7 November 2014 - Actions Speak Louder than Words!!!!

Check out the new stock of 500 "Fin Perfect" Trout! 

Catch them if you can!!!

Friday 3rd October, 2014

Friday 3rd October

 

 

Plenty of bites and Trout being caught this week at Curleys after recent challenging times due to the hot weather!

In particular today; two 4lb Rainbow Trout caught today by member Don, on a Cats Whisker and Zonker.

You can still fish until 8pm and when the tackle shop is closed permits are available from The Dining Room.

We hope to see you all soon! 

 

18th Sept

The fishery will be open as normal over this weekend

i.e. 8am till 8pm for members

& 9am till 8pm for day permits

However the tackle shop will be closed Friday 19th, Saturday 20th &      Sunday 21st as I will be at the Midland Game fair doing some Tenkara Demos.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Sat 6th Sept

More activity from the slowly as the water temps decease.
Quite a few fish caught to dries with Daddies beginning to tempt the fish to the surface.
Generally the fishing is very weather dependant as has been the case over the summer.

Fishery open as normal W/C Sunday 7th Sept

Tackle shop closed Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th 

Open the rest of the week at 10am

Tackle shop opening hours

Until further notice the new tackle shop opening times will be as follows:

Monday and Thursday to Sunday  open at 10am
Tuesday and Wednesday closed

Fishery open times
Members 8am to 8pm 7 days per week

Day tickets permits (available from the cafe when the tackle shop is closed)
9am till 8pm last permit sales 6pm. 7 days per week.

Sat sun 8th and 9th Aug

Sorry folks but the tackle shop will be shut on Sat and Sun the 8th and 9th Aug.
This fishery will still be open and you can get your permits from the cafe from 9am.. Last permit sales 6pm.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

Coarse fishing weekend

Hi all I have been asked about the rules for our coarse fishing weekend on the fly lake, so here you are:


Any hook bait can be used, maggot, bread, pellet, corn, worm etc
NO spinning, plugs or lures and NO ground baiting.
 You WILL need a keep net in order to transfer the fish to the small coarse lake at the end of your session.
 PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT A WAY OF SIMPLY FISHING FOR TROUT USING BAIT!
 Anyone who purely targets trout will be asked to leave!

Large bags can be expected! Enjoy

Thursday 31st July

The new stock of lures have finally reached us after having been held up in customs for about 3 weeks!!
Some great patterns and still at the very competitive price of 75p per fly or 10 for £6.50.

Much better weather for fishing now, the water has cooled a little and more showers forecast - all good.

Mon 28th Update

Relative beginner on this morning who had about 5 rainbows and 2 browns on a 2 hour permit. Best time fly fishing he has ever had!!

Fly Fishing picks up

The fly fishing has been in the doldrums the last few weeks with all the hot weather and dry conditions. Now we are seeing a bit of rain with showers forecast and the temps have gone down the fish are far more lively and no doubt hungry. As this trend hopefully continues the fly fishing will get back to its best until the next heatwave!

Don't forget the coarse fishing event this coming weekend.
I have seen lots of larger perch, roach, bream and carp knocking about sun bathing in the conditions!
Don't forget you need to pre- book if you want to fish early on any of the coarse days.

9th July

Well the last forecast of torrential rain didn't really materialise, I wonder if the next lot will?
Recently 2 or 3 fish has been a good result as the Rainbows are all over the place and don't know when to twist or stick?
The majority of the trout are still deep but some are lolling in the surface.
I had two of my instructor trainees here on Monday for a lesson in double handed casting and they were both simply using a tag of red wool on the end of the leaders. Both of them got follow after follow with trout being really aggressive, if they had been using flies then they both would have caught plenty.

Tactics to use  - simply think outside the box, avoid your "go to use" method and flies that have been hidden away in the depths of your fly boxes and haven't seen the light of day for years!!!!

Sat 5th

Overcast rainy conditions today as forecast, the fish will still be relatively deep but if this keeps up then they will start to rise nearer the surface.

