Wed 30th May 2018
A gorgeous day took me up to Gamallt, Light airs wind wise with the occasional gust which worked a treat just to blow the Cog`s onto the water. I started in the small lake still not convinced the big lake had come to life yet. I had one trout on the Dry Cog even though they weren`t out that early. But following that I had the most frustrating hour and a half in a long time. The trout were feeding frantically on some minute midge and they were taking it as it emerged, I changed down to size 24s but they were not having any of it, could not catch one to spoon it and hatch finished at 11.00 am. I took myself over to the big lake only to find one of the best hatches of Cog that I have seen in years, thousands of them. 3rd cast to a riser and I was into a lovely pounder that tore line off my reel, I thought this is easy compared to what I had just left. It was short lived, for their was so many Cog floating out like sailing ships the fish new exactly what they wanted. I managed 6 of which 3 were over a pound but it was not easy, a good sound dry pattern fished with confidence and choosing the right fish to present it too was the key, probably a ration of 30 casts to one taker. The rise fizzled out at 2.30 pm and you would swear there wasn`t a fish in the lake. I just love days like this when you have to work for your fish. Mon 21st May.
Arrived at lake, light airs of wind coming and going and blowing Cog onto water, fish responding well, any that landed on the water didn't get very far. They were tough to coax early on and made hard work of it, had to cover a good few risers before one took. Between 10.30 am and 1.25 pm with a stop for lunch at midday I had 10 trout, 4 of which were over a pound, all on the dry Cog. I have filmed my last 6 outings on my GoPro video camera and once I have found out how to compress the files so as to download them I will post them on this blog or my archive page. So look out for them. Another cracking day at the office. Mon 14th May
A gorgeous day saw me visit Gamallt, There were tiny midge hatching and the trout were rising to them until 10.00 am. My 1st Cog (Claret Dun) of the year came sailing past me like a little Yaught only to be gobbled up some 10 feet from me. Quick change of fly to the IBD and away we go for hopefully the next 3 weeks. It took the fish some time to get really into them, as if they were not tuned in as yet, I`m convinced that this was the Cog`s 1st day of hatching for they were not out on Friday. Anyhow by 1.00 pm any that landed on the water did not get very far. The hatch ended quite abruptly at 2.00 pm and I had caught 7 nice trout. A very nice day indeed. Wed 16th May. I was up early to the lake with a friend, the tiny midge was still hatching and I managed 1 trout on a size 20 midge imitation of my own, I was pretty pleased. It was a totaly different day, overcast, windy and pretty cold for a May day. The mist came down and we couldn`t see across the lake. The Cog was none existent until a crack appeared and the sun just broke through the mist for an hour. The Cog responded and gave us an hour of sport with 2 fish each. It was very hard to tempt them off the real thing today. The migre hatch dwindled to a stop by 1.30 pm. Fri 18th May. An early start for our visit to the 9 mile lake and a rise to 2000 ft. It was a lovely sunny day and warm but there was that chill still on the wind. Not a lot of movement fish wise but there were the odd cracker smuting at that tiny black midge. I checked under a few stones and the Cog Nymph was very active indeed, so even though they were not out today its only a matter of days now. We both had half offers but blanked for the day. But what a place to blank, beautiful. Sat 19th May. Back to Gamallt and as previous days the midge was moving fish, caught 1 on my size 20 imitation, which was very pleasing indeed. Sure enough as the morning moved on the sailing ships started passing us and the fish to full advantage. I managed 6 for the day and my guest took 3. Another great day in heaven on earth. A nice enough day in Ffestiniog at 10 Deg, overcast with the occasional bit of sunshine. Not quite so warm at the lake. A WS Westerly was very cool and your hands felt it once wet.
I arrived at the lake at 10.00 am, there was a good rise already started. I wrongly surmised that it was to the Gwybedyn Bach having seen a few on the water. Luckily I wasn't guiding today for I let myself be hoodwinked into believing I was on the right fly. 10 rises to my Gwybedyn but only 2 stayed on. I put the 1st back being almost a pound but was getting more and more frustrated at my fly rising fish but not being taken. I spooned my 2nd fish and found its stomach chokers with midge emergers, bingo, changed fly to a size 20 black midge emerger and caught another two trout. Hatch petered off at 12.00 so a lesson learnt, if in doubt sacrifice a fish and check it out. A beautiful day at Gamallt today, Sun shining, {a bit too much!) perhaps but so gorgeous up here.
The Gwybedyn Bach was in short supply today but the trout certainly expected it, for they sure made short work of any that landed on the water, including my pattern. The fishing petered away once again around the 1.30 pm and it was very difficult to temp them after that, 4 rises and 1 caught. 8 for the day ranging from 8 to 12 oz but beautiful looking trout. Friday 20th April 2018
A beautiful day, warm sunny and gentle breeze took me up to my favourite Snowdonia lake. Fly was hatching and busily fluttering on the water only to be gobbled up by eager hungry trout. The fly was a Stone fly particular to this lake early season. We call it the Gwybedyn Bach traed cochion. And my dry imitation size 16 took 7 fish and rose and missed several others. The hatch was prolific between 10.30 am until 1.00 pm but dribbled off after that. But a great day and a good start to my season at last. tight lines until next blog. The winter weather this year is stubborn and slow to clear and warm up
We were fishing the odd day in temps of 9 to 10 Degrees by this time last season and catching a fair few trout on Dry`s in lakes at 1600 ft/asl. I managed a day last Tuesday, a few hours at a 1300 ft/asl lake and managed to winkle one out with a Cog nymph pattern, hooked and lost another in the 2 lb mark and had 4 offers, so was pretty pleased with that. But alas the snow and bitterly cold winds returned and that put paid to future outings for a week or so. The good news is that when the sun does come out it is very warm and soon melts the snow, so as they say patience is a virtue. I will for the 2018 season be updating my new Blog site via FB pages and Web pages. |