A flurry of snow overnight and early this morning has reminded us that winter is just around the corner.  It's only a light coverlet, but the fells look stunning in the emerging sun and they stand out stark and white against a sky that's turning blue as I write this.

The months really seem to fly by now and it seems no time at all since I did the riverfly check for October. However, four weeks have gone by and Thursday morning found me up to my knees in the river at New Inn braving a bitterly cold north west wind to check on the health of our invertebrates yet again. I fought an even colder north wind yesterday to do the same at Turn Dub.  Both checks revealed no problems with very good numbers of Baetidae and all our usual families well represented.  You do live and learn though.  The second kick sample at New Inn threw up three rather puzzled looking bullheads which I retained in the sample tray to take a closer look at.  Big mistake!  I also noticed in the net a few gammarus which seemed to diminish in number as I counted them. I forgot that a bullheads favourite snack is a fat juicy shrimp and my three were making merry with the captive feast I had inadvertently provided.  Lesson, get the bullheads out quickly before they skew the results by eating the samples.

Crayfish Paul came to visit yesterday on his way to survey the site where it's planned next summer  to eradicate the remaining pocket of crayfish plague.  This is going to be a tremendous bonus for the crayfish, the fishery and the general health of the ecosystem of the river.  If all works then there will be little to stop the regeneration of the native crayfish population in the Ribble and we will gradually return to the way things were before plague struck eight years ago.

I sat for quite a while yesterday morning watching the small flock of goldeneye on the Tarn. These dapper little duck really appeal to me and it's a strange coincidence that my famous author namesake named his house in Jamaica Goldeneye. 

I have had one or two offers of fly tying equipment for the hut for which I am very grateful, but all further offers will be very welcome.  We are trying to build a fishing related library also so any books or videos that have ceased to earn their place on your bookshelf will also be welcome.

I have now worked up a detailed budget for the refurbishment and begun ordering materials to begin work on the internal dry lining.  If any member fancies a morning at the Tarn shifting stuff down to the hut do please give me a ring.  My number is on the newsletter.

Ian