Dog Days of Summer 2025
Well - as well as a shortage of sun cream in our house the other notable shortage has been opportunity to fish as the water levels and temperature have been at record levels. Some members have ventured out on the cooler days and they have had success at various times of the day. Personally I have not been up to the river to fish, as on the days when I was free the temperature was so high it would not have been right to fish and put more stress on them on top of the pressures they are under with such dry and hot conditions.
We are fast approaching the start of September which traditionally has led to some strong fishing as the brown trout season draws to a close at the end of the month. The forecast this week is that our region should benefit from some long awaited rain and hopefully as the reservoirs begin to fill the river level will also increase giving the fish a much needed boost of both cooler fresh water and of course good food as insects are tumbled downstream.
Having just checked the data in the file of catch return, results are encouraging with many members catching a number of wild fish. Few stocked brown trout are been caught according to the results entered. Can I thank those members who are using the web based recording method as it does provide me with an analysis as the year progresses - it also allows me to keep you all informed as we progress through the year
I am leaving the Mid Season Report on the site at this time as some members may have not seen it. It does provide an insight into the activities of the Club - it will be deleted once we conclude the Trout season at the end of September.
On 1 May we stocked the lower beats with 100 11" to 13" brown trout. A good number of members volunteered for the session which makes it a far more enjoyable occasion as everyone can share the difficult task of carrying a large trug with >15 brown trout plus water along the access path. Whilst the task only takes about 2 hours from start to conclusion it is most encouraging to see and hear members exchanging tips and methods as the work progressed.
To show members and other visitors to our website here are a few photos that capture the afternoon.
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Once all the fish had been safely put into the river a check was made so we had a record of temperature and Dissolved Oxygen levels. These figures showed a healthly river system, a touch warm, but we were in the middle of a long spell of hot weather.
During the afternoon we took time to examine the invertebrates - goodly numbers shown up here on two different rocks lifted from the river bed.
