Day off – weather was for clouds, light winds and warm with scattered showers – perfect in other words. What we got was bright hot conditions which are totally pants for trout – I did meet one chap who informed me he had a red letter day on another part of the river.
Mid afternoon I parked myself on some shingle near a long pool with some sporadically slurping enormous trout which I had targeted for around an hour – I lay down and put my hat over my face and listened to the birds, distant noises and the occasional blurping noise of slurping trout.
I pondered life and the universe and then when I sat up it was around 6 pm and I was ready to fish again. I was not catching because the trout were taking molecular sized flies – which I had none of. I thought back to fishing with Alex and our discussion about giving the trout what they want and realised I had not heeded that advice – you live and learn I guess. I had some tiny hackled beetle-like things however I needed something lighter in colour.
As I left the river it was getting incredibly busy anyway – obviously folk out hoping for an evening session – if I had not been out all day I would have waited however by this point my heart was just not in it and I enjoyed the drive home.
See you at the vice tying tiny flies!
Just found your blog, and how I can relate to this post. Many times I see the trout feeding and just can’t determine what they are eating. I’m guessing the trout you saw were feeding on tiny midges or gnats in size 20 or even 22. A fly that small is hard for me to see; and difficult for me to detect a hit.
Watching trout feeding on a scenic stretch of water can always be a learning experience even if you don’t make a connection. Thanks for sharing
You are correct – I always find keeping them floating is the issue as well! Thanks for the comment!
I often seek solace at the flytying vice too.