Despite Storm Guretti rapidily approaching over the Atlantic and weather warnings appearing all over the place, a marginal window of opportunity presented itself for a quick session this morning.
Had to go to the doctor first thing for a blood test, so decided to see how I felt afterwards. Was decidedly grim outside - only 1 degree Centigrade, grey and overcast - so I was in two minds when I got home. However, most importantly there was little or no wind, so encouraged by the wife ("what's the worst that can happen?") I chucked the gear in the car and set off for Draycott shortly after 9 o'clock. Questioned my sanity as the mist descended the closer I got to the river and with the back end of the car sliding about as I drove down the un-gritted lane from the village. Pulled into an empty car park and saw the river looked spot on - clear and at a nice level, at least 20 cm lower than last visit.
Got togged up and walked upstream with not even a dog walker in sight and with cat ice fringing the river in the slower sections. Spotted that a resident thrush had been busy judging by the number of broken snail shells scattered around the exposed, cast iron sewer pipe that it been using as its anvil. Dropped into the water in my first spot and had a small grayling on my second trot down, quickly followed my another. I knew from experience that this didn't necessarily mean that I was in for a bumper session as the first couple of casts in a new swim often produces a fish straight away. So it proved, as subsequent bites were slower in coming and after about an hour I moved downstream to the next swim with only 5 small fish to show for my efforts and cold feet.
Had nothing within fifteen minutes in the new spot, so didn't waste any time and carried on leap-frogging downstream. Picked up the odd fish here and there, but again all small and not in any numbers. Kept tweaking the rig, adjusting the depth and running the float down different lines, but it was changing the single maggot to a double that made the difference, a bigger mouthful possibly more attractive in the conditions. Got down to the sandbar with about 30 minutes left before I had to get back home for lunch. Worked down its whole length without a bite before trying "one last cast". Shallowed up the float and ran it down the inside off the end of the bar. Was taken by surprise when it disappeared, the double maggot offering taken by a feisty little grayling that punched above its weight in the current.
Had five more in almost as many casts, the last one being the best of the morning, a nice, plump female. Thought it would be a good point to bring the session to a close as I really was on borrowed time by now anyway, so marked the spot as another potential holding area and headed back to the car. I'd had fifteen grayling in total - again nothing huge but better than staring at a screen all morning and then regretting not grasping the opportunity later on. Will now have to see how long lasting the knock-on effects are of Storm Guretti, which duly arrived covering everything in snow in the evening. I've got a new club book for another section of the river further upstream so am keen to do some prospecting!
