I knew there had been a very good stocking of fish over the previous two days, so was very keen to get down there after the long lay-off. Car was loaded with rod already fully set up with a DI3 sinker and a black&green tadpole on the point with a white lure 8ft away. Not purist I know, but the waters cold and the stocked fish have hardly had time to sample the delights of Siblyback’s insect life. I arrived at 0700 to find one angler already there and eager to go, and within minutes of me arriving three other anglers arrived followed by John Rumbold. I had arranged to meet John about 0730 and he was pretty much on time. However, he had yet to set his rod up and tie a leader. Therefore after only a very brief chat I rudely shot off to fish!
The wind was blowing steadily towards the North End so I set off up that way. I settled down about 80 yards short of the bird hide, hoping that at least some of the stocked fish would have fancied exploring the lake. I needn’t have worried – first cast, quite short and a rattly take was followed by a very good fight from a blue trout of about 1 ½ lbs. Returned. Second cast a little further resulted in a good take from a rainbow of 1 1/4lbs. Returned. In the next six or so casts two more rainbows of about a pound and a quarter were caught, and all on the tadpole on the point.
John and Stuart arrived and settled in 50 yds either side and were also both into fish quickly. I managed to get a shot of John landing his first.
I caught another couple in the same spot before moving opposite to the North Shore. By now it had warmed up a little and there were one or two fish moving in the shallows after I had crossed the bridge. I kept the same flies on but had changed to an intermediate line. Two fish were caught in the shallows, one a blue, this time to the white lure dropper. I then moved to the North shore by the bench passing John, who had moved, on the way. By now it was about 10am and the fishing had slowed a little, but not completely and two more rainbows were caught again on the tadpole. I packed up fishing about 1045 with 10 fish caught and retuned alive, 8 to the tadpole and two to the small white lure.
I tried to get a good shot of John catching another fish and I had a couple of opportunities. Twice, on looking over I saw his rod hooped over with a fish swirling and leaping about. But I couldn’t get to him in time before he lost each one. When I stopped off for a chat, he informed me that both times he was trying to eat a sandwich when the fish took! I thought I would sit down with John to get that shot – it was one of those days for him – several pulls, taps and rattles had him pulling his line, thrashing his rod and screaming all to no avail.
What a start to the season for Siblyback – good weather, lots of anglers and most importantly lots of fish caught
Fly of the day for me…