A Wonderful Surprise !

Although it was my wedding anniversary, my understanding wife had sanctioned a short trip to the river. It’s a spate river and the previous day’s rain might just mean that the water would be fishable, if I got there early enough. Thankfully all the usual variables of life behaved and I was able to arrive around 8am. The water looked ok and the surroundings were damp from last night’s rain and morning dew. I set up at the bottom of the beat with hope of an early fish. Alas the morning passed with only one sign of a fish – a sea trout of around the pound mark that followed my fly and was on momentarily. The cloud was lifting , the sun rising and the water was dropping, as were my chances of catching I felt. I had got as far as the middle pools and decided a break was needed. Coffee and a biscuit while watching the pool. I decided to have a change of fly , putting on a size 8 Donegal Blue variant. Initially I had tied this on a smaller hook with trout in mind and it had done ok. This would be my last pool of the session, ensuring I was home at a reasonable time and besides the window of opportunity was all but shut I felt.

Starting at the top of the pool I carefully fished my way down and through the stretch of deep and still shaded water. All remained quiet. The tail of the pool narrowed to a faster run out and free from the trees further up I was able to put out a longer line. My thoughts were on getting home and perhaps getting some flowers for my good lady, when I hit something solid. I raised the rod thinking I had snagged a rock when a steady bend accompanied by a fast stripping of line and a screeching of my reel told me otherwise. Suddenly I was in a struggle with, for me at least, a significantly large and powerful fish.
I snapped out of my shock and surprise and tried to focus. I was sure this felt like that elusive grilse I had been trying to catch. My thoughts then turned to my leader knots. They were all holding well so far! The fish headed upstream giving me an advantage and stayed deep. I caught one tantalising glimpse of a large tail and began thinking about where and how I could land this fish. The fish came to the surface and rolled. This was a sea trout and a bigger one than I had ever caught and this prompted more thoughts of the nail knot I now use for fly line to leader. The fish appeared to be well hooked. Think positively, keep calm I tell myself. The fish headed down stream but turned and went back to the depths of the pool. More strong runs, back to surface. It was definitely tiring however. I planned to stay put and try and slip the net into the deep water directly in front of me. Steady now, steady. The fish saw the net however and was off again. On the third attempt I got it and walked slowly backwards and lifted the fish in the net onto the soft grassy bank and what a beauty it was. A plump, well conditioned female. I got a snap with the rod in for scale. My estimate was north of 7lbs. It had become a warm sunny day and I was keen to get this beautiful fish back into the coolness of the water. I cradled her in the water for a moment before a flick of that powerful tail propelled the fish away.