Let's start this morning with a couple of encouraging reports from early season fishers.  First up is Ian W who fished the Tarn yesterday.

Happy new season to you.Just to let you know that Geoff W & myself visited the tarn for the first visit of the season today, and, between us met with a modicum of success,Geoff catching three fish (one returned)and myself just the one. All,I might add, good examples of over-wintered fish, being bright in appearance and well finned.Also displaying no signs of "Pterodactyl" damage.

Second is an earlier report from a new member and records his first ever foray to the river.

Past you outside the Crown on Sunday, I had a great first day out around the back of the Tarn up to Dales Mire. Caught 2 nice trout (see attachment) and missed about 4. There were a few L.D.O. coming off the water but no fish rising, no doubt due to the cool breeze. Looking forward to upping my catch rates when I get used to the water and I find all the good pools.

I should explain that I was not partaking of Sandra's excellent ale on Sunday morning, but waiting for a prospective member who was at the time waiting for me about 5 yards away sitting in his car.  Carnations and buttonholes may be useful next time!

It's a glorious start to the day here with an almost unbroken blue vault, a slight smear of cloud and no wind.  There is a bit of a nip in the air, but as the day progresses and the sun rises it should warm up nicely and encourage a few fly to hatch.

The Section 30 permission to stock the Tarn on Saturday has arrived at long last.  It now takes over 6 weeks to get these permissions as each one has to be referred to Natural England for comment because of our native crayfish population.  I have managed to get approval for all our planned stockings this year between given dates rather than on specified dates so that if problems arise I can simply change the arrangements without needing to seek amendment to the S30 approval.  Fingers crossed that all goes well on Saturday.

Ian