Typical! The West Country was just declared by the Environment Agency to be in 'environmental drought', and it has hardly stopped raining since! Fears of the low water we endured in March have now vanished, the best news being that the salmon and sea trout smolts have had an excellent and largely predator-free journey down to the estuary. This is in stark contrast to last year, when dead low clear water left the precious smolts running the gauntlet on every shallow, harried by cormorants, herons ,goosanders, egrets, the lot. We therefore expect a significant improvement in the run of school peal this summer.
A huge amount of rain fell overnight, over an inch, giving a brawling brown flood on all our rivers. They will settle to good trout fishing again with a few dry days, in the meantime the blackbirds in the hotel garden are cashing in on the glut of worms to feed their young.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
River Report 18/4/12
We finally have some water. It's wild outside with gale force winds and some very heavy showers, but our rivers have had a much-needed top-up and are currently up and rising. We could still do with this rain continuing for another week or two, but the extra drop at the moment should work wonders. With plenty of juvenile sea trout and salmon (smolts) about, this flush should send them on their way to sea to feed and grow before returning to the rivers in the future.
With a bit of luck, once the weather subsides, the winds will be more favourable and bring warmer days and nights and good fishing conditions rather than the persistant easterlies of late.
We can but wait and see, but in the meantime here's a brief report of the last few weeks' fishing:
Persistent easterly winds slowed trout fishing towards mid April at The Arundell Arms, but most anglers managed to catch a fish or two on wet flies and nymphs. Sporadic hatches of large dark olives brought a little dry fly sport for fishers in the right place at the right time, with most of the surface activity seen on the larger pools of the lower River Lyd. The March total was 121 wild brown trout, with the best fish at 10.5 inches on a dry Blue Dun for Tony Bostock fishing the River Wolf. Up to mid April 110 trout have been landed with some hefty out of season grayling to over 2lb also putting in an appearance. While heavy showers have brought a couple of small lifts to the river levels, a big spate would be gratefully received to encourage some early salmon and sea trout up the river to Lifton.
With a bit of luck, once the weather subsides, the winds will be more favourable and bring warmer days and nights and good fishing conditions rather than the persistant easterlies of late.
We can but wait and see, but in the meantime here's a brief report of the last few weeks' fishing:
Persistent easterly winds slowed trout fishing towards mid April at The Arundell Arms, but most anglers managed to catch a fish or two on wet flies and nymphs. Sporadic hatches of large dark olives brought a little dry fly sport for fishers in the right place at the right time, with most of the surface activity seen on the larger pools of the lower River Lyd. The March total was 121 wild brown trout, with the best fish at 10.5 inches on a dry Blue Dun for Tony Bostock fishing the River Wolf. Up to mid April 110 trout have been landed with some hefty out of season grayling to over 2lb also putting in an appearance. While heavy showers have brought a couple of small lifts to the river levels, a big spate would be gratefully received to encourage some early salmon and sea trout up the river to Lifton.
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