Annan Grayling School Kirkwood

Just got back from running the grayling course on the Annan with Chris Bowman before I go to Argentina tonight.
Got to say it was not the warmest three days of the year and the fish were not exactly giving themselves up, but it was very enjoyable and everyone had fun.
All the anglers on the course caught grayling, and everyone caught a fish over two pounds. The biggest going to Geoff at two pound nine ounces, he then had another at two pounds four, and these were his first ever grayling, not a bad start!

 Geoff

 

Dave got a couple of nice grayling on the first day.

 

Also Steve with his first fish.

All in all everyone got what they came for, learnt a bit into the bargain and went away happy, we enjoyed their company immensly; sorry it's short but I have to pack and get things organised.

River Eden

A real nice day out on the lower Eden yesterday and today, although the temperature never got above 2 oC it was just great to be on the river. A few Kelts beginning to drop down recently and the odd trout showing, did not see any new fish today but Allan got hold of something substantial the day before.

Steven's casting is coming on a treat and managed to get his string pulled today by a Kelt late on in the afternoon.
Off to do a grayling course Sunday until Wednesday on the Annan followed swiftly by two weeks in Patagonia, happy day's!

If while I am away anyone is interested in some of the fly fishing courses coming up on the Eden and Tweed shortly, there are still a few places left, if you could drop me an email I will arrange them for you, many thanks, Glyn.
See here

And

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Another salmon on the fly

The river above Carlisle and the river irthing is clearing nicely, today there were more than forty grayling caught on a Borderlines day. A bit of late news of a fifteen pound salmon taken on the fly above Carlisle on the weekend, a cracking fish by anyones standards. That is three I have heard of and confirmed so far, for the amount of fishing pressure on the river, or lack of it, is not bad at all. Let us hope this trend continues, there does seem to be a few fish moving in from the estuary now.
Out tomorrow with Allen for a bit of Spey casting and fishing, the weather looks dry for the next few days.

A little rain, that heavy drizzle which gets in everywhere you dont want it to and fog on Sunday followed by showers on the Monday and Tuesday is making the river fluctuate a few inches. Never have done well fishing when there is a fog or mist on the water, so it never inspires me to try that hard. There is just a slight colour to the water now and the temperature at 37oF.
Showed a new rod for the beat around this morning in between showers, surprising how mild it got this afternoon; could have been in the Caribbean!
The grayling fishing with the fly is difficult and spasmodic, but the bait fishers using maggot tactics seem to be getting the desired results, there are some really good grayling this season. Teaching with a little fishing tomorrow, looking forward to it, just hope the weather behaves.

River Eden

 

Another nice day out on the Eden today Spey casting with Steve, the weather is still behaving, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and all is right with the world.

 

Happy day's!

Future events

A few events coming up that may be of interest

Saturday April 10th 2010, AAPGAI Open day at Caer Beris, Wales -
See here

1st and 2nd May 2010, Tweed Angling Fair -
See here

15th - 23rd May 2010, The Cumbrian Fishing Festival -
See here

River Eden

The river Eden is still in great order and I am really looking forward to the spring proper, last year in April and May the fishing was fantastic. I now have most of the repairs to the river banks completed from the flood damage last month. Planted over two hundred new trees, new benches and removed tons of debris, made new access points and steps, on the positive side I will never be out of work. Teaching tomorrow on the lower Eden along with some fishing so no excuses and then having a day to myself on Sunday to fish and try a few new things. The Kelts are still hanging around the middle river, they are very late this year to drop down to the pools near the Solway. Water Temperature is at 37oF and six inches above summer level. Grayling are hard to locate or induce to feed with this north easterly wind direction.

Great news yesterday, the first couple of fish to come off the Eden this season, both were taken on the fly just above Carlisle and were 10 and 7 pounds.

We are off the Patagonia shortly and would like to mention before we go that there are still a couple of places left for the end of March (29th - 31st) for the Tweed salmon fly fishing course at Tweedswood with Illtyd Griffiths, Neil Truelove and myself. The courses have run now for three years, the beat is perfect with a nice hut with w.c and power. There is a realistic chance of picking up a fish or two at that time of year as well as getting your fly casting and fishing skills ready for the season. There are three instructors and the ghilly Kevin Patterson, full board accommodaton for two nights at the Buccleuch Arms in Melrose with lunches and evening dinner included. All equipment can be supplied if needed. For more information - click here

North east winds are really cooling things down making the fishing a little slow, even so the water is in perfect order. As soon as the wind direction changes to a more south westerly direction as long as the rain is not too heavy, things will begin to happen.

Fly fishing blog

With the settled dry weather, the Eden is now looking in very good order running a little under a foot and clear, the water temperature is 36oF. Not many salmon around at present and many of the kelts yet to drop down the river with some fish still spawning. Grayling fishing is very good with the fish in pristine condition.