River Colne - 18th February 2012

Well another season is fast approaching and the anticipation is becoming unbearable. New flies are being devised on the vice and purposeful inventory checks are being made in readiness for the first opportunity to wet a line. This winter has definitely been wetter in the west compared with last year so I'm ever hopeful of a flying start to the trout season. Last year river levels in the south Wales catchment were very low at the start of the season following a dry winter with prolonged cold spells, making for a very difficult start to the 2011 season. This winter's higher than average temperatures with good flows to the rivers will, hopefully, have stimulated the insect life and in turn made the trout hungry for an early bonanza!

As if to prove the point, I had a distinctly 'trouty' encounter recently on a Grayling fishing venture on the River Colne. Along with my two fishing buddies Peter and Simon, I spent a full day searching in vain for Grayling shoals with deep nymphs, exploring every likely pool and deep water stretch. Toiling in squally rain and wind was getting the better of me, but just as some late afternoon sunshine emerged a tell-tale tug on my drifting line finally yielded a fish.....a rather splendid out-of-season trout that succumbed to a Pheasant Tail Nymph. The fight was exhilarating indicating this was one fit trout. Naturally the debate in the pub afterwards centered on whether this fish "counted for the season...". After all Simon had managed to lure one of the target species during the session and was rightly pleased. One-nil to Simon perhaps! Either way a large trout doing it's level best to rid itself of your home-tied offering feels great whatever the time of year, so roll on 1st March!!