The 23rd started
quite warm in the morning; brown trout were rising freely until the cool breeze
got up in the afternoon, the air temperature took a nose dive and stopped any
sport dead in its tracks. The lower river has a very heavy peat tint with a
little suspension; the middle river is much clearer.
The 24th was quite
a different story, a light warm upstream zephyr just kept the trout feeding all
day long and well into the evening; very enjoyable. It is good to see that a
few salmon are showing interest on the lower and middle river; a very high
average weight of fish for this season as there have been on other rivers also.
A good day out with Bill.
25th all change
with very strong north easterly winds; the river is in very good ply at around
ten inches above summer level, there is now only a slight tint to the water.
Although there were cool stiff winds taking the tops off the waves, still the
Grannom and olives were emerging and the trout very obliging when good
presentation could be achieved. Small tides at present with little salmon
activity, there are more heavy showers to come.
By the afternoon on the 26th the
lower river had risen by almost three feet carrying a lot of suspension and
that was that for the day.
The first of the swifts
arrived today on the 27th.
The levels are falling nicely
but still very coloured on the lower river, the middle river is much clearer. Still
the north and east winds prevail keeping things cool. The 29th April
the water is looking very good and in perfect ply for the fly fisherman.
A big
band of rain coming north today leaving floods to the south of the country,
although much rain fell on Cumbria the river levels only rose a couple of
inches. At present on the 30th with the water at 48oF, good numbers
of fish in the river and a drier week ahead, hopefully conditions may settle
and consistent sport will resume.
