A week had passed since my last visit to the syndicate trout stream, once again only having the time for a couple of hours on the fishery. The rains had been light in previous days, reflected by the clear chalk stream running at normal pace and a mayfly alighting on my hand as I pulled on my waders, mean’t that the trout would still be ready to rise to the artificial.

From the road bridge I walked up toward the first pool seeing that the mayfly were passing by unmolested and thought that maybe the fun was over for another year, the trout having grown fat on these winged beauties, were finally sick of them. A ripple coming from beneath a bush said otherwise, getting down into the river and worked my way up into a position that gave clearance for a back cast. Trying a few casts into open water to get the distance, I waited for another rise, a mayfly being gently sucked beneath the surface suggesting a small fish, possibly a chub. Another rise confirmed it was lying close to the bank protected by an overhanging branch and third cast the Mayfly dropped into the pocket above it. Drifting next to the branch, the fly disappeared in a casual swirl, that exploded as the hook took hold. The 2 lb cartwheeling trout took me by surprise, far stronger than I expected, it raced deep into the pool taking line, then turned back to the shallows, skimming from side to side, before diving back into the depths. One second it was in my net, then it was out again leaving only stones from the riverbed. Following it into the pool allowed me to finally get the net under a fat trout.

What a lump. There has been a steady hatch of mayfly this month and this stockie has taken full advantage of the extra protein. The artificial was sodden, but still in good shape despite the struggle and a wash in the river, followed by rub in with floatant soon had it ready for action.

Short on time, I decided to trek across the fields to reach a spot, where last week, four fish had been feeding on a deep bend, only to find another syndicate member in the river complaining of a lost fish. After swapping fishing stories, I continued upstream toward another favourite pool, but stopped short, when a fish rose close to the bank ahead of me. Retracing my steps, I slid down into the river again, keeping my eye on the rises. With a high bank and an overhanging tree, it was not an easy cast, but closing the gap allowed an angled cast that put the fly in the perfect spot for an interception. Plop! The fish took and I was soon playing a smaller, but equally plump brownie, that was promptly netted.

Released without the need for recovery it swam off, leaving me unable to climb back out, due to the steep bankside. Wading round the bend another fish rose in a riffle, then stood on it’s tail to chase an escaping mayfly. Once again shielded by trees, this was another difficult cast, but within a few yards of the rough water, several flick casts were needed to put the fly above the feeding trout. Darting from cover it hooked itself, lifting the rod bringing the 12 oz wildie tumbling back toward me and to my feet. The big red spots of its flanks flashed as the brownie spun round and came off. A picture would have been nice, but maybe next time. At this point I was able to climb out of the river again, just managing to crawl under the electrified fence without a buzz. The farmer does not make it easy for us fishermen.

From a hundred yards away, I saw a rise at the mouth of a wooded pool and walked up the left bank before getting back into the river. In that time the fish had not risen again, but waded up to be as close as possible. This a hard fished pool and decided to make long casts into the area. As the fly drifted back a fish nosed and sank it. A couple of false casts dried it and a shorter drop put it on the top of the rise. A swirl and a miss. Dace? Next cast a lightning strike answered my question and a small dace launched skyward, then dropped off.

The larger fish rose again in the left hand corner as I rubbed in more floatant, then a noisy boil. A long cast dropped at the base of the left hand tree, the deep water creating little flow and drift of the fly. Splosh! I was in again, the trout running deep into the pool, before turning to run down the deep channel on my left, fighting below me for a second, then powering back up. About a pound, the game was soon up for this trout and with its head out of the water, the net was waiting.

The fly was well down inside the jaws of this deep sided brown trout, the forceps pushing the barbless hook free.

Three fish landed and one lost in under two hours was good enough for me and I headed back. By next week the mayfly hatch will be over for another year and each trout will hard earned from then on.