Monday: Evening fished the Douglas, got there at half past six, expected there to be lots of fish rising. I wanted to fish dry fly so I walked down as far as the golf course, intending to spot fish rising for my wade back, didn't spot one rise.
I was nearly back up to the path when I got a rise, pricked and lost a small one, before I caught a 10" brown with a crafty cast over some bank side plants. It's a good job a fish took or I would have been snagged up pretty bad.
I was very hot and sweaty so had a rest and cleared the rubbish out of my waders, before trying above the path. Still not many rising, caught two small browns and missed a few others.
Tuesday: Rain and thunder storms over night and this morning. Lots of noise but not much rain here.
Went to check out the Irwell at Summerseat, surprised to find it up and dirty, must have rained more up in Ramsbottom and Rossendale.
Came back to Bolton and went to fish Bradshaw Brook at Seven Acres, it was up a little bit with just a hint of colour. Fish rising so dry fly, caught a few, not many small ones mostly eight and nine inch, yes I know that is not big but it's OK for Seven Acres.
Wednesday: Irwell still up and dirty so went to the Roch at Gigg. It didn't look to good but I gave it a try, nothing rising at first and nothing taking my nymph. Late afternoon before I landed good trout on a Iron Blue and that was it.
Friday: Fished the Bradshaw Fly Fishers beat, well mostly the the brook up towards Jumbles. Had a thirteen inch brown at the top of the beat before moving on to the Jumbles stretch. plenty of fish though most were very small. Must have missed twice as many as I hooked and I didn't land all of those that I did hook. Used my 6' 6" carbon with a Young's 3" Beaudex floating line with a Iron Blue Dun
Saturday: River Irwell around Nuttall Park Ramsbottom. Caught just two browns on dry fly, very few rising and not much sign of flies. River still needs some proper rain and a good flush through, rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow lets hope it is enough.
Bradshaw Brook
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Week Ending 21 July 13
Tuesday: !6 July. After last weeks poor fishing and low water with no sign of rain, I decided to fish at Seven Acres Country Park. Its close to home so I thought if its crap I don't have far to go.
The brook looked great, water crowfoot in full flower and plenty of fish rising.
Decided to us my 7' three piece split cane with a four weight floating line on my Young's 3 " Beaudex, the rod has a very soft action and is good for putting a fly down softly on shallow water.
The brook looked great, water crowfoot in full flower and plenty of fish rising.
Fished a iron blue dun size 16 to great effect. best fish was about 12 "
Had a few nearly as good as this one plus loads of smaller ones, most of which where caught in less than six inches of water. I only lost two flies which must be a record for me, the pictures show one of the few places with out to many trees on Seven Acres, but the banks are bad enough at catching flies.
I am pleased with the fish that I caught today, but, after seeing the one on the Salford Friendly site that was caught on the Irwell.(http://salfordfriendlyanglers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/an-awesome-trout.html) Perhaps I should get back to the big river, mind you I am not to sure I could land something that big on the tackle that I fish with.
Wednesday: After yesterday decided to stay local and fished Eagley Brook at Dunscar. Same rig as yesterday and same result. Nothing as big as yesterday, best a 10", but lots of fish again. It was very hot so a took a dip, luckily no damage to me or my kit, and it did cool me down. Not too much in my waders so I just carried on fishing.
Friday: Had a good days fishing today plenty of fish and one that took me very much by surprise.
This 19 Inch monster came out of a very small stream, no I am not saying where. Caught with the same tackle and fly as earlier this week.
Saturday: Back to the Irwell at Bury Ground, should have watched the golf, one small fish from a river that needs rain. I least the weather was a lot cooler.
Sunday: Eagley Brook in the lower valley, can't understand why it looks in poor condition, further up where I fished on Wednesday it looked fine. Two small trout then home to watch the golf.
Monday, 8 July 2013
Week Ending 14 July 13
Monday: 8 July 2200hrs. Just got back from the Douglas.
Started with an Iron Blue Dun Dry. First fish was a Chub, about 3/4 of a pound then had 12 inch brown
I had walked to the top end of the stretch as fishing dry fly is not really an option unless you wade, the grass on the banks is about five feet high.
Changed to a gold head pheasant tail nymph and started down stream. Just thigh waders, to hot for chest.
Caught six more browns all 11 or 12 inches, except one small one the had me tangled in the weed for about five minutes, I got it out of one lot only for it to get straight into some more, of course they only do it in the deep bits.
The last fish I hooked got off when I got caught on some ones line that had been left in the river, I pulled out about twenty foot, including weights and the hook before it broke, it must have been at least twenty pound line. Why do they use line that strong in a river that can't have fish over about three or four pounds.
