After a really good spring season squeezing in lots of fishing, June finally slowed down a bit. And not because I wanted it to, but a few things conspired and the hours on the bank just weren’t possible.
The month started with a Tuesday evening fishing lesson in glorious sunshine. We’ve had a mixed bag of weather for the lessons this year alternating between the kind of evenings you dream of that just go on forever. And then there’s been the ones where I’ve been close to postponing because it’s just been wet wet wet. But, we’ve enjoyed great fishing on every session, it’s just a lot more comfortable in the warm sunshine than on the damp evenings when the maggots are getting wet and using their sticky climbing ability to wriggle free from the bait boxes.
Typically the fishing lesson groups are attended by youngsters (I sound so old!) with their parents and they enjoying catching their first fish aged five of six. On this session we had a nice mix of familiar faces coming back to develop their skills and grow their fishing independence, alongside new faces who had never tried it before, the first time fishers. In the group I was delighted to meet Graham who was there with his son and grandson. Graham wasn’t there to take photos though, he’d been booked in the hot seat and was there to catch his first fish.
And this is reason 156 why I love fishing. It’s such a leveller. People from all walks and life, socioecomonic backgrounds, political beliefs, religious following, whatever categories we get divided up by these days; give two people a fishing rod for the first time in their life and they are on a level playing field (or should that be bankside?). And in my experience, the joy and achievement they both experience when that very first fish comes there way, it’s unrivalled and the smile is as wide as they come, albeit mixed with a little trepidation as they cradle that precious little handful of scales. You only ever get one first fish. It’s an absolute privilege for me every time I see people experience it. Like so many others, Graham’s first fish was a spikey little perch. I hope it’s the start of yet another boyhood adventure! It was lovely to meet you Graham!
My attention was then turned to an event I’ve been training for through the spring. One of my favourite fishing spots when I go out in my boat is a rock and reef called the Gwineas. Just over a mile from Gorran Haven beach, on the ebb tide, the tide screams through here and the bass fishing can be amazing. For a few years I’ve been aware of a swimming event run by the aptly named, Mad Hatters. It’s pretty simple, start on the beach, out around the rock and back again. A total of 2.4 miles, if you swim in a straight line. I’ve spent my life in the sea doing various sports but I’m no great swimmer. Eight years ago I joined the, Castle to Castle, a swim from Pendennis Castle on the western side of the mouth of the Fal estuary, across to St Mawes castle on the eastern side. A mile stretch. That was great fun and taught me a bit about swimming. The Gwineas was going to need a lot more training though. So my evenings between fishing this spring have been on the rowing machine in the garage, amongst the fishing tackle getting myself in shape.
The event was brilliant fun. Really good conditions with a bit of everything thrown in to keep you thinking as well as toughing it out on the shoulders. The water visibility was good so I was able to enjoy the jellies as I swam through. I had to pause to give way to a seal at the back of the island, and whilst I didn’t see any, others spotted some of the many octopus currently in the area. All in all a brilliant experience. So now I’m training for another event in August…
The fishing took a backseat for the rest of the month but there were a couple of quickies squeezed in. I headed out very early on June 21st, making the most of the longest day. With just a small surf running I grabbed a lure rod and the waders and headed for the north coast. If anything the surf was too small but I always like to be stood in the surf, even it’s it’s tiny. That gentle whooshing, white noise, I love it. The fishing gods however had other plans for me. On only about the sixth cast, with a rod and lure combination I’ve used countless times before, the rod simply folded and broke in two. It wasn’t a big, jerky cast, but something in that moment didn’t work. Feeling rather pi##ed off I turned around with my tail firmly between my legs. I think I was home by 5:30am. To get rid of my grumpy mood, I grabbed some weed cutting tools and headed to a little lake that needed a bit of work. An hour later it was looking much better and I didn’t feel like the morning was a complete waste of time.
The last Friday of the month was the last chance for a pre-work session. I just didn’t know where to go and what to fish for. This is where I turned my note book. As much as phones are brilliant for all manner of things including my perpetual list of “things to do”, I do love keeping a note book. Physically scribbling notes with a few sketches is just a nice thing to do. It’s where I jot down my, “I should do that one day” thoughts. I flicked back through the pages and eventually found a bit of inspiration I’d scrawled back in early spring, probably when I’d been doing some fly fishing. It said, “wild brown trout”. Cornwall has got a lot of variety in the fishing available and this includes a few bits of small river where you can target some small brown trout on fly gear. A little favourite of mine, the “white river” had very recently been victim of a horrible pollution incident. The polluter being none other than South West F###ing Water. A lot of the wild river stock was killed and this beautiful little stretch of water, which has been quietly doing quite well in the last few years, was wiped out. To look at it today, from above the water, you wouldn’t tell, but below the surface the damage has been done, by people responsible for working safely with water!! It’ll be the company gets a fine but no group of individuals, or indeed invidual, will be held accountable. they’ll get away with it. What chance do our water ways have with this system in place?
With this little river sadly not an option, I opted for another stretch of water I could drop into on the way to work. Going early meant also beating the dog walkers and the sticks followed by dogs flying into the water. Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs, it just makes it tricky when you’re trying to catch the oh so flighty wild brown trout that bolt if you step on the wrong spot, let alone when Fido lands with an almighty splash mid-stream.
I love my fly fishing but my running water trout skills are very limited. That said, I do have a little rod and reel bought for the job which I love to use. My fly choice for this type of fishing is basically anything dark and scruffy. In my experience, wild trout aren’t too picky. They grab what they can as it drifts by so that doesn’t seem to be too much of a worry.
It was a lovely calm morning, very sheltered in the valley and under the trees. I pulled on my waders and began to fish my way down stream. This I where my lack of experience really shows. I’m not sure if I should be fishing up stream or down stream. I opted for the classic, 45 degrees down and across. It worked in the first pool with a fish taken as the fly swung right back under my own bank. Confidence is such a big thing in fishing and with a little success I carried on down stream flicking my flies here and there. I waded carefully through the water trying to find the best position to fish the various pool and riffles. I had a few more takes but missed several fish. There were a few fish rising very gently down stream. I kept pushing them further down stream though as my wading and fly presentation was just too clumsy. I did eventually catch another from some fast water where I didn’t expect to catch from. This was another eye opener and was a great example of where the fly is a great method for presentation. You certainly couldn’t run a float through that fast shallow water.
All too soon I had to pack up and head off for work. It was another lovely challenge with a couple of fantastic wild, little fish.
The month ended with the very exciting news that I’d got access to fish a new fishery. It’s quite a big water with a bit of an unknown stock. To catch anything from there is a real challenge. I’ve had my fingers crossed for this one for a little while so my excitement is through the roof (I’m already driving the family mad). Weather is a major factor on this place so I’m just hoping I get a few chances. Fingers crossed!