River Frome - My local

This post is a bit of a diversion from my previous musings as I wanted to highlight the virtues of my local river - and tip a wink to a very friendly chap called Clive.

I was shopping in my local town, Stroud, one Saturday a few weeks ago, when I decided to visit the office of the Cotswold Canals Trust (CCT), mainly out of curiosity although I must admit to having a slightly "trouty" agenda when I entered. The background to this is simple. The CCT are leading a major project to renovate the old Stroudwater Navigation canal, which in years gone by was part of a major commercial link between the River Severn and the River Thames. Stroud was one of the hubs of the wool and textiles trade in the Cotswolds and the ability of local businesses to move goods east and west via the Stroudwater route was vital to the local economy. The emergence of rail and road links in the early 19C introduced competition to Stroudwater and eventually it fell into disuse in the 1950s as modern transportation took over. The canal has since fallen into a state of disrepair, but is now the subject of major renovation that ultimately aims to recreate the entire link between the Severn and the Thames.

So what does this have to do with trout??

Quite a bit as it turns out. Because running alongside much of the Stroudwater route is the River Frome. This little river has been a subject of interest for me since I first noticed a small but thriving wild brown trout population in her waters. These little trout must be some of the most resilient known to man. For starters much of the upper reaches of the Frome where the trout live runs through Stroud via several industrial estates and parallel to the main line that links London to Cheltenham. So it's a real urban backwater with all the associated environmental challenges. Additionally, much of the bankside is overgrown - positively wild in some spots. This creates high silt levels from annual leaf fall in some areas; not so great for trout breeding. Finally the river seriously burst its banks during the infamous 2007 summer floods.Yet despite all this, if you know where to look, I guarantee you'll find healthy and very active trout.

River Frome at Brimscombe Port, east of Stroud

Which brings me full circle to the CCT and the visit to their office in Stroud. My curiosity was driven by the CCT renovation and its impact on the Frome. Enter Clive Field, the very welcoming Visitor Centre Manager. Clive very kindly organised a cup of tea for me and talked at length about the CCT mission and how volunteers can get involved. We discussed the close linkage between Stroudwater and the Frome, as well as the mutually beneficial activities of the CCT renovation in regard to the local environment. Specifically, one of the mission objectives of CCT is "To promote the restoration of the two waterways [Stroudwater Navigation and The Thames & Severn Canal] to give a balance between the needs of navigation, development, recreation, heritage, landscape conservation, wildlife and natural habitats"


I'm sure the Frome can significantly benefit from the renovation project and there's a great opportunity here to ensure both waters enhance each other for the benefit of all those who visit, as well as the local wildlife.

A trouty glide just upstream from Brimscombe Port

Clive has a huge amount of passion for Stroudwater and his energy was infectious. I think he sensed an opportunity when I shared my passion for fly fishing and highlighted my interest in the Frome. I'm now on the hook to write an article for the CCT's member magazine! Actually it's an honour and a privilege to be asked, so I'll give it my best shot. The article is intended to highlight the flora and fauna that can be found on the canal route and surrounding environment at this time year. No doubt I'll try to slip in a line about the local brown trout!

As for this blog, I intend to document a year in the life of the Frome and try to observe how the environmental characteristics of the river support the trout population. Without being overly scientific, I'll endeavour to discover the underlying entomology which the trout vitally feed upon, as well as identify where their breeding environments might be found. Who knows, one day I might be presiding over a major new trout fishery - right on my doorstep!

A Frome trout - this one was feeding and rising to midges

Penpont, River Usk - 20th March 2011

Well I said I wasn't expecting a bonanza and I was right! Sunday 20th March saw me loading the car for my first outing of the season, and long overdue it was too. 2 hours of driving later (taking in the beautiful scenery of the Forest of Dean and then the Brecon Beacons) and I was eagerly setting up my 5 WT, complete with new reel. My newly tied flies, as per previous posts, were packed ready and I was soon walking the familiar route over the bridge at Penpont House to start making my way downstream over the fields. The season had really started for me at last! Ewes and their lambs ambled casually across the grassy hills; the sound of buzzards could be heard high in the sky; nobody else was in the vicinity; and the Usk herself called with the sound of rapids full of promise.

And now the reality-check....cue sound of needle being scratched across vinyl record....

The skies were foreboding. Morning calm had given way to a penetrating westerly which whipped up between the river banks like a wind-tunnel. Although it was supposed to be around 11C, it felt much colder in the wind. The river was incredibly low too, almost as low as it got last summer. The water was gin clear and despite a modest hatch of Large Dark Olive, as well as tiny midge, I didn't see a single fish rise the whole day. In fact I didn't see a single fish at all, apart from some shoals of fry in the shallows (one good sign after the winter we've had).


River Usk at Penpont - rather low at the moment!

 I decided my tactics would be to focus on some of the deep gullys and try to fish them upstream with short casts. I used my tungsten weighted Baetis nymphs and midge larvae, all fished deep on a dead drift. I tried a few lifts periodically, particularly with the Baetis nymph to see if I could induce a take. All this amounted to nothing. Not even the slightest hint of a take for the whole session, which lasted from 11am to 4pm.

A newly hatched Large Dark Olive (Baetis Rhodani)

So I'm sorry to report that for the first time since I started fishing on the Usk, I blanked. But no matter. Just being there was what it was all about, Moreover, after a long absence over winter, I felt confident and happy with my tactics. A winter spent researching and reading has equipped me with new knowledge which I began to apply on this visit and I shall, no doubt, be a better angler for it. Afterall, if it was instant gratification that I desired I could have just as easily parked up at a stocked lake and almost guaranteed myself some action. That kind of gratification wasn't on my agenda today. I went home having blanked but still satisfied - just not sure I can fully explain why!!

The new reel sees some action at last!



Penpont beckons

At last I have my first session of the new season arranged with a booking on the Penpont beat of the Usk this Sunday. The trickle of early season reports have certainly wet the appetite, albeit that the fishing is quite slow with only sporadic hatches of LDOs and midge observed so far. Based on the flies I've tied to-date I'm feeling reasonably prepared but I won't be expecting a bonanza.

My last few tying sessions have been focused on the March Brown, for which there are various recommended patterns. Here are a couple of simple 'spider' based variants which I've produced.




#14 March Brown variant 1 - with tail




#14 March Brown variant 2 - no tail

March Browns generally hatch in April so I may not get a chance to test these for a few weeks. But the weather is set fair this weekend so I'll be on the look out for any opportunity to fish these patterns. My guess is that patterns like this may prove to be quite versatile and could be deployed to imitate any of the large dark upwings. I'll give them a go throughout the season and post my findings.