Parkhill Beat Summary Part 3
Late Spring Summer (continued)From mid April onwards, fly fishing can be the most satisfying method, my own preference is to use a floating line linked to an intermediate polyleader, this prevents the fly skating across the surface of the water. Try to be on the river when the water is dropping and clearing following a rise in level, and in the case of fly fishing, concentrate on the faster streams and runs at the necks and tails of pools. Autumn. (September/August )Normally this is the time of year when you have your best chance of hooking a salmon, given reasonable water levels all the larger pools will hold fish. In high water, the main bodies and tails of all the pools are good holding areas. Similar spinning lures to that used in the early spring are suitable, but include some Flying ‘Cs.' with red or yellow bodies. Fly fishing can also be successful, in low water the Silver Stoat's Tail is very good, in higher or coloured water conditions, the Ally's Shrimps and Garry Dog excel. There are many coloured fish around at this time, please return them carefully by supporting them in the water flow until they recover. SALMON FLY SIZEChoosing the most suitable size of fly can be a problem, especially for the novice angler, in broad terms however, when the water is high and/or cold a larger size is used, when the water is low and/or warm, a smaller size is required. The table shown below, based on water temperature, can be used as a basic guide. (The sizes shown may be increased or decreased, depending on water height and clarity!)
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TROUT FISHINGAt the beginning of April there is likely to be little in the way of fly life on the surface, I suggest fly fishing with an intermediate line, 4 lb cast, and one or more of the following flies, size 12 to size 14 : - Partridge and Orange, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Olive Nymph and Shrimp Fly.
During mid - April and into May there will be hatches of March Brown duns and Large Dark Olive duns, usually for a few hours around noon. Expect to see these duns below areas of fast shallow streams and runs. If duns are being taken by the trout, use a floating line, leader tapered to 3 or 4 lb, and a suitable dry fly to imitate the insect on the water. (March Brown duns are often ignored, while the trout concentrate almost exclusively on olives.) Before and after the hatch, consider fishing wet flies or nymphs as previously described. As the year moves on through June , July and August you can expect to see other up winged flies on the water, the majority of the duns are generally of an olive hue, but the sizes vary, most being considerably smaller than the Large Dark Olive of springtime. The various species of spent flies, (spinners), all have clear transparent wings, but body colours vary, russet - brown, amber, red, and in the case of the Blue Winged Olive, a shade of orange.
In May and June you may see a bright yellow up winged fly on the water, the Yellow May dun, ignore it! , the trout have little interest in it. The terrestrial, unmistakable Hawthorn Fly, however, can excite the trout on those occasions when it is blown on to the water surface, keep an imitation in your box.
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