My approach for what it's worth would be an intermediate line and a team of buzzers. Any good buzzer - ish,  pattern is worth trying - epoxy, skinny, with or without breathers, daiwl bachs, cormorants, Black Pennel, Bibios, etc etc.
Alternatively go more hard core with a sinker and a team of blobs or a couple of boobies and strip back quite fast but deep!
Tightlines

3rd July

Well at last the weather looks like breaking into a wetter but cooler spell which is desperately required for all types of fishing. Coarse, trout, rivers, stillwaters and reservoirs have all suffered from this long lasting period difficult conditions. Hopefully with a bit of rain everything will brighten up and wee can get back to some good action.

Those who have had the experience, knowledge and tackle have been able to overcome the worst bits of the conditions but is has been fairly slow going for everybody.

I had Jeff Prest the features editor of TROUT FISHERMAN MAGAZINE contact me to ask if I had any special tips for overcoming these conditions for an article they are doing - so it has been a National problem not localised!

So let's get back to fly fishing ------ lots of insects about, buzzers of course, but also gnats and sedges. THE mayfly hatch has now stopped but has been replaced with some smaller mayfly species the pond olive.

Tightlines

Wed 11th June

Mixed weather patterns still abound - sunny one minute and then thunder and lightening the next!
Fish during the good parts and you should have a decent return,

DO NOT FISH DURING THUNDER AND LIGHTENING!!!

Jim McGinley top rod recently with 6 fish one over 5lbs

Received the first batch of new flies to stock - dries, buzzers, nymphs and wets - just waiting for the lures and they should be here anytime now!

Mon 9th June

Bit of a mixed week, some very good days with large catch rates and at other times it has been a little more hard.
And what's the reason for that I hear you all shout! Well of course it's the damn weather - continuous alternating between lovely summer days and back to autumn does nothing at all for the fish! They just mope about and wait for things to improve.
Long range weather forecast is for showers will Wednesday then sunnier days!!
Let's wait and see what happens...........
If you do catch us on a "good" day then some of the bigger fish are beginning to show - quite a few caught in the 4 to 6lbs range!!

Tues 3rd June

Stocking today with some lovely rainbows and some smaller Brownies.

The Brownies are an experiment to see how they go! Hopefully they won't "disappear"!

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL BROWN TROUT ARE CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY!!!

Bank Holiday Monday

The rain hasn't appeared yet but the bright sun has made fishing a little tricky. Earlier the fish were rising all over the west bank of the lake taking sedges and gnats off the top. Bob's bits and black klinks doing some damage!
I even managed a few myself during a visit from Clive from the Midlands who came up for a float tubing lesson. He managed his first fish on the fly and obviously his first from a tube.
Yesterday was a red letter day for most, lots of fly fishers registering over 5 fish in the  session. Top rod was Jonny Stuart who caught 14 fish in a 2 hour spell!

Let's see what the week brings......

Bank Holiday Weekend

A reasonable start to the Bank Holiday weekend, the weather is appreciably better than forecast but has still made the fish go quite deep.

A variety of methods and flies being tried and that's really the key to it when the fish aren't trying to climb up your rod.

1. Keep on the move 
2. Keep changing flies 
3. Most important of all keep trying differant depths

22nd May

Well it's been a rather up and down last few days. The fishing was quite hard over the sunnier periods with the fish going deep and lethargic. It has now changed to wet and cooler so this should get them back to being more active and feeding again.
Don't forget that the use of an intermediate or sinking line is not just for winter, they must also be used when the temperature goes up as well.
During the sunny days we had a great illustration of just one of the differences between coarse and salmonids. The roach were popping on the surface sun bathing and the trout were sulking in the depths!

If you have to go deep then normally slow your retrieve down, however in very bright days with little or no wind, then you can try a sinker with a team of blobs and strip them back as fast as you can! This tactic is certainly NOT from Isaac Walton's school of fly fishing, but can be effective nonetheless.

Sat 17th May

Last few days have been good top of the water fishing. Almost any dry buzzer pattern in almost any colour has been working.  Shipmans, Suspender, Shuttlecock and Klinks take you pick

Here's a copy of an email sent in recently from John Burrows.....