Tuesday: Went to Ladyshore, as always it looked fine. not a sniff. I think I will give it up as a bad job.
I only fished nymph as nothing was rising.The only good thing was that I stayed cool, well cooler, I waded with just a pair of trainers on, at least my legs and feet felt good.
Wednesday: Irwell at Summerseat, one fish couple of takes nothing else. River very low, brown algae building up in river again, we need rain.
Thursday: Springwater Park, one fish on Czech nymph, moved to Gigg. Looked better but nothing moving.
I think I will wait until we get some rain, may have to wait some time as the forecast ids for sun sun sun.
Friday: . Sorted my fly boxes and debarbed some new flies that arrived from http://www.troutflies.co.uk/ in Lancaster. I've used them for a while now, quick delivery and good reasonably priced flies and anything else you could need.
Had intended to go out this evening but it did not cool down much so no fishing at all.
Started with an Iron Blue Dun Dry. First fish was a Chub, about 3/4 of a pound then had 12 inch brown
I had walked to the top end of the stretch as fishing dry fly is not really an option unless you wade, the grass on the banks is about five feet high.
Changed to a gold head pheasant tail nymph and started down stream. Just thigh waders, to hot for chest.
Caught six more browns all 11 or 12 inches, except one small one the had me tangled in the weed for about five minutes, I got it out of one lot only for it to get straight into some more, of course they only do it in the deep bits.
The last fish I hooked got off when I got caught on some ones line that had been left in the river, I pulled out about twenty foot, including weights and the hook before it broke, it must have been at least twenty pound line. Why do they use line that strong in a river that can't have fish over about three or four pounds.
Tuesday: Went to Ladyshore, as always it looked fine. not a sniff. I think I will give it up as a bad job.
I only fished nymph as nothing was rising.The only good thing was that I stayed cool, well cooler, I waded with just a pair of trainers on, at least my legs and feet felt good.
Wednesday: Irwell at Summerseat, one fish couple of takes nothing else. River very low, brown algae building up in river again, we need rain.
Thursday: Springwater Park, one fish on Czech nymph, moved to Gigg. Looked better but nothing moving.
I think I will wait until we get some rain, may have to wait some time as the forecast ids for sun sun sun.
Friday: . Sorted my fly boxes and debarbed some new flies that arrived from http://www.troutflies.co.uk/ in Lancaster. I've used them for a while now, quick delivery and good reasonably priced flies and anything else you could need.
Had intended to go out this evening but it did not cool down much so no fishing at all.
Friday, 5 July 2013
Out and About Week Ending 7 July 13
I have been recording flora and fauna for the Greater Manchester Local Record Centre for some time now. This week I decided to give it a blitz and and record more of what I saw, with the help of a couple of books that that I bought on Flowers and on Trees. I have been recording just what I caught and some of the things that I saw, without trying to identify things that I did not know the name of.
Anyone who lives in Greater Manchester, or comes into it, can take part. Just type RODIS in google and sign up, you don't have to be an expert in anything, just record what you see. It's a bit fiddly but there's plenty of help available. Give it a go. I took along my fishing tackle of course.
Monday: Was Kick Sample day at Ewood Bridge, better results than last month, which is to be expected, lots more insects and a few baby bullheads. Had a hours fishing two browns and missed one or two. River still very low but looking a bit cleaner than it was.
Tuesday: What did I do?????? not much.
Wednesday: Irwell at Summerseat, it must have rained on Tuesday as the river was up, though still fairly clear. Nothing rising caught one on dry and two with nymph, not much fun. Recorded lots of flora and fauna.
Thursday: Started on the bottom stretch of Bradshaw Fly beat, lot of colour, never found out why. Had three, one a nice ten inch fish, then moved to the upper stretch. Caught another two small ones, all on dry.
Friday: Started at Sion Road Radcliffe, as soon as I got down to the river one rose above the foot bridge. Second cast he took my fly, nice fish about 13 inches, good jumper.
Had one other on nymph further down stream and that was it. The river was down again, I waded across the river where I caught the second one, never even thought about doing that before. Very strange weather this summer, though it was hot and sunny today.
Next I went to Springwater Park one nice brown on dry again. Its so low that I could wade across the confluence of the Roch and Irwell without it going much over my knees. Still a few fish rising but with the shallow water any disturbance and they are gone.
Saturday: Started at Bury Ground, very hot, still put chest waders on, bad decision. The river was low and nasty, had one small brown on nymph, nothing rising so went to Gigg.
