New Year Grayling

I set out this morning more in hope than expectation. The weather as I drove through the forest to the M27 was abysmal. My weather app foretold worse was to come, but I'd booked and paid for the fishing. She Who Must be Obeyed was elsewhere, Ellie and Hamish were well-walked, and I was telling myself that I was just going to try a couple of things out. Who was I trying to kid? The Itchen is well-named; it has become an obsession - a classic case of an "itch" that needs to be scratched. As I progressed through the worsening weather, I considered that this was my first opportunity to wet a line in 2013, and I was prepared to blank and head home "early doors".

There had been plenty of fly fishing "talk" this past week, with two work colleagues. Opposing viewpoints on the difference between "wanting" and "needing" things generally, fly fishing tackle specifically. I love working with the two gentlemen concerned, very different characters but both very good sorts. Sadly, neither of them is a grayling afficianado. One is Strictly Trout, the other is more catholic in his tastes, but even his "broad church" doesn't welcome grayling. It isn't like they're gay priests, for goodness sake!

Moving on, like my last outing to this stretch of water, tackling up took place in driving rain. This time, a difference in wind direction meant the water was going into the boot of my car. First item on the agenda was a slightly different set-up for the duo method - shades of my last trip, the weather screamed at me not to go down this path but I needed to try it. What was different - the leader taper, that's what.

Groundhog Day?

I walked the beat and was struck by how similar the day was to my last outing. Only this time, the wind was blowing downstream, making attempts to cast my duo rig upstream quite interesting. Unlike last time, I realised after five minutes that I needed to "wheel out my big guns" and go down the nymphing route. Luckily, this was concept number two that I was looking to prove - a new nymphing set-up. Complete with split shot; shock horror, is this fly fishing?

Steeling myself, I walked on and on, passing the fruitful glides that had on previous occasions welcomed the duo so eagerly. On and on I went, to the top of the beat and the dark water that had hitherto yielded no fish whatsoever to my meagre offerings.

The Dark Side, Luke?

Swapping reels for the one loaded with my nymphing rig, I decided it was time to bling up and get "jiggy with it". A departure from hitherto successful flies, but once again this pattern spoke to me from the fly box. I liked the sparkly dubbing - this was cloudy, cloudy water.

Before long, I was lobbing with aplomb and leading the fly quite nicely. Touching bottom a few times convinced me the shottage was right, all I needed now was a fish. Another drift, leading the fly, touching bottom? Lift into it anyway, on the safe side...why is the bottom moving? Oh - a fish! Being a generous chap, I practised "distance catch and release" techniques on this one; as soon as I saw it, excuses were made and leave taken.

Encouraged by this, I pressed home the attack. Another lob, leading the fly....my indicator stopped dead. I lifted the rod and felt welcome resistance; this time the hook was well-set and a fine grayling christened my net for 2013. Progress indeed, and my spirits soared.

Not the greatest camera work but you get the idea?

Back to lobbing fly and shot, striking as the rig touched bottom, and perseverance +1. Weather alternating between poor and abysmal - why aren't I at home in front of the woodburner? Actually, I'm well-insulated and quite toasty, thank you.

Very pretty, better photo! :-)

This was the method for today and I was glad I changed. I'm sure better fishers than me would have caught more, but I was a very content with how productive the afternoon had become. I experimented with different lobbing techniques, but I was mindful that tungsten beads do shattered rod-tips make, and I love my 10ft 4wt Greys Streamflex muchly.

One or two of the fish were quite challenging, in a powerful, swollen current with big dorsal fin deployed. One fish in particular took a while to revive, but was duly released to settle back into his watery home.

Gently does it.....

It amused me that two of the smallest grayling I've ever seen saw fit to eat my fly during the course of the afternoon. These were swiftly released, thanks to barbless hooks, and I made a note to look these fellows up in a few years time.

The weather was still abysmal, but I was totally engrossed in the fishing and suitably attired. Abysmal, but not as bad as the forecast!

Best of the day!

The last fish of the day - as it turned out - was the best. Another big dorsal fin in a strong current, but the hook was well-set following another heart-in-mouth stopping of the indicator mid-drift.

I did hook one further fish, but in the act of slipping the hook I was left with an utter Horlicks of a leader - I glanced at my watch and decided that Ellie and Hamish deserved another walk,  so it was home time for one happy boy after a day that exceeded all expectations.