Some Highlights from 2011.....

With the year coming to an end I thought I would add some of the highlights of 2011.  It has been a great year to take up fishing which has lead to some fantastic days out, and also some very wet and windy ones!

My first successful fishing trip (after 4 or 5 unsuccesful attempts!) was at  Heathcote Lake in Lemmington Spa.

Heathcote is a really nice little fishery with two small lakes situated on a caraven park.  I will definitely be going back next time I'm in the area.

This chap went to a black buzzer fished under a bung.

For Duncs birthday we had a little trip to Penine Trout Farm where we both had a cracking day. 

Penine Trout Farm is a very well stocked fishery but has some very nice big fish in.  It can be an easy day but is nice every now and then just to shake things up a little bit.

Dunc managed a personal best with this 6 1/2lb bow which went to an Olive Damsel.  It nearly ripped his arm off when it took, flipping his rod and shoot across the lake like a rocket!

We also found our new home, Barnsfold Waters.  This has two lakes with great access all the way around, with plenty of casting space, although the weather can be a little rough at times.

The fish here are like lead wieghts and will have your arm aching by the end of the day.

This was where I caught my first Brown Trout, a day which still brings a smile to my face. 

With the wind blowing floating line all over I had switched to an intermediate with a Cats Whisker and it wasn't long before my rod bent over.

Another great place, Bank House fishery.  A nice refuge if the weather is bad up at Barnsfold.  Here our Dunc caught a stunning Tiger Trout!

It went to a Cats Whisker on pretty much the last cast of the day, just before we lost all daylight.

Like my brownie, I think this fish is one he will not forget in a while.

Well that's just about everything from 2011, it's been a fantastic year with some great memories.  Roll on 2012 so we can all go and catch a few more and hopefully set a few more personal records!

Helwith on Earth!

Decided to embark on what would be one of my last fishing trips of the year today to Helwith Bridge in the North Yorkshire Dales.  This place really is a stunning little stillwater, with crystal clear water you can see almost to the bottom!

The weather today was not ideal however, with conditions proving just a little on the tricky side....

 

The weather varied throughout the day but for the most part it was very windy and rained pretty much none stop.

The total for today was 1 fish for me (2 lost :-(  ) which went to a Green Headed Cats Whisker and 3 fish for my partner in crime, all (I think) to a Red Fritz.

My only landed fish, but worth the effort.

All in all we had a great day today, can't wait to come again, but perhaps in the Spring when things are a little calmer!!!

First trip out with Dad...

For Christmas me and my brother decided that we should get our Dad back into fishing.  We all used to coarse fish together (when me and my brother were younger) but we stopped as a group 16 years ago when we had both left school and had what we thought were better things to do.  After picking the rods back up this summer we thought it would be a great way to spend more time together, so we chipped in and got him kitted out ready for the New Year.......

Dad trying on his new gear....

What better way to spend Boxing day than off on your first Fly Fishing venture, which was spent at Sharperly Springs in Seaham, County Durham.  His first trip was a bit of a baptism of fire, with 20 - 30mph gales it really was a hard day to fish, but with the wind on our backs we tried to use it to our advantage.

After 2 or 3 casts I was into my first fish which I unfortunately lost as it came to the surface.  Then an hour or so later Dunc got into a nice fish, followed by another as he returned his fly to the water!  He was using an Olive Damsel which was tied by a friend of mine.  I searched for one of these in my fly box and gave one to Dad to try and within two or three casts he was into a fish!

Dunc with his first fish of the day!

Dad removes the hook!

What a beauty!!!

 What better a result could we have had for a day!  Well I guess I could have had a better result, losing two fish and landing none but still, a cracking first fish on a testing first trip out!

Hopefully many more trips like this one to follow (although with better weather!)

 

Apologies for the very odd camera angle, I'm not sure why I didn't turn my phone on its side for this...