Mike........thanks for the advice to try either a klinkhammer or a shipmans buzzer last night at Curleys ........after an hours fishing with just a  single pull  with an olive buzzer, I switched to a black shipmans on a 14 hook.......bang...second cast straight into a decent size bow........I found that varying the retrieve when bringing the line back in seemed to get the fishes interest ,,rather than individual retrieves after each cast, also I let the fly drift naturally in the water prior to my retrieve..... ........finished the night with 5 fish........cheers mate.......John.......

Well done John but the best way to fish these patterns is without any retrieve - just let them drift about and manage your line to "keep in touch"

You can also keep up to date with what the fishing and other things at Curley's by looking at our facebook page here   

Monday 12th May

Good to be back after a busy weekend at the SportFish Open Weekend in Reading.
Whilst I have been away lots of fish caught even though it hasn't been the best of weather. Inevitably Jim McGinley was top rod with 12 on Saturday and is on his way to reaching to same number today. The fish are near to the surface and seemingly willing to take almost anything!

Here's a couple of interesting You Tube videos shot at Curley's by my mate Ant Glascoe Jr.
The first shows the sunken boat off the boat pontoon - it has certainly deteriorated since it last saw the light of day some years ago.

The 2nd film shows a pike coming to have a ganders at the camera.

No1
http://youtu.be/7uiUZSlJjHY

No2
http://youtu.be/dsa4fBCGvNA

Thursday 8th

Warmer temps and drizzle has created a massive hatch of sedges and buzzers, fish rising all over the lake. A lot within reach of the pontoons but would be a great day for float tubing! You would catch that many fish it would be like water skiing!

Float tube kits available for hire including fins for boot foot or stocking foot waders. All you need are your own chest waders and the ability to smile and laugh a lot! Defo the best fun you'll ever have in waders!

7th May

The weather has turned wet and breezy but it has put the fish off. Plenty being caught mostly on lures and buzzers.
Lots of Hawthorn flies and sedges around almost everyday now. Hawthorn hatch won't last too much longer though - take advantage whilst you can.

Most of the fish are at the cafe end and along the road but when the wind changes or eases this will also change.

Thursday 1st May

New month and lots going on in and around the fishery. Lots of fish in or near the surface, should continue as the slightly wetter weather starts the big buzzers hatches.

I will be at the very popular Fawcett's game show on Sunday from 10am, great place to look at all the shiny new tackle from lots of manufacturers. The show takes place on the river lune at the Underley Estates, signposted from Kirkby Lonsdale.

The following weekend I will be demonstrating at the big Sportfish weekend show at Reading
See here for more details  Click here for all the info

Amongst all that is going on all day at Curley's it's easy to forget that amongst other things it's a haven for all kinds of wildlife. This a a little clutch of Yellow Wagtails just a day old!

Monday 28th April

End of April is in sight and still no traditional "April" showers! Not much of a problem for stillwater/reservoir fishing but some of our rivers are beginning to suffer. Curley's gets fed by a network of underground culverts that bring spring water into the reservoir and with its depth two if the reasons it does not suffer like other waters in droughts and very warm summers.

Fishing been on and off over the last few days, top rods recording 9 fish and on other days as few as 2 or 3 but that's fishing for you! The wind has at last turned to a soft Westerly and as a result things are warmer, which should trigger the top of the water action again.

The NW Nomads are holding a presentation by one of the North's good competition fly fishers, Nick Halstead.

Saturday 17th May in the Ivy Room at Curley's. It starts at 6.00pm. It's only £7.00 entry and includes a Hotpot supper.  Draught and bottled beers, wines and spirits available to purchase.
Should be an interesting and informative evening.

Friday 25th April

Such a different day from yesterday, the colder Easterly wind returned and kept the fish from rising freely like they were yesterday. As a result fishing was a little harder and very little dry fly action. Fish were still about however and the top rod was Jim McGinley with 6 fish upto 5lbs.
Buzzers are still the most successful flies and technique just let them drift around in the breeze.

Thurs 24th April

A beautiful day at the fishery. Warm sun and a gentle warm breeze.
This triggered a large buzzer hatch and a good hatch of sedges on the water.
I even wet a line myself and managed a few to a black G&H sedge.

