A great mixed bag of fly fishing yesterday courtesy of my pal Bernie Maher. First up was a couple of hours on the tiny Bentley Brook, which provided both a good workout and fourteen lovely wild brownies to a size 16 Copperhead Pheasant Tail Nymph, on the point of a duo setup offered via a Jeremy Lucas presentation leader. The biggest, a horse for such a little stream, measured fifteen inches - a dark, hook-jawed brute of a male that had taken up residence at the head of a small weirpool. After a brew at Bernies it was then up to Press Manor fishery for sausage and tomato sandwiches, scones and more tea, before another bright and breezy session on the trout lake. Fish were rising sporadically to terrestrials in the margins, and it was huge fun creeping along the bank targeting them with a 9ft 4-weight and floating line. A small black hopper fished static accounted for two nice rainbows, while two pretty brownies preferred a small damsel variant twitched back close to the bottom. A third and final rainbow couldnt resist a dark sunburst blob shortly before it was time to go. With its lovely setting, welcoming atmosphere, quality fish and great scope for tactical variety, I couldnt recommend Press Manor highly enough. Thanks to Bernie for a superb day all round!
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:55:16 +0000