I had a thoroughly enjoyable and really educational afternoon yesterday.  The river was in near perfect condition with a good flow and just a light peaty tinge to the water.  The wind blustered a bit but frequently dropped to give quite long still spells.  So Alan Maden took me to look for salmon  between Row End and Cragg Hill.  To begin with it was quiet with nothing moving in the more popular lies but down in the run just above Parkers Wood Alan struck a 7 lb hen fish that took with such vigour it seemed at first to be twice as big.  This was a superb fish showing very little colour and can't have been in the river over long. 

There is something uniquely satisfying about being by a river when it's flowing at its optimum.  The sound of the water on the riffles and falls seems to be pitch perfect and gives one a sense of well being and an appreciation of nature in perfect balance.  All in all a very good afternoon with one important lesson, I must get my casting sorted for next season so lessons are the priority for the winter.

As we fished down the water dropped appreciably and, since we had no rain last evening and the weather is still, bright and fairly warm today, it will continue to drop off.  The best of conditions have now gone for the time being but it's still worth a visit today.


Ian