.......The Brook - 04.05.11

The Brook is a carrier of the River Loddon on the Wellington Estate at Stratfield Turges Farm. The Loddon rises from Basingstoke and flows north to join the Thames near Wargrave. The Brook is managed by one guy who lets it to a small syndicate of around sixteen. I am guessing it's just short of a mile in length. It runs from quite shallow to around chest height and flows on a bed of clay/chalk and gravel so can be milky in places and dark in the shadows. Considering we have had little rain the flow is good.

Roy called and advised that the Mayfly were 'up' and that we should pay a visit. Bags and rods were scrambled and off I went to meet him.



Not another one - had one of these the other week from Andy!



Only joking!

We started from the bottom of the South beat and worked our way up. Missed two or three fish to either striking too soon or indeed two late. Roy had one that we were spying whilst a hare in the next field came up to us for a look before bounding off. He must have been only ten yards away.

Roy managed to pick up a few I forget how many but probably four or five fish. The fish were being selective with some on the Mayfly and others taking their chances with others.

We spent probably three quarters of an hour on one fish between the high bank, the over looking trees above and the bushes on the other side of the bank casting at one fish with a whole arsenal of flies but only to see the fish come up time and time again for some other food source. Plenty of small chub nibbling away at my flies. The French Partridge Mayfly was probably the best fly of the day.
A hot day with temperatures getting up to 24.0 C and with only one bottle of squash between us it was off to the Jekyll and Hyde pub nearby for refreshment before setting off. Thanks to Roy for a great day in lovely surroundings. looking forward to the next outing.

.......Fly Dressers Guild Auction Part Two - 19.03.11

Same time same place as the last one, a fortnight ago in Croxley. Met up with Graham (Salmo) and what a surprise but Roy Christie as well and went really for the fly tying stuff as I have decide that I am nearly reaching saturation point with regard to my books. There are probably no more than six books I am craving for now without counting the new ones that come on the market regularly. Also introduced myself to Chris Reeves a magic fly tyer from Surrey. The capes that were on offer went for prices much higher than I was prepared to go. A superb Jungle Cock cape was up for grabs quite one of the best I have seen - I thought I'd bid twenty pounds for it but it finally went under the hammer at £50.00. I went a bit silly and bought a jamboree box of tying stuff at £28.00 and was quite pleased when I discovered over six hundred hooks worth £40.00 inside together with copious amounts of seals fur and some great synthetic dubbing, a mink skin, a fox tail, a purple cape and a lot of other bits and bobs. So the trip was worth making in the end. But I've got to stop meeting up with Roy everytime I do so I end up crying with laughter.

.......Stockholm, Sweden Fly Fair - 10.03.11

Mrs Loopy and I decided to take a short break together and the good lady consented to a visit to the Swedish Fly Fair which also encompassed outdoor activities and pleasure craft boats. The exhibition Centre was pretty big almost up to the dimensions of the Excel Centre in London. As I mentioned there were plenty of other activities going on apart from fly tying! There was Rock Climbing and Ice Sculpture and even a demonstration of panning for gold.

And loads of kayaks being demonstrated. But turning to the Fly Tying Exhibition there were superb examples being shown by Nicklas Runersson............ 

Check out his bicycle fly on the left.

Then of course there was the Green Drake fly and book signature by A K Best and here is the man with Roy Christie.............

The fly in question being a Green Drake................

In the meantime Niklas Dahlin was tying up some beauties and managed to place a few in my newly acquired Lars Anderson fly box.

Bought a frame of flies from Igor Stancev for £170.00 (gulp did I really pay that?) and received a contribution from Mrs Loopy for my birthday. The kid that inherits my flies better take some good advice if they want to sell.

All in all we spent six hours at the fair and both enjoyed it. Quite a lot of time was spent with Roy who had us both in hysterics with his great stories.