1 June-30 June 2006
June dawned bright and warm, and without that hoped-for spate the Ellen was running low. Nevertheless, anglers were out on Aspatria A. C. water and catching fish. Earlier predictions proved accurate when Arthur Dixon landed two sea trout at the beginning of the month: one just under a pound, the other around 1lb 8oz. Both were caught on spinner in the Arkleby Mill vicinity. Bill Blackett grassed a bigger fish of 2lbs from the Big Pool, also on spinner. Well done to Arthur and Bill-a very good effort in low water conditions.
By June's club meeting on the thirteenth, at least twelve of our recently stocked brown trout had been caught on fly, spinner and worm: Arthur Dixon reported four, Bill Blackett two, Mike Sowerby two, Nigel Williamson one, and a season ticket holder from Wigton three. (It was gratifying to hear that this angler had found permit information through our website!) On 21 June Clark Colman took a stocked fish of 15.25in (1lb 11oz) above the New Bridge, on a 5gm Flying C with a gold blade. The stocked brownies seemingly remain well distributed throughout our club water, and have been encountered as far upstream as Arkleby Mill, and downstream as far as the New Bridge vicinity. At just under 2lbs, Nigel's fish (caught on worm from the Baskets Pool) was the biggest of the month.
Clark Colman reported the biggest wild brown trout of the month, a plump 13.25in fish, and one ounce shy of a pound, which came from a narrow pool just above Pit Bank. It had been gorging on very small shrimps right up to the moment it was hooked on a size 2 gold Mepps spinner presented upstream. These tiny gammarus pose an interesting fly-tying conundrum; how to imitate them on a small-enough hook (say a 16 or 18), and ensure the pattern has enough weight to be presented hard on the bottom where the naturals are to be found. All suggestions gratefully received! On 16 June Dr Colman took another good wild brown of 12.25in (12oz) at the head of a narrow run below the Big Pool. This fish took a size 1 gold Mepps presented upstream and retrieved underneath an overhanging tree.
Sport with the fly has been more sporadic. The bright sunlight, high temperatures and low water seemingly sent bigger fish into the deeper, shadier water of lies difficult to cover with the fly. Dr Gardner caught wild brownies using down-and-across wet fly tactics in the Ellen Villa Bridge vicinity, and Clark Colman had some dry fly sport with a size 16 Adams near the New Bridge, but these fish were on the small side.
Report compiled by Dr Clark Colman (Vice-Chairman), 30 June 2006
Fishery Report 1st June to 30th June 2006
