Post by johnesmithson on Jul 16, 2021 22:07:23 GMT
Thanks to everyone for your advice after my last outing, much better hooked-to-risen ratio today on the East Dart, but crikey, it was hard going both in and alongside the river. There has been so much water that a lot of the valley bottom is now very boggy and almost impassable in places, even with waders! The river level is still a few inches above summer normal and flowing quickly, which made for precarious wading through the pots. Also had to cope with a flukey downstream breeze which messed up my presentation a bit. Anyway, I managed seven to hand up to 9 inches or so, nothing memorable but steady interest to a size 14 Elk Hair Caddis pattern. Very little rising, and only a few olives and sedges emerging. I've never seen so many dragonflies and damselflies as I did today. I also came across a pair of very young fox cubs on the path near Laughter Hole, one recently dead and the other not looking too chipper. I imagine probably orphaned. Nature red in tooth etc, but sad nonetheless.
