Yesterday, I visited Cornwall to see a salmon hatchery run by unpaid volunteers. No grants, no interference from the box tickers. It was impressive. It’s amazing what a few dedicated people can do when they are free to get on with the job.

This morning was lovely. A beautiful spring day, blue sky and fluffy white clouds. A perfect day for fishing. I had unfinished business with the trout on the River Walkham.

I left the Defender just inside the gate and wandered down the path being careful not to tread on the primroses and bluebells. I left the path halfway down the hill and cut through the woods towards the rock outcrop, about a fifty foot drop to river level.

I fished the pool with an upstream nymph. As I crept along the shelf below the overhanging rocks, I watched for any movement in the pool. The crystal clear water allowed me to see the bottom of the pot which was about four feet deep, a great place for salmon and sea trout to rest before navigating the rapids.

The nymph trundled around the slack water, I was surprised not to get a take. I moved downstream, casting down and across, a twenty foot flick covered the width of the river. The bank became marshy and bushes eventually blocked the path, I walked upstream to the weir pool. The slow moving water above the weir failed to produce a take. After I had broken my rod down and put my reel back in my pocket, I looked over the rocks and peered into the water which spooked a good sea trout. I’ll try that lie before I pack up next time.