River is again swollen with more rain to come Tuesday, the fishing still remains on the slow side (but we are still optimistic!).
Just got the film of Grant with his first salmon on the fly rod which was taken on the lower Eden last August, Graeme his brother was filming the special moment, many thanks for that Grant - http://www.youtube.com/user/CumbriaFlyFishing?feature=watch
15th January - The water conditions are about as good as they can be for this time of the year. The clarity is excellent and with the water height at just over a foot is all one could ask for, the water temperature is now at 37oF. A high pressure system that had moved in over the UK along with a cool south easterly breeze has seemed to suppress any fish activity. I have not seen any movement of fish at all the first three days of the season, usually there is the odd Kelt or trout that will show itself in these conditions, but they remain with their heads down. It never ceases to amaze me how a "wrong" wind direction can often put paid to any response from fish; we have seen it so many times over the years.
Last week anglers who were bait and fly fishing for grayling got some decent sport with fish over the two pound mark. This week with a better water, it has been a real struggle with little or no interest from the grayling. We know there are fish there and this just confirms that not all weather conditions suit the fish.
There are plenty of goosanders on the river for those of you that like that sort of thing, they seem to be active unlike the fish and they look pretty well fed!
It is early days yet; it is also good to see quite a few anglers out on the water enjoying themselves, the potential is there and it is just a matter of time before we get a result.
AAPGAI are running two day instructor training courses this spring up and down the country. These courses are designed to either get you up to speed with current teaching techniques if you wish to become an instructor, or just to improve your own enjoyment and understanding of fishing. For more information please go to - http://www.aapgai.co.uk/body/events.html
This will be the sixth week that we are unable to get out on the river due to the inclement weather, it is very frustrating and cabin fever has set in. Today we have winds in excess of 60 mph and it is far worse just north of Cumbria, the river remains very swollen with the same weather pattern for the rest of the week forecast. The new salmon season will be upon us in just two weeks, it soon comes round, should the weather change the week before with a dry high pressure system moving in, we could be in with a shout.
The Eden does still maintain a spring run of fish and it is improving year after year, the majority of those entering the river in late March. If the conditions are favourable with low water, January and February can be quite productive on the lower river with the salmon in no rush to run any distance upstream until the water temperature is higher than 42oF.
I would like to wish you all the very best of health and happiness for 2012; to new adventures, good friends and experiences, tight lines and good luck to you all!