Sussex Trout Fishing … and Devon

The still, crystal clear morning suggested a hot Summer’s day but the BBC weather forecast said otherwise. Cloudy with a brisk south-westerly wind. The river level had dropped to 0.39m and everything looked set for a lovely day wandering along the river.

I had tied some delicate nymphs with Partridge hackles. They would be something different for the educated Trout that are the legacy of catch and release. I drove to Petworth with an open mind about where I would fish. The catch returns at the Fish Pass told me the Beat hadn’t been fished for three days probably because the river level was high. I crept around the Fish Pass and saw a few small Chub and a Trout. The Chub melted away into the remnants of the streamer weed. Swallows were swooping down across the weir pool snapping at small flies. I decided to start there and move to another Beat if I couldn’t find any Trout.

The water in the weir pool was a little cloudy so I started with a Black Nymph, the dense colour of the fly is easier for the fish to see. I worked the fly slowly through the deep water under my bank. After a few casts a fish rose in the middle of the pool and I quickly dropped the nymph slightly upstream of the ripples. I watched the tip of the line and saw it start to sink. It sunk very slowly as if the fly had caught a weed frond. I lifted the rod, the line continued sinking so I tightened and the fish was hooked. It kept very deep and moved slowly like a Chub. The odd take and lazy struggle convinced me it was a Chub so I was surprised and pleased, to see a wild Trout of about 1lb come to the surface. The fish was fin perfect and had no marks in it’s mouth. It dived into the weeds when I lowered the net to release it. My biggest wild trout this season.

Catching a Trout in the weir pool removed the pressure to avoid a blank and I took my time exploring the narrow stretch below the first bend. I was sure that I would get a take but nothing happened. The wind was strong and ruffled the surface. If the Trout were following the fly I couldn’t see them. I reached the junction with the stream that flows under Coultershaw Bridge. The wide shallow stretch always produces a fish. I changed to an unweighted fly and flicked it out into midstream. As I drew the fly up over the dying rushes a large Trout grabbed it and dived into the weeds. I knew it was a good fish and I wasn’t in a hurry. I eased it out of the weeds and encouraged it to move into midstream. After a long, arm aching struggle I netted it on the first attempt. A beautiful clean fish with an enormous tail. It weighed about 2lb 8ozs, possibly a bit more. It recovered quickly and went back into the weeds.

I fished hard for another hour and although a Sea Trout jumped for the camera, I couldn’t get another take. I tried my new Partridge nymph but in the slightly coloured water it was almost invisible. I’ll try it again when the water is clearer. A large Buzzard circled over the field across the river. The young Pheasants were well hidden in the Himalayan Balsam and stinging nettles.

I returned to the Land Rover and drove back via Pulborough to avoid the roadworks at Billingshurst. I was tempted to visit Bury Hill as the clouds and sunlight were spectacular but I was too tired, next time perhaps.

The early morning north wind and overcast sky confirmed the arrival of Autumn. There had been light rain over the weekend, enough to keep the river level from dropping back to normal.  By the time I left for Petworth the sun was out and the sky was full of fluffy white clouds but the wind had an edge.

I peered through the railings at Rotherbridge and was relieved that I could see the sandy bottom and the roots of the decaying weeds. I stood and watched the river for half an hour but no fish showed themselves. The water had a brisk flow and was slightly coloured but not enough to prevent the fish finding a nymph.

I visited the Fish Pass and saw a few Chub and Dace in the fast water below the bottom pool. The fish disappeared into the streamer weed when I positioned myself to take some photographs. Several good Sea Trout had been hooked and lost during the recent high water and some big end of season Trout had been caught from the bottom beat. However, the bottom end of the river didn’t inspire me, I decided to fish the upper beats and drove to Taylor’s Bridge.

I had tied some size 14 GRHE nymphs to replace those lost during recent trips. I hadn’t included any lead wire, the only weight was the copper ribbing. I started at the big pool at Ladymead. I concentrated hard for about thirty minutes but there were no signs of life. On the way back downstream I scared a young Cormorant from the deep pool below Ladymead, that explained the lack of Trout. It seemed reluctant to leave, looking back at me over it’s shoulder as it flew up over the trees.

I wasn’t confident about the pools by the bridge so I started fishing again near the Oak tree at the top of the straight. I systematically explored the water with a Black Nymph to no avail. I thought the next pool looked promising and reeled in slowly anticipating a take on the retrieve. It worked. A small, wild Trout took the fly close to the nearside rushes and dashed upstream towards me. It looked about a pound in weight and came off before I could get it under control.

I walked down to the Shallow Pool where a new cattle drink had been dug. The top of the pool was quiet but while fishing the middle, I saw a good fish rise just opposite a bed of rushes. The fish took a fly from the surface. I couldn’t see anything hatching but worked a dry fly down the run a few times. The fly dragged, my presentation was hampered by the rushes. I changed to an unweighted GRHE nymph and before I could cast, the fish rose again. I put the nymph slightly upstream of the rise. As the nymph swung across the current the Trout took it and dashed down the pool. I was determined not to lose the fish and took no risks. I lead the fish upstream in mid current and played it from the cattle drink. I unhooked it in the net and released it.