One thing that is becoming a serious problem is the amount of discarded leader material being left all over the fishery.

The picture below was collected from just ONE pontoon in a day!!

This is NOT acceptable behaviour from anyone and goes against the values of all responsible fly fishers

So from now on I will be keeping a close eye on EVERYONE who is fishing and I will take action against the culprits. I have never banned anyone from Curley's ever but that might happen in the near future!

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!

Easter Monday

The easterly wind still persists but just a breeze today and a lot warmer. I would predict that it will be a good buzzer and possibly dry fly day!

Got an email from Rob Allen who was fishing yesterday

Hi Mike, 

Just wanted to let you know I finished up with 9 fine fish in the end (last one around 5/6lb on a dry, magic!) thanks again and I'll be back soon!!!

 Rob Allen

Sent from Samsung mobile

Don't forget the last day of the Easter permit offers 4hour permit allows you to fish for 6hours

Easter Saturday

Good Friday turned out to be very good for some especially when the wind died down a bit and the fish began to show at the surface.

Yesterday's wind has subsided to a breeze from the East and although the fish aren't as yet rising they are willing to tke buzzers just under the surface. Quite a few fish caught already this morning

 Gary from Coppul with a good Rainbow and Syke having a ganders!

Jim with a fiesty fish one of 5 this morning up till now and it's only 10am!!!

When the wind dies it will be good dry fly action, I'm sure!

17th April 2014

9 fish were caught earlier today despite the weather, on white fritz with a blue flash - don't let the weather put you off - the fish are still being caught!

Fish Galore!

Lots of fish being caught at Curley's, Ian Harwood has had over 30 fish from 3 short visits, Mick Stuart had 9 fish from a previous session and has been rewarded today with a good 5lbs over wintered Rainbow.
The fish are mostly just under the surface when the breeze is out but then are beginning to rise to large buzzer hatches in the calm.

EASTER BONUS

buy any 4 hour permit and fish for 6 hours

 - 2 hours FREE!!!

buy any 6 hour permit and fish for 8 hours 

- 2 hours FREE!!!

valid from Easter Thursday 17th April through to Easter Monday 21st April

Update
Day permit holders just left
One caught 6 fish ALL over 3lbs
One caught 7 fish from 2 1/2 upwards

Friday 11th April

Fishery all stocked (again!) and ready to go.
Prospects looking good for the weekend, decent weather and warmer water plus lots of fish equals very good sport!
Curley's has probably got a higher stocking level for this time of year than any other year in its history! What are you waiting for?

Black buzzers

Black buzzers are still doing the business here at Curley's but you need to have the right pattern.
There are loads of different buzzer patterns, skinny, epoxy, shipmans, shuttlecock, daiwl bachs, magic, etc etc but the one that is working the best is the epoxy buzzer with white breathers. This white feather replicates the external "lungs" of the insect.
In our fly selection we have our breathers tied extra long so that you can cut them down to what you want or more importantly what the fish are taking. Other insect patterns are also working but mainly in size 14's small nymphs and wets.

Thurs 3rd April

Buzzers galore

As I posted yesterday one of the reasons why Curley's is such a good buzzer water is the fact that there is a good layer of silt on the bottom of the lake which provides a good "nest" site for these little chironomids

 In the photo above you can clearly see this layer of silt, the bank closest, is where the soil from the little coarse lake was dumped and the silt here is at least 12ft deep! Also you can see on the top left of the photo, a drop off. This is covered by the top 3 pontoons and about 20ft from the end of the pontoons, an interesting feature when you are using a sinking line!!!

In this photo you can clearly see the now "famous" boat, a 17ft canal cruiser. When the lake was drained this appeared and as it was so badly worn out it could not be moved as it would just crumble under the weight. It is still there now about 30 ft from the end of the boat pontoon. You can also see how steep the bank is at that end. Again look at the silt in the basin of the lake.

Buzzers, daiwl bachs and an assortment of wets are catching fish all over the lake. The current winds are keeping the fish from rising freely but they are only just under the surface.

Nearly Spring?

