We awake to a much better morning.  It's bright and sunny with a scattering of light, fluffy cloud.  The forecast is for a few days of good weather and, with the river dropping and losing colour, fishing for the rest of this week at least should be excellent. 

My young assistant came rushing up to see me after school yesterday in great excitement.  He was waiting for the bus by Settle weir and watched what he describes as an enormous silver salmon leaping the weir.  More evidence that really fresh salar are now in the upper river.  It would be interesting to get some idea of the presence of sea trout also but I know of few members prepared to spend the hours of darkness fishing the river. 

A couple of years ago I was in the Crown carousing one evening when I met a then member who was enthusing about the couple of hours he had just spent after sea trout.  He had got one down at the rock pool and was planning to go back at about half past eleven to see what luck he would have then.

He came up to see me the following morning to tell me that he got three more good sized fish fresh from the sea near Whit Beck and Brants Gyll and was absolutely delighted with his nights fishing.

So the sea trout are there and to go after them would make an interesting extension to an afternoons fishing following a supper in the Crown. 

Ian