Friday 13th – Nearly Over

Can’t say that it has been that bad, visited my favourite piece of water – even though it was not exactly in a fishable condition – The Bollin at Bowden, just outside Altrincham in Cheshire.  This is one of those little rivers, once fouled up by the Industrial Revolution, now like its bigger relative the Mersey is clean enough to play host to most of the fresh water fish we associate with our rivers as well as Brown Trout, Grayling, Sea Trout, Salmon and the occasional Rainbow.  To-day however the only thing showing was a hatch of Grannom (the earliest of the Caddis family) the river was an inhospitable three and a half feet deep at its shallowist, highly coloured and moving like an express train.  So unless we have a dry couple of days it looks like the reservoirs and lakes this week-end, I personaly shall be heading for Curleys on Sunday.

The week ahead – well that will be anybodys guess, that’s the trouble with being retired, it seems that I am doing more now than when I was in harness.  One of our waters, Heatley Mere is now open so I may well try for the Carp with the proverbial Deer Hair, take a relaxing hour or so by the water for a change.  Due to the weather there has been so little going on I seem to be lost for words, mind you that is probably better that not saying anything at all.

So, short and sweet this week, and as usual whatever you get up to – enjoy yourselves, and taking recent weather into consideration, watch your footing.

Tightlines

Ni

Here we are again

Firstly I must say sorry for the absence – guilty as charged (with extenuating circumstances) I have been pre-occupied with the formation of the new Club and trying to keep up with the entries on face book, (two more entries I see waiting in the wings – I will ignore them untill I have finished this missive.  To start with – river levels:-

DANE …………… 0.41 Metres (1.35 feet)

BOLLIN ……………… 0.55 Metres (1.80 feet)

If there is anyone out there interested in reading this who fishes the Dee at Farndon the level is down (slightly) at 5.43 Metres (17.82 feet).

The new Club is progressing well with membership growing faster than expected, and the number of waters in the pipeline (excuse the pun – it was intended) swelling as time progresses.  If we carry on at this rate we shall have one water for each of the members (joking apart) some of these new venues have had very little or no action for quite some time, so we are looking forward to developing these in line with our main objective at the forefront, firstly, development from a concervation point of view.  This not only makes for a pleasant surrounding but also makes sure that the natural habitat of the wildlife is preserved, this will lead automatically to supporting the foodchain on which the fish survive.  I have writen elsewhere that I’m a great believer in the “live and let live” attitude to life (I like many others have killed more than my fair share and have come to the conclusion that this solves nothing).  I know that there are people out there who would if they were given the chance get rid of everything that threatened their way of life, we have seen the demise of many raptors because gamekeepers (my grandfather and myself among them) felt that these birds threatened the grouse shoots or pheasant shoots on the estates where they worked.  But if we look at this realistically we would reaslise that Mother Nature finds a way to balance things out without our help.  You can also see the other side of the coin in the Cormorant problem, some-one in their ultimate wisdom thought that they were being threatened with extinction and had them protected to such an extent that they now have become a problem in themselves.  Sooner or later humans will learn not to interfere where there is no need, and possibly not to protect one creature to the detrement of all the others, in other words try to think things through instead of going in with something akin to tunnel vision.

I know that most of the Easter week-end has now sunk over the horizon, but the week ahead appears to be a “mixed bunch” so far as the weather is concerned, but with the river levels as low as they are the showery periods forecast for the week ahead should have little effect on them, it may even put a little colour into them which can’t be a bad thing.  Anyway whatever you are doing for the week ahead please take care and above all enjoy yourselves.  “See” you all soon.

Another Couple of Weeks of Silence

Sorry folks, been one of two things recently – either not a lot to mention or too much and not enough time to mention it.  Before we get lost in that lets get up to date with the rivers, though the weather seems to be looking after itself.

DANE ……………0.35 Metres (1.15 feet)

BOLLLIN ……………0.52 Metres (1.70 feet)

MERSEY (Northenden) ……………0.30 Metres (0.98 feet)

And for anyone interested the DEE at Farndon is running at 4.59 Metres (15.06 feet) don’t try lifting a trout on a dry fly there then. 

