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!

Family History Research Brings Rewards!

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints we (my wife and I) believe in the eternal nature of family relationships. As well as trying to keep our immediate family (all seven children, their spouses and our twenty three grandchildren) together as a team in this life we  also want to include in our "team" our ancestors. We believe in life after death and that "families can be together, forever".  This belief involves trying to search out and identify our forbears.  Family history research (or to give it it's posh name, genealogy) not only helps you build a family tree (and the posh name for that is pedigree chart) it also can get you in touch with lost or distant living relatives.  

 

My wife Rosalind is our genealogist and she has some amazing and interesting things happen through doing genealogy.  Our family tree is on the web and a lady in Ohio researching for her great grandfather found his name on our family tree. She then contacted Rosalind and together they confirmed it was the same person. Rosalind then sent her a written family history.  The lady in Ohio then traced one of the people mentioned.  Margaret is still living and is 95 years old and is still at the same address.  She is Rosalind's mothers cousin and we have a photo of them together in Ireland when they were young.   To cut a long story short, whilst baby sitting grandchildren near Seattle, we got a few days leave of absence and met up with Margaret and her family at a place called Maple Ridge near Vancouver, British Columbia.  These distant relatives were most friendly and hospitable and we had a delightful couple of days in their company all thanks to doing family history research!

Rosalind with Margaret her mother's cousin and the carer

 Ann, Margaret's daughter and her husband Jim, our delightful hosts

 Jim's latest toy (Ann and Jim are snowbirds)!

 Inside the motor home (RV) with the sides extended. Just amazing!

Yours truly in the driving seat (dreaming)!

 

So as a result of doing family history research we had a wonderful time in BC with some delightful distant relatives.  You should try it, you never know where it will take you!

 

 

Chalk Stream Fly Fishing Masterclass

Yours truely on the chalk

Because I do so many different kinds of fly fishing I tend to be a "Jack of all and master of none".  Now I am retired I am keen to improve my chalk stream performance because being a member of the Salisbury and District Angling Club (SADAC) I have, for a reasonable annual subscription, access to a lot of lovely water and beautiful fish.  Acknowledging that local knowledge is king and having not fished the club waters for several months I decided to pay a visit to the office and seek the guidance of the Fishery Manager, Andreas.  After we had swapped a few stories and discussed ways of avoiding backache while fishing he advised me where to fish adding that he would be there later himself.  

 

Andreas focused

So later that afternoon I got to fish with Andreas and it turned out to be a master class on how to outwit the fish and catch.  Here is a summary of the key things I learnt:-

• I am reasonably good at spotting fish but Andreas was better.  I think the fact that his Polaroid sun glasses had side shades gave him an advantage.  I have never bothered to fit mine side shades but I will now.  
• He knew the river far better than me and where the fish's favourite feeding locations were.
• He prioritised the nearest fish, crouched forward and really focused on them and what they were doing.
• If fish were not seen to be actively feeding he left them after a few casts and moved on.
• He used a longer leader than I, say around 12 feet.
• He used smaller flies than I, sixteens and eighteens.
• He was constantly watching the fly life around, both above and on the water.
• If there was no top of the water activity he switched to nymphing.
• When the sedge were hatching he used F- flies, little V shaped CDC flies in brown or black.
• As the evening drew to a close and activity on the deeper water slowed down he moved us to the faster riffles where there was lots of surface activity.

It was a privilege to have fished with an expert who so willingly shared his knowledge.

The reward a pretty brown

Salmon parr

Searching for bigger fish under the trees

Supper!

A stripped and twisted willow twig makes a handy fish carrying handle!

 

 

Fly Fisherman Fights Back!

Well I know all my fishing buddies and fans will want to know what has been transpiring on the fishy front.  So here blow by blow are the details:-

5th August - Previously reported

7th August - I had to cancel a beach saltwater fly fishing session with Ryan Smith owner of the Avid Angler, because I couldn't stand up!

8th August - I had to cancel a Rattlesnake Lake float tube session with Marky, same reason as above.

18th August - still very delicate but Shayne kindly took me to the North Fork of the Snoqualmie and the long walk in was good for me. He put me on the easy access beat and I caught a couple of rainbows, he fished the difficult rocky sections and caught a shed full!

20th August - to repay the complement I introduce Shayne to the Sky (he kindly drove) and to our joint delight he caught his biggest fish this year.  I had a couple of good fish drop off at the net! I didn't mind my buddy had got the one he deserved.

21st August - Shayne and I decided to have a crack at walking and wading the Yak at Cle Elum as the water level further down stream was too high for wading but first Shayne wanted to check out the tributary called the Teanaway (I think).  We popped into the tackle shop in Cle Elum, had a chat, bought some flies and got briefed.  The Teanaway was a pretty water but the flow was very low so early afternoon saw us trying to access the Cle Elum through jungle like trails.  Eventually we fished a couple of beats but it was hot and very sunny and the fish having a siesta!  Shayne rose a big fish but it decided to reject his fly. A couple were fishing near us and the gent had a few small fish on nymphs, the lady had a big fish on. General opinion was that it was probably a steelhead, sadly it broke her.  I reduced my fly size and rose a few little fellows but didn't catch.

