A Rich Tapestry

Where to start ? I've just come back from the tidal river, where I got within touching distance of a harbour porpoise, which had ( almost ) stranded itself in a few inches of water, no doubt after becoming pre occupied chasing mullet.

Thankfully,  the flooding tide saved him.

Yesterday,  I met Ben Norrington,  EA man and all round good egg, who was carrying out an eel survey at the weir. I recorded our conversation for the podcast, it's well worth a listen and I'll put a link up when it's uploaded.

It's amazing, these little three inch "glass eels" are three or four years old and still look like a recently hatched fry. Incredible life storey of an interesting fish I dont want to catch.

I recorded fifty two species of bird on the walk to meet Ben yesterday, falling a few short of "the record", which will fall very shortly I reckon.

Heard a cuckoo for the first time this year and there's whitethroat, blackcap, several nightingales, swallow and warblers too. Swifts a few weeks away I guess. 

I've been doing well on the mullet, having a fish most trips, even if there just twenty or thirty minute sessions. I'm tempted to say I've got it sussed....but won't tempt fate.

In the week I spied a decent bass in a few inches of water by some "structure", more specifically a shopping trolley. It's very attractive to the mullet too , which feed off the algae that's built up on the metal.

A session on the lures after the bass is forthcoming, if I can put down the fly rod.

Good Times

Sunshine, no rain, more and more light, the good times are here again.

Bit of fossil hunting the other day which resulted in a decent haul,

then a big walk and poke about along the estuary and woods with The Chubmeister General. Bloody lovely day.

Wood anemones, bluebells, cuckoo flower, wild garlic, it's all out now. Get out there and enjoy every last drop of the spring. 

Somehow I'm in the groove with the mullet already. 

Another one this evening on a super short session and a good one too, 4lb 10oz.  Fought like a demon.

Bit of work tomorrow morning then I might have another quick go if the weather is OK. Love it.

Almost forgot, to cap it Ipswich beat Norwich and those Arsenal turds lost. Perfect.

Smart Arse

I did a little garden job first thing in the morning for an old lady and on my drive back went over the bridge and stopped for a recce. 

Nothing. Bit strange.

I went a mile upstream and got the bins out. Difficult to see with a light south easterly blowing. Was that a fish? Focusing in on the spot, another movement. Definitely a fish.

Wellies and jacket on, rod grabbed and a couple of minutes later my fly lands in exactly the right spot, about two foot from the shore. It happens sometimes !

Less than five minutes later I was admiring a nice thin lip. One cast is all it took.

Home for coffee by 10.00 , with a few quid and a fish in the bag. I wish every day would start like that.

In The Bag

The wind dropped. Me and Bazza walked along the upper tidal, on the look out for mullet and here and there were pockets of fish in good numbers.

I returned in the evening and wangled the first fish of the year out on the fly, the fight slow, long and relentless. 

A very young looking fish of around 3.5lb.

A good start. We just need some good weather now and it'll be perfect.