First session of 2023 has been a little while coming. The fields near my house have been waterlogged for weeks providing a feast for the crows and magpies in the form of unfortunate drowned invertebrates. The drainage ditches have been brim full and running fast, sending the silt and nutrient-laden runoff down the hill and into the Trent, and the weather forecast has just seemed to be on repeat - another weather front sweeping across the country bringing yet more rain.
At least it's re-filled the reservoirs so that people can have their sprinklers on their lawns again when we have another drought this summer! I suppose that I could have found a local tributary less affected by the floods and tried for an obliging chevin, but winter for me is about my favourite fish, the grayling. I was therefore almost ecstatic when I saw a period of cold, dry and settled weather coming over the horizon. It was just a question of whether the main rivers would fine down in time for the weekend.
Levels were checked daily during the week and in the end it was the Dove that won the race with the Derwent, the latter still a little too high for trotting for my liking. A pint of maggots was duly purchased and the tackle readied for an early start. Whilst it was still just below freezing when I left Nottingham the clear, blue sky promised some sunshine and hopefully a bit of warmth later in the day. However, as soon as I joined the motorway and descended into the Trent valley I was enveloped by freezing fog and the temperature dropped a couple of degrees to minus three. Was still the same when I reached Tutbury and I began to doubt my sanity - firstly when my gloves stuck to the gate to the carpark and secondly when my car wheels scrabbled for grip on the ice as I crested the flood embankment!
At least the river looked to be in good nick - running at a manageable level and with just a tinge of colour. Had a quick coffee, then got togged up in the neoprenes and put on as many outer layers as I could find in the car, then headed upstream in the gloom past bankside trees and vegetation covered in crystals of hoar frost. Made straight for my "banker" swim thinking that, given the conditions, if I was going to catch anywhere it would be there. Slid gracefully down into the river up to my knees, the cold shock thankfully buffered by 5 millimetres of rubber. Took a couple of casts to find the depth, but having wet the line I was immediately faced with the problem of the rod rings freezing up and had to dip the rod almost full length into the river each cast to free them up.
After half an hour of this with no bites I was getting a bit fed up and the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans drifting over from the Nestle factory was only making me wish I was back home having breakfast. However, as the float was pushed towards the near bank by an eddy it promptly disappeared and I found my self connected to the first fish of the morning - a nice male grayling. Sent the float through the same area a few times adding a couple more and it seemed I'd found a group of fish willing to feed. A watery sun was now just visible over the trees and whilst it was doing absolutely nothing to raise the temperature or burn off the fog, I could now see the morning procession of dog walkers on the opposite bank instead of just listening to their shouts and dog whistles.
One lady spotted me and stopped, shouting over "oooh, you're brave........or stupid!", then proceeded to take a photo of me on her phone, probably to amuse her friends with on Instagram later. Not that I cared, I was getting a few bites and carried on until I'd had a dozen grayling in the net, including another chunky male.
Decided that was enough to declare a victory against adversity and called a halt to proceedings. Had been in the river for two and a half hours and my feet were beginning to feel it. Clambered back up the bank and headed back to the car, pondering whether the tip would have been a better option on a day like this. Was still below freezing when I left, although the forecast was still optimistically saying bright sunshine.........which of course it was when I got back home!
To the general public we are all stupid but, the warm feeling inside after a frosty grayling trip is something that they will never feel or understand. Nice catch, well done.
ReplyDelete