Itchen trotting

[Silverfisher]

Had a few hours trotting maggots on the itchen navigation this afternoon in search of grayling on my way home from the coast. I generally try and fish this stretch once a year and it usually produces at least a dozen or so grayling with my best day near double that. That said today it was not the case as I only had 4 and they were only in the 5-10oz range so not really picture worthy. I didn’t see as many as usual but that wasn’t the reason for the small catch so much as the fact that the trout were feeding like crazy. I usually get into double figures with them alongside the grayling but today I must have had at least 20 ranging from about 4oz to pushing 2lb with plenty around the pound mark that were great fun to play in the strong current. In truth I could have probably found more grayling if I’d moved around more but the trout got a bit distracting! All in all as usual on this stretch it was a fun change of scenery to my local Thames and to be honest all the other rivers I fish as it is so different being narrow and only a foot or so deep on average meaning you can see all the fish. As I say this is usually an annual venue for me but I may have to put another session in before too long to make sure I persist with the grayling!

 

[Pompous git]

Looks a lovely bit of stream, bet its a cracking river to cast a fly.

 

[Silverfisher]

I have seen the odd fly fisherman down there over the years, involves getting in the water though with it being pretty tight on the path. To be honest it would probably be best to get in for trotting as well if you wanted to fish more than just the easy access swims.

 

[fredradac]

I keep telling anglers who fly fish for trout that they just need a handful of maggots!

 

[Silverfisher]

True haha, it’s only when you see how suicidal trout are when maggots come their way that you realise why they are daft enough to bits of fluff

 

[RedhillPhil]

They love sweetcorn too.

 

[Pompous git]

I keep telling anglers who fly fish for trout that they just need a handful of maggots!

If you take up fly fishing it gives you a good reason to go and buy another load of stuff, I do enjoy a bit of fishing retail therapy