Saturday 18th December 2010

Well folks it seams ages since I've fished with all the high water then all the snow
fishing for Grayling just hasn't been a top priority.
I think it will be next year before I fish again, so I would like to thank all who follow
my fishing blog a very Happy New Year.

Tight Lines - Derwentflyfisher

Sunday 31st October 2010

No fishing today- Went to the Fly Fair at Trentham Gardens with my good friend Baslowfisher,
we were both surprised at the lack of numbers compared with last year. It did make it easier to
go round all the stalls and fly tyers from all over the world, and it did give a chance to have a good chat with old fishing friends from around the country. we both puchased bit and bobs
for tying had lunch and headed for home-very enjoyable.

Sunday 17th October 2010

You just couldn't get a better Autumn day than today, just had a quick hour over lunchtime on beat 9 the sun was shining the trees are changing colour what a fantastic day. again with a size 16 LDO dry had 4 good grayling, and a under size wild brownie, the river is looking so good at
the moment I cannot understand why more people don't fish for grayling.

Sunday 10th October 2010

Sorry it's a bit late letting you know how I went on over the weekend, I've been away in Scotland on business for a couple of days and this has been my only chance to catch up- I
fished last Sunday on beat 9, and it was a cracking day- the sun was out, just fished in my
shirt with the sun on my back it felt great and the fish rising to my LDO dry was very rewarding
I only fished for 2 hours over lunchtime and finished up with 7 Grayling and 2 Brownies.
The only problem at the moment are the leaves and twigs floating down the river. The river
Derwent is in great condition at the moment, so really looking forward to some more Grayling
fishing this Autumn.

Saturday 2nd October 2010

Today for me, was the last opportunity to fish for trout before the end of the trout season
on the 7th October- and after all that rain yesterday I didn't think it would be very good.
I had already booked beats 14 15 & 16 as I had planned to fish with a fellow committee member
David. But last night the river keeper rang to say the river was very coloured and high and he suggested moving further up the river so I changed to beats 19 20 & 21 as the higher beats can
be clear when the lower beats are coloured. We parked up at the farm got tackled up and we
couldn't believe our eyes ! The water was clear and fish were rising, David headed off downstream and I started from the pool just infront and very quickly had 3 Brownies to a
size 16 LDO dry I waded up beat 19 I hadn't fished this beat before and finished up with
a further 6 Brownies still on the LDO. We only fished for a couple of hours but as we were
working our way back to the cars the local farmer with sons were trying to round up a rather
big Bull that had crossed the river and was in the wrong field. Fortunately the Bull managed
to cross back over the river and up the bank to the right field. The farmer was very relieved.

Sunday 26th September 2010

Well today was very special, ten years ago when I started fly fishing and fly tying
I was given a great amount of help and assistance from Clive Hallam who became
a very good friend. So today I booked beats 8 9 and 10 and invited Clive to join me.
And what a day we had I just couldn't believe it-the weather was cool only 12 degrees
and the wind was blowing but we had a fantastic afternoon fishing with dries all afternoon.
We must have caught well over 30 fish between us Rainbows, Brownies and Grayling
all to rising fish- what a afternoon - is strange when you invite a guest you so much
want them to have a great day on your river and today we did. Thanks Clive for a
coming it was great to fish with you.

Saturday 18th September 2010

Well the weather is getting cooler and the temperature today made a difference
only a few fish rising, the river is running clear now - so I walked up beat 9 to one
of my favourite spots and managed to connect with 4 nice Grayling on a size 16
LDO Dry, I only fished for a couple of hours from 12.00, as I had some jobs to
do in Bakewell later on.
Autumn is coming, the trees are changing the Grayling are getting ready for the
extended season and the Brownies are hiding.

Thursday 16th September 2010

On holiday again today after walking the dog and going for a coffee with the Mrs
I thought lets go and see what the river looks like. I'd booked beats 6/7 when I
parked the car and looked down on the river up was very coloured and plenty of
water coming down I thought it wasn't going to be very good- How mistaken was
I, I couldn't have been more surprised I walked down beat 6 to the pool just above
the water fall and started with a Klinkhamer and had 4 Brownies very quickly they
seem to go off the Klink so I changed to a LDO and very quickly finished with 2 more
Brownies, 4 Grayling and 1 cracking Rainbow to finish off the afternoon. I only fished
for an hour and half cos I had some jobs to finish at home. A very enjoyable and
surprising afternoon considering the conditions.

