LATE SUMMER FISHING
Long Distance Stalking
Stillwater trout fishing can be a bit slow and dour at this time of the year and July into August is always regarded as a less productive time by most fly fishers. However, this is not always the case.
A fishing friend was at Barnsfold Water in Lancashire last week and he told me that there were some twenty anglers dotted around the two lakes. There was evidence of a lot of fish feeding; fish “humping” the water and showing just the occasional fin. Lots of fish and lots of activity but no one was catching. He decided to cast to individual fish and try to drop his buzzer right in front of the next anticipated “hump” in the water. He was, in fact, stalking individual trout at long range. He claimed no particular credit for his tactics, rather he pointed out that it was, to him at least, common sense given the conditions and the behaviour of the fish.
It meant quite a lot of seemingly fruitless casting but every now and again he was able to accurately anticipate the movement of a fish and then time his cast just right and plonk the fly in an irresistible position. The result was that he caught several fish, including a near-4lb rainbow in prime condition. One or two other anglers asked how he was catching fish but found it too energetic for their tastes and, so, remained fishless for the afternoon.
Poor Judgement
A couple of Saturdays ago - that hot sunny one that we had in July - I decided the conditions were too bright, too still and too hot for fishing. So, having little else to do except earn Brownie Points, I suggested to Mrs C that we go for a drive, have a walk in the countryside and then I would treat her to an evening meal. Well?
Before I knew it the car had found its own way to Sabden where we parked and walked up the twisting hillside track that just happened to wind past Churn Clough Reservoir. Now Churn Clough is one of my current favourite fishing venues as well as being a place of outstanding natural beauty. When I pointed out the scenic qualities to Mrs C she acidly commented that Churn Clough was indeed a beautiful place but spoilt by silly men trying to catch fish!
There were half a dozen rods dotted around the banks and, as we sauntered and meandered our way round the perimeter, everyone was into a fish. It was astonishing. That, against all the odds, the fish were on a feeding frenzy at 3.00 pm on a very hot, very still, very bright July afternoon with no ripple on the water. Several of the anglers were using their big rods, too, with floating WF8 lines and still the fish were attacking the flies.
I quickly ushered Mrs C away and took solace with a couple of pints of Thwaites Best Bitter whilst pondering upon the sheer unpredictability of rainbow trout and the philosophy of fishing “Early & Late” at this time of year.
Observation
The common belief is that rainbow trout in stillwaters will face into the wind and look for their food to be delivered to them. I believe this to be largely true but if this means that a trout has to spend time facing a bright, glaring sun, I think the fish will just sink into deeper water and even go off its feed or begin to search the depths. Observation would indicate that not all trout do this but, if hungry, they will start to tour the water and positively look for items to eat. There are always some fish on the move whatever the conditions.
My back has troubled me for many years and, when fishing, I take time out every hour or so to either stand or sit and relax and watch whatever is going on in and around the water. This is a good time to watch fish movement which is much more difficult when you are casting, watching your fly line and retrieving line. This is the time when you really begin to read the water and to track fish movement. I would go as far as suggesting that if you are not catching, you should stop fishing and sit and watch. After ten minutes it is very likely that you will have identified at least one target that is catchable and close to where you are sitting. How often do we cast further and further out and for what seems for endless periods of time without even an inquisitive tug at the line when, suddenly, a fish breaks the surface three yards out and directly in front of you, bold as brass.
The good advice that we read in books and journals always tells us to carefully and gently fish close in and to either side before splashing away with longer and longer castes or immediately jumping into the water and beginning to wade out from the bank. Unfortunately, we often ignore the good advice.
Lack Of Oxygen
Waters can become de-oxygenated in hot weather and some fisheries bring in machines to provide extra oxygen. These are often good places to fish if convenient. The oxygenated water stimulates the fish and they begin to look for food. I look for streams flowing into waters, for they provide a similar function in bringing extra oxygen to the water and the areas out from the stream will often be patrolled by hungry and feeding fish.
I borrow from my coarse fishing experiences and let the fly (or sometimes a team of three) trundle down with the current into the likely feeding area where I hope a big rainbow will seize the opportunity. It's a tactic that usually produces a 'taker' or two.
The weather now is dull and humid and feels bereft of vitalising oxygen. Next week I am going river fishing in Yorkshire to be followed by a long relaxing visit to the lochs and rivers of Sutherland in the far North of Scotland. That should be enough to re-oxygenate me for the rest of the year. Tight Lines!
