Running water. It’s taken over my life.

It’s 06:40 on a Friday morning. I’m southbound on the A470, joining the hundreds of commuters monotonously driving to work. I’m usually one such commuter, but not today, today I’m going fishing.

Some people would say that a person who takes a day off work, who gets up from bed at 05:30, drops his girlfriend off at the train station, then proceeds to drive to a river and to be parked up and at the waters edge by 07:00, is a very sad and person. These ‘some people’ obviously don’t fish.

So, it’s to be a day of fishing, and more importantly, a day of exploration on this new section of water. After noticing a good number of olives and yellow mays on Monday evening, a dozen or so size #17 olive and sulphur/yellow parachutes were tied up prior to this all day trip.

Fly life was much the same today, and was consistent more or less throughout. The weather was lovely, and was the image of a summers day.

Warm sunny skies with a sprinkling of cloud, the odd yellow may crashing clumsily into my polaroids. Nymphs run through deep channels, dry flies drifted underneath tree branches and over fishy looking holding spots. The day started with a fish on the second cast, and ended with a fish on the last.

At one point, however, I found myself feeling somewhat anxious (and so would any other fly fisherman caught in my situation). I stood at one bank, eyes fixed on the far bank, a deep food lane running just off the bank, which has a light covering of trees. One rise, two rises, three, four, five rises all along the far bank. Do I try targeting the rise at the rear of the food lane? This may allow me to catch the fish without spooking the others forward of its position. Or, do I try for the forward fish; possibly the largest fish of the group as it’s occupying the primary feeding position over the other fish.

Anxiousness caused by too many feeding fish. I’m in a rut, and am unsure what to do.

Fortunately for me, the fish in this lane seem more than unbothered at the presence of a madman standing in their domain waving a stick (although somewhat cautiously!), and are quite content to gobble down more small emergers held in the surface film long after I have hand landed and returned the forward fish. A very decent, and beautifully marked, 1lb trout is brought to hand and is duly released.

The rises subsequent to the capture of the forward fish, are somewhat more splashy, slashy affairs (a nervous reaction maybe), however, feeding continued.

Continuing down the food lane, I proceed to catch four of the five rising fish. Result. These fish obviously unable to resist the charms of an olive parachute.

Working up and down the river all day, success to the landing of wild trout is consistent. Quite a large number of the fish taken to a size #15 hare’s ear tied to a large klinkhammer using the New Zealand method. The fish in the river today, seem very hungry indeed.

At times like these, when all your concentration is taken up by rising trout, I’m reminded of an exert from a rather good book:

Poets talk about “spots of time,” but it is really fishermen who experience eternity compressed into a moment. No one can tell what a spot of time is until suddenly the whole world is a fish.

– Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It

Exploring this new section has been absolutely fantastic today, and I feel my hard work has been repaid tenfold. So, arriving back at the car at around 17:00 (having worked my way up a few miles of river), I find myself lightly chuckling. As always on these momentous trips, I’ve forgotten my camera, and have managed to catch a number of fish which is now lost to me! I may never take my camera out again if success like this is its result.

Apologies for the lack of photos, but I hope my words have done my day justice.

It’s happened again. Leaving this year’s Monnow Social, passing fields of stunningly bright yellow rapeseed, camping gear packed away in the boot, I feel slightly empty inside. Not because it was a bad weekend (far from it), but because I was a little sad to be leaving behind a wonderful weekend and a group of people that have the highest levels of passion for fly fishing. It truly was humbling, and to be perfectly honest, an honour to be part of it.

When I work out exactly how to portray the weekend in words, I’ll write a special entry…for now though…I need to think it through. I’ll have some photos up soon.

With the 2008 Monnow Social now behind me, it’s time to get back to fishing my home rivers…and maybe, just maybe, giving myself a chance to fish with my new Orvis T3.

Meeting up with Eldon yesterday at 14:00, and on the orders of Eldon, we were off to explore a section of water on the river Taff we’d not fished before; and an awesome section it truly is!

Eldon mentioned this stretch of water to me a couple of weeks ago, and after fishing it a couple of times, I think he’s well and truly hooked on it; and rightly so.

As I’ve said before, I’m a big fan of finding new waters myself, exploration through hard work and sweat (usually…always…kinda) pays off…and big time! Because of which, I won’t give away the location of this new stretch of water, but you’ll agree agree that this is a great looking waterway, and in fantastic scenery. It won’t take you long to find it…honestly

Things seem to change every 25 yards or so upon this section of the river and really remind you just how diverse an old river like the river Taff can be. Some sections of the river are slow, shallow glides, while no less than 25 yards upstream can see you fishing heavy flowing, white water. A fly box with everything from tiny dries, emergers, spiders, streamers, and heavily weighted tungsten nymphs wouldn’t look out of place.