Wednesday 15th September 2010

On holiday today so booked beats 8/9/10 with a very good friend in the village
when we arrived the rain was coming down, the wind was blowing and the river
was quite coloured and much higher than I've seen all season. We kept together
and walked up to one my favourite spots where I thought we might catch something.
And sure enough we did mainly on dries under the trees - Klinks, Double Badger, F Fly.
I finished up with 5 Brownies and 3 Grayling, Charles spotted a good rise and cast to it
and what a cracking Brownie it was -best fish of the day, so it wasn't the best conditions
with all the rain and wind but it was a very enjoyable afternoon with a old friend.

Sunday 12th September 2010

Yesterday was just a fantastic day for fishing, Andy from the Orvis Shop in Bakewell

joined me on beats 14/15/16 and what a day we had - fish rising all afternoon from 12.00

I started just above the stepping stones and Andy wanted to go to the start on beat 14

and fish up stream, when we stopped for a bite in the hut we both had managed 12 each

good Grayling and just as good Brownies all on a mixture of Klinks,LDO, Double Badgers etc.

What an afternoon ! The recent rain has certainly made a difference to the river.

The pic's above were my best two fish.

Saturday 4th September

Didn't managed to get down on the river until 14.30 today on beat 9, and for
about an hour I couldn't catch a thing and conditions were quite warm and
only a few fish were rising - they were coming up but just not interested in my
LDO, so I moved further up the beat put on a klinkhamer and very quickly
had a very good Brownie and 4 Grayling I finished around 16.00 and headed
for home.

Tuesday 1st September

I had a very early start this morning been in Kent most of the day on business
and it's been a super day, so when I got home I thought yes book a beat - most
of the beats had already been booked except beats 2/3 , so I booked them and
managed to get in the river by 18.15 and very quickly connected with a good
Brownie on size 16 LDO, I then waded up the beat and cast to a big rise and
this large Rainbow grabbed the LDO with such a splash and what a cracking
fish - it was so good to be back on the Derwent we are so lucky to have such
great fishing on our doorstep the temperture started to drop so I decided to
have a quick pint at the Devonshire Arms- What a Day !

Sunday 29th August

One of the 11

This is first chance I've had to update my blog, as a treat for my 60th Birthday

we spent this last weekend at The Arundell Arms at Lifton in Devon and what

an amazing hotel it is with so much history and over 20 miles of river fishing available.

the food was just fantastic.

On Sunday morning one of the instructors AAPGAI Tim Smith, very friendly suggested

I fished beat 14 on the River Ottery which is actually in Cornwall, it was only 12 miles from

the hotel past Launceston and up towards North Petherwin really out in the sticks. The beat

was about 1 1/4 miles long so I walked to the bottom of the beat and fished back up, with

the steep banks and some off the water was to deep to wade I had to keep bobbing in and out

out the river I was fishing with my 7' 3" rod which was just the right length with all the overhanging trees. I started with a Klinkhamer and finished with a LDO, I had 1 Grayling

and 11 Brownies - what surprised me there was quite a wind blowing but the fish were still

rising. I had a really fabulous afternoon on the Ottery.

Sunday 22nd August 2010

Well today I didn't manage to get down to the river until 15.00 on beats 6/7
and when I arrived a few fish were rising but I didn't connect with any so I
moved down to beat 6 with a F Fly on soon connected with a nice Grayling
I then moved up to beat 7, there's a very run looking run and it's quite narrow
the wading is quite tricky I manged to get in a good position with LDO caught
a cracking Brownie and just when I was about to take the hook out he unhooked
himself and he was off. I know rain is forcast for later but this afternoon was very
enjoyable by the river, there were loads of Peacock butterflies as I walked up and
down the beat.

