Its a thoroughly miserable morning here in the valley with a strong east wind blowing yet more rain across the fells.  It's cold and very wintry.  A stark contrast to last evening when the rain gave over for a time, we had a dead calm and even a display of stars.  The Tarn looked perfect and put on a display for the Craven Conservation Group that made me very happy.  Fish were rising to a sedge hatch, waterfowl were scudding about, the swans were feeding and showing off and to cap it all the crayfish came out as it was getting dark, feeding and socialising in the shallows around the margins.

It proved nearly impossible to drag the group away and they spent the best part of an hour watching Austrapotamobius of all sizes going about their nightly business.

Just in case the crayfish failed to turn up I went down to a very swollen river earlier on and did a quick (and careful) kick sample the results of which I put in the hut.  This too prompted a fair bit of discussion and opened quite a few eyes to the diversity of invertebrate life in the river.  So, a very successful evening and a few more people who are now aware of the efforts that the MAA takes to conserve and enhance the wildlife on its fishery.

Fishing conditions here at present are really not good. As I said above, it's cold wet and windy with a river in full flood and a far from promising forecast.

Maybe I will see some of you at Horton Show tomorrow.  Look out for a white umbrella and a sign saying 'Guess the Weight of the Fish'.  If this wind does not drop the umbrella may be up on Ingleborough!

Ian