Regular ‘Tagger’ and very experienced stream fisher Iain, cradling fish (note wet cloth hat that’s another story) as longtime friend and beginner John, carefully removes the upper lip fly from this magnificent small river wild brown prior to release.
Estimate over 24 inches and between 3.5 and 4 lbs taken on small Humpy.
A great effort by John, the angler on this occasion, a ‘never used a fly rod in his life’ learner before he started his trip three days earlier.
Sighted, stalked, presented, to hand and released, it was no wonder the hat was a tight fit after this.
John insisted it was the fact that it had shrunk after his mate kept dunking it in the water to handle all the fish he caught, by I think there was a deserved slight swelling of the cranium after this effort … no not the hat again!
Return angler Rebecca gets a very nice 14″+ wild brown to hand to start her tour off.
The tiny run to the right of her was clear, shallow with variable current, so gentle presentation was the key to success here.
Small parachute dark brown emerger plus angler’s skill proved the trout’s undoing.
A big grin for a job well done. Peter, who is a long time salty, wanted to give freshwater fly fishing for trout a go.
So he did it with determination and the time to learn a great deal including introductory fly tying.
Stayed at our Cliff Top Cabin, below, for six days/five nights and provided entrée on night two with this well caught wild brown.
Though 95 percent or more are released, a fresh wild brown trout — your first one — wrapped in foil with some fresh parsely and chives sprinkled down the cavity plus a squeeze of lemon, then cooked on top of the wood fired stove, eaten with fresh bread and washed down a cool white wine is hard to pass up.
Another Nigel & Hugh day, always great fun, always productive and what a start to the year.
Nigel with his best for the day 1.5kgs wild brown falls to the Pink Bum Grasshopper — should mention this was on Red Tag’s Pro Angler 1-2wt Master series rod (WF2F line) and for some time the trout looked in charge of the situation, however skilful handling by Nigel and a good rod finally brought it to hand.
Hugh, not to be left out of the action, below, nets another good one around the 1kg mark.
