This is a bit more like it, wall to wall sunshine and a much reduced easterly wind.  Yesterday morning it was pretty miserable here in a very strong easterly blow that made fishing the Tarn well nigh impossible.  One member and his guest did try, but spent an hour or so drinking coffee in the hut then gave up and went home without getting the rods out.  It's not often that happens.

I spent a very enjoyable morning up at Ling Gill with Paul B setting up the pumps building dams and finally trying the pumps out to see how well they emptied the beck.  Surprisingly well is the answer.  In less than half an hour we had reduced the flow beyond the trial dam to a mere trickle so with a series of properly constructed dams we will be able to get the beck pretty well dry.  This will enable volunteers to pick out every stone in the bed and remove any resident crayfish and other wildlife to a safe area.  Then the main holding dams can be built which will prevent crayfish from washing over the Ling Gill falls and feeding the plague hot spot at the bottom of the falls.  The main project starts on Monday so this normally peaceful spot will be a hive of activity all next week.

Turning back to the fishery, the river is now very low and not worth travelling to Horton to fish.  There is little sign of any forecast rain so patience will be needed until we get some prolonged precipitation.  The monthly invertebrate check which I plan to do tomorrow will be a challenge in this low water, but the results do contribute to a better understanding of invertebrate population distribution in all water conditions.

Ian