After tackling up and getting briefed by Eldon on what to expect of this new water, we worked our way up stream, leap- frogging one another every so often.

There were good hatches of small gnats, a few LDOs, and quite a few lonesome yellow mays flitting about the river. The trout on the other hand, seemed not to care.

This is a truly exceptional water, but one that doesn’t divulge its booty easily. Boy did we have to work hard; but, it paid off, with seven fish caught between us, and all as wild as the hills (and just as beautiful). It’s amazing how dark the trout are in comparison to the river Monnow and it’s tributaries.

A wild Taff brownie

The new rod? It excelled at everything. The rod is powerful enough to handle streamers dead drifted or stripped through a pool, teams of Czech nymphs, teams of delicate spiders presented upstream; but, it’s also delicate enough to present a size #20 dry fly to a rising trout 20′ away on a far bank. The 8’6″ Orvis T3 is long enough for line mending and roll casts like a dream in the tight spots.

SWEET!!!

Would I recommend? Bet your mother I would! THE best purchase in my fishing career. This rod actually makes fishing more of a joy than it already was…and I thought that was impossible to surpass!

As dusk started to work it’s way in, Eldon and I met along the river bank having fished apart for the last half hour. Accompanied by the end of a spinner fall, we started our walk back to the car; excitement for the next visit high as we chatted about future tactics and tiny flies. Future visits to this part of the river are going to be good. Very good.

This is the fishing I love. Warm lazy nights, a spinner fall, and a few rising wild trout. Magical.

A few memorable shots of the night:

Thank the Lord…it’s time.

Four days off work. No computers. No Servers. No IT Support or listening to other peoples IT-related problems. In fact, there will be no work related anything! Instead…Lots of beer. Lots of fishing. Lots of relaxation.

Off I go, to spend 3 days and 2 nights with 20 or so other like-minded fishing fanatics…see you all Tuesday!

As some of you have read, at the start of April I managed to snap my Sage Fli. Well, it was delivered back into my loving arms a week or so ago with a brand new tip section! Turnaround time – 20 days. Not a bad turn around if you take into account it had to be sent to the retailer first (John Norris of Penrith), then to sage, and back again.

The process was totally painless, and John Norris’s customer service (as ever) was faultless! Thank you John Norris and Sage!

However, since the fateful snap, I’ve thought to myself ‘What would happen if I had a fishing trip planned for the weekend after?’ Well, I’d be screwed.

There is a company (I believe them to be THE company when it comes to product quality and pre/post-sales customer service) who has a solution…

To the question ‘What if I have broken my only rod and need it to continue fishing?’, Orvis reply:

Average turnaround for rod repairs is 3 days (excluding transit). Should your repair take longer and you will require a loan rod in the meantime, will provide it to you free of charge.

Well that sounds pretty good! But that’s just in addition to their 25-Year Guarantee! Keep reading…

[The Orvis] 25-Year Rod Guarantee

Purchase an Orvis Helios, Zero Gravity, Superfine, Western2, Shooting Star, T3, TLS Power Matrix, Clearwater, and Clearwater Double Hander rods with a 25-year guarantee, and we will repair or replace it, no matter what the reason, for a quarter of a century. Step on it, close the door on it, run over it with the car – it doesn not matter, we will repair it. If we cannot repair it, we will choose a current comparable rod to replace it. All this in a turnaround of less than a week in over 94% of the cases!

Of course, this sounds way to good to be true! But then, I’ve experienced first hand just how good the Orvis rod guarantee is, and also, I’ve experienced similarly awesome customer service when a pair of Endura waders began leaking.

Now, as it’s my birthday this month, I’ve decided to treat myself to a new rod, and of course, I’ve gone for an Orvis.

I kinda’ fell in love with their Superfine ‘Troutbum’ series a little while ago, but (for now) I need a new 8’6″ 5wt for all-round/general river work on small/medium sized rivers. It has to be suitable for fishing teams of spiders, weighted nymphs, duo-setups, streamer fishing, and of course (more important to me than any of the above), it has to be gentle enough for the dry-fly. The Superfine can wait a little longer.

With the above requirements in mind, I decided to purchase a T3 Mid Flex, 8’6″ 5wt. This was a blind purchase, where I ended up not having the chance to try the rod out in person due to various reasons, but instead, I went on the recommendations of others that have a similar casting style to myself.

