I had the whole of Bewl Water all to myself fly fishing.

I finished all I could do on my garden fencing project around noon so I decided to treat myself to a bit of piscatorial R & R! None of my pals could make it so was free to choose between Albury or Bewl.  I was pretty sure to catch at Albury but Bewl won because it would be more challenging and a bit cheaper. When I arrived the weather was good, overcast but dry, south westerly breeze and air temperature around 10 C.  Vince Brook, one of the fishery staff kindly stopped for a chat and suggested Bramble Point?  So off I set on  the ten minute walk and arrived to find the water crystal clear with a nice ripple.  Resisting the temptation to wade I kept well back and started casting with a single black woolly bugger gold head fly presented using a 7 weight forward floating line with a twelve foot leader.  On my third cast I was rewarded with a lovely pull that signalled good fish on!  It had hit the fly round two rod lengths off of the rod tip so it was in quite close and I would probably have spooked it if I had been in the water.

Later I did go into the water as there was no more action from the shore, I also tried an intermediate line with the woolly bugger, then a cats whisker and finally a blue flash damsel. I fished for 2 hours, only had the one fish but I loved every minute of it! The sky, the breeze and the water lapping at my waders told me I was very lucky to be there, still able to cast a line and still able to land a fish, the first of 2015.  And to top it all I had the whole of Bewl Water all to myself!

I am pleased to see that I can still pull them out!

Vince had warned me that they lock the exit gates at 4pm this time of year which is why I only fished for 2 hours.  However, as I was leaving Rob Barden told me that if you park down by the Outdoor Centre you can exit from there whenever you like.

Bewl Water: Good news, the bubbles are on!

Here is the latest report from Janet at Bewl:-

 

The fish have remained about 25ft - 30ft down in the water and are still fairly difficult to catch. The water temperature has dropped to 18c over the last few days which may mean some improvement and " The Bubble" is now on which will give plenty of good sport in the Main Bowl. Rod average for the week was a very good 3.80.

CATCH AND RELEASE IS SUSPENDED UNTIL THE WATER TEMPERATURE COOLS DOWN FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME.

The Main Bowl is the best area for boat fishing whilst best bank areas are Chingley and the Dam Wall where the water is deeper.

Successful flies have been Buzzers, Minkies, Cormorants, Diawl Bachs and Boobies.

The Bewl heat of the Sierra Pairs Competition took place on Sunday 6 July. Winners were Rob Barden and Adrian Necci with 16 fish for 42lb 15oz including time bonus They had caught their fish by 12.20pm. Conditions were challenging but 8 x 2 man teams caught 97 trout giving an outstanding rod average of 6 fish.

 

Well done Rob and Adrian! 

 

I am pleased to hear that the bubbles have been turned on.  Let me explain.  In the deep part of the main bowl there is a pipe on the bottom of the reservoir through which compressed air can be pumped.  This is allowed to escape into the water at 3 or 4 locations where the air rapidly expands as it bubbles up.  This aerates the water to some degree but more importantly it brings cooler water to the surface together with the food which was down deep and the trout love it.  The currents on the surface are quite strong, almost like a whirlpool in reverse and it is not easy to fish, but when you get a fish on it can be very exciting as you are playing the fish and the currents.  I remember the first time I drifted across the bubbles. I was a bit concerned as to what would happen in the maelestrom of currents!  I need not have worried the boat floated over them and got pushed away.  Now I have to try and remember what techniqes I used for fishing the bubbles and try to get some photos showing the amazing currents.