The river Goyt rose overnight as the snow melt made its way down from the hills so even though the air temp was a heady 7 degrees, the water temp remained just above freezing.   This brute of a Grayling has sadly seen better days. Initially I thought the scarring was due to predators but…

As the rain has abated temporarily, I was looking forward a few season-salvaging visits to the Dee. However, a recent eye issue has meant that I’ve been unable to drive and so my ongoing Grayling fishing misery has been further compounded.   Sensing my inner pain, my partner generously offered to chauffeur me to a…

The British Fly Fair International was held this weekend. It’s a great precursor to the impending Trout season and gives us frustrated Grayling anglers a chance to whinge about what a hideous season we’re having.   It’s also a great place to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. Oh, and they…

A relatively dry spell has allowed the Dee to fall steadily over the last few days. Today it was at a good height but with yet more rain forecast for the rest of the week, I HAD to try for the years first Grayling.   The bitterly cold wind put paid to any thoughts of…

I’ve just been informed that the program featuring the aboves visit to Chirk fishery will be repeated tomorrow 5th January at 17.30 on Channel 5.   The fishing was to say the least chaotic, but look out for the moment when a real life Sedge flew in to inspect (and presumably attempt to roger) the…

Today I was faced with a big decision. A right turn at the main road would see me join the queues of traffic heading towards the shops and a left turn would take me deep into North Wales to fish the river Dee.I have to confess, the deliberation was brief.   The river is still…

An evening meeting in Corwen means either travelling across during the rush hour or making a day of it and having some time on the river Dee. Sadly, during the winter months the latter involves a period of down time between the end of the fishing (around 4pm) and the start of the meeting at…

A tough but most enjoyable day fishing for Grayling as guests of The Peacock Fly Fishing Club.   Snow, wind and rain all tried (but ultimately all failed) to dampen our spirits and the slightly high and coloured Derbyshire Wye proved a challenge.   With the Hanak International Grayling Festival planned for this weekend, many…

Fellow guide and CADAC member Peter Scholes of Lancashire based Bowland FlyFishing contacted me to say he was coming down to fish the Dee.   He has a team entered in the Hanak Grayling international scheduled for December and as much of it will be fished on Corwen waters, he wanted to explore a new…

A combination of bad weather and bad timing has meant that Chiara’s ex colleague Ginny, hasn’t fished her CADAC ticket once this year…. and it expires in December. So with no rain forecast and the river slowly dropping, a half Dee Day was planned.   The girls’ Duo set ups tempted Grayling on both the…