Author: leconfieldflyfishingclub

*including 2 wild fish

“Understandably with this exceptionally hot weather, fewer members visited  this week, though trout were still rising consistently, especially in the late evenings …

Successful flies included:
Brown trout lakes: brown klinkhammer, cdc shuttlecock, cdc buzzer.
River: PTN, Grey Wulff, brown klinkhammer, hopper.”

Andrew Thompson

Poppett’s beautiful cakes

“The River Day followed the usual format and Mark Temple caught a small wild trout which was fun. Unusually, it rained a little with the odd bit of thunder about.” – Poppett Hosp

“Whilst the brown trout lakes continued to provide their usual consistent sport, conditions on the river proved challenging. For those members able to visit mid to late evenings, there were plenty of rising fish to target. 

Successful flies this week:
Brown trout lakes: Brown Wulff, CDC, Klinkhammer, F-fly, Diawl Bach, olive nymph.

River: PTN, mayfly, Gold butcher, damsel, Ally’s shrimp, GRHE, Alexandra, silver-headed partridge nymph, silver-headed red-tag nymph.”

Andrew Thompson

“Successful flies this week:

Brown trout ponds: Daddy, Griffith’s gnat, Grunter
River: PTN, spent mayfly, GRHE, Pale watery, damsel, Adams, Wickhams Fancy.

The Environment Agency conducted their annual fish survey on the river here last week. A good variety of fish were monitored, including bream, chub, wild brown trout, sea trout (x 5 one of which shown above), eel, brook lamprey, dace, roach, pike.”

Andrew Thompson

“A few mayfly are hatching on the river. Trout are hard to find but they are rising late in the evening. A stealthy approach and a dry fly produces the occasional fish.”

Nigel Rainton

“Water temperatures continued to rise in the rainbow trout lakes, while conditions at the brown trout ponds and river remained much more favourable. Good mayfly hatches on the river, especially in the evenings keep on going, encouraging spectacular aerobatics from the many sand-martins – a bonus to any visit!

Successful flies this week included:

Rainbow trout lakes: blue-winged olive, sedge emerger, buzzer, March brown, gnat

Brown trout ponds: buzzer, F’fly, Klinkhammer, black pennell

River: silver-headed nymph, stoat’s tail, Alexandra, mayfly nymph, mayfly, GRHE, daddy, grey Wulff, Perdigon, damsel“

Andrew Thompson

“Successful flies used in the past week:
Lakes: Midge emerger, F-fly, Cdc emerger, sedge, daddy, buzzer, mayfly, French partridge

River: Parachute Adams, Klinkhammer, Teal blue and silver, Daddy, Lunn’s particular, hopper, Tup’s

The water temperature in the rainbow trout lakes is now registering over 18 degrees centigrade, so the catch and release option will now cease on those five waters for the summer. Water temperatures usually drop back below 18 degrees again around the third week of September, when the catch and release option can re-commence (we’ll let you know!).
For the rest of the summer, please now keep all trout you catch at Great Springs, Little Springs, Luffs, Upper and Lower Figgs. Do remember though, that carp can be caught (and returned) on the fly in Upper Figgs. Catch and release remains an option at Little Bognor and on the river.”

Andrew Thompson

“A more challenging week throughout the fishery this week. Some very heavy rain showers (39mm in two days) restored flow through the rainbow trout lakes and increased turbidity in the river, though this has already started to clear.

Successful flies on the rainbow trout lakes: buzzer, gnat, dry damsel, Viva, sedge, Copper John, CDC.

Successful flies on the brown trout lakes: Klinkhamer, gnat, white moth.

Successful flies on the river: Mayfly, daddy, GRHE, Iron blue, butcher, French Partridge, Greenwell’s Glory, Wickham’s fancy, damsel, beaded PTN.

One member had exciting sport with a large carp at Upper Figgs.“

Andrew Thompson

“The mayfly hatches seem to have peaked, though reasonable hatches have still been taking place in the evenings on the river, with corresponding interest from trout and sand martins alike.

Successful flies included the following:

Lakes:  Daddy, buzzer, CDC, Black gnat, Mayfly, Olive dun, Sedge, Parachute Adams

River: Grey Wulff, Olive nymph, Parachute Adams, Mayfly: nymph, dry and spent, Daddy, Iron blue, Butcher, Black and green nymph.

Please remember!      …. the sad plight on some Scottish rivers, where exceptionally dry conditions have led to many stranded, stressed and subsequently diseased fish. This reminds of us the importance of disinfecting all our equipment after each outing, to help prevent the transfer of contagious diseases.“

Andrew Thompson

“A great week on the river ! The rainbow trout lakes provided steady, consistent sport (successful flies included mayfly patterns, black gnat, emerger cdc and PTN) whereas the ponds at Little Bognor were more challenging (buzzer and sedges were successful). “

Male mayfly spinner – Keepers Bridge

“On the river, it was arguably the best week ever for our section of the Rother! Four sea trout and 25 wild brown trout were among the many fish caught. Whilst most of our wild browns don’t get much larger than 1.5lbs, one this week was estimated (reliably!) at a staggering 3.5lbs! The abundance of mayflies and olives continued with fish rising to them throughout, especially in the evenings.“

Andrew Thompson

“Various mayfly and olive patterns were predominantly recorded as being successful over the past week, along with black nymph, PTN, daddy, buzzer and cdc emerger. It was an exceptional week on the river, with fish rising to the mayfly throughout. Adding to the spectacle were many chattering sand martins taking advantage of the bountiful food supply, hawking low over the water, skilfully avoiding members’ lines. The number of wild trout showing was particularly encouraging.“

Andrew Thompson

“The club barbeque at Springs was a great success, the sun shone, trout rose for mayfly, much food and drink was consumed. Many thanks to Poppett for organising the event and for her magnificent cakes. Thanks also to all those who helped with the preparation, the cooking and the clearing up.”

Nigel Rainton

“The ponds continued to fish well this week, despite the water temperature approaching 18 degrees centigrade. Yesterday night’s rain should provide a welcome check on this temperature rise. “

“A much more productive week on the river, with the unusually settled, warmer and drier conditions in the catchment helping to boost invertebrate abundance and diversity. Particularly encouraging in this month’s riverfly survey was the marked increase in blue-winged olive nymphs (none were recorded when surveys began 10 years ago, with only the odd one showing up in the last two years). Our trout have plenty to eat! “

Part of this month’s river invertebrate survey on the river, showing abundance of olive, mayfly and blue-winged olive nymphs, caseless caddis, stoneclingers and shrimps.

Male minnow in breeding condition – a large shoal was evident at one of the survey areas.

Andrew Thompson