Weather: 8.4° Severe morning frosts. A fine day apart from patchy low cloud this morning. Light winds, then westerlies developing in the afternoon.
River Flow: 21.4 Cumecs (m³/s)
Another freezing morning greeted us here in the Central Plateau, with a thick layer of frost covering the ground. Thankfully, the wind has stayed away for most of the day, and the sunshine has provided some welcome relief for those who have been out braving the cold.
The reports coming through the shop have continued much the same as we've been hearing recently. Fishing has been challenging, but anglers are still managing to hook into fish. Natural fly patterns have been noticeably more productive than egg patterns, particularly during the sunny parts of the day. However, egg patterns are still proving effective in the early mornings and again towards the evening.
The forecast is looking promising, with showers and rain expected on Sunday before another spell of wet weather arrives from Tuesday through to Friday. At this stage, Thursday is shaping up to receive the heaviest rainfall.
With the increased cloud cover and, hopefully, a decent amount of fresh water entering the river systems, we're expecting to see larger pods of fish moving through. It should also bring some much-needed colour back into the rivers, creating more favourable conditions for anglers.
I headed down to the Lower Bridge Pool today with Sombra the cat to gather a bit more intel from anglers. Traffic on the river was fairly quiet, and I only managed to catch up with one fisherman.
He had landed four fish for the day but said it had been fairly hard work in the low, clear conditions. All of the fish he hooked into were on the darker side, with none being fresh-run. Despite the challenging fishing, he was more than happy to stick it out, especially with such a beautiful winter's day and the chance to make the most of a day off.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the forecast is certainly encouraging. With rain on the way, I'm hoping we'll see conditions improve, more fish on the move, and the rivers come to life over the coming days.
Back in-store, we've been busy shuffling things around and restocking the shelves to make sure you have everything you need before heading out. We've also just reduced the price of three fantastic Guideline fly rods by 30% to make room for new models arriving soon. The Guideline Stoked, LPX Predator, and LPX Chrome are all exceptional rods, and with limited stock available, now's a great time to grab a bargain before they're gone.
We've also topped up our range of XTM Thermals and Magnum 5mm Neoprene Waders, with plenty of sizes available. If you've been feeling the bite of these frosty mornings, the 5mm neoprene waders are a fantastic option for staying warm and comfortable while you're out on the river.
Ollie also sent through this great photo of a fresh hen he landed on an egg pattern. It's always fantastic to receive photos like these to share in the report, so a big thanks to everyone who sends them in.
I'll be keeping a close eye on the weather over the coming days and, with a bit of luck, I'll be able to sneak out for a fish on my next days off. Until then, I'll see you all in the shop! If you have any photos of yourself or your mates out on the water, or even just a great fish photo, I'd love to see them. They're always appreciated and help make these reports even better.
Tight lines, everyone. Stay warm, and here's hoping the forecast rain arrives and gets those fish moving properly!
~ Niamh (Bluey)