All Night Disappointment

Well I'd looked forward to the All Night session at Witton for 2or 3 weeks but I'm sorry to say it was a big disappointment, for me anyway, probably again, due to the temperature of the water. All credit to Witton mind, plenty tea, coffee and juice, BBQ going, if you brought your own food, and friendly staff, but I had a feeling after last Sunday, when I blanked, and Friday when I stayed til 10 and only caught one, with no fish rising, that it might be hard going. I arrived about 9 and started fishing on small lake, lovely evening not much breeze and a few fish cruising around in top corner, but try as I did they showed no interest in my offerings ! I was hoping it would improve as the night wore on but a breeze got up and that seemed to put them all down. I went over to middle lake for an hour or so, but same thing. It wasn't quite a full moon, but it was a clear night and enough light to see my way about, hard seeing my line though and I didn't have a clue where my fly was  Went back to small lake, but after another blank session headed up to lodge for a welcome cuppa and sandwich and a bit chat. One angler I passed had ct 2 , and a young lad ct 1 when he arrived but nothing since. talking to 4 lads who were fishing bait lake, but they hadn't ct anything either, although I did get a burger from them   Took advantage of the light to put a new leader on and ask what fly I should be using ! I really was expecting to be fishing on the top, but of course this wasn't happening, so what do I use ? When its dark you think " can they see black buzzers, diawl bachs etc or do I use something light, cats whisker for instance," this was the first time I had fished in the dark , so I was literally, "in the dark" lol, anyway, this guy suggested a muddler, and funnily enough that's what I had put on, so off I went again. Still no success, so I went to the car for a while and waited for it to get a bit lighter. Started off again about 4am on middle lake and as it got lighter it really was a lovely time, and even a few fish were showing:shock: Moved over to big lake and loads of fish were just cruising around, backs out the water, great, I thought, this is what I've been waiting for ! Well I had the most frustrating hour, fish went for my fly, chased it when I twitched it back, but not one hook up  Went back onto small lake when fish eventually went down, and finished my session there getting a couple of pulls on a buzzer. Second blank in a week, but I can understand now why good anglers like Westcoaster put their rods away until September when it cools down a bit, problem is I love going and it's hard to stop, when the weekend approaches I just want to get out there  Anyway, it was a new experience, and I would do it again but not under the same weather conditions, the numbers were right down from the last one, where they had 38, this time there was only about 12. The only fish I know that were caught were 4 and 5 from 2 anglers, I would have liked 1 or 2 myself, but as they say " That's fishing" 

hi eric

me i would be more concerned seing fish with there backs out of the water just swimming around thats a stress sign top hats big drys muddlers best ive found in the dark ive done it once at beamish
but just never ticked my box still waters are spring autom winter venues even big reservoirs it gets bit tough but seems most days fish still get caught the oppersite last night derwent was fishing quite wwell on the evening time from 6 onwards i left about 8 lots of fish still on the feed looking at sheet one chap caught a lot on hoppers on dam wall

dAVE

Hello Eric,
It's a shame that the fishing wasn't as good as you had hoped but it sounds as though you still enjoyed it. I know that a few anglers have stooped now for a couple of months but it's just nice to get out fishing isn't it.
When I started fly fishing I thought it would just be to fill in between my sea fishing trips but to be honest all I'm doing lately is fly fishing.....as it's got a bit harder then I enjoy it all the more, I get home and can't stop thinking about what I should have done or tried.......it's weird isn't it.
I've been to Chatton twice this week....very hard going for me.

Regards Ian

Hi Ian, as you say it's great to get out and I did enjoy it in many ways but it is nice to catch a few lol, but you're right unless I've had a really good day I always wonder what I should or could have done, but that's the learning part of fishing I suppose. Depending on when I finish, and the weather, I'm thinking of going to Sharpley straight after work on Wednesday, so much for me leaving it for a while,   One place I thought might fish ok even with the heat, was Chatton, mainly because it is quite deep, but it looks like everywhere is being affected ! Hi Dave, I know what you mean about the fish and stress, but it did look as if they were feeding, just not on my flies:lol: Been reading a bit about Cow Green and really fancy giving it a try for something different, might have to wait until after I come back from Hols ( 23rd August ) if you fancy it !

Nice report Eric and you have learnt your not frightened of the dark.
Bet the owls were hooting.
Sea-Trout Fishing on Bishop water on a summers evening is the best time to be fishing in the dark.
If you like river fishing i recommend you try and invest on a season ticket. Surely £135 and all year round fishing with the 10% discount cant be bad. Thats baac water i am talking about.
I used to fish in the late evening on the lakes and a white GH-sedge sometimes worked or a white moth.