Bradshaw Sewer Works & Ewood Bridge 18 Sept 13

Lots of rain for the last few days, so no fishing until today. Still heavy showers and some sunshine.
Decided to check out the local  waters to see the effect the rain had had.

Started at Bradshaw Brook went first to the Bradshaw fly fishers beat, as I expected it was not up very much and still running pretty clear, one or two fish rising. Went to look at the work on the sewer pipe.

 Pleased to see that the work was moving on, the first half of the concrete is done and the middle section,  that will be lower than the rest to allow the passage of fish, should be in this week. Was informed that the final piece should be completed next week, forgot to ask when the pilings would be cut off. I will have another look next week and report.

Next to 7 Acres, brook running higher than above due to run off and a couple of little streams that flow in.

   Not pleased to see the muddy run off coming from the pipe which brings water from the road into the brook.

Next Eagley Brook, in the valley, expected it to be muddy and high, but it wasn't bad at all, again couple of fish rising. Thought if these two are fishable perhaps the Irwell will be OK.

Bury Ground did not look to good but, not as high as I thought it would be, so decided it would be worth a trip up river to Ewood Bridge, and it was. So I tackled up and decided to fish dry fly, blue winged olive.

Missed one below the bridge and then sheltered from a very heavy shower before moving up to the motorway bridge. Caught this on before the bridge, nice fish, ok not that big.

Moved up above the bridge caught this one and lost one at the net.

The rain was setting in and it was cold and windy so home for tea.

River Irwell Kersal Friday 13 Sept 13

Day started badly, a cormorant and three goosanders were fishing the river as I arrived, they flew off but that doesn't stop them fishing for long. 
It was overcast and quite cold, didn't expect there to be flies emerging and I was right, just the odd one
.
Tied on a GH Copper John and started off down river, had to be careful as the river was up from last week but still running pretty clear. I didn't think there had been enough rain to make a difference.

The first hundred and fifty yards runs fast and I had not a touch, then the river slowed a bit but is still moving at fair pace when I got into my first fish. He came for the nymph and missed but two casts later he was hooked. Took off down stream them went to the river bed and stayed there so I had to wade down to him to get some line back on the reel. Changing the direction of pressure made him come up and he was soon in the net.

Nice 14 inch fish well pleased.

Was soon into another one took a while to get him close, he saw me before I saw him and as he turned and took off the hook pulled free. Well that's fishing. 

Moved down ten yards and was into another, good hard fighter like the first two and a better fish.

This one went 16 inches.

The next fish broke me off on the strike so I had my lunch, an apple, and tied another GH Copper John.

Moved a bit down stream and was soon into another good fish this one was about 15 inches, not much between the three of then really, still I would be very happy to be catching their ilk any day of the week. 

The rain had set in whilst I was playing the last fish but I was not for stopping, had another fish come to the nymph and miss before I decided to move..

I went further down stream to a fast run where I had caught fish before but I only got one fish to try for the nymph and he missed and wouldn't try again.

The way I fish the Irwell is with a floating line and try not to let the nymph go deep, so when the fish strikes  you normally see a good swirl and splash. Two reasons for fishing shallow are that the Irwell has lots of weed at the moment and even where it doesn't the rubbish in the river can cost you lots of tackle.

Didn't see the devil birds again just a Heron and they are OK with me.  

River Irwell Little Lever 11 Sept 13

After taking the photos of the work on Bradshaw Brook I went to Mytham Road where there used to be a large mill by the river, which was demolished I think early last year or maybe the year before. I fished there a few times last year but only managed to catch one fish. There is a large weir above where the mill used to be which fed water to the mill via a goyt which is still there and running with water.
I fished from the bottom of the weir down to where the remains of the mill  prevent access to the river. The area looks as though there should be plenty of fish but I only manage to catch one, on a pheasant tailed nymph.

Looking up at the weir (sorry about the scrap iron)

 Looking down towards where I caught the fish

. 

Looks OK bu not far below.

  Is this.

At the moment the bottom of the concrete wall is so overgrown that it's not possible, for me, to get down to the river side. Even when you can the river needs to be pretty low as well. When you are passed the end of the concrete the bank is steep and and over grown.

 The Giant Hogweed forest below the old mill base, you don't want to mess with this stuff, early spring is the only time this area is fishable and them only with much effort.

Had a couple of hours then moved to Ladyshore which is about a mile up river. By now the rain had set in but as I was dressed for it I carried on fishing. Ladyshore fished like it usually does, yes no fish. Well there is always tomorrow.

Eagley & Bradshaw Brooks 10 Sept 13

Went to fish at Eagley Mills, surprised to find it quite low but with some colour.

Tackled up with a 6' 6" 3 weight and fished a blue wing olive, one of a batch that I ordered from a new supplier. The flies looked very good and they had put me in a couple of extras, very kind of them.

Had a rise to my first cast, saw him coming to the fly and struck to early, nothing wrong with the fly just nervous me. Caught four very small fish and decided to move to Bradshaw at Seven Acres.

The brook was running very dirty and no fish rising despite plenty of flies coming off the stream. Tried a Copper John to no avail, until I came upon two chaps trotting maggots.They had had nothing either but said they had seen fish rising now and then. Carried on a bit further down, still nothing, so I packed in and decide to see where the mud was coming from.