Over the last few months we have had some very productive hours on the Mere (or Flash) at Heatley, not only has this venue been cleared of all the rubbish left by unauthorised anglers, drunken yobs on all nght booze laden binges, but thanks to the previous tennants lack of maintenance, undergrowth has been cleared, and over hanging foliage has been pruned back.  The dead and cut off timber and brush have been used to form a barrier around the Mere which will also double as cover for wild life, but just as importantly act as a deterant against “poachers” and other miscreants, hopefully this will also help further our public relations with the residents of the housing estate close by.  The larger “branches” that have been cut back have been used to outline and edge the footpaths around the water with the intention of using bark and wood chip to infill, this should make for easy and pleasant access to the stages which we shall be installing this week end, or at least some of them.  Amongst the ‘residents’ are a pair of nesting Grebes, another pair of Swans, and quite a few Coots nesting in the reed beds, further to this it has been found that at the more inacessable part of the Mere shoals of silver fish are quite prolific wwhich proves that the fish here are in excellant condition and breeding well.  No restocking problems then.

Last Weekend saw the official opening of Curley’s Fishery under the management of my Mentor and now its owner, amongst the things that I managed to do the one that really impressed me was a session with the latest Greys XF2 #7 which is probably the easiest rod to handle I have had in my hands for some time.  Married to the Greys Platinum line it handled as smooth as silk, delivery was what we have to to expect from the Hardy Grey Stable, and last but far from least was the near weightlessness of the rod gave the impression that I could have gone on all day – but like all dreams it had to come to an end and I had to hand it back.  Damn.

As usual -whatever you decide to do this weekend enjoy yourselves.

Ni  

Return from Sick Leave.

Sorry about the silence for the last week or so, I have been a little under the weather, without going into too much detail it involved the small throne room at the top of the stairs.  ‘Nough said.

For those of you who are intent on a few more hours before the close season, (my open season, all be it the Salmon season is now well established), the weather for the weekend looks a bit of both, to-day and tomorrow are supposed to be showery, whilst the better day will be Sunday which is set to be fine.  That is if the Met Office has it right for a change.  Here are the river levels, that is if the rain doesn’t alter things too much,

DANE ……………0.44 Metres (1.44 feet)

BOLLIN ……………0.71 Metres (2.33 feet)

MERSEY (Northenden)……………0.39 Metres (1.28 feet)

If anyone reading this page is at all interested, the Dee at Farndon is running at about seasonal normal – a mere 4.9 Metres or in English that reads as 16.08 feet, (for gods sake take a life jacket). 

The preparation of the water at Heatley is comming along great guns, a credit to the guys who have put so much of their down time in to sort this water out.  Up untill about 12 months age this area was a tip, the previous Club had let it go to the dogs and it had become a dumping ground for rubbish, an area for illegal drinking, and last but not least un-authorised fishing.  The undergrowth and trees had been left to the Great Gardener in the Sky, but unfortunately his team of under-gardeners had slipped off for a quiet smoke and not returned.  Sundry ‘tons’ of rubbish and a lot of work later and it now looks something like.  At the moment our Head Bailiff (who is a dab hand with whatever you put into them (hands that is) is in the process of donating a hell of a lot of time and energy to making up stages for the Mere, and all on top of a full time day job.  Cheers Dom.

That about sums up all that I can muster at the moment, should I find more in the course of the weekend I will publish an update later.

Ni.

 

 

17th February 2012

Well here we are again, another week gone, and at the moment in the middle of the half term break – break he said, with the grandkids running amock the only people on a break are the ruddy teachers.  Here are the river levels for today at least, God knows what the weekend will bring, another blast of Winter if the Met Office is correct for a change.

