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. 

Kick Sampling at Ewood Bridge 31 Jul 13

Wednesday:   Went to Ewood Bridge and did my monthly kick sample, insect numbers down on last month, probably due to recent thunder storms. The Irwell had been up as much as three feet during the last couple of days, but was down to more normal levels today. It could be back up with the rain that we have had this afternoon.

Fished until the rain came in pretty heavy, eight browns all 9 to 11 inches caught on Copper Johns and  Pheasant tail nymphs. Had far more takes than fish, could be the water was coloured and I was fishing the fast water, or it could be that I had a clumsy day.

The brown alga, that I have been complaining about, has now been swept away by the high water and the river is looking and fishing more like I am used to, more rain is forecast for tonight and the weekend which will not do any harm.
 I am having a small operation to my left hand this Friday, I am left handed, so no fishing or driving for a few days or maybe a week.

Week Ending 28 July 13

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.  

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Week Ending 23 June 13

Monday:  No fishing, went to my first Bradshaw Fly Fishers meeting. One of the members had caught a trout that I would not have believed had he not got a photo to prove it 4 Pounds a think he said, "oh my memory." But what a fish for such a small brook.  

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.

 That evening I went to Salford Friendly Anglers monthly meeting  in Irlam. Very good turn out. Mike Duddy told me that the weir is due to be removed on 10 July. I was surprised as I thought it was the one further down stream that was to go.
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.

Very nice fifteen inch Brown who did not want to visit my net, I thanked him and slipped him back in and called it a day.

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

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.

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.

 This is typical of the area that I fished, had to be careful as there are some deep bits and also some mud. Very little rubbish which was pleasing and unusual for rivers around here.

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.


  

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.

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.

Wondered what the police were doing, must have seen the swans across the road.
Well that's it for this week