Lough Corrib in approaching storm

Bull river in late afternoon light

Bull River, South-West Canada

Nice pocket water, Lamington, Clyde, Scotland

One of my favourite stretches on the Clyde

Upper Corrib, Galway, Ireland

Some of the best trout drifts in the world

Homage to the Killy Kettle

There is something very comforting about the killy kettle. Off the boat after a 4 hour drift on the Corrib; stretch legs; gather firewood; heat water; hot drink. Luxury wherever you find yourself!

What future for the trout of Rioja, Spain?

As I sit waiting out torrential rain today in southern Spain, I ponder the future of the trout in that wonderful area of Rioja further north. According to  research by the European Environment Agency, Spain and Portugal will be most affected within the EU by climate change. Storms, floods and droughts are likely to become more and more frequent with a significant rise in temperature expected.

Iberia is wedged between two continents with very different climes. Much of Spain is a transition area making it extremely sensitive to change (Atlantic- Damp Mediterranean - Semi-Arid Mediterranean-Semi-Desert).

The Pyrenees are likely to experience milder winters with more precipitation, and hotter, drier summers. These conditions are already reducing snow cover on the mountains since, in most temperate mountain regions, the snow temperature is close to the melting point and therefore very sensitive to changes in temperature.

So, many of Spain 's ice-age relict mountain floras and faunas, including trout, will be under severe ecological pressure.

A poem from the late Tang dynasty

Sadness at the hairs in the mirror is no longer new,

The stains on my coat are harder to brush away.

I waste my hopes by rivers and lakes, a fishing rod in the hand

Which screens me from Western sunlight as I look towards Ch'ang-an. 

Written by Tu Mu (803-52), a wandering poet of the Yangtse region, China. The sense I get from this poem is that fishing was a pastime in China 1200 years ago!

The world's rarest salmonid?

Photo by Wang Ching-hua

The Taiwanese "trout", the landlocked brook masu salmon, spends its life in the upper reaches of the Tachia river in western Taiwan. This protected species is a relic of Taiwan's most recent ice-age, when the Taiwan Strait became a land bridge as ocean water was transformed into polar glaciers, which cut off the migratory paths. 

Since this salmonid needs a low temperature to survive and reproduce, it only lives in several sections of the streams high up in the mountains that are only a few kilometres in length. A study has found that the equal temperature isotherm which defines the habitat of the salmonid has moved 1.6 kilometers upstream in one decade due to global warming.

How many fish survive? it's difficult to know, but perhaps only about 1600.

Source: Wei-Chun Tseng and Chi-Chung Chen
Dept of Applied Economics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40246, Taiwan 
Available online 3 August 2007. Journal: Ecological Economics.

The Pool behind Ch'i-an

Pond-chestnuts poke through floating chickweed on the green brocade pool:

A thousand summer orioles sing as they play among roses.

I watch the fine rain, alone all day,

While side by side the ducks and drakes bath in their crimson coats.

 By Tu Mu, (803-852)

Mandarin ducks, which never leave their mates, are symbols of harmonious marriage. 

Marble Trout

I wanted to give a plug to the Balkan Trout Restoration Group  for their efforts in conserving Marble Trout. I have never fished the River Soca, but have dreamt of it. Perhaps one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe? Clear waters with limestone bedrock giving rise to plentiful insect life. And the record for a Marble Trout was 40 lbs taken back in 1928.

But there are some big difficulties for conservation. The Balkans give rise to some of the most complicated evolutionary genetics involving trout yet studied. The three major catchments that drain into the Black, Aegean and Adriatic seas have each created separate strains of trout ( I hesitate to use the term species). But the picture seems more complicated than this. Siminovic (Jnl Fish Biology June 2007 vol 70) indicates more than 12 types of trout, postulating that Marble trout have a recent origin from the West Danubian stock. Snoj et al (same journal) have discovered a new type of trout on the River Neretva bearing characteristics between Marble and Softmouth trout (the so called Salmo Montegrinus). Torben et al (Biological Conservation May 2007 vol 136) warn that hybrids between Brown trout and Marble trout are fertile and become predominant due to greater fitness.

These findings indicate difficulties for Marble trout rehabilitation. Hybridisation may soon be the end of some species. But part of me thinks that it is a wonder that so many types of trout have managed to retain genetic stability in such a small area. Perhaps this gives us hope!

Corrib drifts

Some of the very best wild trout fishing off the shallows of Coad, Bilberry, Morgans and Innishbeagh. A true trout wilderness that keeps drawing you back year after year. 

Fullers Earth

The best line sinkant formula, better than any proprietary pastes on the market:

1. Mix Fullers Earth with washing-up liquid, until you get a thick paste
2. Add a few drops of Glycerine to prevent it drying out.
3. Store and carry in air-tight film cannister. 

Geoffrey Bucknall at British Fly Fair

It was a real privilege to meet and chat with Geoffrey Bucknall at the British Fly Fair.

His book "Fly Fishing Tactics for Brown Trout", ranks as a landmark in angling books. His emphasis on light tackle and the need to imitate the movement of the fly in the water in the context of a trout's feeding behaviour made a lasting impression on my approach.

A real gentleman, full of knowledge and insight.

Cross Ford, River Clyde, Scotland

Upper Lamington, River Clyde, Scotland

Towards Tinto from the Clyde, Scotland

Fisher in the Hills

I reviewed Robin Ade's wonderful book a few months ago, Fisher in the Hills - a season in Galloway,  and I see that his work is now showcased in  Fly-Fisher and Fly-Tyer magazine.

Mr Ade tells me that he is writing a second edition to his book. Here is a copy of one of his paintings that he kindly sent me of a Deugh trout.

 

Where am I with fly-fishing?

10 indications of progress in my fly-fishing?

1. Sparse is better - less kit, less expense, less choice, more skill required.
2. Difficult-to-catch small trout are better than easy-to-catch big trout. Difficult to catch big trout are sometimes better but it depends.
3. Most of my time is spent in watching and in particular, listening. Melding into the environment is a crucial part of the fly-fishing experience. Having no definite presence, no definite colour.
4. Being very quiet, even with myself!
5. I dislike competitions
6. The understanding of insect life is becoming more important to me.
7. I prefer light-weight rods and DT lines. I prefer middle action rods and a lazy casting style. I prefer relaxing
8. Not sure I want to visit another fly-tying and fly-fishing fair again. A proper merry-go-round. It's a bit like a soukh in Muttrah, Oman, but not as good smelling.
9. Geology and topography are becoming more important.
10. I don't think I will ever try float tubing.

 

I acknowledge Roger Fogg's site for giving me the stimulus to think on this.