Weather: 14.6° Rain spreading east this morning, clearing to fine this afternoon. Northwesterlies, strong in exposed places, changing lighter southwesterly this afternoon.
River Flow: 22.1 Cumecs (m³/s)
The warm weather we’ve enjoyed over the past week has been replaced by a decent downpour this morning, which has since eased to light, consistent showers, with the sun occasionally peeking through. I’ve been keeping an eye on the river as it starts to creep up slightly. The forecast suggests the wet weather should ease as the day progresses, but hopefully this rain will give the river a welcome top-up and keep things ticking along. Those braving the conditions today might just find a few of the spookier fish a little more willing to take an offering!
Reports from the weekend have been great, with anglers enjoying success both out on the lakes and on the river. I took a wander with the dog and spotted a huge number of fish in the short stretch I walked, which was great to see.
Evening rises have also been becoming more frequent, with fish of varying condition coming to the net. Natural patterns such as Hare & Coppers and Pheasant Tails have been doing the trick.
With the rain around today, and possibly sticking around in patches over the next few days, it’s a good opportunity to share some of the gear I rely on and why it earns a spot in my pack.
As we move out of winter and the fish start rising, I begin switching from an indicator rig to a dry-dropper setup. With rivers running low and clear this year, I’ve found myself making that change a little earlier than usual to achieve a more delicate presentation.
For my leader, I tend to stick with a 12ft 3X RIO Powerflex, paired with 3X RIO Powerflex tippet. The extra length gives me a good balance of reach and control, while adding a little extra tippet helps get more life out of each leader.
I also like to carry a few spares. It saves a bit of frustration when you inevitably donate a rig to the trees and need to get back on the water! I’ll be covering a few more of the products I carry in my kit over the coming weeks, along with some of my go-to gear for a day on the river.
Tight Lines everyone!
~Niamh (Bluey)