The milder weather has finally melted the ice at Barlow. It’s surprising how long it can take for the ice to melt at this fishery due to it’s sheltered location.

Anyway back to the fishing. All four lakes are fishing well. The warmer weather also means the fish are more willing to chase a nymph albeit fished slowly. Buzzers still scoring well when fished static under a dry. Buzzers hatching off during the warmest part of the day which is to be expected.

At Press Manor it’s a similar story. Black or claret buzzers fished static under a dry or bung taking plenty of fish as is a bloodworm pattern. Lures are fishing particularly well when fished in a team of two retrieved using slow pulls. Best areas have been shallows and dam wall. Lot’s of fish being taken on the boats.

Rivers are well out of sorts what with all the recent heavy rain.

The warm weather is set to continue this week so make the most of it. Drop us an email if you have a particularly good day anywhere.

Reports from Press Manor and Barlow are that fish are being caught from spots that are ice free. Buzzer’s fished static under a dry accounting for most fish. Cat’s Whisker also taking odd fish.

The recent mild spell allowed us to get out and fly fish for Pike on the stillwaters. Plenty of fish showing, with the biggest fish taken just under 10lb on a deceiver pattern. Intermediate or slow sink lines with an ultra slow retrieve doing the biz. Keep mobile for the best chances.

We now have a few more cold days but come the middle of next week we should see temperatures around average for the time of year. Make the most of it. We could be under two feet of snow again before you know it.

Despite the weather reaching double digit’s this week some of our stillwaters remain frozen. At Barlow, pond 3 is ice free at the shallow end of the lake. Some fish are to be found here. Some buzzer activity between 10am and 3pm. Fine leaders and small shuttlecocks has caught fish. Mini-lures and small spiders are also worth a try.

Press Manor Trout fishery is now open Thursday to Sunday.

A recent trip to the lower Derwent searching for Pike drew a blank. The river is up a couple of feet and having to contend with large woody debris coming downstream didn’t help the cause. Despite losing lot’s of flies, several new spots were located and should produce when the river is in a more fishable condition.

Good luck to anyone who gets out there. Drop us an email to enquiries@bakewellflyfishing.com should you manage to get out there and catch.

Happy New Year to all.  The Grayling season has now ended on the Wye.  A final fling in heavy rain and a biting wind resulted in a few nice fish taken from the town stretch.  One angler managed to winkle out a 15″ fish on  a peeping caddis.

The Derwent is running a bit high and mucky due to the recent rain.

For those who have an interest in fly fishing for Pike, it may be worth sticking to the rivers where the fish will be more active than their stillwater cousins.

It is to state the obvious I know but all our local Stillwater trout fisheries are frozen solid.

It must be a worry for fishery owners who do precious little trade in winter in any case, we will report as soon as a thaw sets in, if it ever does.

On the rivers however, a few hardy souls have ventured out on the Derwent, the Wye and a bit further out on the Upper Don topside of Sheffield. 

It has to be said that in this weather more fish fall to the bait rod than the fly, but not exclusively. Anglers on the DCAC water at Willersley are allowed to bait fish and for sure the bait catches lots of fish but one report of fourteen Grayling to deep nymph tells its own story.  No doubt a few have escaped domestic duties and got out on the Dove too.  Please feel free to contribute any info to us on the web or call in on the shop.

In all fairness it is not an easy job to find fish in the depths of winter with a fly rod. It can be very frustrating and is often a case of experience counting for much.

Newby fly anglers should maybe start fishing in the soft months of September and stick with it through November to keep in touch with the fish when they move.  When it is hard frosts they are in the deep holes and eddies by and large but not guaranteed.  I think JT did an article recently in Total Fly fisherman or some such, worth looking out for.

I personally use a short leader and two flies, a heavy one on a short dropper nearest the rod and comparative lighter fly to waft around in the vicinity.  There are many variations, and in desperately cold water fishing two nymphs tied in the New Zealand style is the only thing that works

If you do manage to get out tight lines to you, and please watch out for slippery river banks.  See story under stories.

Wishing you all a happy and peaceful Christmas, and the very best of luck in the new year.  We may need it.

After last week’s deluge of rain, the rivers are fining down nicely.  Reports from the river Manifold are that it’s looking good and some nice Grayling are coming out of the Peak Passport beats.  The Wye, although still slightly above it’s normal level, is running clear after the last couple of frosts.  Heavy bugs are required to get down to the Grayling and avoid the out of season trout.
The Derwent is still coloured and will take a couple more days before it becomes fishable again.  Peeping caddis or heavy bugs will score.  Fish these on a Klink and dink setup NZ style.
 
