This lovely evening was captured by local photographer Clair Peters. She was like me taking advantage of one of Shoreham’s fabulous sunsets. Except I was after the mullet. You can just see them moving just over 2 rods lengths out. Although I was fishing amongst maybe a dozen fish I had a few takes but never managed to connect with a fish. None the less it’s always very exciting when site fishing for mullet. Many thanks Claire.
Rod bending action at Arlington
The Fly Sussex Fly Dressers Guild got together for our annual branch day outing at Arlington reservoir last Thursday. We arrived and started fishing at 3pm and by 8pm had bagged 7 hard fighting rainbows each. What a shame the fishery closes for the summer. . 
Golden Mullet in May (on the fly)
A lovely calm evening and low tides bought in lots of Mullet last night. The low water made easy wading and so I was able to fish the Adur flats. With a 12 leader and a red-bead Diwal Bach I had 2 lovely fish of 1.5lb and 2lb and probably had another 20 takes before it got to dark to fish safely. 
Tight Lines for Scotland Ladies
Spent a lovely afternoon in the spring sunshine with Carole and Mary today on the banks of the Adur. They were invited to fly fish for salmon in Scotland next week and contacted me regarding a crash course on fly fishing a river. I do find that ladies pick up the art of casting quite quickly and (for me) made the session very easy and fun. Before too long they were rolling out 40′ of fly line.
Tight lines girls.
Hazel Copse Pics
Hazel Copse Trout Fishery
I visited Hazel Copse yesterday for the first time in many years. I arrived to a lovely sunny morning and an equally warm warm welcome from the owner Wilf. The 2 lakes are quite small but nonetheless very nicely established and lake 1 has an island. There were quite a few fish rising but reluctant to take the fly so I decided to put on a fast sink line and a Minky Booby I’d tied the night before. As soon as the fly hit the water there was swirl so gave a few quick strips which provoked a fierce take and after a good fight landed a lovely 2.5lb rainbow. I made the next cast an let the fly sink about 2 feet and a few strips again the line tightened. Now knowing the depth the fish were feeding I soon completed my bag of 4 fish. The beauty of this fishery rules is you can then fish on and catch and release. A very generous policy at £30 for a 4 fish ticket. Talking to Wilf at lunchtime he revealed his secret to keeping his lakes and fish in good condition. He has put in grass carp which control the weed and algae. Also there are a great number of crayfish which control the lice and other parasites. If you fish close to the bottom you will latch onto these critters so please put them back.
Below are a few pics of the day.
Howie</
Mullet sighting (could this be Spring?)
Went for a walk up to the old Toll Bridge tonight with my partner Josephine. We stopped and peered over the bridge side to enjoy the view down the Adur at sunset. Suddenly she said look down. There behind a main support was a mullet of about 5 – 6lb feeding happily on weed that was growing on the rocks. Could this be the mark of spring at last? Or maybe a resident fish?
Thank you Goa
Just got back from India,well Goa actually. This trip I discovered a lovely estuary at the mouth of the river Talapona to the south of the state. After trying with a fly for some time with out a nip or a follow I noticed some action on the opposite bank. Bait fish were busting the surface all over the place. The action was out of reach with my fly and was all going on under the overhanging trees. Luckily I had my spinning rod and a few shad lures and asked a nearby boat man to take me across for a few ruppees. I scrambled over the rocks until I reached the the spot where I saw the action. The first cast I was hit when just as I was lifted the lure to the surface. After a heck of a scrap I landed a black 2lb snapper. After a few more casts I was hit again. This time it was a red snapper same size. Then a smaller fish but none the less feisty. A few more cast and I was fighting again with a good fish which alas I never saw which ran my line around a rock got away.
This was one didn’t and went down nicely just plain pan fried with cold Kingfisher beer.
Now this is how to catch fish
Seasons greetings from India.
Although I had to cancel my Mahseer trip again I’ve decieded to explore my local dam in Goa. There are some big fish surface feeding at dusk. Don’t know what these fish are or feeding on yet but will post if and when I make contact.
Tight lines and happy new year. Howie
(photo) Myself and fellow angler Shafi sharing a suset at the dam
Fly Fishing Sussex 