Here is my photo diary of
the year; I hope is triggers some good memories and gets you excited for the
season ahead.
All the best for 2014!
JANUARY
Rain then
snow
So if you thought it was
wet over this Christmas, just remember what it was like in January
2013...... this is our fishing cabin at Nether Wallop and what I usually
describe as the burbling Wallop Brook
FEBRUARY
Best Guide
Never
This still remains my
favourite You Tube clip from the year. It was part of the Fly
Fishing Film Tour which I am delighted to say we are bringing to
England in April 2014.
MARCH
Blown out?
The eight wind turbines the
height of the Post Office Tower planned for the Test valley were no idle
threat. The consensus seems to be that these will not happen thanks to two
critical policy changes since the application was lodged. Government subsidy
for land based turbines is being reduced and the final say on applications now
rests with the local authority rather that the Secretary of State.
APRIL
Making F M
Halford proud
The River
Test One Fly celebrated its fifth year and was won by a nymph
pattern. This year as a nod to the 100th anniversary of F M Halford's death,
the inventor of modern day dry fly fishing, dry flies will score double in this
year's event.
MAY
Buttercup
time
It may
have been late and it may have been wet, but the arrival of spring and the
Mayfly was worth the wait. This photo is of the River Dun at Mottisfont Abbey
which for three or four hours had the most sustained hatch and feeding frenzy
that I have seen in twenty years. You get a double hit on buttercups - the
yellow in the fields and the white in the river, for
ranunculus weed is
essentially a water buttercup with white flowers.
JUNE
Oh to be
in England ....
Hard to get much English
than this where the River Test runs between the thatched cottages in Wherwell
village.
JULY
Made in
England?
It was one of those years
for big changes in ownership; Fulling Mill Flies was sold by the founder to a
Scottish based syndicate. House of Hardy went into administration to be bought
by an American conglomerate who already own a roster of famous brands. Farlow's,
another Royal Warrant holder, was bought by a Russian with an impressive salmon
fishing pedigree. With Orvis opening a flagship store just a few steps from
Farlow's expect a fight for your custom!
AUGUST
In an
English country garden
I sometimes forget how
quirky and quintessentially English our chalkstreams are. I doubt you would
find anywhere else in the world where you are greeted quite like this with a
country garden to guide your way to the fishing.
SEPTEMBER
My man
Alan ....
I almost ran this photo as
a caption contest. It was taken at Nether Wallop Mill when we had a lovely
family for a tuition day. Alan Middleton, provided the instruction that day. I
reckon the girl is saying:
"I let my man Alan do
all my fishing for me".
OCTOBER
Kingfisher
shot at last
This kingfisher is our
daily companion at The Mill, scudding to and fro over the river and lake
creating havoc for the Bullhead population. Rarely do I have my camera ready
when he uses this perch, but just for once it came together.
NOVEMBER
Bonefish
time
It is been a while since I
have chased bones; every bit exciting as I remembered it being. I took this
shot with an Olympus Waterproof Tough TG-1 12 Megapixel camera which is the
best fishing camera I have ever come across.
DECEMBER
Sunrise
and moon set
I took
this shot at dawn on the top of the downs that divide the Test and Avon
valleys. It might not be fishing season, but it is a reminder that the
chalkstream valleys have beauty all year around.
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