Lucky to get this hard fighting fish on the 2nd cast using a Red Tag Shrimp fly. One of Colin Macleods successful patterns for Grey Mullet.

When the summer heat really hits and the trout don’t want to play then there is always carp on the fly to fall back on. They are fantastically powerful. And to see a fish take your fly off the surface and if you get the timing right with the strike you are in for a fight to remember. Went to Newdigate farm lakes this (very hot) morning with an old buddy Paul Slawson. A new venue for us but we managed to get a few fish in spite of the heat. My best fish below. 🙂

Luckily I can step out my back door onto the Adur estuary to enjoy and keep an eye on the river. In spite of lots of paddles boarders and kayaks I still managed to land one fish and dropped a couple more.

Incredible morning’s fishing in the middle of a damsel hatch. Very picky fish only wanting hatching damsel nymphs. Until I found the right fly, right line, right depth to fish the fly. Then it was none stop action with mainly brown trout coming to the net. But managed a nice rainbow trout which I intend to smoke for dinner later.

From Wednesday 13th May the government are allowing most angling to resume and to get back out there and enjoy our sport. Most fisheries are reopening this week but we must adhere to their rules and distancing measures. As you will know, If safe, one can also return to work so I am pleased to announce that Fly Fishing Sussex.Com will resume business from 1st June. With that, I am ready and taking bookings for fly fishing tuition. Also guiding at some fisheries that are allowing guests. For those who have already paid for a session or purchased a voucher for someone please get in touch to make a reservation, But obviously with safe distancing and please supply your own mask if you wish? I will be supplying cleaned equipment as usual but please feel free to bring your own. Email for booking or inquiries

“Tight Lines” Howie

Contact:   07754567242   email: flyfishingsussex@gmail.com

.https://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?section=29&sectionTitle=Angling+Trust+News

 

Just to let people know that I will be cancelling one of my email contacts. (howie@flyfishingsussex.com)

For inquiries, booking etc.  please now use flyfishingsussex@gmail.com

A welcome break in the weather today so I managed to get back to my lakes after being away for some time. With lots of rain of late it as been virtually unfishable anyway.  The wash of the off the Downs had clouded the water somewhat so decided to give the trout something highly visible.  I tied on a bright blob to get attention followed by a flashy wooly bugger. The hi-viz team worked almost straight away and landed a nice brown.  Within a couple of hours, 2 more larger browns and a really hard fighting blue trout came to the net.

 

A cold but dry Sunday morn allowed a couple of hours on the water to wet a line. Lots of shy takes to begin with before locking onto a couple of good browns. Best fish, 3lbs

 

Turned up at the lakes this afternoon and began to tackle up only to discover I had brought along 3 spools of fly line but no reel. So, began to pack the bag and go home when a fellow member (Kev) suddenly showed and happened to have spare reel and line and saved the day. He said he’d already had several fish and what flies were working. After losing a couple lightly hooked fish the line tightened up proper and I was into this lovely blue trout which weighed in at 5.5lbs.  Then fished on and landed a couple more nice rainbows. So from a disastrous start it turned into an amazing couple of hours fishing.

I hope the bass fishing is not over yet. Vast amounts of land water run off still running down stream today like dark chocolate.  Alas, settled weather is forecast this week and we could see fish taking shelter and feeding over the mussel beds up stream in the Shoreham town stretch. This week should see the Adur clearing and hopefully see a late run of  fish and enjoy some  great Autumn fishing

Tight Lines Howie