Yorkshire Fly Fishing

I barely fished over Winter, what with family commitments, trying to keep fit and lousy weather all occupying/affecting any time not spent at my desk pushing ones and zeros around the ether in an increasingly dull but stressful job. What made that lack of fishing particularly galling was the fact that a combination of help from Santa and some saved pennies had secured me the most expensive fishing outfit I’ve ever owned – a beautiful new Vision Nymphmaniac rod and reel combo (loaded with Vision nymph line) sat there begging me to go give them an airing!

Finally, about 3 weeks after Xmas I managed to get out for a few hours on the Wharfe with Stu and his dad Martin. The water was at a pretty decent level for the time of year but the grayling fishing on the Wharfe (or at least our stretch) is a shadow of what it used to be. Stu and I were on the fly and Martin was trotting maggots and between us only one fish was landed, an out of season trout to Stu. I did at least manage to hook a grayling on my new outfit but it pinged off just as I was about to reach for the net.

It was at least a good excuse to socialise and also try out the new gear. It certainly is a lightweight outfit and much more delicate than what I’m used to, a real delight to fish with and makes French/Czech/Polish nymphing generally less of a slog.

Anyway the trout season is upon us and I hope to get some more use out of the Nymphmaniac through early season but maybe also all year round as I hear it makes for a good dry fly tool as well.