Mmmm…sweet!

Image copyright Orvis 2008

Orvis say:

A slower-action five-weight for delicate presentations, and effortless roll casts. The tracking and forgiving castability of this rod means you can still lay down a perfect line, even when you are focused more on the fish than your timing.

Fly Rod Features Include:

• Super-high modulus graphite and thermoplastic-enriched, thermoset resin/scrim matrix: more powerful, more durable.
• Three coats of finish with a final UV blocking coat.
• Silicon-carbide-lined stripping, chrome snake guides.
• Protective aluminum rod tube.
• 25-year guarantee to repair or replace fly rod
• 30-day Risk Free Trial

Ordered the rod Saturday, there was a slight mix up with the stock advertised online, but this was remedied immediately by couriering the rod from the Orvis store in Bath. Due to the Bank Holiday, etc, I was expecting the rod to be delivered today…spot on!

Upon its delivery I was struck with a problem: I was at work…and the rod was at home. Add to this conundrum the fact that the social is taking place tomorrow; what does this equal you ask? A very anxious and excited Gareth with no time to try out the rod before the social.

Work couldn’t finish fast enough, but after getting home, opening the package, and setting up the rod, I (apparently) turned into a ‘dribbling mess’…of course I disagree, and believe I was very dignified in my response to my new rod…perhaps not.

First impressions? This is a truly beautiful and very well crafted rod, and one that will last a long time it cared for (don’t worry, I’m not going to start talking to it). Obviously, to get a proper opinion I’m going to have to actually fish with it, but then, with the Monnow social is taking place tomorrow…perfect for hardware testing, I can’t wait!

I’ll post an update on the rod in due course.

…anyway, it’s now off to the pub for a ‘pre-social’ curry and pint…result!

Images of a madman with unwashed, messy hair, hunched over a fly tying vice all the while laughing and rambling hysterics to himself; eyes bloodshot with a slightly crazed and deranged sparkle to them, tying the world’s most evil fly patterns…may (please) be dispelled.

Instead, I’ve had a few lovely, relaxing nights, calmly restocking my fly collection one fly at a time. A tea break here and there, a flick through a few fly tying web sites to find a few nice new patterns, and then back to it; I always find fly tying relaxes me. The concentration needed casts out any other thoughts.

A problem arose on Friday of last week at the office. A colleague enquired if I was excited for the Monnow Social weekend taking place on Friday and if I had everything organised. Excitement – Check. Organisation – Whoops!

The state of my fly box and the fact that there would be no tying vice around for miles could have spelt disaster! Luckily though, I’m now replenished.

Anyone who knows me will know my favourite flies. It’s simple, as I rarely fish with more than a handful.

Four or five dry flies, a few nymphs, and a few wets (and maybe a couple of streamer patterns when the going gets tough). That’s my lot though, and they all fit snugly into one fly box (although, due to my fly tying ‘cram’ session, I now have a 10″x6″ plastic compartment container full of my favourites flies, plus a few ‘special’ additions needed for the Monnow social).

At this time of year the Monnow system plays host to a substantial hatch of Mayfly and is proof of the quality of it’s waters. The visiting angler will ignore this hatch at his/her peril, as the trout certainly won’t be in ignorance. In addition, the organisers of the social (who’s primary fishing takes place in/around the Monnow system) are currently reporting the existence of a healthy abundance of hawthorn fly. Two fly patterns you’ll not want to forget when you’re in this area and at this time of year.

Hopefully, both Mayfly and Hawthorn flies will make an appearance next Friday, as the Taff system sees very little hawthorn and Mayfly are practically unheard of.

The Hardy Handful

Dry Flies
Klinkhammer (various colours and sizes)	CDC & Elk (various colours and sizes)
Balloon Caddis (various colours and sizes)	Adams (Parachute) (various sizes)
Spiders
Snipe & Purple (various sizes)	Partridge & Orange (various sizes)
Snipe & Yellow (various sizes)
Nymphs
GRHE (various sizes)	Dee Devil (various sizes)
PTN (various sizes)	Czech Nymphs (various colours and sizes)
Streamers
Black & Olive Woolly Bugger (various colours and sizes)	Olive Woolly Bugger (various colours and sizes)
Monnow ‘Specials’
Mayfly (Extended Body) (various colours and sizes)	Mayfly (Grey Wulff) (various sizes)

Unlike last year’s social, this time around I know the area better and am a little better acquainted with the local fly life. As a result (and with a little more certainty that last year) I know what to expect.

We’ll see how successful I am…