Rainbows under the Rainbows
Heavy rain and a stiff breeze greeted our arrival at Chirk Fishery today. It didn’t look at all promising for the years first CTD. Newcomer Neil was given a baptism of fire as the ever increasing wind added another factor to contend with on his first visit to Chirk.
There were a few fish rising when we first arrived and so with conditions forecast to deteriorate further throughout the day, we started fishing a little earlier than usual in the hope that we might sneak a few fish before lunch. The fish almost immediately sensed this and responded by dropping deeper into the water column.
Neil made real progress coping well with the windy conditions whilst the more experienced anglers fished hard using many different flies at different depths.
On the plus side, everyone was able to employ some useful new casting techniques to help cope with the wind but on the downside, the fishing was brutal!
Newcomer Neil
Another change of approach
After a severe beating from the conditions, and having witnessed several longing glances towards the cabin I decided it was time for lunch. Heads were hung and morale was low. Lunch though, (especially the hot soup) has amazing recuperative powers. Spirits were raised thanks to Shaun, Becky and the ever active Jools and we strode out to do battle once more.
Jools with her Mermaid self portrait
Another hour saw no return for our efforts. In the desperation, some pretty horrendous flies were plucked from the darkest corners of some fly boxes. I’m pleased to say though that the purist approach won the day with some cracking over-wintered fish eventually taken on Buzzers, GRHE’s and Olive nymphs, dries and shuttlecocks. Steve C and John A were justly rewarded for their perseverance and finished the day with 3 quality fish each.
Steve C with a cracker
John A with his second
A special mention and apology have to go to John M who after hooking and expertly playing a beautiful blue trout to the net, was forced to watch as yours truly juggled a camera and a landing net with disastrous results. Not since the days of Bruce Grobelaar have a man and a net been so out of sync. I managed to lose both his fish and his fly but john being the consummate gentleman was most gracious. I fished myself for 30 mins after the CTD was over and I hooked and lost what would easily have been my best ever fish from the Chirk lakes. No consolation to John M but perhaps a bit of fishing karma for my earlier carelessness with the net.
One of the toughest but one of the most enjoyable and rewarding Chirk Training Days to date.
Well done gents!