Walthamstow - 20/06/07

Wow was it windy, it was still blowing from the SW but had strengthened quite significantly, the sun was also out as much as it was behind the clouds.

Started to fish the causeway with the wind coming over my left shoulder, but it was bringing my flies round to quickly, stayed there for about 0.5 hour and managed one pull.

Moved to the far bank on #5 and was casting to the small tower, had lots of pulls and the fish were grazing on the surface around mid-afternoon. Managed to get 3 fish. 2 had taken a new buzzer I had made which was tied very slim using stripped dyed green peacock herl (not from near the eye), black thread thorax, orange antron wing buds with white antron breathers.

After a while the shoal moved off and nothing happened for over an hour. I managed to get a cast right alongside the tower. The wind was still strong, although I was slightly sheltered by the walnut trees. Then I felt a thud, and a fish was on. It swam round in large open circles a few rod lengths out from the bank, it was a monster, all I could see was this large tail that came out of the water now and then as its head pointed down to the lake bed. Then it perked up, swam out an then in, then out..... then came back and circled. It took backing and then came back in, it did't fight like a rainbow and felt sure it was a large resident brown as the fight was so different.

After 10 minutes or more as I was startign to get the fish closer to the bank. BOLLOCKS the hook came free. This would have been my largest fish ever from Walthamstow, didn't get to see the whole of the fish and it may have been a double. Oh well gutted, it happens. The fish had taken the slim buzzer. Hopefully one day I well get another go at it!

Decided to move as the evening was drawing and was hoping for the wind to die down and the fish come up like in the previous evenings, but unfortunately this didn't happen. Must of been down to the wind. The swallows appeared although briefly. After trying several places and fishing till 9:30, I packed up and never getting another pull.

As a side note, a nice 2lb Brownie was caught in #5 on a buzzer, and the reservoirs are due to be stocked today (21/06/07).

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