Merchandise

 New merchandise is available at https://polarisnivis.etsy.com/

Beach casting

 Yesterday (Good Friday) I went to the beach at Skinningrove with my grandfather’s beach caster rod. The tide had just turned and head up the  flattish beach quite quickly. For future reference it would be good and safe for wading and fly fishing in the surf there.

The bait was bacon lardons on two hooks off the main line to a bomb lead with break-away legs for quick retrieves. 

No fish were caught or bites detected.

Something Different - Fly Fishing in Northumberland UK

Another summer vacation and Holly and I head up to Chatton Trout Fishery again for some fly fishing with Bob Smith.  She caught the sole fish on our last and her first visit and experience of trout fishing with a fly rod.  This time it was my turn.  It was a return to the adventure of the book Fishing Trip - An Introduction to Fly Fishing and Trout (Kindle ebook and now as a full colour 5"x 8"glossy paperback at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1729146147    ISBN 9781729146149 for £6.35,  as well as the A4 sized hardback).  However, this was no early morning session.  It was a civilised drive in the late morning for a post-lunch start.

View from the car park

Bob was a little delayed in his arrival at the venue so Holly and I had lunch before doing about 15 minutes unsuccessful fishing before Bob arrived.  We saw a tiger trout swim past our feet a few times while we waited. 

This was the first Rainbow caught

The Fritz patterns I usually start with were not attracting anything.  

Bob arrived and we walked over to the upper lake at its far end where the spring enters into deep water. This was local knowledge coming through.  It had been a low hot dry summer to that point (as evidenced by the parched soil in the photo above), and the fish were deep in the cool fresh spring water.

Bob suggested a small hook wrapped around with copper wire.  Bang!  First cast and as the intermediate line began to sink past a count of 20, the fish hit.

So it continued, the line sinking deep with various pheasant tail nymphs, wire nymphs and olive nymph lures all sinking close to the reeds where the spring fed in.  All in all I had about 7 on and allowed them to come off the hook prior to landing to speed the catch and release process, (and avoid getting the hire car smelling of fish from my hands).

Holly had one on and lost it with Bob's help but he had a floating line and the leader wasn't really long enough to get down to the depth of the feeding fish.

We had a good session and all too quickly had to get back to home and farewell to a lovely spot where NO English (Environment Agency) rod licence (available online or at local post offices) is required as its part of the River Till catchment area feeding into the Tweed.

Al Kubbar Island

Approach to Al Kubbar Island (Kuwait)

I had a trip to Al Kubbar Island last Friday (120517). I went along with some divers on the Finz boat from Fahaheel Sea Club marina.

The crossing took 30 mins, getting there at about 1015. I spent around 30 mins fishing getting several savage bites from large needle fish. I gave up due to the diving terns going for and picking up the lure. After 4 flights for the lure I stopped as I didn't want to catch a tern.

South side of Al Kubbar Island

After noon, loads of visitors spilled on to the beach from the large cruise boats from Kuwait city. Fishing was definitely over.