FISHING FRIENDS

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Wonderful March Fish at Blagdon with Alex

There are friends and then there are Fishing Friends: you may be as "chalk and cheese" but when it comes to fishing, it is a joy to be together and no matter the challenges faced, some how, the day works out so well.

And so it is with Alex and I: we met as we became Angling Trust L2 Licensed Coaches: I'm a Fluff Chuckers and he's a Worm Drowner, although he has a fixation on the Pike and is a member of the Pike Anglers Club (www.pikeanglersclub.co.uk) and like me does a lot of charity work especially with the Leonard Cheshire organisation (https://www.leonardcheshire.org). Importantly, he also enjoys fluff chucking and is, if I say it myself, rather good at it.

We meet when we can for a day on the water and have taken a liking to Blagdon Lake, nestled at the foot of the Mendip Hills. Many of you will know Bristol Water (www.bristolwaterfisheries.co.uk) manage and maintain a number of reservoirs just South of Bristol as fisheries. These are Chew Valley, The Barrow Tanks and Blagdon Lake. I much prefer Blagdon - Why!? because it is "What it says on the Tin!" It's a trout fishery - beautiful, scenic, peaceful and well kept. There are friendly and helpful staff but most importantly you meet people who have only come to fish! Chew's a watersports area if you don't mind sharing with sail etc and the Barrows are big concrete tanks; both are very different and may enthuse you.

Alex and I met up on 22nd March to kick start our joint stillwater trout fly fishing year. It's always a real pleasure to shake hands in the car park and allow the banter to flow. It's also important to go through the safety induction as you book in - afloat on a large body of water in a small boat, you do need to understand what keeps you safe and how to deal with the unexpected. Still chatting away, we loaded our gear in the boat and set off. The weather would be kind throughout the day, overcast but not too cool, a variable light wind and no rapid changes in conditions or rain.

We often decide initially, to fish different methods: the signs on the surface suggested that buzzer fishing would be best - there were shucks everywhere. We are not keen on this style of rather static fishing at this time of year, although it can pay real dividends on certain days, so Alex started with a fast sinking line with a single fly and me with a sink tip with 3 buzzers/nymphs. I prefer to fish with flies that represent the natural insects that the water might contain but at this time of year and with so many buzzers showing, Alex decided on an "attractor fly": more importantly one tied by his daughter: a black and chartreuse Viva with a bit of sparkle.

We will call it the "Ellie Fly": we had anchored up in a likely spot but there was little action until Alex tied on this fly. An aggressive take saw a brown trout of over 3 ½ lbs come to the boat after a really good fight. This was an overwintered fish as were many that followed. All gave an excellent account of themselves as hard fighting fish.

My first fish came to a copper headed red pheasant tail nymph with sparkle fished on the point as slowly as anyone can whilst eating lunch but it was evident that the fish were deep and feeding aggressively so on went a fast sinking line and the "Ellie Fly". We had a number of plucks but only Alex connected with another brown of over 3 lbs. One of the most important factors when fishing an "attractor fly", or any other fly, is to identify the right rate of retrieve - do so and you will have so much fun. I'll discuss this in greater detail in another blog.

As you do, we decided to move towards the eastern end of Blagdon and anchored up: there was insufficient wind for a reasonable drift. Sinking lines and the "Ellie Fly" soon saw us both into good fish with many more to come. We are always impressed at the fighting quality and standard of the fish stocked by Bristol Water in Blagdon: they are a real credit to those who run the fishery especially when compared to other specimens encountered on certain stillwaters.

Days such as these soon come to an end and with a number of fish in our boat we headed for home: several of the fish have already been eaten and they were delicious. As Fly Fishers we often enjoy the peace and solitude of a day on the water but remember a fishing friend can share wonderful memories. Now to plan another day.

Ellie - what's the next fly going to be?