Week Ending 1 Sept 13

Tuesday:   Went to fish Eagley Brook at Eagley Mills, someone had beat me to it. So I went to the Valley and had a try there.

The brook was looking a bit sad and nothing was rising, but I still tried dry fly going upstream to the weir. Caught two fish on the way up and one at the bottom of the weir, smallest was nine inches, quite pleased with myself. Had one on nymph on the way down and missed one or two. 

As I said the brook looked sad and there was still nothing on the rise, so I went to see if my new camera had arrived at PC World.

I have ordered a waterproof one , after my experience on Sunday, but it had not arrived. So went home for a late lunch.

Just got an email to say the camera has arrived so I am off to get it.

Wednesday:   Went to fish the Irwell at Sion Street in Radcliffe, seems a while since I have been there. The river was quite low and dropping. Set up a 10 foot rod with a Shakespeare Speedex and fished Goldhead Copper John on a floating line. Caught three good fish, one didn't want to be photographed, even with my new camera, and jumped out of my net as soon as I had unhooked him.

 These two seemed to have a bit more colour than my usual Irwell fish.

 Its not the prettiest spot that I fish. Looks better in the photos than in real life.

 This is looking down stream about 100 yards below the foot bridge.

 Looking up towards the foot bridge.

The weir is the top end of the area that I fish.

Then went to Springwater Park, another spot that needed a visit.

Had a long chat to a chap called Mickey who was teaching his grand son to fly fishing, he told me he had joined Salford Friendly Anglers, I recommend any one reading this to join, it don't cost anything and its aims are all good.  http://www.salfordfriendlyanglers.co.uk/ Go on have look you will be glad you did.

Fished the same tackle as Sion and had one fish, not the biggest fish but I put it on so that Micky can see it.

The River Roch,on the right, joining the Irwell at the top of Springwater Park

 The Island in the river just below where the Roch joins.

View up one side of the island.

As with Sion St there were no fish rising so didn't stay too long.

Friday:   Yes I know I said last week I would give Ladyshore a miss, but it really does look good, so off I went again today. Have a look at these pictures see what you think.

This is the weir that broke in last years flood 

 Looking down river from the weir

 Looking back up at the weir

 200 yards down from the weir where I caught the fish

 Above the weir looking down river

Same place as above but looking up river

Well, tell me does that look like a place to catch fish, I think it does. You may have noticed I actually caught one today.

Not a monster but the first from Ladyshore for quite some time caught on a goldhead copper john, 8 foot cane rod,sinking line on a very old Young's Beaudex reel. I thought I had lost him when he went into weed, gave him some slack and he worked his way free.

Was reading an article  in the Online Fly Fishing Magazine about fishing streamers, which I have never tried, it sounded good so I ordered some Wooly Buggers and Muddlers from Troutflies will have a try out next time I fish the Irwell.

Sunday:   Went to Ewood Bridge for my monthly kick sample, figures much the same as last month. The river is very low and the alga is back, very cold with no sign of fish moving. Where do they go when the river is low, or is it that they see us well before we see them.

Tried a Wooly Bugger in the deeper pools, not that there were many of them, didn't get a touch. Tried a copper john the same, no action. Packed in and went home for a warm.

Couple of shots of the river about a mile up from Ewood Bridge, as you can see the banks are unstable and change every time there is any decent rain. This winter will produce lots of changes, hopefully some for the better. 

Week Ending 25 August 13

Wednesday:   2 blanks.
Yesterday I went to the Irwell at Ladyshore, nothing not even a knock, I will have to give it a miss from now on . Not the first time I have thought or said that, problem is it looks so good but I just don't catch fish.

Today I went to see if the weir at Stoneclough had been taken out, couldn't get close enough to see if it had. Took photos from where the Croal joins the Irwell to compare with the ones I some took weeks ago. It looks the same so the weir must still be intact. Well disappointed.

Went to Summerseat fished dry fly and nymph nothing again. Went to Bury Ground to see if there was anything doing, there wasn't.

Thursday:   Better today, fished the top end of Eagley Brook and caught fish. Not many of any size but then it is only a very small brook. I just needed to catch something after the last couple of blank days so I am ready to go for tomorrow, just have to decide where to go.

Friday:   Fished the Irwell at Stubbins, some fish rising but not for anything I put in front of them. So changed to Nymph, went down stream, caught 2 fish on Goldhead Copper John.
Started back up river, more fish rising, changed to dry fly, same as before, no takes. Started to rain so packed in and went home.

Football tomorrow and the Grand Prix Sunday so no fishing until Monday or Tuesday.

Sunday:   Went to Bury Ground after the Grand Prix, Irwell looking very good plenty of water and just a little colour. Fished nymph down from the middle weir 3 nice trout, one or two fish rising lower down. Change to dry had 1 on the way back up.Took a photo of the last one and then dipped the camera in the river putting the fish back in, no more camera.
Are well I was due a new and better one, must make it water proof this time.

Tuesday 27th.  Got my new camera, the chip in the old one was OK, so the fish below cost £129.99.
 Was it worth it?

I din't think so. Mind you the new one is a great water proof camera.

Week Ending 18 August 13

Tuesday 13 Aug:   Had my stitches out this afternoon and went to the lower Bradshaw Fly Fishers beat.
Fished  with a 7 foot split cane and dry fly, caught 2 small trout, but as I hold the rod in my left hand where the stitches had been, it was hard work. So I did not fish for long, I will have another go tomorrow, not decided where yet.

Thursday:   Didn't fish Wednesday as my hand was sore from Tuesdays fishing.

Went to Bradshaw Brook at 7 Acres, fished mainly up stream of the road bridge. The best fish was an 11 inches.

Had a few around the 9 inches and one or two smaller ones. The best fish, maybe, I lost trying to stop it going under a bush in the river, I will get it on another day. Caught all the fish on a Adams Dry  with a carbon 8 foot rod. Tripped over my wading stick and got rather wet luckily not to much got in my waders so I carried on fishing.

Friday:   Lots of rain over night, Irwell up and muddy so I didn't fish will look how it is tomorrow.

Just seen the weather for Saturday, lots of rain so I might watch the football. 

Sunday:   Fished Eagley Brook in the Valley in the morning, 4 small browns on Goldhead Pheasant Tail Nymph. Brook quite high but not to muddy. Then went to Bradshaw Brook at 7 Acres, two other anglers in the car park as I arrived. Had a chat, they had just come down from Mitten on the Ribble, they said it was in flood and they had not bothered to fish. As they had arrived first I said pick where you want, they said down stream so I went up. 4 small browns again though this time on a B-WO dry.