The Roch looked good, plenty of water and nice and clear, much better than the Irwell.
Couple of fish rising in the riffles didn't want what I put to them.
Moved up further to a spot I've had good fish from. Nothing rising but still put a dry to the top of the pool.
Very good fish took my fly then most of my line, he went off down stream until I had just a couple of yards of line left, no backing on my small reel. I started wading down to him when he snagged on something in the shallows and was gone, with my fly and a couple of yards of my tippet. The snag was a the rusty remains of a forty five gallon drum, that's fishing in dirty places for you.
Got out of the water and walked down to where the weir used to be and started up stream looking for rising fish. There weren't many, got a take at last, another good fish by the feel of it, yes I didn't get him to net.
It went off like a train, two jumps and then gone, at least I still had my fly
Some days its best to except it and go home.Fished back up to the car and then did just that.
Anyone who lives in Greater Manchester, or comes into it, can take part. Just type RODIS in google and sign up, you don't have to be an expert in anything, just record what you see. It's a bit fiddly but there's plenty of help available. Give it a go. I took along my fishing tackle of course.
Monday: Was Kick Sample day at Ewood Bridge, better results than last month, which is to be expected, lots more insects and a few baby bullheads. Had a hours fishing two browns and missed one or two. River still very low but looking a bit cleaner than it was.
Tuesday: What did I do?????? not much.
Wednesday: Irwell at Summerseat, it must have rained on Tuesday as the river was up, though still fairly clear. Nothing rising caught one on dry and two with nymph, not much fun. Recorded lots of flora and fauna.
Thursday: Started on the bottom stretch of Bradshaw Fly beat, lot of colour, never found out why. Had three, one a nice ten inch fish, then moved to the upper stretch. Caught another two small ones, all on dry.
Friday: Started at Sion Road Radcliffe, as soon as I got down to the river one rose above the foot bridge. Second cast he took my fly, nice fish about 13 inches, good jumper.
Next I went to Springwater Park one nice brown on dry again. Its so low that I could wade across the confluence of the Roch and Irwell without it going much over my knees. Still a few fish rising but with the shallow water any disturbance and they are gone.
Saturday: Started at Bury Ground, very hot, still put chest waders on, bad decision. The river was low and nasty, had one small brown on nymph, nothing rising so went to Gigg.
The Roch looked good, plenty of water and nice and clear, much better than the Irwell.
Couple of fish rising in the riffles didn't want what I put to them.
Moved up further to a spot I've had good fish from. Nothing rising but still put a dry to the top of the pool.
Very good fish took my fly then most of my line, he went off down stream until I had just a couple of yards of line left, no backing on my small reel. I started wading down to him when he snagged on something in the shallows and was gone, with my fly and a couple of yards of my tippet. The snag was a the rusty remains of a forty five gallon drum, that's fishing in dirty places for you.
Got out of the water and walked down to where the weir used to be and started up stream looking for rising fish. There weren't many, got a take at last, another good fish by the feel of it, yes I didn't get him to net.
It went off like a train, two jumps and then gone, at least I still had my fly
Some days its best to except it and go home.Fished back up to the car and then did just that.
Monday, 24 June 2013
Week Ending 30 Jun 13
Monday: Thought I would have an evening fish for a change.
Went to the river Roach, it was up a bit from the last time, but not much. The rain had done some good though, the brown slimy algae has mostly gone which pleased me no end.
It's been a windy cold day, except for when the sun bothered to shine, which was not often enough for me.
Anyway I dressed accordingly and got in the river, plenty of flies about but not many fish rising for them. Started with a Goldhead Pheasant Nymph, caught a smallish brown, well small for this river, near the car park. Two fish started rising so changed to a Greenwell's, nothing doing. Got out of the river and walked down to the bottom of the beat, what I call the beat anyway.
Started back up, still flies coming down river but no fish rising, waded through four places where I have caught before, nothing moving apart from two black head gulls that were having there fill of flies. Almost back to where I started when I found what looked like six or more fish rising at the head of a pool. Didn't want the Greenwell's changed to a Grey Dun with a flash. Many casts then a take, ten minutes later I netted this one:
Just short of sixteen inches.
Got him back in the water, of course nothing was rising any more, so I moved back up below the car park for a last try at the risers from earlier. One of them took but I managed to loose him, so I called it a day.
Tuesday: Spent the morning down where the Croal meets the Irwell to get more pictures before the weir at Stoneclough gets taken out. The first picture is looking up the Croal from the Irwell.
