Blackabrook and West Dart tricky but enjoyable day

[rich]

Had an enjoyable but tricky day today working up the West dart and then up the Blackabrook . I parked by the dartmoor training centre and worked up river from the bridge. 
I did not arrive until just after 1pm and there was an annoying downstream wind blowing quite hard at times just to make it slightly tricky at times.
Not much in the way of rises seen in fact I think I only saw 2 rises the whole time apart from when I got a take. 

It took awhile before I managed to rise my first Brown which launched itself at my caddis fly a CDC elk variant hitting the fly hooking itself and somersaulting off all in one swift movement itwas quite a nice one as well!
Oh well anyway as I got closer to the Blackabrook I managed to raise a few more to the dry and landed quite a few along with the usual misses.
I started up the Blackabrook and had a great take to the dry in the pool underneath the broken wooden footbridge possibly the best of the day at about 9 inches then managed a few more in various spots as I moved up the small tributary. I fished up past what I call the main pool on Blackabrook before turning back.
As time was getting on it was about 6.30pm  I decided to retrace my steps and make my way back to the west Dart and I fished the other side of the bridge in front of the training centre in a few pools before it got too dark but only managed a few half hearted rises from very small fish .
Anyway a tricky at times day but managed quite a few in the end from both bits of river and all on the dry as well which I prefer.

[johnesmithson]

Nice report Rich. My last outing a week ago was to that same stretch, and I had a similarly tricky time of it. Funnily enough, I also had a fish launch itself at a CDC Elk in a somersault, hooking itself briefly before becoming unstuck. Weird how they can do that! I don't cope well with downstream wind when fishing dry, so I usually wait until the weather forecast indicates a favourable direction of breeze. With the Blackbrook, that is unfortunately East-ish which only rarely coincides with decent light and water levels....

[halfstoned]

Nice one Rich, my plans were scuppered by the temps last week but still hoping to get out somewhere before seasons end.
Is the bottom picture Bkackabrook/Blackbrook ( not sure which is correct any more)?

[rich]

Sept 12, 2023 12:21:18 GMT halfstoned said:

Nice one Rich, my plans were scuppered by the temps last week but still hoping to get out somewhere before seasons end.
Is the bottom picture Bkackabrook/Blackbrook ( not sure which is correct any more)?

No that pic is a bit of the West Dart on way to Blackabrook/Blackbrook.  
This pic is the start of the Blackabrook 

[johnesmithson]

If you’ve got the Fish Pass app Chris I put up a photo last week of a lovely section of the lower Black(a)brook. Almost like a chalk-stream in ecology and character but hard to fish unless there is a good hatch and decent amount of water to cover the weed and fill the channels.

[rich]

Sept 12, 2023 15:26:41 GMT johnesmithson said:

If you’ve got the Fish Pass app Chris I put up a photo last week of a lovely section of the lower Black(a)brook. Almost like a chalk-stream in ecology and character but hard to fish unless there is a good hatch and decent amount of water to cover the weed and fill the channels.

I saw that !
Yes good description , targeting the little channels in the rich weed growth just like fishing a chalk stream.
Lovely stretch of water though. Until yesterday I realized I hadnt fished it for nearly 10 years always getting sidetracked by somewhere else. 
Dead sheep at the confluence with the dart at the moment so watch the wind direction if you have a weak stomach! 

[halfstoned]

Was it the 4th Johnny? If so then the Blackabrook does look like another stunning stream. Why have I left it so long.....

[johnesmithson]

Yep Chris, that's the one. First shot Blackbrook, second is West Dart above Prince Hall. They really have quite a different character which makes it fun to fish both on the same outing.