I tried the Monster Pool and the Long Pool but there were no signs of fish. As I walked back upstream I saw a good Trout rise under the newly pruned Alder tree. I couldn’t find enough room to cast downstream so I crept below the fish and cast a nymph upstream under the branches. I think I overcast and lined the fish. It didn’t rise again.

I went back to the Land Rover, had some Wine Gums and a drink then drove home content that I had caught a nice fish in demanding conditions.

The bright Autumn morning and chilly breeze promised a perfect day by the river. The weather forecast was good and the river level had dropped. Had it dropped enough ? I stood in the middle of the bridge at Rotherbridge and looked down into the water. I couldn’t see the sandy bottom, the river was still too coloured. I went to Keeper’s Bridge, it draws me like a magnet. The variety of pools and ever changing currents ensure that no two days are alike. The shallow runs and the riffle would be fishable. There were three cars already there so I drove up the old railway line to the top beats. Another car. I returned to Rotherbridge and explored the shallow water immediately above the bridge. There was no response so I walked up to the New Riffle and spent thirty minutes working the water down and across.

I was just about to leave the riffle when a group of children from Coldwaltham school arrived on the far bank. They sat for a while, watched me fish and asked lots of questions. The children left and I walked back to Rotherbridge. I saw a Trout rise below the bridge but I couldn’t cast the fly far enough under the bushes. Another fish jumped but it was not interested in my nymph. Either it couldn’t see the fly in the coloured water or it was irritated by lice and not feeding. I decided to have lunch at Great Springs and then fish Luffs.

The view across the Rother valley was spectacular. The air was clear and rain clouds welled up over the Downs before drifting north. The moving clouds threw shadows and highlights over the hills. Everything looked bright and clean, even the sheep. The hedgerows were heavy with berries and the Chestnut trees were unloading conkers which hit the ground with a solid thump.

I had a sandwich and a bottle of beer while sitting on the wooden bench at Great Springs. I disturbed a Buzzard in the big pine tree, it spiraled up near the cloud base and mewed at me until I left. I set up my rod under the big Oak tree at Luffs and walked around the top end of the lake to the south side.

My previous visits to Luffs were both from the same script, I was adamant that the afternoon would be different. The water was clear and calm with only occasional ripples as the wind strengthened. I quietly covered the margin at the shallow end with a weighted GRHE nymph. I gradually extended my casts and covered a wide area. A fish rose in the centre of the lake and I dropped the fly about a yard short. A few seconds later the fly line slid away and I was into a Trout. Briefly. It threw the hook. I couldn’t believe  it, ‘The Luffs Trilogy’. I moved down into the gap in the trees where I had previously caught a Roach. I caught a Roach. From the centre of the lake. I laughed out loud. The next scene included catching a Trout. I saw a feeding fish rise on my left in the centre of the lake. I dropped the nymph close to the rise and as scripted, the line began to tighten. I lifted the rod, confident that I would hook the Trout. The fish swirled and dashed towards me so quickly I had trouble stripping the line and keeping contact. The fish calmed down and I wound the loose line back onto the reel. That was a mistake. The Trout tore away from me in a big arc towards the middle of the lake. The reel couldn’t release line quickly enough and the fish pointed me, snapping the line at the hook. I cursed.

I’d scared the Trout along the south bank so I moved towards the road end to see if there were any feeding fish down the centre channel. The wind was behind me and I thought a static nymph would produce a take. As I was preparing to cast, I flicked the line into the water and pulled line off the reel. The leader dipped and I was into another Trout. The fish went on a very fast run up the lake but I was able to feed it the loose line. The main belly of the line disappeared and the fish kept going. It ran about twenty yards. I was determined to land the fish and I treated it gently. I was surprised to see that it only weighed about 1lb 8ozs, it fought like a three pounder.

The batch of size 12 GRHE nymphs that I tied a few weeks ago have been very successful. The copper wire ribbing and the guard hair hackle imitate the legs and segmented body of an olive nymph or buzzer. I will have to tie some more.

 

 For my birthday I had been given a day fishing on the syndicate water at Albury Park, the Duke of Northumberland’s Surrey estate. We decided to make it a relaxing occasion with a midday picnic or pub lunch to interrupt the proceedings. We were fortunate that our day coincided with the syndicate’s end of season barbeque.

We arrived at 10:30am and signed in then wandered down to the lake. The blustery Autumn wind was ruffling the surface of the water and the mature trees around the lake made the wind swirl. The wind seemed to be against me wherever I went. There were beds of weed surrounded by shallow, crystal clear water. The lake looked like a very wide chalkstream.