This is what goes into the rivers when the sewers get overloaded, raw sewage. Sent copies of the pictures to Mike Duddy who will be seeing United Utilities (the company who bring our water and take away our waste) next month
.
My afternoon was spent at Ladyshore, caught two browns on Pheasant Tail Nymph, nothing special, but it is better than I usually do down there.
Whilst at both locations I list flora and fauna for the Greater Manchester Record Centre. I then do a report in the evening. Any one can do it just type in RODIS on google and of you go. That's if you live in Greater Manchester of course.
Wednesday: Fought my way through head high Stinging Nettles, Himalayan Balsam, Brambles and a sticky plant (must find out what it's called)( its Goosegrass. Galium Aparine) that made it very hard work getting to the river Roach at Heap Bridge.
Was it worth it, yes and no, only caught one medium brown, but I do enjoy being in the river. I wasn't looking forward to fighting my way back, so I thought I would wade as far up river as I could, to be nearer the car park. With the river being low I managed to to get all the way to the motorway slip road flyover where the car was parked. Much easier and no more Nettle stings.
Thursday: Raining other things to do no fishing.
Friday: Lots of rain today, went to the valley in Bolton to check Eagley Brook. was running nice and high but very dirty. Tried up stream and down stream nymph, just ended up with a dirty nymph. Rain came on hard, yes off home, called it a day.
Saturday: Went to Bury Ground at lunch time. River Irwell was coloured and up 3 or 4 inches. Still fish rising and lots of flies about
.Crossed below the weir and fished down stream Nymph, Goldhead Pheasant Tail.
Had five browns in a fast riffle, best about ten inches, lots of snatches and also lost more than I hooked.
This one was is darker than the light coloured ones I usually catch in the Irwell.
Had one small one in the calmer water then nothing.
Moved back up to the top of the riffle, changed and lengthened my tippet and fished a Goldhead Copper John caught one more fish and missed a few more.
Sunday: Is British Grand Prix day which I will be watching, might fish might not.
Went to the river Roach, it was up a bit from the last time, but not much. The rain had done some good though, the brown slimy algae has mostly gone which pleased me no end.
It's been a windy cold day, except for when the sun bothered to shine, which was not often enough for me.
Anyway I dressed accordingly and got in the river, plenty of flies about but not many fish rising for them. Started with a Goldhead Pheasant Nymph, caught a smallish brown, well small for this river, near the car park. Two fish started rising so changed to a Greenwell's, nothing doing. Got out of the river and walked down to the bottom of the beat, what I call the beat anyway.
Started back up, still flies coming down river but no fish rising, waded through four places where I have caught before, nothing moving apart from two black head gulls that were having there fill of flies. Almost back to where I started when I found what looked like six or more fish rising at the head of a pool. Didn't want the Greenwell's changed to a Grey Dun with a flash. Many casts then a take, ten minutes later I netted this one:
Got him back in the water, of course nothing was rising any more, so I moved back up below the car park for a last try at the risers from earlier. One of them took but I managed to loose him, so I called it a day.
Tuesday: Spent the morning down where the Croal meets the Irwell to get more pictures before the weir at Stoneclough gets taken out. The first picture is looking up the Croal from the Irwell.
.
My afternoon was spent at Ladyshore, caught two browns on Pheasant Tail Nymph, nothing special, but it is better than I usually do down there.
Whilst at both locations I list flora and fauna for the Greater Manchester Record Centre. I then do a report in the evening. Any one can do it just type in RODIS on google and of you go. That's if you live in Greater Manchester of course.
Wednesday: Fought my way through head high Stinging Nettles, Himalayan Balsam, Brambles and a sticky plant (must find out what it's called)( its Goosegrass. Galium Aparine) that made it very hard work getting to the river Roach at Heap Bridge.
Was it worth it, yes and no, only caught one medium brown, but I do enjoy being in the river. I wasn't looking forward to fighting my way back, so I thought I would wade as far up river as I could, to be nearer the car park. With the river being low I managed to to get all the way to the motorway slip road flyover where the car was parked. Much easier and no more Nettle stings.
Thursday: Raining other things to do no fishing.
Friday: Lots of rain today, went to the valley in Bolton to check Eagley Brook. was running nice and high but very dirty. Tried up stream and down stream nymph, just ended up with a dirty nymph. Rain came on hard, yes off home, called it a day.
Saturday: Went to Bury Ground at lunch time. River Irwell was coloured and up 3 or 4 inches. Still fish rising and lots of flies about
.Crossed below the weir and fished down stream Nymph, Goldhead Pheasant Tail.
