A bit late with this post this week, but refurbishing my utility room has rather taken up most of my time.  The job is mostly done now and a flagged floor with Belfast sink should make washing waders and other assorted gear a good deal easier.

It's rained pretty well every day since last Sunday so the November invertebrate check will have to wait until the river is a tad safer.  Even in moderate water there is a pretty fierce tug over the rocky substrate that makes wading less than easy and it's well nigh impossible to use a staff and grapple with the sampling net at the same time.  Swimming in the Ribble at this time of year is not my idea of fun.

We now have confirmation from the Woodland Trust that they will supply and plant a thousand native hardwood trees on our fishery.  Some of these are destined for the far end of the Tarn with the majority to be planted in pockets between Turn Dub and the Pennine Bridleway site.  There is some good spawning gravel on this beat and the tree cover as it matures will provide habitat to encourage salmon and trout parr to remain resident here.  In the longer term these trees should also offer some good refuge for mature fish and encourage an increase in fly life.

The aim is to get the contractors on site in the New Year and have the job completed well before the commencement of the new fishing season.  Thanks are due to the Trust for their generosity, Gavin for all his support with the Tarn fence and Geoff D for agreeing so readily to planting on his land.

Ian