The case of the missing gravel guard.

My plan was to head South however a childcare issue meant I went north to my highland river instead. Just as I was parking  my childcare issue was resolved which meant I could have actually gone South however by this point I was well past the point of no return – the morning was overcast and muggy and the midgies were out in force. For once the river was at a good height and I started off with the dry and was into a good half pound rod bender – it was as hard as nails and went back strongly.

I had another few splashes to my dry fly and then I moved further downstream. Once I got to my downstream limit I worked my way back up methodically and slowly using a nymph however with no joy at all. 

I fished a long fast pool that just screamed out “FISH” however they were being especially spooky – something that this river is renowned for.

I worked my way back to my starting point and then beyond. By this point it was after lunch time and it was starting to turn into a sunny afternoon which is also utter bollocks for fishing. I fished up to my upper limit and then started trudging back down the riverbank again. I crossed the river and then looked down and realised that my gravel guard was missing – I said the good old F word out loud and pondered what to do. It would bug the hell out of me if I didn’t just walk back up to my finishing spot and check. I started walking back up scanning the ground with the glum thought that if the damn thing had come off in the water it would be halfway to the sea by now – not quite however you know what I mean.

It was not around where I had ceased my upstream wanderings so another about turn and I started to walk back downriver again – it was getting mighty hot. I pondered my one gravel guard and cursed again at my old school orvis waders without the built in guards – however they have served me well so I cannot really complain. Losing things bug me and it is actually not as easy as what you might think to get a hold of gravel guards these days. 

Anyway, I was now back to where I discovered my gravel guard was missing and wandered down the riverbank and pondered whether I should stick a streamer on – I was about 200m from where I discovered my gravel guard was missing and then “Hurrah” on the path was the offending neoprene guard. If I had just not noticed the damn thing was missing I could have saved myself a lot of hassle and found it on my way back.

Anyway, I wandered back to the car and drove back up the road. I got home to a nightmare as there were around 50 bluebottles buzzing around my living room – I got the hoover out and sucked them all up. How strange I thought and notched it up to one of those odd occurrences that sometimes happen however the damn things were back today again. Turns out there was a dead crow in my wood burner which freaked the wife and kids out as I gingerly picked it up with a pair of tongs.

See you up the chimney!