Had five browns in a fast riffle, best about ten inches, lots of snatches and also lost more than I hooked.
This one was is darker than the light coloured ones I usually catch in the Irwell.
Moved back up to the top of the riffle, changed and lengthened my tippet and fished a Goldhead Copper John caught one more fish and missed a few more.
Sunday: Is British Grand Prix day which I will be watching, might fish might not.
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Week Ending 23 June 13
Tuesday: Went to Stoneclough on the Irwell, hadn't fished there before, turned out that I hadn't missed much . I might try again when we have a bit more water. I waded up to the weir, just for a look.
Mind you its not surprising really as it is in very poor shape. I don't know the area above the weir that well but I do know that the River Croal joins the Irwell not that far above the weir, so the removal will change part of the Croal as well as the Irwell. I will try to get some more photos before and after it is taken out.
I hope the removal brings the improvement to fishing that other removals have done.
Any way after Stoneclough I had a hour at Gigg, nearly went through every type of my dry flies before I got a take, well worth the trouble though. Grey Dun.
Wednesday: Had to cut all my grass so decided I would fish local, in the afternoon, for a change.
Went to Eagley Brook in the lower valley, quite a few fish rising but only in very shallow flat water, making it almost impossible to get anywhere near them. So I fished dry fly up into the riffles. Had three small browns and lost as many.
Had not fished Seven Acres on Bradshaw Brook for quite a while so went for a look. Had two nice browns and one small one above the road bridge, again in the riffles, same method. Above the bridge is not very nice at the moment, four mattresses a micro wave oven and a large scooter, not motorised, have been dump in the brook.
Moved down stream, caught one small fish, the stream looks very healthy. Water crowsfoot in abundence and in flower, makes it harder to fish but it has got to be good for the fish and.the brook.
Thursday: Went to fish the River Croal at Moses Gate Farnworth. Had two small browns and a lot of hard walking.
I wanted to get down to 'Nob End' (honest it is really called that) were the Croal meets the Irwell and get the photos I mentioned on Tuesday. When I got there I could not get down to the river, the bank was too steep for an old man like me, best I could get was this
I wanted to get down to 'Nob End' (honest it is really called that) were the Croal meets the Irwell and get the photos I mentioned on Tuesday. When I got there I could not get down to the river, the bank was too steep for an old man like me, best I could get was this
The Irwell going left and the Croal coming in from the right, yes OK not very good I know.
Every river and brook around here has weirs some quite small but not all, this one is about a mile up from the picture above and there is another one about a mile further up again.
Not sure if I will be fishing tomorrow as I have a delivery coming, if it's in the morning I will get out somewhere.
Friday: Delivery came in the afternoon, so still had time for two hours at the Bradshaw fly top beat.
Three browns on a Adams dry, 6' 6" rod, one was a nice fish the others were quite small.
I seem to be loosing more than I net, part striking to early as you can see them coming up and also they are out of the water a lot with it being so shallow.
Tomorrow I am thinking of River Douglas just off the A6, if the weather ain't to bad, forecast is rain, which we badly need,
Saturday: Yes it was the River Douglas. Weather, warm cold rain sunshine windy. sometimes all at once.
Went down for a look first, looked ok so geared up for wading. Started up stream from foot bridge, dry fly had three browns best below.
Changed to Goldhead Pheasant Tail Nymph and started down stream caught lots of nice condition browns, in fact I lost count of how many, but it was lots. Couple of the better ones, the best was 12 inches not massive but its only a small river up the top where I was fishing.
I hit what I thought was going to be the daddy trout of the river, until it came close and I saw this.
Every river and brook around here has weirs some quite small but not all, this one is about a mile up from the picture above and there is another one about a mile further up again.
Friday: Delivery came in the afternoon, so still had time for two hours at the Bradshaw fly top beat.
Three browns on a Adams dry, 6' 6" rod, one was a nice fish the others were quite small.
I seem to be loosing more than I net, part striking to early as you can see them coming up and also they are out of the water a lot with it being so shallow.
Tomorrow I am thinking of River Douglas just off the A6, if the weather ain't to bad, forecast is rain, which we badly need,
Saturday: Yes it was the River Douglas. Weather, warm cold rain sunshine windy. sometimes all at once.
Went down for a look first, looked ok so geared up for wading. Started up stream from foot bridge, dry fly had three browns best below.
I did not expect to be catching Chub, especially on a nymph, but was well pleased to see it. Kept in the fast current and head down fought more like a brown than a Chub.
Not an easy river to fish fly unless you get into the water the banks are quite high and the vegetation very overgrown.
