A few words and pictures for those who are or would like to be "expert" at dry fly fishing on rivers.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Too Early?
She is mottled already and has claimed this clean bit of gravel.. She hasn't cut a redd on it yet. The cleared area has been done by an upwelling spring under the river bed.
You've made a fair few assumptions RR. The fish might well be a female but dont some male also mottle in a similar way? The fish does look rather snouty. How do you know the bed is upwelling in this spot? Upwelling occurs when the river sits in the bottom of a high water-table. Is the ground re-charged and saturated? It might easily be ducks. Your follower should also be reminded that trout spawn in December, and water temps are not included in their cues.
Evidence of an artesian spring on the hillside is not evidence of an upwelling river bed feature. Think of the hours you put in before claiming a fly works in a certain way or being able to give sound advice to a visiting angler. There are people who work long and hard to establish facts in geology, hydrology and ichthyology. These sciences are complex and require the same lifetime to master that you have devoted to flyfishing. Your writing would be even better if you qualified facts as opinion when you step outside your field of expertise. I have learnt not to doubt you on the subject of dry fly though. All the best RR and thanks for the blog.
Anonymous I understand exactly what you mean. I should perhaps have put a question mark after averring that the clear patches were from upwellings? Although the permanently wet ground is not actually on the hillside but is right next to the waterside. Short of breaking the fishery rules and wading out and putting my bare hands on the patches or else getting so close that I could see clearly if there was evidence of particles being moved by a current, I cannot really guarantee that the patches are from upwellings.
There are other patches like these elsewhere in this part of the river and they too are near to very wet ground.
A very interesting and acute observation. I had to go back to my reference library on this one. Bill Willers, a professor of bilogy, in his book "Trout Biology",2nd ed, 1991, Lyons & Burford, points out that females may arrive weeks before spawning starts, and begin cutting. Males may pay no attention whatsoever, and the "cutting" continues in a sporadic fashion, until a dominant male that has paired with the female and defended the spawning bed begins a quivering mating display. Just prior to mating, the female stops using her caudal fin and switches to using her the back of her body, which allows more efficient fertilization by the milt. So I suspect that she will only oviposit when all the signals are aligned. The male will then stay around the nest and the female will cover the eggs and may show defensive circling. So room for optimism in a healthy ecosystem I hope.
Well Hugh, it was probably not to her liking, because she has moved away from this spot. Perhaps a good move because, just there, she would be an easy target for a heron...
Great photo.
ReplyDeleteThe natural world of the trout.
Beautiful...and I hope she holds off...
ReplyDeleteSo do I...
ReplyDeleteRegular Rod
Nice picture - I should pay more attention to the river bottom to indicate where potential springs are !
ReplyDeleteI'm sure she will. I doubt the water is cold enough right now. Great capture.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes.
You've made a fair few assumptions RR. The fish might well be a female but dont some male also mottle in a similar way? The fish does look rather snouty. How do you know the bed is upwelling in this spot? Upwelling occurs when the river sits in the bottom of a high water-table. Is the ground re-charged and saturated? It might easily be ducks. Your follower should also be reminded that trout spawn in December, and water temps are not included in their cues.
ReplyDeleteYou are perfectly correct, I have made some assumptions.
ReplyDeleteHowever...
The ground is pretty wet on the uphill bank by the side of this place. Lots of reeds and flag grow in ground that is wet most of the year.
I'm fairly sure that she is a she. The photograph is deceptive in respect of her nose. I wasn't aware that males mottled up too.
Next time I am there I will try and get a better picture and get closer to see if I can see any visible signs of moving spring water.
Regular Rod
I have enjoyed your blog this summer to, lets hope that the winter doesnt get to bad that we cant fish for the ladies..
ReplyDeleteAndy
Evidence of an artesian spring on the hillside is not evidence of an upwelling river bed feature.
ReplyDeleteThink of the hours you put in before claiming a fly works in a certain way or being able to give sound advice to a visiting angler. There are people who work long and hard to establish facts in geology, hydrology and ichthyology. These sciences are complex and require the same lifetime to master that you have devoted to flyfishing. Your writing would be even better if you qualified facts as opinion when you step outside your field of expertise. I have learnt not to doubt you on the subject of dry fly though.
All the best RR and thanks for the blog.
Thank you both.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous I understand exactly what you mean. I should perhaps have put a question mark after averring that the clear patches were from upwellings? Although the permanently wet ground is not actually on the hillside but is right next to the waterside. Short of breaking the fishery rules and wading out and putting my bare hands on the patches or else getting so close that I could see clearly if there was evidence of particles being moved by a current, I cannot really guarantee that the patches are from upwellings.
There are other patches like these elsewhere in this part of the river and they too are near to very wet ground.
Best wishes
Regular Rod
A very interesting and acute observation. I had to go back to my reference library on this one. Bill Willers, a professor of bilogy, in his book "Trout Biology",2nd ed, 1991, Lyons & Burford, points out that females may arrive weeks before spawning starts, and begin cutting. Males may pay no attention whatsoever, and the "cutting" continues in a sporadic fashion, until a dominant male that has paired with the female and defended the spawning bed begins a quivering mating display. Just prior to mating, the female stops using her caudal fin and switches to using her the back of her body, which allows more efficient fertilization by the milt. So I suspect that she will only oviposit when all the signals are aligned. The male will then stay around the nest and the female will cover the eggs and may show defensive circling. So room for optimism in a healthy ecosystem I hope.
ReplyDeleteHugh
Well Hugh, it was probably not to her liking, because she has moved away from this spot. Perhaps a good move because, just there, she would be an easy target for a heron...
ReplyDeleteRegular Rod