Monthly Roundup

     Hello everyone , 

        The heat of the summer seems never to be ending and with it has come huge difficulties in still water fly fishing for trout with the lakes and reservoirs water levels dropping fast and weed growth more prolific. At some sites the trout have boiled alive and only the deepest of waters have trout and even them have have not been stocked for several months now.

        My apologies that it has been a few months since I last wrote anything on this page but with competitions and my wife deciding that the downstairs needed one last overhaul in decorating plus deciding we needed to modernise the brown furniture I have been pretty hectic rubbing down the skirting boards, arcitraves and all the cabinets and display units, getting in a chap to do the ceilings and walls, changing some of the electrics and getting a new carpet I have been busy. Fortunately, it's hopefully the last time for such a big project before we push up the daiseys.

     There has been no stocking at any of my local waters at Chigboro or Great Leighs.   I still  teach the theory side of fly fishing in regards to entomology, climate, habitates, artificial flies, knots, ancilliary equipment, tackle and casting techniques during this heat wave but cannot put a fly on the water with a chance of taking a fish or two and have told all my prospective clients so but there is so much to learn with fly fishing that a day spent just on the theory is no bad thing as a prelude to actually fishing.

      I have had a visit to Scotland this year, in June I was fishing an International in Ayrshire on the River Ayr and unlike down south it was quite cool and heavy rain during the afternoon of the second day of the match. I was in the actual squad this year and on day one had the best bag but unfortunately the second day was a disaster losing three fish at the net. In May I was at the Clewyedog in Wales at a National and was representing my Region. It was blowing a "hooley" and it rained most of the daybut found no shelter but caught a few but not enough to get a placing.

    In April I was up on the River Tees in Co. Durham competing for a place in the EPFFA England team. We had snow, sleet, rain, wind and sunshine with very cold conditions but I managed to come 6th and secure my place to fish for the squad in 2027.

    Tight Lines everyone.          

 Iain Fraser. AT Angling Lead Coach, License Number 1274.