Fishing on the stillwaters has been a little problematic of late.  The constantly changing weather fronts seems to have had an unsettling effect on the fish making them reluctant to feed on some days.  Flies like a klinkhammer or a big sedge can still bring the odd fish upto the surface.  There are lots os small black buzzers around at the minute so be prepared to fish small, down to a size 22 in some cases.  Lots of small shield beetles on the water too so it’s worth having a couplf of beetle patterns in your fly box.
 
Press Manor is now on its winter opening times.  The fishery is closed Monday and Tuesday and is open from 9am til dusk throughout the rest of the week.

Well the trout season may be over, but the Grayling fishing is starting to come into it’s own now.

Fishing reports this week have all been very good indeed.  The good flush on our rivers couldn’t have come soon enough and keen Grayling anglers have been out in force on our rivers to take advantage of the mild weather.

Good fishing to the Griffiths Gnat reported on the Derwent over the weekend.  On the Peak Passport waters an out of season Brown has been taken well over 20 inches.  Worth remembering for next year I think.  All the passport waters are running clear and sparkling.

The Wye is running about perfect too.  Small nymphs produced the goods at last knockings on Friday evening.  Regular rods on the Wye will know that fishing a dry fly or nymphs at shallow depth will be plagued by out of season trout so please bear this in mind and amend your tactics accordingly.

On the stillwaters.  Barlow lakes have been providing a lot of surface activity with a black hopper providing a hatful of rainbows to one of the regular rods.  Small shuttlecock buzzers have also produced the goods.

Fish at Foremark are starting to switch onto the fry.  Minkie Boobies and cormorants are producing better quality fish.  Don’t discount buzzers though at this time of year.

Rivers

Long leaders and small flies are the order of the day on the rivers at the minute. On the Peacock stretch of the Wye, small sedges are taking plenty of fish. Good spinner hatches in the evening and the angler that fishes until dark will be rewarded.

Despite a lack of rain the Derwent is running with a slight amount of colour. Mixed reports coming from this River.

It’s a similar story on the upper Dove. The river is a good 6 inches lower than it’s normal summer level but running with a slight amount of colour. Despite this, there are plenty of fish to be caught. Hatches of spinners and medium olives are coming off. Lots of rising fish in the more shaded areas.

Stillwaters

At Foremark the average fish per angler was 5.1 for week ending 8/8/10. The aerators are on and it’s no surprise to know that the fish are congregating around these. Dries, crunchers and cdc buzzers are taking the majority of fish.

Errwood Reservoir near Buxton has been fishing well. West Bank still fishing well to small nymphs. Some good fish showing around the 3lb mark.

We are now into the dog days of high summer making the fishing tricky for stillwater and river anglers alike.

Rivers

 
As I type this report we are getting a good downpour, however I fear it won’t be enough to get the rivers back upto normal level.  The rivers haven’t been this low for quite sometime.  Despite this, good fish are still being caught on the Wye for those prepared to fish small and fine.  Long leaders are the order of the day.  Presenting a fly on a drag free drift should provide rewards.  The angler who is prepared to stay late will fare better.

The Derwent is very low and running slightly off colour making fishing tricky.  The odd good Grayling has been caught though.

We are hearing similar stories from the Peak Passport waters.  The low water is making fishing tricky on these tiny streams.  The fish tend to be more concentrated so look for well oxygenated water.

Stillwaters

On the Stillwater scene.  Barlow has lots of fish bulging under the surface.  With good caenis hatches we are guessing they are taking the nymphs prior to breaking through the meniscus.  A small caenis fished static for long periods can prove productive.

At Carsington good hatches of buzzers have been reported.  Plenty of fish are moving out in the main basin.

At Foremark the average fish per angler was 2.6 for week ending 25/7/10.  The aerators are on and it’s no surprise to know that the fish are congregating around these.  The cascade is also producing good catches.  Patterns producing the goods are daddies, hoppers and damsel nymphs.

Errwood Reservoir near Buxton has been fishing well on the west bank, duffers bank and on the island.  Some good wild browns have been taken.  Dries, Klinkhammers and daddies are doing the business.

Rivers

Despite the lack of rain the rivers are fishing suprisingly well.  The Wye at dusk is absolutely boiling with fish.  Fish rising to BWO and spinners.  Don’t get suckered in to fishing at the same rising fish.  Keep on the move and casting at fresh fish.

Derwent anglers are reporting some mixed fortunes.  Lots of fish around including some big Grayling.  Anything small and well presented would be a good bet.

Stillwaters

It’s the time of year when the stillwaters start to get hard.  The dog days of July and August can test even the most skilled anglers.  Carsington is fishing well to small sedges presented on a light leader.

Foremark is hard at the minute.