Draycote Reservoir - 1st August 2004

When is the best time of year to go fishing? For a seasoned trout angler, the sometimes hot, humid days of July and August are hard work and some will forego the pleasure and wait for cooler months.

 

If however, you are taking out a beginner and that beginner is female, then the right season can take on a completely different complexion. It may then need to be sunny, without cold winds to sully the balmy atmosphere.

 

Why not dress for the weather you ask? Well, you are missing the point. It is not just about feeling comfortable; there is the whole question of having a civilised day out with a nice picnic, accompanied by a chilled bottle of white stuff and interspersed with meaningful conversation.

 

This then brings us to a dilemma, at least in our minds. The object is to give said beginner the chance of catching a trout, thereby getting them hooked on the sport, but the probability of them catching in this heat is almost nil.

 

Now here is what really happened and you can either be encouraged by it or treat it as a salutary tale.

 

After a partially successful trip to Eyebrook Reservoir last week, Isabel consented to us trying out Draycote Reservoir. Last week was partially successful because we managed an excellent picnic on the shore in a sheltered spot away from the chilly winds. The fact that we blanked made little impression on her at the time.

 

The bailiff at Draycote was very helpful with advice and we set off in a boat around noon to the opposite bank to tackle up and discuss tactics.

 

The wind was a north-westerly which meant we could drift along the aerators, giving Isabel a decent chance of catching a fish.

 

I set her up with a Shakespeare Ariel 10ft boat rod with a Cortland intermediate Camo line, 10lb fluorocarbon and a gold head hares ear. I used a 9ft Sharpes Aquarex saltwater rod with Cortland fast level sink line, a grizzle and black woolly bugger on the point and an Irish bumble on the dropper.

 

Once we got the drogue out, we drifted at a fishable pace alongside the bubbles.

I felt a pluck or two, but nothing connected. Isabel was managing to get the hang of casting from a boat and was throwing a very straight line 40ft out. At the end of the drift, the inevitable happened. “Are you hungry now?” she asked. It hadn’t even entered my mind, but I’m old enough and experienced enough to know it wasn’t a question.

 

We duly anchored up in a bay near Biggin Hall Lane, sheltered from the gentle wind and got out the highlight of the day, the nosebag. It was very pleasant watching a heron fishing nearby and ducks, waders and other birds ambling about the shoreline as we browsed and sluiced. It was so pleasant and relaxing, we spent an hour and a half there.

    Draycote views

Back to the fishing after lunch and shortly after starting the first drift, I felt a take, but whatever it was only mouthed the fly. A little while later, I got a good tug and felt a very nice fish take off. It was not going to be bullied quickly and then it leapt clear of the water, shaking its head. The hook dropped out. In disgust, I exclaimed loudly “I don’t believe it, that’s two trout I’ve lost in a row.” A sympathetic voice drifted over the water from another boat, “I can believe it, only too well.” I could only grin in resignation.

 

That fish looked and felt around 1.35kg (3lb) in weight. We continued the drift and just at the end of the drift, I got another good tug, and again nothing connected, but Isabel then squealed “Something’s on my line, what do I do, quick take over.”

 

I refused to take over and gave her instructions in my usual impatient manner. She did everything wrong; let the line go slack, held on to line when she should have let it run under pressure and then lost all contact for several seconds. Then the fish re-appeared and circled the boat and the line snagged the net. Somehow she landed the fish, a fit 2lb rainbow in spite of everything. There really is no justice in fishing. Some of the other anglers in nearby boats were deeply amused by the antics, but also mildly impressed.

  Isabel looking smug with her first trout, a rainbow.

After that episode I switched to a smaller olive woolly bugger and a sparkler on the dropper. I had a very good tug and was surprised when I failed to connect again. I kept at it and had several more takes in the next half hour, but still nothing stayed on.

By 4.15pm we had to call it a day and I dismantled our gear. It was then I noticed the olive woolly bugger was broken off at the hook bend. I should have checked it earlier.

 

We have now fished together three times and I have caught every time, but lost everything I’ve hooked. Isabel has caught on two of the trips. I think I am bewitched as well as out-fished.

 

The fishing was steady at Draycote on the day, most of the boats had at least one fish and we did see some surface activity. The stocking density seems quite high, but the fish are of good quality. Next time I might try anchoring up in one of the bays and try buzzer fishing.