Tuesday 17th August

Had a very early start this morning so tonight I booked beat 9/10 when I arrived at the river the wind was still blowing across the water so there

wasn't much rising I waded right up beat 9 and only managed 1 Grayling to LDO until I reached my favourite spot picture on the left, this is a very good run on the far side I put on double badger and had a good brownie and another

Grayling, I waited a while then I put on a

Spinner and had another Brownie and a beautiful

young Rainbow when you are pulling them in they look so blue in the water. A very satisfying

evening.

Sunday 15th August

My very good friend Baslowfisher invited me on to the Chatsworth water
on Sunday, we started just below the works which is just before the new bridge in
Baslow. We started fishing around 14.00 just above a deer boom and the plan was to
fish until 17.00 then return for the evening rise at 18.30, I had a very successful afternoon
with 2 Rainbows, 5 Grayling and 5 Brownies taken mainly on LDO and Olive Upright
when we returned in the evening there wasn't a lot happening so we finished early
and headed for the Devonshire for a pint. Thanks to Baslowfisher for a very enjoyable
day,

Derwentflyfisher is back

Just returned from a week in Berlin with the family very enjoyable time, still on holiday
for another week so plenty of fishing ! Booked beat 9/10 for this afternoon and when I arrived
I took cover under the trees as the rain came down but thankfully not for long. I than waded up
beat 9 with my birthday fly from Peter Arfield, Bakewell Fly Fishing shop this morning and very
quickly had 1 Rainbow and 3 Grayling in the faster water I then moved further up and changed the fly to a LDO and managed another Grayling and the most beautiful Brownie, really brown
with wonderful spots a really enjoyable afternoon fishing.

Sunday 25th July 2010

Had quite a relaxing morning reading the papers on the patio-very enjoyable then
at about 13.00 thought I fancy a fish so when I arrived on beats 6/7 there wasn't much
happening really on the surface I put on a F fly and lost it in the tree behind me during
my first cast !! a tried a LDO dry and very quickly had a Brownie on which got off whilst
pulling him in. I then moved down to beat 6 still with the LDO on, to a good little run
where I cast and this cracking Brownie turned on the fly it was bit of a surprise because
this run doesn't usually hold big Brownies. After that a tried a nymph in a area below
the waterfall with no success and called it a day. I think the evening time is the best time
to fish at the moment.

Friday 23rd July 2010

Well folks I've been in Ireland most of this week on business whilst travelling round I passed
a few Fisherman mainly spinning on the river Mayo in the north it looked a good looking river. So tonight I fished on beat 2, I started at 20.00 and only fished for one hour there were only a few raises when I started to wade up the beat, the first fish was a really good Rainbow on a Olive F fly and the next two fish were small Brownies they were very lively I called it a day and called into the Bridge for a pint on my way home.

Sunday 11th July 2010

I worked yesterday, so going fishing today seemed like a treat so I booked beat 7
because it is quite sheltered from the wind and I waded much further up the beat
than ever before and I found it very rewarding my first take was on Olive F Fly which
was a good Brownie I than changed to a Stuart Croft sedge pattern and caught two
more Brownies before heading for home.

Wednesday 7th July 2010

After all the light rain today I booked beat 7 tonight and managed to get down in the
river by 19.30, there was much happening at first just a few rises I put on # 16 Olive
F Fly and very quickly had a nice Grayling that just released it's self before I could do
it. I then moved up stream to a stop where being left handed is not much good so I started
casting down stream and trying to get the fly up stream to where the fish were rising
I managed 3 good Brownies when a got the fly in the right spot. It was a funny sort of
evening as there wasn't much fly life.

Saturday 3rd July 2010

Well this afternoon I was on beat 9, when I arrived there was a strong wind blowing

down stream, I waited for a while before I waded up the middle of the beat casting

to the odd rise with no success with a #16 Olive F Fly the wind was really keeping the

fish down, I waded further up and the wind dropped and the fish started to rise more

still with the same fly I caught a super small brownie, followed by 2 Grayling.

