Fly Fishing for Sea-Trout: Adventure at Woodmill on the Itchen

I have called it an adventure because:-

• The opportunity came out of the blue thanks to a chance conversation with Andreas the Salisbury and District Fishery Manager.
• I was to be fishing in an area I did not know
• I was to be fishing with a gent I did not know
• I was to be fishing a complex junction pool that was tidal and involved wading
• The target was that illusive species, the sea trout
• And it was all going to happen IN THE DARK!

It sounded great fun!

Clive Bruton and I met at the White Swan and had a burger supper.  We talked all things fish  and I soon realised that I was with an expert who had fished his way round the world. This is where I made my first mistake!  I had planned to ensure we got to the water whilst there was still some daylight but I talked too much (Clive wanted to know about steelhead fishing) and we arrived at Woodmill in the dark!  Fortunately, Clive had done it all before and he knew the combinations for the road and pool gates, I got the impression it was a sort of fishing Fort Knox!

In the dark it is hard to judge distance but the pool appeared bigger than I had expected. It was high tide and water was roaring in from two sources, the River Itchen and Monks Brook. At first, and for some time, I had no idea where it was discharging down towards the Southampton Water and the sea.  Clive kindly walked me around and described various features and showed me the "hut" which was more of a shelter than a hut as the front was completely open. However it did boast some seats and a kettle.

Clive then explained that it is harder to catch when the water is high but that was when the bigger fish were caught.  He then shared the technique he had developed which involved a small tube fly on the point "anchored" deeper in the water by a very heavy nymph on a dropper.  I didn't have any very heavy nymphs so I fished a single fly on a fast sinking line to no avail apart from catching the odd tree.  I was having difficulty judging distances in the dark!  Then I graduated up to an intermediate line as fish were showing on the top and the water was dropping.  I also tried the anchor nymph approach using a woolly bugger!

By this time it was around one in the morning and I was feeling a bit rough. The drive down hadn't helped my back and I was feeling sorry for myself.  At one point I sat in the hut drinking soup and thinking "Am I getting a bit too old for this middle of the night sea trout lark"!  Then I told myself that I was lucky to be there and the weather was kind, the moon was down and it was an ideal night so I ought to get a fly on the water.  Then I spotted Clive out in the middle of the pool and realised the tide was well out and a mud/gravel bar had appeared.

Clive modestly told me he had caught a few and advised me to fish a bit deeper and to wade out on the bar and cast under the trees.  By this time I had gone through a lot of the fly box and was currently using a sparse black and silver "Needle fly".  Clive suggested it was too light and he was right because the strong currents were probably lifting it.  As I was running out of time I put a blob of lead putty on the fly's head and cast it under the trees fishing it on the swing.  After half a dozen casts still nothing so I cast straight up current and did a fast retrieve.  BANG!  Fish on, not a big one but sporting enough in the dark to be great fun.  I was so pleased that all the tiredness and back pain disappeared and I came alive.  I quickly removed the hook, took a quick photo and slid a beautiful fish back into the water.  Line tidied and back on station I repeated the process and a few casts later I was in contention again.  This time the fish was a bit bigger at around 2lb, but it thought it was a bird and tried to fly!  A brace!  I was a happy bunny.  When Colin called across out of the gloom saying he was packing up but I could fish on I suddenly realised how tied I was and I decided to quit whilst I could still walk!

A perfect specimen, not big but beautiful!

 

The needle fly that saved the day. The leader goes through the red loop down the side of the sewing needle and ties on to the treble. The point of the needle is then pushed into the sleeve that is over the hook shank.

The final score was Clive 9, Alan 2 but I didn't mind that, it had been a very special memorable night and a bit of an adventure!

Report of S Wales Trout and Sea Trout Experiences

Thursday 12^th June saw me meeting Rowland Elvidge at Yate where, following a splendid meal provided by his daughter we headed for our rendezvous with Ian Govier at the Aldi car park just off the M4 at 9pm.  On meeting, Ian explained that the rivers were running a bit high that night so sea trout (sewin) fishing was postponed until Friday night. So we headed to the caravan for an early night. About an hour later having followed Ian through winding country lanes in the dark we arrived at Brandy Brook and after 10 minutes hooking up gas and water we were all set.  The clear skies meant it was fairly cold so I wore my buff on my head to great effect and slept well.

The next morning having had an excellent breakfast we met Andy Jones the fourth member of the party at Llys-y-fran reservoir. Launching the boats set about some serious loch style trout fishing under a bright sun and cloudless sky! Andy and Rowland’s boat was number 13 so they knew they were in for a bit of a challenge!

 

Drifting on the drogue, mentally miles away, I had such a savage pull on the line that I thought Ian, my boat companion who was casting at the time, had picked up my line.  It took a few micro seconds before I realised that I had a large fish on and it wanted to go places!  Sadly the hook had not set properly and seconds later he abandoned me.  From then on we only found fish near the shore and mainly spent the rest of the time drifting in with the breeze and then motoring back out.  I think we had five fish in total but the fishing was challenging and enjoyable and the weather too good.

 

Me wearing my buff to keep the sun off my face and not wearing the PFD as I was in the process of stripping off my jacket to cool down when a fish took the fly!

