right then I don't think you're going to fish it as well. If this is the case then I just make a change and I immediately feel better about how I'm fishing.

[boisker]

Yeah confidence is everything... I’ve got part used packs of Partridge klinks in normal and extreme in a range of sizes, but ordered some hends klinks yesterday afternoon to replace them... I immediately felt better

[Pete Tyjas]

Sounds like you're sorted, happy tying!

I had one of those late calls from a good friend asking what I was doing the next day. Thankfully I was clear and we got out and caught some grayling. It turned out to be one of those really fun days that started with a big breakfast and good coffee and fish were a happy bonus.

[1stteamsunbed]

I was thinking of popping out today and wetting a line, but with all thats going on I've had to call it off. I imagine a few others are considering what to do next.

[Pete Tyjas]

It looks like everything will be on hold for a bit now.

I was looking forward to grannom but I guess we might just catch mayfly if we're lucky.

I hit the river before lockdown for salmon a fair bit with no joys but managed a few trout on a nice afternoons session with a good friend.

Anyone else christen their trout season before lockdown?

[boisker]

Yeah I had a few hours on Sunday... still felt like winter water and a gusty cool 35 mph wind... had a couple on the duo... but gotta day say duo never feels like a good start to the season and in the wind made casting real tight to the bank and under branches tricky, so even though nothing was rising I switched over to single dry... well technically an emerger... and played around with varying presentation casts whilst pretending the next cast would tempt a nice brown to the surface.... it never did but it was nice to just be casting a dry on the river... I spent about 40 mins casting way back under some branches... really sweet and tight loops, after the first 2 casts it was obvious no one was home... but it was just fun

Like you I reckon if we can get out in 2 months that would be a result

I just hope it’s not August as the river levels bottom out

[halfstoned]

Alas no, I had the 21st booked off to start my season but had to work last minute and swapped for this Friday but obviously won't be going now. Stay safe all.

[1stteamsunbed]

Gutted , missed out on WTT lot124 A season pass for 1 rod, Rivers Axe, Isle, Yarty and Tone, Taunton card. That’s my season shot before it starts . I live in Seaton so I better take up sea fishing this year.

[Pete Tyjas]

Sorry to hear guys, I hope we're able to get out when things are back to some sort of normality and everyone is safe.

I wonder if and when the lockdown is lifted that we might see people heading to holiday spots in the UK rather than heading abroad?

[boisker]

I reckon it depends on where opens up first and where seems to have been least impacted.... there will be some really cheap bargains about in exotic locations.... everyone will be desperate for visitors and business

[1stteamsunbed]

Has anyone dared to make any plans for when we are allowed out to play?

Do Otter fly fishers have a website ?

Is there any chance of membership ?

The salmon guys must be developing a nervous twitch by now.

Jeff