Around 5pm we agreed that fishing the evening would probably produce but we were both tired and I was feeling sore so reluctantly we started the 2 hour journey home and I was very grateful Shayne was at the wheel.

26th August - Fished the South Fork of the Sky early morning with Lonnie, he hooked a large fish then lost it. Then he caught another good fish. He laughed at me when I had a good sized trout take my large dry fly and before I could respond it jumped several feet out of the water and spat the fly out.  I don't like trout that spit!  Driving back he told me that in late August the water is more productive in the evening so we agreed that the next time I am out we would change our tactics.

27th August - Six fish in two hours!  Yes my grandchildren out fished me at Gold Creek Trout Farm.  At their request we had a fun session and they were well behaved catching the fish on bread paste mixed with fish food in a small pond.  Six fish plus the fishing experience for less than $40.  A lot of fun.

 Kate, Harrison and Rose

So guess what we had for dinner tonight?

Reading and Laughing!

It has to be a really funny book to make me laugh out loud!  I have noticed that laughing out loud when reading in a public place attracts raised eyebrows.  Laughing out loud in a private place can result in an interesting outcome.  I remember reading in bed next to my wife, who was also engrossed in a book, when I started to shake with laughter.  When the rocking caused her to lose her place she looked up and sounding a bit like a librarian scolding a noisy teenager, asked me what it was that was so funny. I was reading John Steinbeck's novel "Sweet Thursday" and so I briefly outlined the story and then read her the section where Hazel (so called because he was nuts) breaks into Doc's (the marine biologist) house whilst Doc is asleep and using a baseball bat breaks Doc's arm.  Why that is hysterically funny will only be revealed if you read the book!

 

Whilst on the subject of novels and books, and recognizing I have a big following on the west side of the Atlantic, I would like to mention another excellent American author, Bill Bryson.  Bryson has a huge following in the UK where his books are always best sellers and have me (and Rosalind) laughing our socks off!

 

The introduction to him on Wiki reads:-

 

William McGuire "Bill" Bryson, OBE, FRS (/ˈbraɪsən/; born December 8, 1951) is a best-selling American author of humorous books on travel, as well as books on the English language and science. Born in the United States, he was a resident of Britain for most of his adult life before returning to the U.S. in 1995. In 2003 Bryson moved back to Britain, living in the old rectory of Wramplingham, Norfolk, and served as chancellor of Durham University from 2005 through 2011.
Bryson shot to prominence in the United Kingdom with the publication of Notes from a Small Island (1995), an exploration of Britain, and its accompanying television series. He received widespread recognition again with the publication of A Short History of Nearly Everything (2003), a book widely acclaimed for its accessible communication of science.

Bryson has written the following books (those in red I have read and can recommend):

Travel

• The Palace under the Alps and Over 200 Other Unusual, Unspoiled and Infrequently Visited Spots in 16 European Countries (1985)
• The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America (1989)
• Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe (1991)
• Notes from a Small Island (1995). (Adapted for television by Carlton Television in 1998)
• A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (1998) (Featuring Stephen Katz)
• Notes from a Big Country (UK) / I'm a Stranger Here Myself (U.S.) (1999)
• Down Under (UK) / In a Sunburned Country (U.S.) (2000)
• Bill Bryson's African Diary (2002) (travels in Africa for CARE International)
• Walk About (2002) (Combined in one volume are Down Under and A Walk in the Woods)

Language

• The Penguin Dictionary of Troublesome Words (1984)
• Made in America (UK) / Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States (U.S.) (1994)
• The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way (U.S.) / Mother Tongue: The English Language (UK) (1990) (Adapted for Journeys in English (2004) BBC Radio 4)
• Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words (2002)
• Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors (2008)

Science

• A Short History of Nearly Everything (2003)
• A Really Short History of Nearly Everything (2008) (Children's version of 2003 book)
• On the Shoulders of Giants (editor, 2009)
• Seeing Further: The Story of Science, Discovery and the Genius of the Royal Society (editor, 2010)

Biography

• Shakespeare: The World as Stage (2007)

History

• Icons of England (2008)
• At Home: A Short History of Private Life (2010) Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-60827-5. OCLC 761512787.
• One Summer: America 1927 (2013)^[23]

Memoir

• The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (2006)

I suggest you start with The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, I stirred up a departure lounge of people reading it!

Activities to keep your morale up!

