Sandbagged!

Sandbagged!
Photograph by Steve Barnett

Sunday 22 July 2012

Blondes - preferred by gentlemen?

An evening of fun with a blonde is not a bad thing, usually.  If the blonde is a bit glittery, evening might be the only time that fun is to be had.  Here's one of my blondes.  As you can see she is a bit on the shiny side even though this snap was taken long after sunset.


It's a Hardy Phantom Hollokona of 8ft in length.  One of the most accurate casting rods you are ever likely to come across.  The rod builders, from the days when Hardy built their own rods at Alnwick in Northumberland, really knew their trade very well.  My only niggle is that it is too shiny and so I only use it for evening and night fishing.

Henry came along and we had a fine time on the river Lathkill, or Dakin, a little, limestone spring-fed tributary of my Mother river, the Derbyshire Wye.


Arrived at 19:00 the spinners were already busy so the PPS was put to good use again.

Some lovely Wild Rainbow Trout (WRT) were mixed in with the famous Wild Brown Trout of this gin clear river.  Both species were found in good numbers and in good condition.  It was even possible to get a snap of a fish being released, which until tonight I have signally failed so to do...


Here's a WRT on the wet meshes of the net and...


Here is the same fish on its way back to freedom, hurray!  (Forgive the quality it was getting a little dark by now.)



Several fine trout of both species succumbed to the charms of the PPS.  This one was so fine, to carry on would have been an anti-climax. Your faithful blogger was hungry and so was his faithful friend.  Going home, leaving a river full of rising fish is a good thing to do.  It was one of those nights when you wonder "How on Earth do all the fish fit in?" - a much nicer puzzle than wondering "Where have all the fish got to?"

If you think your river is short of fish you could do a lot worse than to start fishing in the evening and if your rod is a bit too blonde or shiny for best effect in the daylight it won't matter in the fading light as there will be no sun to glint on it.

Instead of packing up as the sun sinks, stay out there whilst the fish reveal themselves to you and, instead of dinner on your return home, make do with supper!



Regular Rod

10 comments:

  1. Enjoyed the post Rod. And the photo that you apologize for is beautiful and looks like a delicate painting!

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  2. Great post and love the too shiny comment! Not many folks think about shine and flash these days.

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  3. Looking forward to a visit soon, has it dried up yet?

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    1. It's a long way from drying up Mick. It's about the best height I've ever known it for the time of year.

      Regular Rod

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  4. Absolutely lovely looking Rainbow, I hope one day I have a chance to catch a wild Bow. Everything in this post brings a smile, the rod, the fly and the fish.

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  5. Loveliness! And blondes do have more fun, they say. Oh, and I love your Good advice...will keep that in mind!

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  6. The PPS is still my number one fly for spinners, since you kindly gave me one on our trip together. I now have a box full tied. Thanks Richard.

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  7. Sounds like a really nice evening, as you say there are times when you get that fish that says anything else would be an anti-climax so finish on a high and enjoy what you had.
    Derwent still out of sorts but hopefully tonight it should be ok!
    Regards,
    Colin

    Posted by Baslowfisher to Dry Fly 'Expert' at 23 July 2012 11:49

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  8. Rottenstone and linseed oil, a light rub down will cut the gloss finish. It may be blasphamous for a such a fine example of cane but such a rod deserves to be fished as much as possible.

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  9. They knew how to name a rod in the old days. Would you rather have a Phantom Hollokona or a mk11 SPK9003 ?

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