Downwind in the shallows I saw three trout patrolling the edge of a weedbed and cast a weighted GRHE nymph infront of them. One fish briefly followed the nymph but then turned away and they all moved out of range. After a few minutes the group of fish returned, I cast to the nearest Trout which approached the fly. It’s mouth flashed white and I lifted into my first fish of the day. It fought hard and made several long runs into the centre of the lake. It was a brownie which weighed about 2lb. It was a very dark bronze colour along it’s back, hence the name.

I moved round to the opposite side of the shallows and saw a much bigger Trout circling a small weedbed. I carefully positioned the nymph about a yard infront of the fish and it changed course slightly to intercept the fly. It shied away at the last moment. I waited for it to circle around again but the next cast was clumsy and the Trout disappeared at high speed up the lake.

I found a wooden bench next to a Willow tree and sat in the sunshine watching the fish and waiting for a monster to come within casting distance. A brownie about 4lb cruised past just under the surface. It did a few circuits around the area and then headed towards me. I dropped the nymph right in it’s path, saw the flash of white as it inhaled the fly and promptly yanked the fly out of it’s mouth. Rats. The fish gave me a dirty look and departed.

A group of four Trout wandered into range from my right and I quickly cast the nymph into the middle of the shoal. They were competing for food and one of them immediately grabbed the fly. The fish fought long and hard but just as I was about to reach for the landing net, the fly came adrift.

A few minutes later a single fish cruised past at the limit of my casting range. I double hauled and put the fly down about a foot infront of the Trout which obligingly took it and dashed away. It fought like a four pounder and a small crowd gathered on the far bank to watch. Thankfully it didn’t come off. With a brace in the net it was time for a break. Lunch was very civilized. Sunshine, wine and cake.

I returned to the wooden bench and I was soon into another good fish. I got it within reach of the net several times but it shot off across the lake. A knot in the fly line and a tangle around the reel handle were probably due to the wine. It was another brownie about 2lb.

The rain arrived and we sheltered under a huge ornamental fir tree. I was able to side cast from under the tree but because of the rain drops, I couldn’t target any trout. The rain eased and I walked around the lake to get a better view of the fish in the bright sunshine.

A group of very large Trout, some about 6lb, were milling around in the centre of the lake. I was standing in a small gap between mature trees and the gusts of wind made casting tricky. I fired a long cast into the middle of the fish and one of the fish took the nymph. Why is it always the smallest fish that gets there first ? It was a rainbow and after ten minutes battling with it, I thought it might be foul hooked. The fish was cleanly hooked and in nice condition, very bright colours.

It had been a lovely day. Autumn weather and colours. A relaxing lunch and four very hard fighting trout. Excellent.

 

The river was muddy, racing along and still rising when I got to Rotherbridge. The weather forecast was bad. The strong southerly wind blew huge storm clouds over the Downs and they dumped their contents on the Rother valley. The rain was torrential until 2:00pm when the sun came out. It became a lovely Autumn afternoon. It was warm while I had lunch at Great Springs. It reminded me of a day in August last year when I fished at Luffs and blanked. It was unfinished business. I parked at Luffs and walked around the lake to the shallow end. I watched a good Roach sunning itself close to the footbridge over the feeder stream. It darted away as I crossed the bridge. The marginal weed was patchy and I decided to start in the shallows on the south side of the lake.  Casting alongside the remnants of the weed beds. The wind sprung up as I started to cast and it was so blustery I couldn’t get the fly line in the water. Just like last year I had to shelter under an Alder tree until the wind and rain stopped. It was the same tree as last August. When I emerged from under the Alder the sun was shining and a gentle breeze ruffled the water.

I cast the weighted Black Nymph across the ripples, a good trout immediately grabbed the fly and surged out into the middle of the lake. It flashed several times and then came off. The hook point held a scale from the foul hooked Trout. I was conscious that the afternoon was becoming a replay of my 2016 visit to Luffs. Spooky. The conditions were ideal and I felt confident that I would get another take. As I prepared to cast I flicked the nymph into the shallow water at my feet and a Roach took the fly.

The breeze dragged my fly line around towards the top of the lake and the weighted nymph worked a big area. After thirty minutes a few Trout started to rise. They were feeding not jumping to remove the irritating lice. I thought the nymph was fishing too deep so I swapped it for an unweighted version. A couple of casts later I saw the leader start to move away from me and I slowly lifted into a Trout. The fish didn’t escape, it was properly hooked in the lower jaw and weighed about 1lb 8ozs. It was in very good condition.

I moved around the lake covering as much water as possible but I didn’t get another take. The wind was a problem on the north bank. The front taper of the Rio line and the long leader of Fox Illusion fluorocarbon were too light. After several tangles I walked back to the Land Rover and signed out.

The sun was low and threw a golden glow over the hills as I left Petworth. I was pleased to have caught a Trout, unlike last year.