Well I am still in trouble with my back, but you have to keep mobile so I am trying to do things to keep active and keep morale up without making matters worse.  Last Friday we took three of the grandchildren to Marymoor Park.  Harrison rode his bike and they all played on the model train.  We nearly had a disaster as six year old Rose whilst running had her trousers fall down causing her to go sprawling right in front of Harrison who was speeding along on his bike.  Harrison rode right over her and I braced myself preparing to phone 911!  To everyone's surprise Rose got up, didn't cry and had only sustained a very small graze!  Phew!

Rose (6) and Harrison (8)

On Saturday morning Rosalind and I spent a couple of very pleasant hours downtown Redmond (note the American expression, I am trying to cater for my big US following) at the art festival, talking to some of the exhibitors.  We were very impressed by their talents and it was a well organised event.  If I had shed loads of money I would like to fill my home with beautiful art (mounted on ropes so you could pull it up to the ceiling when the grandchildren descend! In the afternoon we braved the traffic and drove into Seattle.  Finding a parking space was a challenge and we ended up in the multi-story car park at the back of Pike Place market.  Then we strolled down to Dock 50 (a very practical name in terms of finding it but not very imaginative or romantic. I am used to names like "St Katherine's Dock" or "Canary Wharf").  Here we boarded a Water Taxi and for two dollars each we were ferried across to West Seattle, noting the seals sleeping on the large buoys moored in the bay.

 

The whole purpose of the trip was to get some inspiring photos of Seattle from the sea. You can judge for yourself as to whether we succeeded!

To stop me feeling sorry for myself I have to keep busy, so I constructed a simple ski boot rack.  My son Dan liked it and has mentioned a "ski rack"!  Bless him!

Sunday morning saw us in church, the talks were excellent.  Let me explain that in our church with a lay ministry (that means unpaid ministers) members of the congregation get assigned (normally with several weeks notice) to speak (it's not compulsory) usually on an assigned topic.  This means that you get  to hear a wide variety of well prepared inspiring presentations.  Then we break for Sunday School classes. The standard of teaching and the contributions from class members are outstanding and I learn a lot.

Monday morning saw me back at the chiropractic clinic as I am still getting a lot of pain.  Dr Weir warned me against bending and twisting at the same time but told me to stay active and do plenty of walking.  I took his advice and later that afternoon Shayne, a good friend, drove me to the north fork of the Snoqualmie and I got good exercise walking to the river and wading its banks.  Needless to say I had a rod in my hand.  Shayne out-fished me but I had a couple of nice rainbows on the dry.  As we walked back to the car we had a real treat, a close encounter with a herd of elk!!

I slept better that night but my body was sending me messages in the morning, 

Fly Fisherman in Big Trouble, Gets Rescued!

I really was in trouble, no I hadn't fallen in the Snoqualmie and was about to go over the 270 foot high falls, I was in agony because my back had given out on me.  Even simple moves like getting out of bed and walking resulted in painful spasms.  I had tried hot and cold showers and dosing myself with Ibuprofen to no affect and when I laid on my back I could not get up.  I was daft enough to put up with this for a week hoping to cure myself.  Then I called the travel insurance company (Saga) and they said it was an emergency so I could seek medical advice.  I wish I had called them a week ago!

My son Dan (who is 6' 10") recommended his chiropractic to me and I got an appointment for early the next morning with Dr Michael Weir.  His charming receptionist talked me through the paperwork whilst Dr Weir read up on the history I provided.  Then he interviewed me and I answered lots of questions, stressing that I needed help right now.  He was brilliant and did a full assessment of me using all sorts of techniques.  Now I haven't been to a chiro' in decades and things have obviously moved on.  I  will list some of the procedures just in case it helps anyone decide to seek help themselves. 

He weighed me on two scales, one foot on each to see how I distributed my weight.  Then he photographed me standing from the front and the side using an iPad with an ap that put the vertical in so I could see how I leaned.  He took two X-rays of my back and we looked at them together, with him explaining what was shown.  My back was warmed up with heat pads and then with me leaning forward on a couch he used a device to gently vibrate each of my vertebra.  The instrumentation told him how much freedom of movement each joint had.  When he found a tight joint he could increase the vibration force and rate to loosen it up.  Then we moved to a couch with me horizontal, face down, and Dr Weir gave me a jolt treatment that hurt me a bit.  That pain was nothing compared to what I had been feeling.

Already I was starting to feel more mobile, but a bit tired and delicate.  He then gave me instruction on what I had to do for the next 24 hours involving ice packs and Ibuprofen.  He told me to sleep on my side with a pillow between my legs!  The net result is that I am already feeling a big improvement and at my second session today we both noticed a significant change.

 

I can come off the ice now and start to do my usual back exercises supplemented by some new ones Dr Weir has given me.

Dr Michael Weir

Regular readers of my blog will note that I don't advertise anything but when I come across excellence I feel duty bound to mention it.  So thank you Dr Michael Weir for your expertise at www.backinactionchiropractic.com in Bellevue, WA, USA  (If your in agony like I was you might want the phone number 425 635 0495).