Trout with Garlic

With the weather looking settled for the afternoon i took a hours drive down to the Lugg hoping there would be a few Trout rising. Walking down the beat i noticed fish taking flies off the surface in the pools and along the edges of some riffles.

The woods were full of birdsong with Blackcap, Redstart & Chiffchaff all calling, announcing their arrival after a long migration.The heavy aroma of Wild Garlic(Ramsons) was in the air, some areas of woodland had its seasonal white carpet of this plant, whilst other parts had the blue mist of Bluebells. Fluttering through the trees were Brimstones, big yellow butterflies looking for Buckthorn on which to lay their eggs.

Having seen fish rising and as there were no obvious flies coming off the water on went the olive Klinkhammer. I took a couple of fish from a long glide and spooked others so they were definitely interested. Then i found a few fish rising alongside an over-hanging bush, carefully approaching upstream i cast in anticipation but they would not take. Switching to a rusty coloured Klink tempted a take and then a grey pattern caught me two nice fish. I continued up the river, taking ten fish, all Trout bar one Grayling with the grey Klinkhammer being the successful fly. It was a decent four to five hours fishing and as the weeks pass more Trout are starting to show even though the river is very clear.