At last the River Adur is beginning to clearing after all the recent rains. We have good few days of warm and settled weather this week. The mullet are comming in now an I’m hoping the bass soon follow. Will blog again as soon as a fish has been landed.
Tight lines Howie
Last weekend I was invited by new fishing buddy Julian to fish a free stretch of the River Itchen. He had heard of a may fly hatch the previous day. Although we did not witness a hatch that day I was rewaded with this lovely wild brownie and lost another fish too. What a lovely peice of water to fish and it’s right in the middle of Winchester. Julian says he had greyling to 2lbs on his last visit.
I was hoping to get back on the Adur today but this cold weather is still keeping the water temperatures down. Just below 10c today. This is still not good enough to get those bass or mullet into the estuary so it looks like another fly tying day. Here’s a few Clouser style I tied earlier. I use dyed goat air as it’s very fine therefor has more life like qualities in the water. A few strands of crystal flash and 4mm recessed dumbbells fitted with 3D stick on eyes from the ebay USA (cheaper would you believe)
Cheers Howie 
Just as the new salt water fly fishing season begins the temperatures drop and the heavens open. Although we desperately need the rain we could well do without the cold. Even if there was a bass or two entering the estuary the rains and high winds of late have made the Adur so turbid you would have to drop the fly within inches of a bass to stand a chance of a take. I just had to wet a line though today and check out the river so I spent a lovely hour or so (in between showers) below the Norfolk Bridge practicing casting and going through the motions in readiness for the season ahead. Having said that, It looks like the bass season is going to be starting late on the Adur this year as more rain is forecast well into next week but hey, I’ll just have to dig out my trout tackle and flies instead. I will keep an eye on river and conditions and will blog again as soon as things change for the better.
Tight lines Howie
And yet another! This Bass weighed about 4lb. I was getting tired of double hauling day after day so I took out my 12’double hander for a change and this Bass put it to the test with a fine scrap. The 12 footer with a floating line and sink tip is a great outfit for a river the size of the Adur. You can really control and mend the line. Also if you have a good fish on that it makes a sudden run or fights well there is a lot more spring in the rod to cushion your tippet.
Anyway they still out there guys. Tight lines Howie
The water and air temperatures are still up and the Bass are still feeding in the Adur as I found out yesturday and today. The river was running nice and clear so the Bass can easily see the flies. I think natural bait fish patterns seem to work better in clear water and no need to use bright colours as they must look odd to Bass. Only one fish took the fly yesturday and my partner just happened to be there to take this video: http://youtu.be/v6zbDMmPDM Again today only one fish took the fly. It took me by surprise and instead of strip-striking I struck with the rod and failed to set the hook and after a thrash around on the surface the large Bass spat the hook. Here’s hoping for a few more fish before this extended season comes to an end. Tight lines and don’t forget to strip-strike. Howie
The last two days on the Adur have produced 6 good sized Bass. The best weighed in at 4.75lbs (see pic right). One huge fish smashed my 14lb tippet after a short but frantic battle. I got to see it as it thrashed on the surface just before it broke me and it looked to be a double figure fish. I never thought I would have to up my tippet strength but from now on I’ll be using 18lb. Tight lines. 
Howie
Rob called me and said he had just taken up fly fishing and wanted to catch a bass on the fly. Unfortunately that day no fish were showing, the water was still coloured after the storms and we both blanked. It wasn’t a complete waste of time though as I was able to show him the river and were the Bass are likely to be when they do come through. Plus we worked on his casting, what lines to use flies and tactics. A few days later he texed me and asked if I’d join him again. We fished the stretch below the rail bridge. I started to get a few knocks then Rob called out “Howie I’m in” a minute later I took this photo. We had 2 more fish the biggest was 2.25lb then all went quite.
Well done Rob
Regards Howie
Fly Fishing Sussex 