Some great days fishing recently, especially Tuesday. One of those days when everybody on the water caught fish and lots of them, the rod average being just over 5 fish per rod per session. What made it even better was that quite a lot of them were on dries. There were some huge buzzers hatching all over the lake and the fish were making the most of it.
When conditions are right the buzzer fishing can be quite amazing. One of the main reasons is the amount of silt on the bottom of the lake especially at the cafe end.
Tomorrow I'll post some photos of the bottom of the lake from when it was drained in 2005 and you will be able to see the amount of silt dumped into the lake from when the small existing coarse lake was dug out. Also you will so the famous 'boat' that is submerged near the boat pontoon. So more tomorrow.......

W/E 29th March

Bit of a mixed week due to the weather. Most days delivered fish to most rods top rods managing 5 and 6 fish. However hard work when the cold wind was blowing.
Most significant change this week is that the fish are taking small naturals like buzzers, daiwl backs, wets etc. lures not really doing the business! All we need now is for the warmer temps to continue and bring on the surface feeding!

Sat 15th March

Bit of a topsy turvey week for fishing. Last weekend fish were caught for fun all over the lake. Returns varied from 2 or 3 fish to 16's and 17's.
Since then it has been a bit tougher as the weather deteriorated back to winter and the fish are more inactive and far deeper.
It can only get better ............

Today is the start of the brown trout season and very soon you will all have to renew your E.A. licences, if you have not already done so. Don't get caught out, it can be a big fine!!!

I can do this for you online at Curley's if you have a debit or credit card or form any main Post Office.

Spring is in the air!

Look at this email from Gary Tonge

Hello Mike,
Just wanted to drop you a mail re today session.

I started fishing around 9am, using a intermediate line, cats whisker.

I changed to numerous flies without success and switched to a floater same results.

I asked the guy who caught 16 the other day and he kindly gave me a small egg fly, again no success .

I paid Mrs Roden my fee and bought a number of different coloured egg flies from the shop and as going to give it another hour.

Then the fun started on the peg furthest to the right, they went mad for these white egg flies, only around 5 ft from the bank, I ended up with a tally of seven, my best day ever fly fishing full stop.



Well done Gary glad you enjoyed yourself......... and also glad the Missus is taking some money while I am away doing demonstrations with Sport Fish in Reading!

6th March

Sent by email

Ken Sexton 5 March 19:29 Unbelievable afternoon 16 fish in 4 1/2 hours. Thanks mike just the tonic I needed. Ken came fishing for some much needed R&R but ended up having a good "workout"

5th March

All the fish are now wide awake!!
The last stocking has had the right effect in revitalising the hundreds of over wintered fish and the water is fishing really well with catches of over 15 fish per session being returned.
All floating line stuff with a variety of flies from wets and nymphs to lures.

As the new fish get accustomed to their new home they are most than willing to come up to the surface and take midge, so if the mild spell continues might be time to break out all those dries!!!

Sunday 2nd March

Lots of people catching, mostly on floating lines and white coloured lures. Inevitably the "Cats" are doing well. Some of the newly stocked fish are still shoaled up in little pods so the chances are if you catch one you catch plenty! Top rods last couple of days,  Jim McGinley yesterday with 7, Ian Harwood on Friday with 6.

Annual memberships are available for Curley's fishery. We have kept the price to the same £300 it's been for the last 3 years. The membership year starts on 1st April but if any new person wants to join immediately then they can for only £325.

Member benefits included:
1/ fish whenever you like for as long as you like, 7 days per week.
2/ take up to 5 fish per week but no more than 2 in any one session.
3/ members can pike, coarse or fly fish.
4/ exclusive discounts in the tackle shop from time to time.
5/ secure car parking
6/ full facilities in the dining rooms
7/ toilets available, the toilet on the front patio now available outside of cafe or tackle shop hours.
8/ fishery open normally 8am till 8pm 7 days per week

Gift vouchers available if you want to make membership a present!

Phone mike on 07786 682272 or email mike@curleysfishery.co.uk

Fishery stocked

Just took delivery of some very good looking rainbows and blues from 2 1/2 upwards. All fully finned and waiting to go.
Trying to upload a pic but BT internet playing silly bu**ers!
Will try later......once recovered the will to live!!!

