Well, another week closer to the new season and Christmas is almost upon us.  What a week!  I think the river must get lonely if I don't visit it regularly as on Thursday it made a valiant attempt to visit me at home.  Those of you who know Newhouses will realise the effort involved here for whilst we are only about 200 yards from the water we are at least 15 feet above normal water levels.  Most of the meadow below the house was under water and its population of soggy sheep spent a worried night penned onto the high ground at the north of their field.  It all went down pretty quickly but it's the highest I have ever seen the river in winter.

The river has been too high these past few days to make trout redd spotting a practical activity, but it's clear and bright today and the forecast for the week is much more of the same so a trip up to Dale Mire is in order for tomorrow.

I had a very full and helpful reply from Danny Hughes at Lancaster University about remote water monitoring.  It may just be feasible to run a remote camera from home to monitor predators at the Tarn and this may have application for the Hatchery when it's up and running.  More on this when I have time to explore costs and practicality in more detail.

Members will wish to know that the next MAA newsletter will be out early in the New Year.  This will include arrangements for the AGM as well as updates on all current activities as well as stocking plans for the new season.  The AGM will be at Kearsley again, but ideas are welcome for an alternative venue in future years with less background noise.

I thought I would try out the new eye clay pigeon shooting yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to be able to see even fast, low clays that were totally invisible before.  So, it's off the Conistone shooting ground with the Pen y Ghent Gun Club after Christmas for more practise and some lessons.  Then, hopefully, I can give up membership of the clay pigeon preservation trust.

I will try to get one more posting in before Christmas but in the meantime have a festive Christmas and prosperous and troutfull New Year.

Ian