DANE ……………0.83 Metres (2.7 Feet)

BOLLIN ……………1.58 Metres (5.2 Feet)

MERSEY ……………0.65 Metres (2.1 Feet)

Last Saturday morning saw about 8/10 of us doing a work party on one of our newer waters.  This water  has for some years been negleted despite the fact that there are some large Carp in it, consequently over that period it has been used as a ‘fly tip’, the surrounding trees and folliage have become overgrown and it has been used as a site for general anky panky for the local youth (I leave that up to your imagination) – but you get the picture (not a pretty one).  Now the rubbish has been removed with the help of the land owner and some heavy duty farm machinery, and with a great deal of hard work the undergrowth has been cut back and the trees pruned to give all-round access to the fishable parts of the Flash.  To be truthfull  it is a credit to the team who have braved all weathers – mainly cold temperatures – in order to make this available to the Membership come the beginning of the season.  Most of the underbrush and pruned branches have been laid out around the perimeter to provide cover and nesting places for the wildlife that abounds on this water.  This is one of the Clubs main aims – to create habitat and look after the surrounding countryside of our waters, with this not only comes a pleasant locality for fishing but also the knock on effect that comes when other Land Owners see what we have achieved,  hopefully promoting them to come looking for us when they have other waters that are fishable or could be used as stock ponds and so on. 

I must admit that when I say “us” it was a sort of Royal “we” – with the  restrictions on my joints these day the only thing I was any good for was taking photos and boosting the moral of the Work Force.  I’m getting good at weight lifting – I wait whilst everyone else does the lifting.  Anyway at the end of the morning we were all damn cold, some of us wet, but all in all it was a very satisfying result.  CHEERS THE LADS.

As is the normal greeting for the weekend – whatever you are doing, do it well and enjoy.

Ni

 

Up Date

I have checked back and the article I reported on a week ago about river “rubbish” within spitting distance of certain Agency Offices,  and it appears that the photo does not come up – no matter where you click, however if you click on the web address:

www.eveningnews24.co.uk 

the newspaper article itself does.  Not only that it makes interesting reading.

Ni.

I MUST BE GETTING OLD – I’M FEELING THE COLD

Well what do we expect it is February and it is Winter, I know my friend Mike at Curley’s is not finding the weather a benefit, his Lakes are frozen solid.  If there are any of you brave enough to wade in this weather, whether it be for Grayling or Salmon, then I stongly suggest thermals, ‘cos with my aging limbs, (or the joints to be more precise), I’m afraid I will not be joining you.  Anyway here are the river levels or at least those that I can glean from the Environment Agency. 

DANE ……………0.58 Metres (1.9 feet)

BOLLIN ……………1.53 Metres (5.02 feet)

MERSEY ……………0.48 Metres (1.57 feet)

For some reason the EA have not yet included a little river called the Glaze, despite the fact that a few years ago they did stock it, and the Dace and Roach at least rise to the fly.  It  rises in Pennington Flash and used to be a tributary of the Mersey, but now runs into the Ship Canal just upstream of the Toll Bridge at Warburton.

I am rather involved in the ‘birth’ of a new club in the Altrincham area, which is taking up quite a lot of my time but I must say that at the present it is very rewarding and we are getting a lot of support from the local anglers, we are only small at the moment but you know what they say about acorns and oak trees.  We have about six confirmed waters at present but I believe our Water Development Guru is tirelessly working on nearley twice that number, hopefully by the late Spring to early Summer we should be looking at quite a variety of waters and a wide choice of fishing opportunities.  As I have said before – Watch This Space.

So be it, Have a good weekend and tightlines to you all.

Ni

 

Pot Calls Kettle …………..

I had an article “land” on my computer to-day which I would say is rather an embarassment to a certain Government body – it goes as follows:

Embarrassing River Wensum Rubbish On Defra’s Doorstep

Rubbish is clogging up the banks of the River Wensum, “alarmingly it is a couple of hundred metres from the offices of Defra, the Broads Authority, English Nature and the Environment Agency.” “The river is an absolute disgrace. It’s supposed to be our pride and joy in Norwich, and we can’t even look after it.” City councillor Bert Bremner “The river should be a ribbon of pleasure running through our city” …

www.eveningnews24.co.uk

 

Another of those oops moments which this bunch in power at the moment are so good at.  I’m not sure if the photo has carried across, so on this occasion we will have to wait and see.

 

Ni

Minus Four and Counting

But from all reports we are having it a lot better than they are in Eastern Europe – that’ll teach ‘um not to come over here nicking our fish.   For what it’s worth and I’m not going to trying the waders on this weekend, here are the weekly river levels that apply to us.