I noticed a rise right under the bank on far side I cast across and a fly got caught on a branch, fortunately a fly dropped off just above the rise and this brownie grabbed the fly it was a cracking fish he was a bit camera shy so I didn't get a shot. I only fished for 2 hours and finished upwith 4 Grayling and 5 Brownies a cracking afternoon

1st July 2010

Well tonight I booked beats 6/7 and didn't get to the river until 20.00 and there wasn't
much rising I fished through two pools and not a pull. Isn't it strange how two nights in the
same week can be so different, it then started to rain for about 5 minutes and then the wind
got up and I thought it was going to be a blank evening so I moved up stream where it is a bit
sheltered by which time it was 21.00 so I put on a rusty spinner pattern to a rise down stream
and a take was so gentle I almost missed the take and the brownie was my only fish of the
evening. Not a lot but I enjoyed just being down by the river. !

Tuesday 29th June 2010

Booked beat 9 today I didn't get to the river until 7.45pm tonight there were quite a few fish
rising, so I started with a olive F Fly and the first fish was a real fighting Rainbow that just didn't want to come in, I kept wading up the beat still with the F Fly on and had a Grayling and 2 Brownies all good fish. I climbed out and walked up to one of my spots and changed the fly to a
rusty spinner and had 4 more Brownies before calling it a day 9.15pm. A really enjoyable fishing evening.

Thursday 24th June 2010

Didn't decide to go fishing until 20.30 tonight, and when I got to the river in the middle of beat 6
there wasn't much rising, the odd mayfly was hatching and loads of midges I tried a F fly, Sedge, managed one brownie on a Olive upright before changing to a rusty spinner and moving
up to beat 7 where I caught 5 more brownies in the cutting. It was very eventful tonight I had a very low flying helicopter pass over some many times.

Tuesday 22nd June 2010

Been in the office all day today, just as I was leaving I thought might be good tonight so
had a look what beats were free - only beat 2 near to home, so arrived at about 20.15 there
were not many fish rising- a few mayfly still hatching but the fish weren't taking them. I waded up beat 2 with a spinner on, just casting to what was rising not a lot really. I connected with a
couple of really good brownies, one I had difficulty getting my hand round him to unhook it !
I waded further up still with a spinner pattern and just I was pulling the fly away a cracking
rainbow took it, it jumped out of the water 4 times before I decided to take them home.
I knew my dog would be waiting for the last walk of the day so I called it a day !

Monday 21st June 2010

Well today is the longest day and the start of summer time, when I arrived at the river the temperature was 26˚ the time was 17.30 I went the the river early today because I was up very early this morning, there were no mayfly showing and not alot rising, I was on beat 2 just above Grindleford Bridge, the first brownie was undersize taken on # 12 one up one down mayfly when they are so small they look very attractive, and second brownie was a really good fish again on the mayfly and the third brownie was a small one. I only fished for 1 hour before I was flagging
and hungry and ready for home.

Sunday 20th June 2010

THE MAYFLY ARE STILL HATCHING !
The weather forecast today was much better than yesterday, the temperature was 20˚ and very sunny. I was on beats 6/7 where there is loads of tree cover, my first brownie was on
# 16 LDO, just as I was putting it back in the water I noticed another rise and splash to a mayfly
so I changed to the one up one down mayfly pattern and managed to catch 3 more brownies and one grayling as I was walking back to the car past beat 7 a good size fish was rising, so I cast down stream to him and whallop he took it a cracking 20" brownie above only fished for two hours very enjoyable afternoon.

Saturday 19th June 2010

Today was the Grindleford Carnival so when I arrived on beats 2/3 at about 2.30pm, the Carnival was in full swing complete with band and loads of supporters so the fishing along side was a bit noisy and the wind was blowing and it was quite cold only 14 ° no fish rising so on with size 16 gold head turkey biot body nymph and managed to catch one very small brownie about 6" long and 10 mins later a very good brownie, this one only had one eye, it looked very strange. I waded up beat 2 towards to start of beat 3 and there was just nothing happening, so I called it a day and headed for home.

Tuesday 15th June 2010

I wasn't sure whether the river would be fishable tonight, when I walked the dog last night
and looked over the old bridge in Baslow the river looked very coloured after all that rain on Sunday. When I looked tonight I thought yes it's worth a go, so at 7.30pm I landed on beats 6/7 which are between Grindleford and Hathersage and the mayfly were still very much all over, the river still had a bit of colour which is very handy on beat 7 as it's narrow and easy to spook the fish, there are some very large fish in the stretch, so on with size 12 mayfly and first cast a really good Brownie and very quickly 3 more Brownies on the same fly, then I had a cracker of a fish on which broke my 5X tippet, so I moved down onto beat 6 still with the mayfly and had 3 more Brownies and 1 Grayling. Overall a very enjoyable evening !!

