River of gold…

Tags

Barnes, Fishing, River Thames, Roach, Sunset

Having spent yesterday in the pouring rain under Paynes Grey clouds today started with a crips chill to the air, frost on the rooftops under a clear blue sky.

It was also a day of drying out everything, sorting out tackle bags and replacing a tyre on the car which suffered from a sharp stone piercing the tread so deeply it caused a puncture.

I thought I may get an hour or so by the river using up the remaining bait from yesterday targeting the fine river roach and dace which seem to be prolific on the tidal Thames but that was not to be, however when watching the tide late in the afternoon I was witness to the river taking on the most fabulous colour of the sky which turned it into a river of molten gold.

Let it rain…

Tags

Avon, Center Pin, Float, Fly Fishing, Grayling, Itchen, Parr, River, salmon, Trotting

After what has been a long dry summer the rain fell heavily all day. We had chosen to venture down to the River Itchen once again in pursuit of Grayling known as the ‘Lady Of The Stream’, however she was elusive on this wet November day. Young Tales has spoken about it all week, there was in fact no let up in his focus to go Grayling fishing this weekend. The rain could be heard on the skylight in the hallway just before first light and confirmed the forecast by the Met Office, that it would rain all day. Undeterred and dressed for the occasion Young a Tales and I bid farewell to Mrs Tales taking to the road in the sliver arrow which was packed to the gunnels with tackle, bags, waders, coats and a light lunch. We arrived at the stretch of water at just before 10am, tackled up and walked along the riverside path, watching the water carefully for any signs of a rise of fish laying in the crystal clear water of this iconic Hampshire chalkstream. The river was flowing quickly, the surface broken by the rain drops, these being different to the ripple of a rising fish. There were a few fish moving on the far bank where the gardens of some substantial riverside houses swept down to the river, their manicured lawns still a vivid green in the murky morning light. We took a vintage float rod, Avon and stick floats paired to a Young’s Avon Center pin plus a small 7ft fly rod and old Hardy Marquis reel and a box of Grayling flies comprising of PTN nymphs, red tags, spiders, woven nymph and shrimp patterns. It wasn’t long before Young Tales was into a fish, it took quite close to the bank but wasn’t the quarry we were after, it was a small Salmon Parr, beautifully marked and in prime condition. I actually hate it when we hook one of these as I dread harming them during the unhooking process as these juvenile fish tend to take the bait or nymph deep down, even with barbless hooks it’s difficult to unhook them. After several casts Young Tales had work his way through the species list, two Salmon Parr, one Sea-Trout and one juvenile Brown Trout, alas no Grayling. The hours passed by. Young Tales’s idol was racing towards another World Championship, yet focused on the job in hand he was determined to net a a Grayling. Much like Hamilton’s team mate somethings elude you, Rosberg was to miss the opportunity of the World Title and for Tales the catch record was not to note a Grayling. There is still plenty of time this winter to net one of these splendid pewter coloured fish. Hopefully on a clear dry frosty December day over the next few weekends or over the Christmas break we’ll be able to note a Grayling on the fishing record for this season.

You vote….

Tags

Abu, Centre Pin, eBay, Fishing, Float, Hardy, Rapidex, Reel, Speedia, Trotting, Trudex, Vintage

Recently a friend of mine ask me to recommend a centre pin reel for float fishing for grayling, my instant response was to recommend a narrow drum Speedia. I did however consider a JW Young Trudex or Hardy Conquest but it was a Speedia that I felt most comfortable with.

In light of the rapid increase in prices of vintage centre pin reels where a good quality Speedia will set you back over £100-150, a Rapidex £65-85 and a Trudex in the region of £100 -130, Aerials in the region of £100-190, k. Dowlings & Sons in the region of £90 to a Hardy Conquest, Triumph or Wallis topping out at over £180. So the choice is endless, just depends on how much you want to spend but for my money you can’t beat the WR Speedia.

One interesting contemporary alternative is the Marco Cortesi a very underrated reel that for the money will out perform reels costing well over £100, there is one currently on eBay for less than a pint of beer!

If you are looking to acquire a vintage reel then try Mr Andrews of Andrews of Arcadia who stalls out in Spitalfields Market on a Thursday from the hours of 6.30-3pm.

So I’ve decided to open up the debate to readers of my blog. What centre pin reel do you take trotting?

My other favourite float reel is the Abu 1044 or 706, as closed faced they are brilliant when fishing in windy conditions.

Hidden treasure….

Tags

Car Boot, Fly Box, Silmalloy, Sunday, Vintage Floats, Wheatley

Found on the outskirts of the City at a car boot sale not far from the Fullers Brewery a hoard of fishing items, these vintage floats, plummet and a Wheatley Silmalloy Fly Box were buried under piles of household cast-offs, fabric and bric-a-brac. These vintage angling items will see the light of day and will be used once again.