When in doubt the wumms come out.

Unexpected gale, rain then hail. Thermals required. Nearly didn't go but compromised with a spin then worms plan. Took the long walk up to the perch pool for a recce. Looks really fishy up here but no chub that anyone knows about (ripe for seeding with chublets) and I'm sure this is where occasionally seen at dusk roach guy (ugh, that word, why did I type it? was heading with his bag of bread the other day. Anyway, I was armed with the ultra light rod and a tub of lobs for just in case to the pool where I'd had a few trouty nips at the maggots when batting back. Spinning, like swingtipping is something I try for a bit then remember why I don't do it. Wobbling deadbaits at least has a sit and wait now and then option but by the time you've packed traces, cool bag, rod rest, the bigger net you might as well go the  whole two pike rods hog and miss out on the perch and trout. This little feller looked ok in the water and did attract a couple of taps but I wasn't feeling it.

Not a big pool but certainly looks the dogz. 

Out with the tip road and rolling the lobs around with a drop shot weight as I'd forgotten the SSG's 

Wasn't sure if the taps were fish or crays, but a twang round and fish on. No acrobatics but felt trouty and it was. Nothing like the fat as butter fish from last week, this one bore few spots and had been in the wars a bit. However a fish is a fish and if they pull the string then job more or less done. Fecken gumby troot the Loafer declared. I  do think fly fishing is mostly to introduce some level of skill as they will eat anything as it goes past in most cases.

 

A nasty sharp wintery shower seemingly out of nowhere sent me back down the muddy path to  the charabanc early. The levels had risen in the hour I'd been on the pool and I had some wumms left.

Had  to check the next pool below the next mill to earn my season ticket corn, dusk falling as quickly as the temperature and more water coming down now under the bridge so quivertipping on the edge of the eddy with a heavier drop shot weight.

Taps, then pulls, some from the dreaded crays and as the local corvids began to arrive noisily to find their roosts in the Great Wood and the tawnies began to call the strike met firm resistance twice.This freshly minted roach. 

And when I saw the first flash of red fins on this my knees turned to jelly before a spiky dorsal broke the surface. 1lb 15oz of fantastic Bure perch.

Gotta have a brace shot. Happy days..

Sharp frost this morning so out with a book to find a pub with a log fire after a brisk (ish) walk
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