Sutton Bingham

First trip this year to Sutton Bingham, I was surprised how low the water was, but we have not had rain in weeks so I suppose it is hardly surprising.  The sky was over cast when I arrived and the wind was blowing towards the dam wall and onto the south bank.  A number of fishermen were lined out in front of the lodge and most were catching so all the indicators were good.


After chatting with the water bailiff I decided to walk to the point along the south bank,  I fished with my favourite fly; the orange gold head tadpole, I used my Orvis ten foot rod which made battling with the stiff breeze a little easier, I had a few bites and hooked a fish but lost it when I played it near the shore.  It then went very quite so I tried a black nomad but no joy either.


I then changed to an orange blob fly tied to Neil Jones' pattern, this has a foam strip along the top of the hook, the foam extends a little beyond the hook bend. This must make the fly waggle or vibrate in some way as fish usually find it irresistible.

Changing to an intermediate line and wading on the point opposite the yacht club I got into a wind lane and cast out into the middle, I found a slow figure of eight retrieve was effective.  The first fish took after I had let the fly drop for 20 seconds, and just started my retrieve.  After a short battle this lovely 2Ib fish was in the net.  







I was on a two fish ticket and the second fish did not take long to come.  A slow figure of eight retrieve induced a terrific take and after striking, the fish took off striping the line off down to the backing, I very seldom have this when fishing stocked rainbows so I new I had on a good fish on, twice more this fish ran of the depths stripping the line out before the snowbee drag reel started to do its job and tire the fish.  I was grateful to run my small net under the fish and feel the weight of the four and a half pound fish in the mesh.





On closer examination I was very lucky to have landed this fish as the hook was only just in the bottom jaw, my Orvis Western rod is really good at gently playing in fish. In the phot below you can also see Neil Jones' pattern for this blob.  Its the first time I have used this type of fly and it will be going in the favourites box from now on.