As I was finishing met another chap who was trotting from the bank, he said he was doing as well as I was, and had fifteen trout, not as brain dead as me, he could keep count.
The forecast for tonight and tomorrow is lots of rain so I will wait until the morning to decide where or whether I fish, you will be the first to know.
Mike Duddy of Salford Friendly told me ages ago that the Douglas was full of fish, just wish I had got there a bit sooner, thanks Mike.
Sunday: Well the rain that I have being asking for arrived during the night, and it is still here now. When the rain sets-in in Bolton it RAINS. Admin and reading this morning see what it is like this afternoon, ever hopeful.
Stopped raining so went to see what effect it had had on Bradshaw Brook, not much. A few fish rising could not see to what.
Went to Eagley Brook at Eagley Mills, was running a little higher and with some colour. Had a few goes with a nymph,caught one very small brown. Walked down to another chap (Dave Reay) who was also fishing nymph, seemed to be doing better than I had been Had a long chat about where to fish in the area.
Walked down stream for a look did not fancy it and I was getting cold so walked back and went home.
Had a look at the river levels on line, the rain has brought the Irwell up a bit, more rain tonight and tomorrow should do more. Sorry that's rubbish, little rain tonight and none tomorrow.
That's it for this week.
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Week Ending 16 June 13
Monday: Had a couple of hours in the evening on Bradshaw Fly Fishers beat. not much movement, no fish.
Pulled a lot of Balsam out in and around the brook, it's a loosing battle, but I keep pulling. At least we don't have the Giant Hogweed, YET.
Tuesday: I went to see the work being done by the Environment Agency on the River Medlock in Clayton Vale in Manchester. (see my blog Restoration Revolution). The River looked very poorly we really do need some rain for all the rivers and brooks.
Wednesday: Fished the River Irwell at Lower Broughton at the Boddington slipway and further up by Peel Park. Caught no fish and saw no sign of them. At Boddington slipway the river looks dead and yet at Peel Park about one mile up stream the river has a long stranded weed (Ranunclulus Batrachium maybe?) and looks quite health.
Still need that rain and, as I write we have been having some, looked quite promising for a while, but it has stopped again. Never mind the forecast for tonight and tomorrow is for lots more, lets hope its so.
Thursday: Well the rain came but not enough, still plenty of black clouds about so we may get some more tonight.
Fished Eagley Brook at Eagley Mills. First time down there this year, little bit of colour in the water, plenty of fish rising.
Started with dry fly one small brown then nothing. Fished czech nymph and had 2 small browns and then a two pound CHUB. What a surprise, I did know there are chub in the brook, but did not think I would catch on nymph, but then why not.
Moved to Bradshaw Brook at Firwood Fold. First timer again, had two small browns on a Pheasant tail nymph and then home.
Friday: More rain today ,not enough to do much good, we still need more.
Started the day at Ewood Bridge on the Irwell, the river was as low as I can remember ever seeing it. Nothing moving until I was passed the motorway bridge and then not much.
Tried nymph and a couple of dries to no avail. Lots of rubbish coming down the river so I could not see what they were taking. Also had to keep sheltering as the showers were quite unpleasant at times
.
Moved down river to Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom nothing rising and did not get a touch again.
Not a good week for fish, never mind still got Saturday and Sunday.
Its Raining as I type so there is hope for tomorrow if it continues.
These photos I took today just to show some of the problems we have on the Irwell. Surprisingly I usually catch some good fish just below this outlet.
Wondered what the police were doing, must have seen the swans across the road.
Well that's it for this week
Pulled a lot of Balsam out in and around the brook, it's a loosing battle, but I keep pulling. At least we don't have the Giant Hogweed, YET.
Tuesday: I went to see the work being done by the Environment Agency on the River Medlock in Clayton Vale in Manchester. (see my blog Restoration Revolution). The River looked very poorly we really do need some rain for all the rivers and brooks.
Wednesday: Fished the River Irwell at Lower Broughton at the Boddington slipway and further up by Peel Park. Caught no fish and saw no sign of them. At Boddington slipway the river looks dead and yet at Peel Park about one mile up stream the river has a long stranded weed (Ranunclulus Batrachium maybe?) and looks quite health.
Still need that rain and, as I write we have been having some, looked quite promising for a while, but it has stopped again. Never mind the forecast for tonight and tomorrow is for lots more, lets hope its so.
Thursday: Well the rain came but not enough, still plenty of black clouds about so we may get some more tonight.
Fished Eagley Brook at Eagley Mills. First time down there this year, little bit of colour in the water, plenty of fish rising.
