The promised rain has arrived this afternoon and it's now falling hard and steadily so we should have some better water in the river by tomorrow after this long spring drought.

Before the rain really set n I did manage to get up to Turn Dub and do the invertebrate check at this site for April. The results were OK considering the poor water conditions and the amount of filament weed and algae in the water.  This made sampling very tedious as after each kick the net contained not only invertebrates but a fair ball of gunk which took time to sort through.  As a result I think the numbers within each family are probably on the low side as it proved almost impossible to get everything out of the gunk.  The detailed results are in the document library on the member's website for those of you who want to see them and have access to the site.  Once again, if you are a member of the MAA and have not yet got a user name and password for the site just let me know.

The Tarn continues to fish quite well.  Catch numbers are lower this week probably a reflection of the lower population density as we approach the next stocking on Saturday week.  Numbers of fish taken as against those returned are slightly up this year and I guess that this is due to the better quality fish we have stocked.  I had one of these on Sunday and was most impressed with the flavour and flesh density.

Paul B called by last night to tell me that he had turned off the pump at Ling Gill and returned the beck to water to see how well the dams performed.  The good news is that they are all totally level and working exactly as planned by impounding 4 nice pools which will progressively capture any crayfish that wash down the beck.  Today should see the installation of the angle irons to stop the creatures climbing over the dams in low water. Then it's a clear up at the site to return it to its former unspoilt condition.

When I was up there with the Hon Sec on Sunday we found a common lizard sunning itself on a rock at the top of the main falls.  Local wisdom suggests that common lizards are not so around here so it was a rare sighting.

We also learn that the forestry company will try to get their harvesting equipment up to Greenfield Forest on Thursday.  So expect some delay if you plan to fish the Tarn on Thursday and watch out for timber waggons on the lane from mid May.

Ian