Sunday 13th June 2010

MAYFLY BONANZA

What a contrasting weekend yesterday was a lovely day we were at the races in York-3 winners from 7 races ! Today I managed to cut the lawn before the rain spots, and this afternoon I booked beats 9/10 when I arrived there were loads of mayfly around and the
fish were definitely on to them, as I walked down to the river I noticed a rise just at the
top of beat 8, so I walked down the beat and waded up to a good casting spot. I put on a size 12 mayfly one up one down, I got this pattern from my good friend Baslowfisher. It is a cracking fly. I cast up stream about a meter about the spot and waited then wallop this rainbow took the fly what a fabulous fish over 2lbs. I then walked up beat 9 to one of my favourite spots and
the mayfly were still everywhere I had 4 more Brownies on the mayfly before the rain started
and it hasn't stopped since than.

Friday 11th June 2010

Well what a change tonight booked beat 6 arrived at the river 7.30pm- there was fly life every where loads of spinners and loads of mayfly, so on with a size 12 one up one down mayfly and what a time-only fished for 1 and half hours and had 7 brownies 4 of them were really good fish all on the mayfly.

Thursday 10th June 2010

Just fancied a fish after work today, booked beat 2 managed to
get to the river around 7.15pm. I was just looking up stream
waiting for a rise and a water vole made it's way across the
river. There were only a few rises as i waded up my first brownie
was taken on a small nymph but the last one was on a LDO again.
The wind was quite strong and it was cold so I called it a day.
When is this weather going change-and warm up !

Sunday 6th June 2010

Just managed to get out for a hour later on this afternoon on beat 2 which is

just above Grindleford bridge, there were quite a lot of Mayfly coming off but

the fish weren't taking them ! I started with a size 16 LDO and connected with

3 Brownies very nicely, before the spots started and the wind got up. I only

planned on fishing for a short time so called it a day. When driving back home

I noticed Baslowfisher in the garden so called in for a coffee and a chat - everything

from flies to railways and steam trains.

The pictures above are from yesterday day out !

Saturday 5th June 2010

Baslowfisher & Louis Noble, APGAI

A great day out with friends

This morning I picked up Baslowfisher, and we meet Louis Noble at the Plough Inn in Hathersage for a days fishing on beats 14/15/16 . It was great to see Louis as we

both hadn't seen him since last year. The fishing wasn't easy today they just weren't rising

to much, but we all managed to catch on a combination of Nymphs, Mayflys and F Flies, Louis had 9, not sure how many Baslowfisher finished up with, certainly more than me , my total was 4, 2 good Rainbows, 1 Brownie, and 1 Grayling. We stopped for lunch in the Hut and polished of a good spread washed down with red wine a really enjoyable time. After lunch Louis continued where he had left off, so Baslowfisher and I waded up river casting to the occasional rise and switching to a Nymph some of the time. We all carried on fishing until 18.00 until Louis decided it was time to head home, we continued for a while before the spots started and we thought it was time to call it a day - That means going to the pub for a pint !

Thursday 3rd June 2010

Today was the first time this season for a spot of evening fishing, I arrived
on beat 6/7 around 19.15 and to my surprise there weren't many fish rising
I waited until 19.45 and then it started LDO spinners and the occasional Mayfly
the first I've seen on Derwent Fly water. I meet Baslowfisher the other night on
Baslow Old Bridge and there were a few Mayfly showing. Well tonight my first
fish was a small wild brownie taken on a size 16 Olive F Fly but the high light of
the evening was a 3lb brownie again on a F Fly but this a absolutely cracking fish
I was so pleased I went to the Bridge Inn for a pint to celebrate.

