Considering that my first port of call on Thursday was to have my eyes tested you would think that I might be able to distinguish between different makes of (similar) 4x4 and the profile of (very similar) members, but clearly not.  Twas not the President intent on pursuing sea trout that I saw at Austin's pool, but Mike H who tells me that he got a nice silver fresh run fish of about 15 inches as well as a small brownie.  I shall have to ask Boots for a refund on my eye test.

News reaches me of a new initiative launched by the RFCA recently.  This is an on-line forum aimed at those who regularly fish the Ribble especially for salmon and sea trout.  The site is in its early stages as yet, but looks as if it may offer a valuable way for those who fish the Ribble to share info and keep up to date with local developments beyond their specific fishery.  Find the site at http://ribblesalmonfishing.muux.org where you can register and become part of an expanding group.

Thanks to some remarkable joinery by David the Bates memorial bench has been refettled and refitted back in its place by the big rock outside the hut at the Tarn.  David has clearly spent a lot of time and effort bringing this bench back from the brink of a future as firewood and he has replaced about 60% of the old timber with new wood including two new arms and two new legs (a bit like Trigger's broom).  I have thanked David on behalf of the club and will talk to the Hon Sec about a more formal thank you.

Whilst we were fixing the bench back the Tarn was alive with rising trout seeking out the flying ants that were crash diving on the water.  It was absolutely flat calm and the rise rings spread far across the water interlacing, making complex geometric patterns.  Despite the number of rises fishing looked to be hard work probably on account of the presence of the ants which no one had in their fly box.

It's a gloomy, misty morning with just the hint of mizzle in the air.  Once again it's dead calm and rather humid which may bring on some good hatches despite the lack of sun.

Ian