Started with dry fly one small brown then nothing. Fished czech nymph and had 2 small browns and then a two pound CHUB. What a surprise, I did know there are chub in the brook, but did not think I would catch on nymph, but then why not.
Moved to Bradshaw Brook at Firwood Fold. First timer again, had two small browns on a Pheasant tail nymph and then home.
Friday: More rain today ,not enough to do much good, we still need more.
Started the day at Ewood Bridge on the Irwell, the river was as low as I can remember ever seeing it. Nothing moving until I was passed the motorway bridge and then not much.
Tried nymph and a couple of dries to no avail. Lots of rubbish coming down the river so I could not see what they were taking. Also had to keep sheltering as the showers were quite unpleasant at times
.
Moved down river to Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom nothing rising and did not get a touch again.
Not a good week for fish, never mind still got Saturday and Sunday.
Its Raining as I type so there is hope for tomorrow if it continues.
These photos I took today just to show some of the problems we have on the Irwell. Surprisingly I usually catch some good fish just below this outlet.
The Bridge is the Motorway.
Saturday: Went to the Irwell at Bury Ground. Bury Ground used to be an area of mills, factories, a slaughter house(Blacks) and lodges(mill ponds), now it is mostly grass. But for how long, the new Police Headquarters and a office building went up a couple of years ago and last year a new Fire Station. What next?
There are three weirs at the moment, two of which could be removed in the near future. The bottom weir which is just above Bury Bridge, which carries the roads to Bolton and Ramsbottom, and a few other places.
Looks pretty OK in the photos, but its not as good as it looks.
The top weir is in a bit of a mess and needs to be removed pretty soon as the next flood could do the job.
The bridge is an old railway line that used to go Greenmount and I am not sure were else. Its a walk way now.
When the top weir goes it will, in my opinion, be a great improvement and should make the fishing a lot better.
Removing the bottom weir could be good but I am not that sure, will just have to wait and see.
The Middle weir is much larger than the others and has a Environment Agency measuring station above it, so I don't see that one being removed, pity.
Any way I caught three trout, one below the top weir and two down by pictures two and three of the bottom weir, all on dry fly, Greenwells again, eight foot carbon Young's Pridex .
Sunday: Started at Springwater Park were the Irwell and Roach meet. Did not look very good to me, the Roach was running brown and the Irwell was not?
The photo, is near ground, Roach far Irwell, even without the mud they are always of a different colour.
Had a walk about and a few casts with a nymph then off to Bury Ground again.
Caught a small brown on dry fly for a family who thought the Irwell had no fish, cast at a few that were rising, to what I know not, stood in the river to cool my feet for a bit. Took a photo of a family of swams that had just walked a couple of hundred yards from the one remaining mill pond to the river.
Well that's it for this week
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Week Ending Sunday 9 June 13
Strange week for fishing mostly warm to very warm no rain. At least I got a good tan, if only to my face and arms.
Mid week tried the Roach near Bury caught 2 good browns but lost a very fine fish at the net. Had him on for over 25 minutes, mostly he just sat on the bottom and I could not move him. I waded up behind him to get him to move which he did, but just farther down river. In the end I had him half in the net when he flipped over went behind me and was gone.
I keep telling myself that I didn't rush him, but perhaps I did.
Trouble is that, I don't want to over play and stress the fish to much, it's a fine balance that I don't seem to have got right at the moment.
I was using my large net which is 21 inches long and he was quite a bit longer than it. I was in shock and just went back to the car and off home. Was using my 9 foot Masterline carbon with a Shakespeare multiplier (made by JW Young) and a Greenwells Glory dry fly.
Friday tried Ladyshore, after the one that keeps braking me off, no luck.
Today fished the lower beat of Bradshaw Fly Fishers stretch bottom end, 3 boys playing in the stream, left them to it. Moved up to the bend with the sunken trees, took 3 small browns on a dry brown midge.
Had a few takes moving up to the road bridge, but only managed to get 1 to net.. Had 2 better fish under the bridge, still under 8 inches. Used my 6' 6" three weight carbon with a JW Youngs 3 inch Beaudex.
Decided to have a look at Eagley Brook in the Valley, only been there once this season. More water than I expected, but it looked oily and slow, still had a few takes and netted three small browns and had a chat with a couple of watchers. People are still surprised to see someone fly fishing, as long as it stays that way I have it pretty much to myself around here.
I do like Youngs old metal reels, although I do have some of their later composite reels 1400/1500 series, like the Shakespeare multiplier I used on Wednesday.
