Winter Fishing

Is spring in the air? I felt the need to go fishing which usually  occurs in spring, perhaps the fact that I had been unable to hunt during the Christmas period had something to do with it.  On a cold blustery morning I threw the fishing tackle in the back of the car and wound my way up to Exe fishery.  I  have found this small fishery rather hit and miss, many like it because it is fairly easy to catch but that can be a draw back if fish will take at everything that lands on the water.  Today there were very few fishing, the weather having taken its toll, but I quite like these challenging conditions.

I started in the bottom corner  of the main large lake where the wind was driving all the flotsam,  I have found these areas to be good places to start as fish tend to pick at the edges and always seem to take well.  I was using a 4 weight rod and floating line as I like the fight with this light rod and nowhere on the lake is too deep so no need for any other lines.  I attached an orange nymph and cast in retrieving with sort jerks, nothing happened.  Often in cold and murky water I think the fish will wait for something slow moving and so having slowed my retrieve right down I had my first take, but as I got the net ready I let the line go slack and the fish came off.

I changed to an orange bodied goldhead and tried again.  After a few casts I hooked into a nice 3lb fish which fought very well on the light rod finally diving for the back to get rid of the hook, thankfully I was able to get the net under quickly.

After catching in one place I like to move on,  I always think it takes time for a patch of water to settle after a good fighting fish, and I like to work a large area search for fish rather than chuck and hope which so many seem to indulge in.  I fished quickly round the top of the lake which was quite shallow so I did not give it hat much attention and half way down the far  side.  Having not had a bite. I cast out and reeled in to move on, but of course this proved irresistible to a small rainbow who took the nymph with a real thump, having exhausted himself with the chase he came quickly to net.

I finished where I started and a nice 2lb rainbow took the slowly retrieved nymph and it was time for a pint in the local and home.