I knew that United Utilities were working on the Bradshaw Flyfishers Beat making good a sewage pipe that runs across and in the stream. So I thought that they would be the culprits and went to have a look.
I was very surprised to see what they were doing.
I had thought that it would be quite a small work site, not the case. They had driven steel pilings in the the stream bed and were blocking half of the flow prior to, I believe, concreting around the pipe. Then doing the other half of the pipe in the same way. They said the piling would remain but would be cut down, which I would think will give us a small weir.
Not good if that is turns out to be the case, as the removal of weirs that prevent fish movement is part of the European Directive on improving rivers and streams.

I did not take a photo of the site but I will tomorrow. Watch this space.
Here's the Photos

 This is looking up stream.

 Same but closer.

 The ramp and piling.

  Its not very clear but the pipe is between the piling.

Most of the stream is running under the wooden ramp. The water between the pilings will be pump out and concrete poured around the sewer pipe. Then the same to the other half of the pipe. 

River Irwell Springwater Park 9 Sept 13

Very changeable weather today, sunshine and some heavy showers.
Plenty of water but no sign of fish, walked up to where the Roch joins the Irwell without seeing a rise, so my dry fly did not get wet.
Tied on a Copper John nymph and fish down to where I started, nothing.

 One of our great problems on the Irwell the Roch and the other brooks that I fish is the nonnative invasive weed. At Springwater the far bank is covered with Giant Hogweed,  Indian Balsam and Japanese Knot Weed. as you can see from the photo the Hogweed is a real problem. The whole length that I fish is as bad as the photo shows and in some places worse.

The Park side bank is a lot better, except for the Balsam which is rampant on the banks of the Roch.

 The Irwell is on the left and the Roch is coming in on the right.

Bury Ground Sunday 8 Sept 13

Lots of rain Friday and the river still up Saturday so didn't fish.
Today after the Grand Prix went to Bury Ground still some colour but fishable,  fish rising as I set up.

Went up to the weir, below which I cross the river, and started down fishing nymph. nothing rising and nothing taking the nymph. Changed to Adams dry fly, started back up, nothing at first then saw fish rising by overhanging trees. The Adams had no takers so tried a Iron Blue dun, same as. Grenwells did the trick but only once, the fish below was my only take.

  Lots of black clouds over head and rain starting so moved back to the car just in time to miss the heavy rain.

.

 More rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow,will just have to wait and see if its OK to fish.

River Roach 5 Sept 13

Seems to be quite a while since I fished at Gigg on the Roch, for that matter anywhere on the Roch.
River is quite low but still plenty of water and looking good, even thought the brown alga has carpeted most of the bed again. The forecast is for some heavy rain over the next couple of days so that should shift most of it.
I had decided to fish up stream dry fly to start with. Tackled up my 8 foot 6 weight and tied on a Blue Dun. Nothing rising as I walked down from the car park, but it was getting warmer and the sun kept coming out. Still nothing showing so I had a sit and waited to see what happened.

 A fish rose by the cliff on the far bank so off I went. He kept rising but not to my Blue Dun, so I change to a Coachman. Not even a look so tried a Blue winged Olive, same result.
Gave him 5 minutes and tied on a size 16 Adams, third cast he took. Nice fish about 12 inches.

 Thought I would try to photograph him whilst still in the water, don't think I will do it again. Unhook in the water intending to pick him up and take another picture, no such luck he was away in a flash.

Waded up to the next pool and cast at another rise, had a take but snapped off on the strike. Could have been a big fish or a bad knot.
Had another fish just a bit bigger than the one above then I got into this 18 inch beauty, still with a size 16 Adams.

Not he biggest that I have had on the Roch but not far off. With a 2 pound tippet I had to let him do what he liked for quite some time before I got him in the net. Not many spots on his sides but still a lovely looking fish. I just hope he will still be in the river next year for me to catch at over 20 inches.

I decided that next one I hooked I would photograph under water with my new water proof camera, here are the results.

I think I will have to have plenty of practice at this or maybe give it up as a bad job.

The fish was a lot better than the photos.

River Irwell Ladyshore 4 Sept 13

After at long last catching a fish their on Friday I decided to give it another try.

Four hours fishing for one fish, at least with this one it wasn't just cast and hope. I started fishing with a pheasant tail nymph and doing nothing so I thought, put a copper john on its the one that has been catching the fish.
There had been nothing rising and then one did, about thirty foot away, over the weeds near the far bank. Rather than changing to a dry I cast the nymph a few foot above where he rose. Third cast he took, I kept his nose up so that he could not get into the weed, to be truthful I bullied him to my side of the river. I didn't want Sundays problems when it got stuck in the weed.

  OK not a monster but I was pleased to catch him, though one fish per trip may not be enough to get me to keep going to Ladyshore in the future. I did see one other fish rise but that was it for the afternoon.

River Irwell Kersal Salford Tuesday 3 Sept 13

Decided that Salford was due a fish today, although the river is low there always seems to be enough water down there, and there was.

Fished with a nine foot rod floating line, it wasn't very deep, and a wooly bugger. Nothing doing so tied on a Copper John, glad I did. This 17 inch beauty was the result.

This is the stretch he came from.

Carried on fishing whilst moving down stream, good looking runs and riffles but no more fish until I got to this stretch.

Not the best photo, doesn't do it justice, its the run off of a large glide and the river is a lot narrower and of course flows much faster. Anyway carried on with the copper john and caught this one not as big as the first one but still a nice fish.

A fish took a fly  near the top of the riffle so I put on a B-WO and started to try and cover it. Was hard work as the river was coming through at a fair old trot. It wasn't rising very often so I was casting in hope. Nothing at first so I gave him a rest and tried a few yards down stream, then moved back up, this time he took with gusto. Much better fish than the one above.

It looks pretty good and it is in many ways, but the photos hide a lot of rubbish that is in the river.

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.