Mid week tried the Roach near Bury caught 2 good browns but lost a very fine fish at the net. Had him on for over 25 minutes, mostly he just sat on the bottom and I could not move him. I waded up behind him to get him to move which he did, but just farther down river. In the end I had him half in the net when he flipped over went behind me and was gone.
I keep telling myself that I didn't rush him, but perhaps I did.
Trouble is that, I don't want to over play and stress the fish to much, it's a fine balance that I don't seem to have got right at the moment.
I was using my large net which is 21 inches long and he was quite a bit longer than it. I was in shock and just went back to the car and off home. Was using my 9 foot Masterline carbon with a Shakespeare multiplier (made by JW Young) and a Greenwells Glory dry fly.
Friday tried Ladyshore, after the one that keeps braking me off, no luck.
Today fished the lower beat of Bradshaw Fly Fishers stretch bottom end, 3 boys playing in the stream, left them to it. Moved up to the bend with the sunken trees, took 3 small browns on a dry brown midge.
Had a few takes moving up to the road bridge, but only managed to get 1 to net.. Had 2 better fish under the bridge, still under 8 inches. Used my 6' 6" three weight carbon with a JW Youngs 3 inch Beaudex.
Decided to have a look at Eagley Brook in the Valley, only been there once this season. More water than I expected, but it looked oily and slow, still had a few takes and netted three small browns and had a chat with a couple of watchers. People are still surprised to see someone fly fishing, as long as it stays that way I have it pretty much to myself around here.
I do like Youngs old metal reels, although I do have some of their later composite reels 1400/1500 series, like the Shakespeare multiplier I used on Wednesday.
Monday, 3 June 2013
The River Irwell : Restoration Revolution
Just a quicky, if you want to see me in a film made for the Environment Agency about the rivers around Manchester click on the following.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lIiFBnzU8E&feature=youtu.be
Or an updated version on Vimeo
https://vimeo.com/68367383
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lIiFBnzU8E&feature=youtu.be
https://vimeo.com/68367383
Sunday, 2 June 2013
Kick Sampling 1 June 13
Been fishing ever day this week, trying places that I haven't been to for a while. Some good some not so.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I fished at Ladyshore for part of each day. On Wednesday I got busted off twice and never landed anything. So on Thursday went back with a stronger leader and got bust once again. I don't like leaving flies in fish.
Friday returned with 8 pound tippet, of course never got a touch. That's life. Will be back there later next week.
Saturday is my day to Kick Sample at Ewood Bridge. I expected the insect count to be up on last month but it wasn't. The river is running low and has lots of brown algae over the bed, maybe that is the problem.
Fished up river from the sample spot had five brownies to 11 inches on dry fly, pleasant day with plenty of sun for a change.
Sunday. Thought I would try Kearsley below the weir, cold wind and not much sun and no fish. I can't understand why I don't catch fish there. It looks good plenty of water, an island for some variation in the flow. So why no fish?
Last year I caught two fish, or maybe the same fish twice, just below the weir and that was it. Well if we understood what it was all about we probably wouldn't fish at all.
Gave up on Kearsley and went to Sion St Radcliffe had a good fish on a Copper John Nymph and then home for tea. Grilled Salmon and a baked potato, my lady wife has gone to see CLIFF RICHARDS, yuch, in Manchester thank God she didn't want me to go. Now I can watch the football in peace( England v Brasil for my none UK followers).
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I fished at Ladyshore for part of each day. On Wednesday I got busted off twice and never landed anything. So on Thursday went back with a stronger leader and got bust once again. I don't like leaving flies in fish.
Friday returned with 8 pound tippet, of course never got a touch. That's life. Will be back there later next week.
Saturday is my day to Kick Sample at Ewood Bridge. I expected the insect count to be up on last month but it wasn't. The river is running low and has lots of brown algae over the bed, maybe that is the problem.
Fished up river from the sample spot had five brownies to 11 inches on dry fly, pleasant day with plenty of sun for a change.
Sunday. Thought I would try Kearsley below the weir, cold wind and not much sun and no fish. I can't understand why I don't catch fish there. It looks good plenty of water, an island for some variation in the flow. So why no fish?
Last year I caught two fish, or maybe the same fish twice, just below the weir and that was it. Well if we understood what it was all about we probably wouldn't fish at all.
Gave up on Kearsley and went to Sion St Radcliffe had a good fish on a Copper John Nymph and then home for tea. Grilled Salmon and a baked potato, my lady wife has gone to see CLIFF RICHARDS, yuch, in Manchester thank God she didn't want me to go. Now I can watch the football in peace( England v Brasil for my none UK followers).
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