At last pic of the delivery truck. This truck has 4 different containers for the fish each one can carry about 50 kilo or so of fish safely with extraction and oxygen units in each. The fish can be netted and carried into the water or shot through a plastic pipe directly into the lake. Dependant upon the "new" water conditions the fish can take anything up to 48 hours to adjust and come to terms with their new life. In optimum conditions a new stocking can make the older residents more active as they sense that there are new "immigrants" ready to steal their food! As our water is likely to be colder than the stock ponds they have come form the new intake will more than likely go deep as they acclimatise but.... on the other hand they might just start to leap about the place like mad who knows?

Sun 23rd Feb

Another mixed weather week at Curley's. Some day pleasant and mild other wet and windy. For much of the week the fish have been deep and fairly inactive but still catchable with the right tactics and set up.

Few item being sold off that you might want to check out..


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231165492296?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649
..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231163345281?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231165496487?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Alternatively have a good laugh at the top fly fishing instructor in the world!

http://youtu.be/TYdkojxrEsM

Sun 16th Feb

Curley's fish are still moving about even though the water temp has dropped again. Defo sinking line tactics.
Should have some more fish stocked next week.

Click here for some tips on casting on a film I shot over a year ago although it seems like a lot longer!
Note how I am now a slimline version of self albeit with longer hair and a beard?!?!?!

Feb 10th

A little bit of ice on the small lake today, not too much and it melted quite quickly. None at all on the trout lake fortunately.
A few fish caught today and still not that deep! Inevitably Jim McGinley was on the score sheet with 3 fish.

Thursday 6th

Interesting email from Keith Hilton on his first ever visit to Curley's

Hi Mike,

It was nice speaking to you on Sunday. I only caught 1 fish on a size12 olive buzzer. It was around 3lb and cleared the water 3 times. I caught it on my new GR50 5WT, which was good fun. In hind sight I fished too deep and should have moved to the pontoons. I spoke to another angler who had 3 fish fishing with snatchers and Bibios and about a foot deep. There were a lot of fish swirling at his flies and more fish showing than on the dam wall. I am confident I will do better next time.

I hope to join you for a guided trip later in the year.

Tight Lines

Keith


Nice report Keith, hope to see you again soon. Mike

Winter fishing

Cold wind last few days but the fish are still moving about, so much so that Phil Rees has had one fish on a Klinkhammer and a few more near misses - unbelievable in these conditions.
The rain is due to come back tomorrow and you may need some protection from the elements, why not try one of these

I have had one of these now for about a year and they are a brilliant jacket, you can spend a lot more than the asking price of £49.99 and not get a better winter piece of clothing.

February already!

First day of Feb and the first ice of the year but fortunately only on the small coarse lake. The trout lake is completely ice free and fishing well.
Member Ian Harwood with 3 fish already to the net on sinking line and bloodworm pattern.
Might be a bit cold on the hands and face but the fish obviously don't mind!

End of January

At the end of January the weather continues to be a bit Topsy turvey. Winter hasn't really kicked in yet, at least not as we know it. As a result some days when the climate is better produces some very good fishing days but it becomes more difficult on the worse days.
Just the last couple of days or so the fishing has been good, most notably on Tuesday when Nick Winward managed 7 good Rainbows on an intermediate line and an olive lure. Interestingly Jeff on the next platform using the same fly pattern but on a floating line only got a couple of 'knocks' Why is this??

A good intermediate line should sink uniformly on the level and when you retrieve the fly should come back almost in a straight line. With a floating line when you retreive you 'lift' the fly, then it sinks again, so you create a rolling profile with the retreive. This in itself can be a reason for catching or not as the case maybe!

Yesterday a couple of my new clients had their first go a fly fishing ever and caught a couple of decent fish each, however this was with an olive lure under an indicator!

So the fish are there and if you experimant to find the best method and you have a little bit of encouragement from the weather you should have a good enjoyable session.

Sat 25th Jan

If the forecast is anything to go by then we could be in for some colder weather that's after the torrential rain and high wind that's due tomorrow,
But then again the forecasts are never wrong are they?

