Armed with a shed load of DHE's, MB Spiders and the like, Lindzer and I fished some new bits of the Deveron.
When I arrived confidence was running high and the sun threw its warmth on us and the surroundings, heightened expectations, so much so that we mused and chatted for an age about all things fish and whether it was indeed worth bothering with wearing a jacket on such a glorious day.
Deciding on fishing the lower end of the beat we strolled leisurely downriver stopping only to mark likely ambush points for unsuspecting rod benders and to tip our hats to the local wildlife.
Reaching the lower pool we planned to nymph away the first hour or so until hopefully the first signs of fly life might begin. Half an hour in without a touch and the familiar airish downstream breeze appeared.
Shortly after, we agreed to switch to dries and wander the banks in search of showing fish.
There were midge and small stones around but eventually the upwings arrived, firstly the LDO's and eventually the MB's.
These were in evidence for quite a while, sometimes only a sprinkling sometimes in respectable numbers. One thing was constant though and that was the realisation that the cold downstream wind was making things unpleasant and that the showing fish were not taking duns.
We persevered with surface flies albeit emergers and cripples and did manage a couple of small 1/2lb trout. Lindz moved upstream but I stayed put as I had seen a fish about 1 1/4lb show a few times on the same line. Twice I was going to head off upstream but then he would show again and I stayed put. The downstream wind forced me to decide that a decent presentation was best achieved casting from an upstream position dropping the fly as close to his nose as possible. I moved into position and waited for his rise. When it came I was daydreaming but fortunately he rose again fairly quickly so I was ready for him this time, out went the fly up he came and hit it. Possibly I lifted too soon but I pricked him and seen his flank as he waved goodbye, nice fish (not for waving) possibly may have pushed 2lb.
I went to see how Lindz was getting on.
He had been victim to the same hardships and was at the car wisely warming the cockles & filling his belly.
We wandered upstream with few if any flies showing and pretty much fell foul of the weather. With the threat of heavier rain very real we decided to have one more bash downstream on a slow glide that can produce a rising fish when everywhere else is dead.
There were some small fish showing here and there now and again but the day was now bitter and although there was only the odd spit of rain a glimpse at the hills told is there was either heavy rain or snow on the way.
Going through the motions I was grateful to a very lively Sea-Trout kelt for getting the warmth up.
Then the snow came and we left.
It wasn't a bad day, not sure that it was good though
Iain
