First This Season

We had a lot of rain yesterday, so I decided that no matter what the weather today I would get up early and get out fishing. I awoke to glorious sunshine this morning at 5am. I had breakfast and then set off to Kentmere Tarn. I got to the tarn at about 6am and tackled up.
I started at the Western end of East Bay, casting to the rises that were in abundance. There was also a few jumpers just to let me know they were there. I had a take as soon as my first cast landed on the water. There were more takes and plenty of missed strikes for the first 30 minutes. It then seemed to die down with no signs of fly life or fish rising. I persisted with the small brown hopper for another 20 minutes with no success. I was beginning to think that it was going to be another blank trip, when the water erupted in fly life and the fish started to go berserk. Shortly after this I caught my first trout of the season, a handsome looking, fully finned Trout. I then headed home at about 7.30am, in time to take my Daughter and Son to school.

Kentmere Tarn

I took a trip to Kentmere to fish the small lake (East Bay) on the River Kent system. I arrived at about 7.30pm and got tackled up. The evening was perfect the sun was dipping over the hillside and there was a slight ripple on the water. I started fishing with a small black gnat, covering the rises that were everywhere. I moved around the lake continually covering any rising fish that I saw. There were no takers for the gnat. I then changed to a small brown hopper (size 14) and on the first cast I had a fish on. After about 5 minutes of trying to get the trout under control it unfortunately for me got off. I continued to fish the hopper for another hour or so, with a few more takes but was unable to land my first trout of the season. I fully intend to fish this lake on a regular basis, as well as the river.
The lake has a good head of wild brownies up to 2lb with some recorded at 5lb. The lake is also stocked with brown trout regularly by WADAA, who control the fishing on the stretch of the River Kent system.

An Evening at Ghyll Head

I went up to Ghyll Head to catch the evening rise. I arrived at about 6.30pm and had a good look around to see what was happening and hopefully find the perfect area to catch some trout. There were a few people around in the places where I would normally fish. I moved to the East end of the Tarn, where I have fished successfully on previous visits. I got tackled up with a floating line and size 16 black gnat. There was a few rises but not much action from anywhere. I cast to the few rises that were around me with no success. I then noticed close in near the trees dipping into the water in the above picture, that there were more rises, but could not see any fly life at this time, but had a cast or two to see if I could tempt the trout. Still with no success I was daydreaming listening to the woodpeckers in the trees nearby, then just as I looked back at my fly there was a swirl around my fly and I lifted into it. I had hooked my first Rainbow of the season. Unfortunately after a couple of minutes the fish got off, probably down to my not having enough pressure on the fish.
I thoroughly enjoyed the fishing in the warmth and glow of the setting sun. Again another blank trip, but I am sure I will be catching not just fishing in the near future

The River Kent

The River Kent Flows South from Kentmere Reservoir in the valley of Kentmere through several villages.
As it flows through Burneside it is joined by the River Sprint. A mile or so down stream it is joined by the River Mint at a place known as the Meetings at the Gravel Trap. From here these two small Rivers become the River Kent. The River Kent flows on, down through the old market town of Kendal (Kendal's Market Charter was originally issued by King Richard 1st in 1189) to Morecambe Bay estuary. The River has many waterfalls and weirs, which migratory fish have to negotiate.
The Kent is one of the fastest flowing, spring run Rivers in the country. As the River flows through the countryside, there are some beautiful views, scenes of weirs and waterfalls. Wild life is abundant, a variety of birds including Kingfishers, squirrels, river habitat and otters are all to be seen.
The River Kent is a designated Salmon River by the EEC. Also English Nature has designated the River as a Special Site of Scientific Interest as the River supports the habitat of the White Clawed Crayfish and White Pearl Mussel. The Kent is the only River in the country able to do this.

A Fishing Poem

The following is a poem by Julie Emerson that I have read recently and sums up my views on fishing:

Fishing is far more than just a hobby; it becomes part of our lives,
It embeds in our hearts; ensuring our hunter’s instinct survives,
Silently beckoning and demanding our time,
Holding us captive like a fish on our line.
Inviting us to achieve our ultimate goals and desires,
Needing our attention and fuelling our fires.
Giving us equality with Lords & Sires.

Great is our passion when we are casting our lines,
And the love in our heart is hard to define.
Magnificent is our pride when we achieve our goals,
Enriching our love and feeding our souls.

Creative and varied with so many methods and skills,
Oblivious to the elements; attaining our thrills.
Adventurous and daring as wee seek out our prey,
Relaxing at home at the end of the day.
Sharing our passion and gaining new recruits, enriching our lives with our angling pursuits.

So many anglers with so many hopes and dreams.
Enriching our desires on river, lochs and streams,
Angling is a ‘way of life’ – at least, that’s how it seems.

Ghyll Head

I got up this morning in glorious sunshine, with the intention of going to Moss Eccles Tarn. I set off at about 9.30am to travel the 14 miles round Lake Windermere to get to the carpark at Far Sawrey. When I arrived the carpark was already full with no sign of anybody leaving in the near future. I then decided that the best option was to carry on along this road to Near Sawrey and onto the car ferry across Windermere and onto Ghyll Head.
On arriving at Ghyll Head at about 11am I got tackled up at the car, and proceeded to the bay just down from the access point to the Tarn. There was already a few people fishing nearby, and there was still plenty room in this area for me to fish. The bright sunshine was in my face for most of the time that I was there. I saw plenty of rises in the bay which I found out were small Roach. As the day progressed the fly hatches started with small olives in abundance, with more and more rises, with quite a few showing their dorsal fins. The trout would still not take any of my offerings. I finally packed up at about 3.30pm, to go and collect my son from footie practice, which finished at 4.30pm. Another excellent day by the water despite the lack of fish.