It's official!

My luck seems to be changing or is it Rodder's fly?

Got to the river last night by about 9.00 pm. The conditions were perfect! That's happened to me twice this year so far! It was warm, slightly overcast and still. A real pleasure to fish the river - pure enjoyment!



I started fishing the pool between the ditch and the bush opposite where we tackle up. Half way down I had a confident and solid take and got into my first fish, a 4 1/2 lb sewin that fought like hell, taking yards of line off my real and causing a right commotion in the pool. I was fishing Rodder's Special tube and when I say the take was confident I mean that the fish took the fly in a perfectly relaxed, normal kind of way. It wasn't a savage take but I could tell that the fish felt comfortable in taking it and that it would be well and truly hooked!



As I approached the bush I had a gentle pluck, a bit like a brownie. I continued fishing down the pool and as I got to the bush on the far side another take happened. Again it was confident, again it was going to stay hooked! It was a bigger fish this time that started cartwheeling down towards the fast water, stripping 10 metres of line on it's first run. I tried to get below the fish but it took more line and was getting dangerously close to the fast current. Eventually I managed to get below it and beached it about 10 metres below the bush. It weighed 6 1/2 lb.



I then went around the corner and fished all the way down to the bend. I did this twice to no avail. I then thought I would try the pool opposite our base again and hooked a 2lb fish right by the bush which I believed was the same fish that had had plucked me earlier. I returned this fish to fight another day.




I fished on until 1.00 am, had no more takes, saw no more fish, didn't see a fish move all night but enjoyed every minute of it! Except the bullocks in the field between the river and the car! When I came back through the field last night, as quietly as I could possibly be, you would have thought that the 30 or so bullocks in there would have hardly noticed me wouldn't you? Like hell! They were chasing around me like maniacs, I was chucking rocks at them, shouting, waving my arms, running, everything! When I got to the gate I flung myself over it, heart thumping rapidly. As I picked myself up the other side and looked back at the 30 staring pairs of eyes I thought ' I'm too old for this'! Swines!

Catch to date (2007 Season)

2 No Seatrout - up to 2 lb (Torridge)
7 No Sewin - up to 7lb (6.5 lb, 4.5 lb) (Towy)
2 No Brown trout - up 1.5 lb (Torridge)(Towy)

Happy Birthday to me!

Guess what - it's my birthday today! I'm sat at home trying to work on the PC but I can't help thinking about the Towy and the fact that I am now 56!

I've heard it is raining heavilly down there this morning. Just hope it clears up for the bank Holiday weekend as I am hoping to sneak off down there at some stage.

John took some pictures of me in action on the car park pool the last time we were down there.

The expert at work!

Our patio on the Towy!

I have been meaning to put this picture up on my blog for ages. It's not me, I don't even know the guy but it has to be the picture and fish of this season on the Towy!

Amazing!

Cerith does it again!

Cerith has been at it again! A casual walk down to the river last night armed with his rod and a bucket of worms and bingo! This is his report.

After some rain monday night the Tywi was up 6-8 inches Tuesday. Not enough water to fish the bottom even though I couldn't see the marker below Crewil Pool. don't think there's one there. Fished the worm tail end of the pool between the hut and the snag. Caught a 7.5 bs grilse at 6.30 a couple of casts later lost another of similar weight. Went quiet for a while then with no bites. At 7.30 returned a 3lb sea trout, caught a 2lb sea trout and lost a good sea trout of about 5lbs. During this half hour i was having knocks on every cast nearly. Then it all went quiet again. Rained heavy tuesday night wednesday morning and the Tywi must be up 12+ inches and very coloured. If we don't have any more rain the river should start clearing tonight and tomorrow but i don't think shell take the fly tomorrow night. But there should be a few grilse and salmon about given the rain of the past month and you could well pick one up on the worm or the fly in the clearing water. Cerith

Well done again Cerith.

Best nights fishing for many years!

Last night was perfect. Cloudy, warm and the water was crystal clear and a fair height!

We knew it was going to be good from the start. Ok, no massive fish like the double figure sewin caught the night before, which Rod witnessed, but a good run of fish after about 12 o'clock. Running fish and Rodders Special fly - well that's a magical combination!

4 fish were caught by myself and John. John kicked things off with a 5lb sewin early on caught on the bottom beat between the ditch and the hedge, opposite where we set up shop! This is the biggest sewin he has ever caught on a fly! Well done John.

I followed with 3 fish - 2lb, 4lb and 7 lb - all on Rodders Special. They faught like stink and I lost one other big fish too! All of my fish were caught around the bend near the rubbish on the far side. The bigger fish certainly tested my new Sage Z Axis rod and Hardy Angel reel!

A good 7lb sewin - what a fighter too!

3 fish, 7lb, 4lb and 2 lb - good sport!

The HOT SPOT for me anyway!

Chris had a small brownie but wasn't lucky on this occasion!

I fished until about 3.30 am by which time the skies had cleared and the temperature had dropped a little. What a night! This is what sewin fishing is all about! Can't wait to go back.

I am cycling 50 miles for the British Heart Foundation!

On 25th August I am cycling 50 miles to raise money for the BHF.

I want to raise in excess of £500! Will you please sponsor me?

You can donate on line and securely, just go to:-

www.bhf.org.uk/sponsor/ajholmes

Here you can read my full story about why I want to raise funds for the BHF.

Go on, get your credit card out now!