First the Rain, now the Snow

We anglers are finding it hard to get some decent fishing in at the moment.

The Dove yesterday

For weeks we’ve had floodwater, with the rivers all but unfishable, and now we have loads of snow everywhere. On top of that it’s also freezing like the clappers.

My pal Dave Colclough and I fished the Derbyshire Dove yesterday, close to a main road so that there was minimum risk of getting the car stuck. The scenery was magnificent, the actual fishing cold but a pleasure after the recent rains.

It was nice to walk across the crisp, white snow instead of squelching through liquid mud and soggy ground.

Graham on the Dove

It was great to see clear water in the river again, steaming as the sun warmed it and threatened fog.

Darkness brought the usual lower temperatures and the snow began to crust. Every time I reeled in the iced-up line grated through the rings. Every cast had to be made with a little more force to pull the line through.

The landing net froze to the snow. Anything metal stuck to an ungloved hand.

We never had a bite, but it didn’t seem to matter.

We can’t wait to get back and try again.