Tuesday 1st June 2010

WILD TROUT ONLY DAY
Finished the gardening project this morning-and booked beat 21 for this afternoon
which is wild trout country. After the weather forecast for today I didn't fishing would
be on the cards well I arrived about 14.00 and starting wading up the beat and the fish
were rising, last night a tied some size 20 all brown flies so with some 6x off I went.
I disturbed a moorhen with her nest right in the middle of the river with 3 eggs in it,
just above the fish were rising and I cast and caught 4 beautiful wild trout it's not as easy
to keep the fish on with small flies ! I waded further up towards the bridge changed to
size 16 LDO and had 3 more a very enjoyable time on the river. The only company today
was a dipper and three grey wagtails.

Bank Holiday Monday

Baslowfisher came round earlier today with Mrs P for a chat and a coffee, also helped with
getting Clustrmap on my blog -much appreciated. Well I thought I might go fishing today
booked beat 2 and when I got there-not a lot rising I waded up beat 2 with a LDO dry and not a
pull. so changed to Olive F Fly and managed a small brownie and this cracking rainbow a lovely
fish - he was a bit camera shy !
I had a mallard family with 8 little ones as company today and a water vole that kept popping
in and out.

Sunday 30th May 2010

After yesterday's weather and no fishing I had to give it a go today
even with that wind !! got to the river about 12.15 and the wind was
blowing hard, on beat 7 it can be quite sheltered a couple of brownies
were rising I covered them with LDO and they were my only two.
I'm on holiday all this week so hoping for some good times down by
the river.

Thursday 27th May 2010

Well I've just got home from walking the dog and I'm really cold
I went to the river tonight about 7.00pm and there wasn't much
happening the water was cold, I was cold, there was quite a bit of
fly life-spinners and midges but only the occasional rise ! I finished
up with 3 brownies 2 on LDO and 1 on a gold head nymph. A difficult
evening overall I finished off in the pub.

Monday 24th May 2010

Left work on time today and managed to get down to the river by 19.00
on beats 6/7 and there was a lot of fly life-loads and loads of spinners just
above the water, the fish weren't taking them though ! I had a size 16 Olive
F Fly on which looked just right on the water, and had 4 very nice wild brownies.
I had the Grey wagtail for company again tonight he liked the spinners. At
about 20.30 the weather started to change, the wind got up and all the fly
life disappeared and I was getting rather hungry by now and the dog would
be waiting for the last walk of the day.

Saturday 22nd May 2010

Well what a day - fantastic weather we can't complain of it being to sunny can we !
Booked beats 9/10 arrived at the river 12.30 had my lunch next to the hut, the fish
were rising under the shade of the trees. First fish to a olive F Fly it was a Rainbow
had 2 more Brownies before moving upstream changed to LDO and finished off with
1 Grayling and 4 more Brownies. I really enjoyed it this afternoon.

Tuesday 18th May 2010

Well it's eventually warming up folks, fished for the first time this season early evening
on beat 2, my first fish was a cracking rainbow, it kept jumping out of water then it
went down stream-what a fish, managed 2 grayling and 1 brownie all on size 16 LDO.
I think we are all in for a great time now the temperature is rising !!

Saturday 15th May 2010

All the family are away today, so booked beats 6/7 arrived at the river 11.00am
and the fish were rising, although there was cold wind again blowing down the river
from time to time-When is it going to warm up ! Fished for a couple of hours had
5 grayling on a size 16 LDO and 1 grayling on a nymph moved up river to beat 7
cast to a rise and a large brownie took my fly and broke my 5x tippet.

Wednesday 12th May 2010

Well folks I'm in southern Ireland on business staying in Mallow
which is on the Blackwater river, I've just finished my meal and
had a good walk around the town and walked over the bridge the river
looks very clear-although very windy and not a lot rising. Nobody
fishing yet as with back home things need to warm up a bit.

Sunday 9th May 2010

Managed to slip away for a hour on beat 2 just above Grindleford Bridge
when I first arrived there were a few fish rising still had my Olive Upright
on they came up but they weren't interested, changed to a LDO and had
4 wild brownies not large but nice fish ! The wind then came blowing straight
down the river it was cold so decided to call it a day.

