Having managed one session a couple of weeks ago and failed, and with the impending end of the season only one week away, I went out for a couple of hours on 24th September. As most people who read these diaries will know by now that I love river fishing, and so decided to go to the Gortleigh beat on the Middle Torridge just above Black Torrington (that always sounds sinister). It was a glorious sunny day with gin clear water, so would be tough to catch fish for a good flyfisherman let alone a keen but enthusiastic novice. I walked up to the river and noticed a small fish rising near some trees so used this as practice, immediately scaring it away. However, I then had ten minutes retrying the cast until my competency improved and then moved upstream. I like dry fly fishing so gently walked upstream looking for rises.
I came to a fallen tree (just to the right of the picture) and noticed a trout taking just behind the lower branches and managed to hit the spot resulting in this beautiful wild brownie, perhaps a little over 6oz.; too small to cook so it was returned unharmed.
Further up I spotted a sea trout (we know them in Devon as peal) under the bank with a couple of others moving in the vicinity, but couldn't get them to take with a dry fly or nymph, and as Sandy wanted the car in the evening, I had to pack up and head home. Had it been night time I might have stood a better chance as they are predominantly nocturnal feeders.
I left swearing that next year I will do more trout fishing to improve my skills, especially as the scenery is so beautiful (I made exactly the same promise to myself this time last year!)