DANE …………… 0.44 Metres (1.44 feet)

BOLLIN …………… 0.80 Metres (2.62 feet)

MERSEY …………… 0.39 Metres (1.27 feet)

If anybody is interested the Dee at Farndon is running at 5.0 Metres (16.4 feet).  The Mersey reading has been included because as I have said before at Northenden – adjacent to the Camperlands Car Park it is a free stretch.  You may find yourself sharing the location with some of our “neighbours” from other parts of the EU – but I have checked this out with the EA and since it is a free stretch they are either unable or unwilling to do much about it.  Frustrating I know – but there you are.  Unfortunately other things such as “Dad’s Taxi” and such like have got in the way but I have every intention of puting some of my heavier single haded tackle to use on this section of river in the next day or so.  I did manage to get out for an hour or so’s prectice the other day with my friend Bernie, this was on grass and since we were casting nothing more that a wool tag we were hardly likely to catch anything but a cold – especially in this weather.  As an aspiring Instructor this has to be done, and I might add after a while it becomes addictive.

Talking of instruction Phil and Bernie are still very much in the business of catering for any of you who are interested in furthering your abilities – from complete beginer to the old hand who wants to iron out a few “creases”.   This reminds me – I have recently aquired a DVD from an aquaintance of mine, in fact he is a fellow member of the BFCC (sorry British Fly Casting Club), which if you can get around the technical stuff (most of which is mind boggling but extremely interesting and useful) is well worth the £20:00 plus postage, it is by Mike Marshall and titled Single Handed Distance Fly Casting and is available through the club at www.thebfcc.co.uk   Where else could you get just short of three hours of instruction from so highly a qualified and experienced angling Instructor for that price.

MOST OF ALL – AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK – AS OF THE 1st OF THIS MONTH THE SALMON SEASON IS OPEN.

I will of course keep you informedof any developments.  In the unlikely event that I am sucessful in my pursuance of the Salmon this week end you can rest assured that you will not need this site to hear that I have caught.  The news will be announced at the top of my voice.

Take care and have a good weekend or indeed a good week. 

Tightlines

Ni 

What Is This Weather Up To

As I look out of the window I see bright sunshine, although within the last hour we have had an absolute horrendous hail storm with stones to about quarter of an inch (thats about 6mm to you youngsters), with heavy showers inbetween, so from that you can imagine my advise for this weekend – WATCH YOUR STEP.  To say that my next report could, and probably will alter, dependent on the weather is an understatement;  here are the river levels, but take them with a pinch of salt – it could all change (up or down).

DANE …………… 0.68 Metres (2.23 feet)

BOLLIN …………… 1.37 Metres (4.5 feet)

MERSEY (Northenden) …………… 0.55 Metres (1.8 feet)

The Mersey is for info only – for those who intend to have a go at the Salmon at the beggining of next month.  This particulaar section is a ‘free section’ of the river.

Let me remind you that these levels are taken electronically and at set points, so there are probably deeper holes elsewhere in the rivers, so please take care if you are wadding – always use a staff, though here I hope I am only talking to those of you chasing the Grayling since we are  not quite in Salmon season yet (only a couple of days to go) and anybody after the other damsel of our waters, the trout, had better be on a still water fishery at this time of year.   Here, I will mention that the forecast for the weekend has just about everything in it including snow, that is if you can rely on anything the Met Office says these days.

In the very near future I intend to get out on one or two of those Fisheries I mentioned in a earlier ‘epistle’, that is if I can get away from this keyboard and one or two other responsibilities I have.  I have now reached 70 (mainly due to the timely intervention of Wythenshawe Hospital on a couple of occassions with no thanks going to my ticker and its adjoining plumming) and I seem to be doing more now than when I was working for a living.  Thank God for retirement.

That’s about it for the moment, if anything else crops up I will keep you informed, so keep a regular look out on this ‘spot’.  Now the weather has changed yet again and it’s throwing it down.  Whatever you decide to do this weekend (here I excluded the weekly shopping) enjoy yourselves – and that’s an order.

Ni.