I have laid aside business, and gone a'fishing.

Izaak Walton

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

A new direction...


Work (what the chuff else) has once again kept me from the water. Managed two trips since my last post, shameful really. One trip to Lymm Dam saw me tease a 10lbs (ish) Pike from the depths. The next saw me blank, and get soaked.

Like others, I've been keeping a close eye on the posts from our mutual friend , Mike Duddy. His superb Blog, Manchester Fishing Fiend is a must read, especially for the 'urban' fisherman or woman. Anyway, his tales of pulling Brown Trout from local rivers that not so very long ago were little more than open sewers or chemical baths, are inspirational.


I've been tempted to join Mike along the banks of the Irwell, but never quite made it. So, not having much of a clue about river fly fishing I thought I should get some expert tuition.

Cutting a long story short, a little while ago I found myself on the banks of a local river with none other than John Tyzack. An expert in the art of fly fishing, a great guide and generally all-round nice bloke. The only blot in his copy book - he supports City. Ah well, can't have everything.

John took me through everything I needed to know (and more) to get me started - choice of rods, lines, leaders, fly etc. etc. etc. He took his time in explaining how to start to read the river and where I should place myself, and my fly. I lost count of the times he pulled the leaves from my fly or waded into the depths when I got caught up, or got stuck in a tree!

John gave me an awful lot of help and advice, some of which I'm still digesting. Needless to say, I'd recommend his guiding services.

We ended the day with a number of fish, including my first Grayling - about 1lbs (ish). Hooray!

Actually, we really ended the day in the Pub, the best place to end any days fishing. John went over the day with me, gave me even more advice about nymphing for Grayling and left me chomping at the bit to get out there and begin a new chapter in my fishing life.
Cheers John.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Alan,
    Good to see you back fishing and bloging, I enjoyed the read, And i must admit when you get a lot of teaching in a short time, Like you have with John, Then it can take for ever to digest, Well done on your Grayling PB,
    All the best,
    ,,,Paddy,,,

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  2. i thought you were going to tell everyone you had taken up golf!

    Well done on the grayling!

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  3. Thanks Boys,
    No danger on the golf front. Hoping the Grayling will be the first of many.

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  4. I'm jealous mate, still to catch my first Grayling. They are such a stunning species. Well done fella....As for G*lf, well I can't even bring myself to type it. 'Tis the devils game.

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  5. Although......I did enjoy 'crazy golf' when I was a small boy!

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  6. Hello. Found your blog through someone's blog roll. I hope to see more frequent posts. I will "follow" along. =)

    The Average Joe Fisherman
    http://averagejoefisherman.blogspot.com/

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  7. Hi Mate

    Glad you enjoy my blog and even more happy that you have discovered Grayling , the lady of the stream is a delight....

    Andy

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  8. Thanks guys. Hopefully more Grayling will follow.

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