 

Finishing around 6pm we headed (via a fish and chip supper) for the Abercothi Estate where Andy had booked us some sewin fishing on the River Towy.  The Towy (Tywi in Welsh) is generally regarded as the best sewin river in Wales.  Andy then gave Rowland and me a master class on how to read and fish a sewin river as we walked the beats.  We were told we could fish the famous Junction Pool beat where the Towy is joined by the Cothi and a beat on the Cothi as well. 

.Andy and Ian both excellent Sewin fishers

 

A relaxed Rowland waiting for dusk on the banks of the Cothi

 

We started on the Cothi just as it was getting dark with Ian leading the way down the beat.  We were all kitted out with chest waders and entered the inky black water carefully using our feet to feel the way.  Basically you cast downstream across the river at 45 degrees or less and let the fly swing across the river until it hangs downstream of you.  Then you step downstream a pace and do it again.  Ideally you cast into areas with some structure that may hold fish just out of the main current.  So there we were about 50 yards apart working our way down the beat poised, waiting for that magic tug on the line.  Suddenly a huge full moon poked out from behind a cloud and lit the scene turning the blackness to light grey.  Although it made the casting and wading easier, because we could see a bit, many prefer totally dark moonless nights in terms of catching!

Having exhausted the Cothi beat to no avail we moved down to the more challenging main river and the Junction Pool where there was a lot of water coming down.  Andy dispatched Ian to wade across the Cothi using a rope that was conveniently strung across the river so he could fish the top of the pool.  Then further down Andy entered the water to check it out and soon found himself in above the waist, he worked his way out into the middle but found it a bit challenging due to the force of the current and the uneven bottom.  I then attempted to follow him, having been warned that the bottom couple of steps on the ladder had been washed away.  I made it into the water and following Andy’s route slowly and carefully edged away from the bank.  When I reached a point where the water was up to my crutch, and I could feel a depression in front of me, I belatedly did a risk assessment noting that:-

1.       I was not wearing a PFD (personal floatation device)

2.       I did not have a wading stick

3.       It was now pretty dark because the moon was behind the trees

4.       I didn’t know the river and Andy had mentioned a LARGE hole!

5.       I didn’t want to make my wife a rich widow!

So I chickened out!

Roland had a brief wade downstream where it was a bit easier and eventually Andy managed to work his way back to terra firma somewhat damp.  No serious fishing had taken place except by Ian who didn’t find any fish.  By this time it was 3am and we were all a little tired.  Back at the caravan at 4am we crashed out and dreaming about large fiesty sewin, slept till about 10am.

My next post will describe some scenic spots and the Welsh versus English fly fishing battle.

Simple Fly Fishing Magic in South Wales

My youngest daughter’s father-in-law, Mark, invited us to stay in the house he was refurbishing in South Wales.  How could I refuse?   I started planning a bit of serious fishing by contacting my friend Andrew, an ace sewin (sea trout) fisher.  Andrew thought we could get out one night during my stay. Serious sewin fly fishers only fish during the hours of darkness, the darker the better.  That is quite challenging!  Imagine casting a fly in complete darkness whilst standing on the bank or wading.  You jump out of your waders when a large sea trout jumps in the dark.  It sounds as if a cow has fallen off a bridge!

Sadly my pal Andrew was not able to get away so we did not have a sewin session, however, I visited some amazing places (see previous post) and was able to take a trip down a fishing memory lane that turned out to be very pleasant when I visited:-

 

This fishery is quite hard to find as it is on the north side of the B4287 between Neath and Pontrhydyfen.  However, it is well worth visiting as it is picturesque, with a wonderful view of Swansea Bay in the distance.  It generally has very clear water and is well stocked with hard fighting rainbow and blue trout.  When I ran my former company's fly fishing club I used to hold very successful events here.

 

The fishery manager is Dave Price and the cost of fishing is very reasonable. 

I was pleased to see that since my last visit, a couple of years ago, the windy, undulating track up to the fishery had been tarmacked and could now be regarded as a road. 

Also the privy (loo, or bathroom as my friends in the States call it) had been rebuilt (I bet the old one blew away, hopefully whilst vacant!).

 

When I arrived around 2pm it was overcast with a light breeze and I could see fish rising and one or two being caught.  I bought a 2 fish ticket from Dave in the caravan (used as a rest area and office) as I didn’t plan to be there long.

 

I thought I would definitely force myself only to use dry flies and catch off the top.  It didn’t work out like that.  By the time I had set up the sun was out and my dry sedge was ignored as the fish went down.  Occasionally, as a small cloud drifted across the sun a fish would rise and I would try to cover it but all to no avail.  I moved around a bit as most of the other anglers had “bagged up” and left but still no action.  Reluctantly I decided to fish sub surface and switched to a small grhe (gold ribbed hairs ear) fly.  I did a long cast to a fresh location and started a very slow figure of eight retrieve.  I then experienced that state of mind when you become completely at one with the environment.  You are so in tune that you know something is going to happen and when the line went tight, and I hooked up, I knew, that I knew it would happen!   Am I a fish mind reader?  I wish I was.  The fish was a strong one hooked at a distance so I had plenty of time to enjoy the tussle as I watched the bar of silver flashing back and forth.  Several jumps later and all 3lb of it was safely in the net.

When I had to leave I came away with my 2 fish, Dave generously giving me a large blue that another angler had left behind (I hope he does not want it back)!  The fishery rules are simple and clear.  Dave wants everyone to have good sport.

 



 

 

So my trip to Wales may not have been a fishing bonanza but an afternoon spent at Abernant was magic!