Saturday, 22 February 2014

Amazing New World Order addendum...

Some of you will already be aware that your faithful blogger is working on a series of photographs about Derbyshire's river Wye.  These are being made with a variety of cameras using film rather than megapixels.  By the confluence of the Wye with the Derwent there is an ancient willow, the last on the true right bank before the Wye ends and the Derwent takes over.  This  once fine tree has been split right down to the soil line by this month's storms. 

This dramatically weather-hewn willow caught the eye so comprehensively that all the sheets of film were quickly used up in a frenzy of setting up the camera and tripod making an exposure then moving the whole lot to another location near this astonishing sight and another and another and so on and then, as if by magic, all the film was gone. 

Henry was relieved as all was repacked away and we could move on.  Naturally we had to go and have a little look down at the Derwent.  Here was what must be destined to be a popular pool for the lucky new members of the Rowsley section of the Peacock Fly Fishing Club, the length immediately down river of the Junction Pool.  The ground had some very healthy looking clumps of snowdrops dotted about it.  River silts from the regular floods must be exactly what snowdrops like because these specimens were perfect in every respect and looked simply lovely.

You will all know the old saying, "The things you see when you don't have your gun!"

Oh why had all the film gone?  Why not even one sheet left (preferably colour)?  Never mind.  The little Olympus was in the trouser pocket and a couple of digital snaps were made.  Here's one of them.

Snowdrops 'neath the Junction Pool

Then on a piece of weathered wood what was that crawling along?  By Gum!  A February Red making the most of the sunshine after all the rain we have had in recent weeks.  A quick snap and here it is.

February Red
Then it flew up and over the water, whereupon a gust of wind knocked it to the surface.  It righted itself and seemed ready to take to the air once more then - BAM!  A brown trout made a noisy meal of it. 

Guess who has made a note of its whereabouts... 

Maybe trout and blogger will get acquainted some time early in the season? 

I'd say there was a very good chance, if some tardy February Reds are still around come All Fool's Day.




Regular Rod
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11 comments:

  1. Matthew Berry23 February 2014 at 00:23

    Two things in this post I have never heard of: Snowdrops and the February Red. I see the Snowdrops in the photo. Thanks for taking it. The stonefly is interesting too. Is the abdomen red? What size is it?

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    1. Regular Rod23 February 2014 at 08:52

      The pleasure is all mine Matthew when making photographs, especially if there are a few pretty flowers like the tiny snowdrops, which are produced from equally tiny bulbs.

      The February Red adult fly is about an inch and a half long and has very little red on it apart from auburn red legs near the abdomen. I believe it gets its name from the colour of the nymph (it's a stonefly) that is distinctly red when it crawls out of the water to hatch out. There's a couple of nice pictures from Finland in this article on Global Fly Fisher website...

      http://globalflyfisher.com/global/february-red/

      Do they not appear in Idaho? They are certainly well spread across northern Europe especially where the climate is cold.

      RR

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    2. MarkW23 February 2014 at 21:49

      Nice pictures and post. In New England the early stones (as they are known here) are the first "hatch" of the year that will bring trout to the surface. Our on this side of the Atlantic the adults have a darker burgundy to black color and in warmer winters will start to appear in Feb but more often in March/April. Does your season ever open early enough for you to fish the February Red (one of my favorite north country spiders)?

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    3. Regular Rod24 February 2014 at 00:46

      Some rivers in England have an earlier start than where I live. They can begin on March 18th and February Reds certainly continue to be active at this time. All Fools' Day is our start date and it is still worth carrying some suitable fakes just in case the February Red is still about.


      RR

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    4. Matthew Berry24 February 2014 at 17:52

      We do have a number of stoneflies here in Idaho. We get some in the spring but they are dark olive.

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    5. Regular Rod25 February 2014 at 09:25

      What colour are their nymphs?

      RR

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  2. cofisher25 February 2014 at 02:07

    Beautiful Rod as usual. You're a fine photographer.

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    1. Regular Rod25 February 2014 at 09:36

      Most kind of you to say that Howard, thank you. I have still much to learn...

      I hope you are now feeling much better and looking forward to spending time by the water this year. Fishing will likely do almost as much for you as any medication can.

      RR

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  3. Anonymous7 March 2014 at 14:50

    Not such a lucky day for Darley Dale club members who had the Derwent water previously.............

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    1. Regular Rod8 March 2014 at 00:02

      Not so! The members get more water now (Wye, Lathkill and Bradford) and it costs them less than it did when all they'd got was the section of the Derwent. Just watch what happens as the river keepers take control of the Derwent. The fishing will be great and the wildlife will flourish. Everyone will be better off.

      RR

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  4. Anonymous8 March 2014 at 15:27

    The majority of the club membership voted in favour of Haddon taking back the fishing rights and 50 of the 57 them even joined the club. The club weren't going to be given a new lease in 2018 because they weren't willing to run the river in tune with the sustainable policies of the Estate. The membership have been entirely in control of their destiny.

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