creedy 2020

[halfstoned]

Hi all. sorry for the lack of posts this season but the sad fact is that I haven't managed to get out much this year. Obviously the rivers didn't open until May 13th but as our business was categorised as online sales we stayed open through the whole of lock down ( not complaining as some people lost their jobs and worse because of this bloody disease). For some reason we have been really busy working evenings and weekends which has left little time for fishing and when I could arrange some free time it was either baking hot and low water or the rivers were high and coloured.

So finally this afternoon I dragged myself off to fish the Creedy as I hadn't been there at all this season. As expected nothing was rising and two hours trying various dries and nymphs singularly and trying the duo method had yielded no interest, eventually I capitulated and tried a streamer. This produced almost immediately bringing 4 fish to hand the best at 10"

Its not a very inspiring way to fish but it is effective but I really wanted to catch something on the dry fly so switched back to that method. The problem was what to try next, the only two flies I'd seen were some very late season Mayflies so I tried my standard mayfly pattern thinking anything was worth a go. On about my third cast with this fly a fish rose to it as if it had been waiting for it all day. as I hooked it a kingfisher flew down and perched on a branch and duly watched me land the fish before flying off, just brilliant. The fish wasn't big ( about 8" ) but it was on a dry fly and that was all that mattered. I fished on with renewed vigour and had some more on the dry Mayfly ( plus some missed rises and one lost fish  which weeded me) which just shows you have to have an open mind in this game.

The Creedy looking lovely in the September sunshine

I hadn't noticed at the time I took this photo but the river had started to cloud up and the fish had stopped taking the mayfly, a few minutes later the visibility was down to a few inches! I took an underwater picture to get an idea of how bad it was.

I assume it must be cattle somewhere upstream clouding the water, it does seem to happen a bit on this stretch. Still it was nice to catch some fish on the dry fly. It might be September but don't ignore the Mayfly, a nice big juicy morsel might just be what they want.

[terry]

Good to see you back Chris and I share your poor season. Not for the same reason that you carried on working throughout but as I somehow don’t have my usual enthusiasm due to this bloody virus.
The few times I’ve been out on the moor I have not done well at all except strangle enough fishing a streamer in high water. Fished fernworthy yesterday and did not see a sign of a fish all day. Maybe strange fluctuations in pressure but I dunno. Excuse no 23.
Cheers,
Terry

[halfstoned]

Not sure if you've seen this Terry, thought it might interest you as it's from your stomping ground.
There's a Fernworthy one as well somewhere.
Found it

[johnesmithson]

Many thanks for posting these Chris, some really good tips on technique for the small streams

[terry]

Thanks Chris I have seen both (several times actually) for what good it has done me😄
Dear old Dave Grove can actually catch wild browns out of a puddle.
Hope your season ends with a bang.