It is typical of me to leave my first fly fishing trip on
the River Torridge to the period when the coarse fishing river season has opened.
However, I was sitting outside eating my tea on a really
warm evening, when I had the urge to fish the river. I had no bait for mullet
so decided to get out my favourite old cane Hardy CC de France and head off to
the Torridge.
The river was up a couple of inches and slightly tinted, but
as I prefer fly dry fly fishing I thought I would give it a go.
After watching the river for about 15 minutes, the only
rises I could see were from small fish under the trees on the far bank. As I
hadn’t cast a fly for nearly a year it seemed a good place to start, using a
small dark fly.
I missed a take then after a few takes, I took this small
fish. After taking the photo, I saw another rise and hooked another fish of
similar size but it managed to throw the hook.
I waded further upstream and after a few minutes noticed
more gentle takes, but this time the river erupted as a fish went for the
parachute fly I was now using. (There is little thought in which fly I use as I
am colour blind and simply look for one of a shade and size). Sadly I missed it, but felt that it wouldn’t
have scared the fish as no contact was made.
I stood still for around 5-10 minutes and then tried again, but this
time I caught this beautiful brownie. The Torridge is not stocked in the lower
reaches and this is a truly wild fish and of a pretty good size for the river.
I was delighted and for the first time felt like I was a
proper fly fisherman, as the casting on the day was good and I was getting well
under the trees without losing a fly.