BLOBS!

Well it has been a while since I have had the chance to get out on a pleasures day fishing. But yesterday was my chance.

Last weekend I fishing in the national final of the Greys bank master championships  this is the qualifier to fish for the England bank team. Unfortunately things did not go as planned. I only managed 3 fish, you needed 8 to get in. I knew the fishing would be hard especially against some of the best anglers in the world. I did gain valuable experience from it and I will be ready next year, so with a good draw of pegs fingers crossed I will get in. On the bright side I did get a nice interview with Sky Sport, so watch out on tight lines!

Moving on to yesterday, me and my dad wanted to fish the Eden for Grayling. However the water was high and there was access to my favorite beat, so the decision was made to fish High Newton reservoir. This is a small water 12 acres in size. Things looked promising from the start with lots of fish active on the surface. I set up with my new Airflo Fast Glass to try it out as it was new. It did not  take long for me to get a fish, then another and another  Not a bad start 3 fish in 10 minuets. All of these fish were caught on snake flies. However takes dried up quickly so a move was needed. I also changed to the famous blob in a sunburst colour. Then the fishing came alive.

First cast with blob, a fish on the drop, next cast another fish on the drop. third cast no take on the drop so I started a slow figure of eight then another fish. It was obvious the fish wanted it slow, so I cast out again and started the slow figure of eight, this time lots of taps with no real connection so I stopped the fly when I felt a tap and watched the line under the rod tip, up it lifted and fish on. This situation carried on and I got 10 in 10 casts. I carried on getting to about 20 fish then takes stopped so a change of fly to a blue apps bloodworm, this added 2 more fish but sport was not as quick, so another move.

I moved to the down wind shore as I knew the stockies would push down there. The fishing was the same fish after fish but this time in more numbers I kept fishing the blob nice and slow and stopping it every so often and the fish just coming. I got to around 45 fish, then it went quite again, so another move. This produced 5 more fish but the fish were not as concentrated so I moved back and quickly picked up 10 more fish. 60 fish is a great way to en the season but I decided enough was enough and left.

So what did I learn. Distance proved to be key as after the first couple of fish they pushed out and being able to cast 40+ yards allowed me to keep catching. But the key on the day was the blob as this far out fished other flies, but more importantly was to fish the fly ultra slow and keep retrieving till it locked up as I received taps before they took. Getting them to take can be tricky but by stopping the fly and the occasional speed up you can usually get the take.

So what next, all my focus will now be on the international Grayling competition in November on the River Dee in Wales. So I will have another report then.

James