Grey Ghosts

The sun has been shining constantly, but here in north Essex the dreaded easterly wind has been cold and relentless. Bit sick of it now.

Until a couple of days ago I'd not fished for well over a week. I did make an hour plus trip to a pit in the Fens, but after a walk round and chat to Bully, frankly I couldn't be arsed. The hunger wasn't there, so I drove home without wetting a line.

However, on Thursday,  Me and S had a very quick go after some mullet, a couple of minutes from the house, trying out a couple of new fly rods I'd bought.

The rods were great, there were loads of mullet present, but we couldn't get a touch. Nothing unusual there.

The following day, I had a proper recce further upriver. The birdlife along here is fantastic, all manner of waders and wildfowl, the first of the summer migrants ( chiffchaffs and blackcaps mainly ) showing, a sparrowhawk, marsh harrier and several buzzards.

I'm pleased to say the mullet were spread throughout the river, it's a few years since I've seen this many this early.

Again, they didn't seem to be in feeding mood, I'd bought along the spinning rod which normally sorts a few out, but I couldn't get a take until, totally out of the blue, the spinner was grabbed and the rod whooped over.

I really don't buy the "British bonefish" tag that some people give mullet. Certainly, thin lips anyway. In my experience thicks fight much harder. 

This one shook it's head a bit and as it neared the net offered decent resistance, but it was soon in the net. Ah, the net. I bought a net for use wading or on flat banks that I could clip to my belt. Very handy and as cheap as chips. Or two bags of chips. Eight quid. Bargain.

A couple of miles away is a wood absolutely full of wood anemones. An incredible but fleeting sight, in a week or so they'll be finished and it'll be the bluebells turn. 

Enjoy it while you can.