Best Day Ever?
How about a blog nothing to do with Invasive Weeds? I spend most of my time writing, talking or dealing with Invasive Weeds but in my spare time (what little there is of it) I go fly fishing.
Over the bank holiday weekend I have had my best ever days fishing - perfect weather, perfect location and perfect company!
I have a property in Alport (near Bakewell, Derbyshire) situated within the Haddon Estate - the house is on the confluence of the Rivers Lathkill and Bradford. With some luck I have managed to get a rod on both rivers giving access to some seven miles of glorious dry fly fishing on what I believe should be recognised as some of the best fishing in the country.
The rivers are managed by Warren Slaney - who in my eyes is a true environmental hero. Initially I was skeptical about non- stocked waters and natural breeding trout populations - but it just goes to show how little I know about managing rivers!
Over the weekend I have caught fish from 3 inches to nearly two and a half feet varying from a few ounces to over 2 and a half pounds - all carefully returned to the river none the worse for being caught. Dry flies with barbless hooks are used to ensure little damage to the fish - all fish are hooked lightly in the lip as the fish sucks in the fly from the river surface ensuring little or no damage to the trout. Once they have been hooked the fish tend to sulk for a short while then return to feeding within an hour or so - often in exactly the same location as where they were caught!
So a perfect weekend…
But back to reality - now what can I say about Japanese Knotweed
…….there isn’t any on either the River Bradford or the River Lathkill!
