A false Spring?

The last few days have certainly fooled us all into thinking that Spring has well and truly sprung. Yellow Brimstone butterflies on the wing, Grannon on the rivers, and even some fish rising, inspired David and Alex to head out with dry flies Alex had 2 grayling from the romantically named Factory. pool on beat 2 of the Lyd, on dries on Friday afternoon, prompting David to take up the challenge on the next day on the Tamar. Having sat in a stuffy meeting all morning it was a breath of fresh air in every sense. 

Let nobody be deceived by the present lovely weather. Remember that the Great Blizzard of 1891 started on the 9th of March. It filled Tavy Cleave with snow level from hilltop to hilltop, and that summer there was still snow on the Moor on midsummer's day. And of course, only this time last year, we were enjoying the 'Beast from the East'.

Tracks in the muddy sand beside the Tamar show where a moorhen and an otter have passed recently.

David releasing a ten-inch grayling from just above the gauging weir on Beat 9, taken on a small dry Deer Hair Emerger.

The video below shows rising grayling, and some wonderfully inept fishing  skills.