January Musings

I have been out a couple of times to fly fish for pike again this year without success. So for a change of scene last Saturday I took myself off to Toft Newton reservoir near Market Rasen north of Lincoln.  The Manager, Jason had organised a coarse fishing day, where all methods were allowed (with barbless hooks).  Obviously all trout caught had to be handled very carefully and returned quickly.  I arrived in temperatures of -4 degrees centigrade (25F), but with bright low sun and a cloudless blue sky.  The reservoir was a kind of weird place to fish, in fact not very inviting at all, and I think the weather helped to alleviate the effect of the concrete surround - the reservoir is in fact a 40 acre concrete bowl set in the Lincolnshire flatlands.


I tried fishing with some perch flies that I had tied up (weighted with bead eyes & with red marabou tails) on an intermediate line and long leader, using my #7/8 9' rod.  This did initially attract trout 3 fish in half-a-dozen casts, all distance released, but more particularly it highlighted my appalling casting ability or lack of skill, something which I really need to address.

Most anglers were set up with maggots and a float, and were catching numerous trout, in fact one chap had caught and released over 120 fish by the time I left at 3.45pm, without moving from the spot!  I'm sure he must have caught the same fish more than once.  A few perch and a pike or 2 were caught by the boat anglers, but shore angling only seemed to produce unfortunate trout.

My tally for the day was a meager 6 trout but I wasn't fishing for them was I!  A very pleasant day due to the beautiful though chilly weather.

I'm now looking forward to my next outing, a birthday treat, of spot grayling fishing on the R Derwent in Derbyshire next Sunday, can't wait.

The Complete Angler by James Prosek

Please take some time to watch, enjoy, and absorb the atmosphere in, this wonderful film.



It's almost as relaxing as a day on the river in June!