Joining a new club. The excitement is high, the anxiousness to just get on the river as soon as possible is almost over powering.

As anglers we sometimes like to keep a stream/river/beat secret, after all, we worked damned hard to find them, and so I don’t like giving away all my favourite spots. In the past though, I’ve of course made the school boy error and posted a stream’s name on my blog. All of a sudden, everyone’s fishing there, and for some reason, the fishing gets harder and harder. Not that I don’t like a challenge, I do, but then the fishing I do up in them thar’ hills is hard enough work and dirty enough business as it is.

I’ve digressed slightly.

Where is this new club, and what waters do they control I hear you ask? Below is a detailed map containing the club’s exact location, contact details, and all waters are outlined in red…

…regardless to say, if you know me, I might take you there one day, for the rest of you, sorry, just enjoy the reports and images to come.

I must say, I’ve joined the club a little late in the season, but after being shown a few images of the stream, it was like showing crack to an addict. I needed to secure a place asap, and thankfully, I got the last spot. Gareth is happy.

Saturday saw me joining Mike for a day on the new stream, with atumnal colours fully in bloom, and what a day it was. Due to work comittments, I’m not going to be able to experience the stream again properly before the 2010 season, and man, I’m already longing for the new season to come around already! Thankjs to the grayling though, I may just fit in a few visits throughout the winter.

A fantastic day, a fantastic grayling, and fantastic guiding. I owe you one Mike.

I fished with Mike yesterday, and his refreshing (and experienced) insight into flies and techniques always has me coming away from our days together with new things learned, and with the need to tie new flies.

One such fly was Mike’s Floating Nymph, a fly which Mike used to devastating effect.

Floating Nymph (a la MikeN)

Micro Copper John

Parachute Adams

This is one fly that every angler must have in his/her fly box. A fly that, I must admit, has become relegated of late into the dark corners of my boxes, however, on each occasion I remember to tie one on, it always produces.

Today, on my home stream, was one such occasion where I managed a few nice wild brown trout thanks to the Adams.

Now that the evidence submission period for open access to all inland water ways in Wales is over, the Sustainability Committee will begin further investigations into the possibility of opening up all waters (free of charge) for the use of paddlers, etc.

Below is the coverage of the first Sus Comm meeting, which took place on the 24th September and at the Senedd in Cardiff. Both the Environment Agency and Canoe Wales presented their cases at 09:05 and 10:00 respectively. If you are unaware of the current facts, the opinions, or the views from both of these bodies, this is well worth watching.

Also worth a huge mention are the updates and information currently available via the Campaign for the Protection of Welsh Fisheries website.

Downloads:
	Sustainability Committee – Evidence Session 02 (08/10/2009) – Transcript Sustainability Committee – Evidence Session 01 (24/09/2009) – Transcript
Adobe Reader will be required to view the above documents. To download click here.

IT’S ARRIVED AND, BY GOD, AM I IN LOVE!!!

John Gierach made an interesting remark in one of his books which sums up the joy of having a custom made, and hand built rod created for you:

Waiting a year or more for someone to make you the rod you want is an interesting exercise for those of us who’ve gotten used to instant gratification. It might even do us some good.

Fishing Cane: An Angler’s Passion for the Traditional Fly Rod, by John Gierach

Okay, so I didn’t have to wait a whole year, but I think the same meaning applies here, as in retrospect, waiting 49 days for Bob’s painstakingly crafted 6’3″ was hard enough.

To read the detailed reports and photos from each stage of the process (provided courtesy of Bob Farrand), click here. I would highly recommend anyone looking to purchase a fine, handcrafted, split cane fly rod get in contact with Robert (Bob) Farrand of Split Cane Blanks. You’ll love his work.

Bob, once again, thank you.

The New Girl…Say Hello Everyone

With this ring I thee wed…

Agate stripping ring and Pearsall’s Silk wraps (coffee brown w/ red tips)

The New Couple

Toothpicks

Modelled on the Cattanach 6332 Taper

Custom made by R.Farrand

Rod Christened: The First Fish

Fished the Honddu with Mostyn today. Just got in. Shattered. Caught fish. Used awesome new bamboo fly rod. Saw lots of cows. Great day. Very happy. More fishing tomorrow. Mammoth report to follow. Time for a beer.

Moo…

Stick…

Watery Beast…

Stripper…