Saturday 8th May 2010

Well I can't believe it today just got back from the river the weather forecast for
today wasn't good the temperature was 9.5˚ the wind was blowing -not easy to cast
then the rain came again. Do you want the good news ! Arrived on beat 9 about 12.00
there wasn't much rising so on with size 16 turkey biot nymph 2mm gold bead and a bit ice dub
round the bead and 3 grayling very quickly all a good size. I then moved up river to one of favourite spots there were 1 or 2 rising so put on an size 14 olive upright for the first this season and what a cracking time in just 1 and half hours 6 grayling and 4 brownies two of the brownies were really nice fish.

Olive Upright
Hook size 14
Thread Light Cahill
Tail As wing
Wing Cream poly yarn
Body Light brown/Olive dub
Hackle Cree/or Grizzle Bleached

Again this is one of Calvert/Crofts Flies for Pennine Rivers.

Monday 3rd May (Bank Holiday)

Well hasn't the weather changed-only 9° today, I booked beat 21, and fished 3 pools with a nymph and not a pull, the weather was very windy and cold so I moved down to beat 1 which is just below Grindleford Bridge it wasn't as windy and I soon caught 3 grayling on the same nymph before the heavens opened again-I took cover under the bridge till it stopped and then called it a day.

Saturday 1st May 2010

Large Dark Olive-Calvert & Crofts Style

After a rather busy week, I couldn't wait to get

down on the river today the temperture wasn't as warm as the past weekends but the fish were

still rising to LDO's -there was quite a hatch over the lunch time period again. Using Large Dark Olive dry fly managed to land 3 good brownies

and 3 grayling before the rain came.

Hook size: 16

Thread: Olive

Tail: As wing

Wing: Mid grey poly yarn

Body: Olive dubbing

Hackle: Furnace

THIS IS A CRACKING FLY - TRY IT !

Sunday 25th April 2010

Today I fished on beats 9/10 just for about 1 and half hours from 12.00, after I had put on all the gear and was walking down the river bank a water vole was swimming across towards me

it disappeared into the bank side out of view. There's a very good run on beat 9 where I caught all the fish today 5 in total 4 grayling and 1 brownie all to LDO dry.

As I walked back to the car a Mallard family was just below me keeping close to the edge of the river.

Saturday 24th April 2010

Again today I fished on beats 6/7 for a couple of hours, when I arrived there was cool wind blowing down the river which was keeping the fish down and the river level was quite low, the
wind subsided and the LDO were coming off again - the catch above was my best brownie
which fought like a rainbow a really good heavy fish, finished with 4 grayling and a rainbow all on
#16 LDO dry.

Sunday 18th April 2010

Well I managed to fish again today in between doing jobs like cutting the grass
and planting the early potatoes, lunch time is the best time at the moment
between 11.30 and 1.30 on the river, I lost a good rainbow then caught 7
grayling not a brownie in sight, again on a size 16 LDO the fish had a bit of
competition today with a Grey wagtail taking large dark olives. I only fished
for a hour and as I walked back to my car the wild garlic and wild primroses
looked great -Aren't we lucky

Saturday 17th April 2010

I booked beats 9/10 today the weather has been very sunny and still not
enough shade until the leaves come out - but the fish were still rising the
first was a really good rainbow over 2lbs cracking fish ! followed by 3 brownies
and 3 grayling all taken on size 16 LDO dry. All in all a very enjoyable afternoon.

Saturday 10th April 2010

My first outing of the new season was last Tuesday late afternoon
- it wasn't the best time to go but I just wanted to have a cast after
such a long wait. I booked beats 6 & 7 today and the weather has been
just what we all have waiting for. The river came alive with LDO's coming
off just after lunchtime and managed 3 Browies and 2 Grayling and lost 2
all on a LDO dry. All the fish were in great shape - the water was a bit cool
for breathables.

Saturday 3rd April 2010

Just walked the dog along the Derwent past the new fish pass
and the partly construsted new weir that is taking shape now at Calver.
The river in is flood and very coloured with loads of water flowing
down, I don't think it will be fit to fish until later in the week. That
assuming we don't get any more rain !!

Friday 5th February 2010

Well folks it's been a long time since my last blog- I just couldn't resist this one I've been in Ireland on business for 3 days and passed over so many

fantastic looking rivers and drove past this Salmon I turned back to take this photo ! I've caught Salmon but not this big ! Not too long now to the new season.