So what's your opinion, if you have one?  Do you want to see Curley's become a "Trout Master" water again? We used to be part of this set up years ago, probably when it was first set up.
Recently there has been "noises" about the integrity of the results - what's your experience of this?
I would be grateful if you could let me know what you think by commenting below

Too much rain!

Not much fishing activity over the last 2 days far too wet and windy but I suppose we have to experience days like these it is winter after all!
Looking forward I am thinking of making Curley's a Troutmaster Water again. What do you think? Good Idea or not bothered - your veiws would be appreciated. Please comment below.
Cheers

Came across this UTube video  shot for Trout Fisherman in 2007 - not seen it for years!!
Do you recognise where it was taken outside the old, old mark 1 version hut at Curley's??
Anyway have a ganders and maybe a laugh!
http://www.gofishing.co.uk/trout-and-salmon/Section/Videos/Game-Videos/Game-Video-Search-Results/Techniques/Mike-Roden-on-fly-tackle-for-reservoirs/

Change on the mood

There has been a big change in the mood and activity of the fish over the last few days. Lures are very much taking second place to natural patterns. Bloodworm and buzzers fished static under an indicator, or with a very slow retrieve have been catching fish. Generally the fish have been around 10ft deep but obviously this will vary dependant upon water temps.
Tightlines

Weekend prospects

The water temperature has been steadily falling over the last couple of weeks. It is still unseasonably mild and a lot warmer then this time last year. Up to now the fish have been reachable, in the main, with a floater and long ish leader but as the temp drops more, as inevitably it will, you will need to use sinkers.
Another consequence of lower water temps is that the fish slow down. They don't feed as often or as long and basically mope about almost in hibernation. So don't expect them to chase about after your flies. As you go deep you also slow the receive down, a slow or very slow figure of eight retrieve can be the way to go.

This week the fishing has still been good with top rods getting 3,4 or 5 fish per session but you need to adjust your approach to match winter conditions. I am still seeing some fly fishers using the same tactics and methods that they have used over the last summer and autumn - it is highly likely that this just won't work! So if you want to catch fish then you must change to the fish catching methods!
Tightlines

Friday 10th Jan

Hi all, firstly sorry for the lack of updates thus far this year,  note to self belated New Year's resolution to improve!!
The fishing has varied just as much as the weather - some days very good and some a little bit harder work. Generally I have to say that for the time of year it is fishing more like late autumn rather than deep winter. On the better days there a lots of fish moving at the surface and can be caught without the use of any sinking line. The trick is to plan your visit around the better forecasts and I am sure you will be into fish.
No particular fly is working at present just a large array of lures predominantly.

A shout out to Ken Sexton long time member at Curley's who has "emigrated" to Spain. During our frequent chats he has said that he will miss the fishing and banter at Curley's but I am sure there are many compensating factors not least a bit of sunshine - all the best to you and your family, Ken see you when you visit "home"

Into 2014

Hi all
I guess for a lot of you it's back to work now and into the daily grind yet again. However I hope you all had a good break and it was good to see a lot of you doing some fishing over the festive period.
On the better weather days I has been good with the fish nearer to the surface than normal in December and even taking dries.
Some decent results with anything up to 5 fish for the top rods per session.

With some more stormy weather forecast it may give you an opportunity to do some "maintenance" on your fishing gear.

Rods just really need a wipe over with a damp cloth and then maybe a bit of a polish off with a dry towel. Pay particular attention to the rod rings to make sure they are particularly clean and also check for grooves especially on the top ring. You can also give the handle a good clean using warm water and a plastic pan scourer (not wire), this can get a lot of the in ground dirt and muck off the cork giving better grip. Don't use any detergent!

Lines need a good amount of attention. Floaters can be deep cleaned using a proprietary line cleaner (line Whiz, sold in our shop is as good as any). Intermediates and sinkers can be washed in warm water and then pull through some clean kitchen towel to polish off.

Reels - take them apart  wash out with warm water, dry off and if you want use a drop of reel oil but very, very sparingly.

As the saying goes look after your gear and it will look after you!