Flyfishing FWSW

I guess I boldly stated that I had made the last trip to Germany’s Sauerland region
the last time but well it was not.
One of my friends was asking me if it was too late in the season to go there again
and I could only reply that it was not.
Trout season had indeed closed down but some streams that had grayling in them
had an extended season as the grayling season was closed in March and April.
So off we went for a couple of days in the mountains where the foliage was
blowing of the trees in a rather quick pace.
Less pressure of other anglers now and fish still responding well to the dry fly as
sedges were often about in numbers.
I could say that this was the last trip as winter was coming and the area visited was
known as a place for winter sports but well, you never knew 🙂

As troutseason overhere ended on Oct, 20th I made one last outing to the mill pool
in the hope of catching that big brown trout that had gotten off some weeks ago.

It was an unusual warm and somewhat windy day and fish where rising quite
early in the day … I did however not spot any trout.
Fished the dry for most of the day and tried to coax the predators out with a
streamer but it seemed nobody was in the mood for that.
Plenty of insects about and I thought the fishing would really take off in the
afternoon but strangely it died down.
I was puzzled as I noticed many fish moving about over the shallow sandbar and
none would take interest in either dry or nymphs.

I still caught a few fish but action was slow and so I left before sunset when the
temperatures went down the drain.
The last light lit up the newly ploughed fields … I guess we will not see that kind
of water again this year 🙂

Took the day off to have another shot at the mill pool before it was closed as trout season ended here
on Oct. 20th.
The day started chilly, bright and very windy and for some moments I thought a little extra layer of
clothing might have been in order.
The stocked rainbow trout where nowhere to be seen and so I concentrated on catching the shiners
that now ventured freely in the mill pool again without the risk of being chased by hordes of trout.
As the elderly couple had requested a few trout for the table I went to look for them and found
out that fishing the nymph was not the ticket to catch them.
Tossing a streamer under the mills weir showed me the rainbows where still about and in the
end I managed to catch two of them.
I guess there were more but most of them where already cleared out of the water by fellow anglers
in the previous weeks.
I continued nymphing and got into the shiners again when suddenly I hooked something larger.
Again I was into a large brown trout with the 2-weight and as I did not wanted to make the same mistake
as last time I carried a net and took the time to fight the fish.

The wind was blowing pretty hard and clouds rolled in making the fishing a chilly affair.
I was invited in by the inhabitants of the mill and got the bad news that the adjecent pub would be closing
down as the lease was not extended – bummer.
I had noticed that the service at the establishment had been going downhill in recent month and now I
knew why.
At the end of the fishing session I wanted to head to the pub for dinner but even though they had to open
an hour earlier nobody was present so I went home.

Too bad that the couple who ran the place where slacking and I think that their attitude was a major
reason that people would not come anymore, guess I have to search for a new place in the future.

As the opportunity was raised for a last trout trip before the season closed on the 20th. this month
I decided to grab the chance for a last session in the mountains.
The last visit to the HSK area was enjoyable and with fall in full swing I thought it most convenient to
visit the place for the fourth time with one my fishing buddies.

Alas the rains still had not materialized and now it was the fourth month in a row with no meaningful precipitation = low and clear water.
The weather forecast … I guess it was universal … only good for a few days.
The promised golden October with warm temperatures was a complete miss and so we ended up
with fog and low temperatures.

Fishing was not always easy especially if you had to share the water with inconsiderate anglers
whom entered the water just in front of you sending the fish scattering in all directions.
A-holes where unfortunately an universal occurrence also.

But enough whining, despite the challenges it all panned out pretty well and as this was the fourth visit I knew
that the dry fly and longer casts were the tool to get to the fish.
Insect wise the caddis were the ticket and I was glad that I finally hooked some of the big grayling
that where so lethargic during my previous visits to the same water.

I guess this was the last trout trip but the grayling season was open all year so not sure if I might
get up there again. If the weather is not extremely cold I might be tempted…

And again at the mill pool but this time with competition from the meat fisherman.
Word got out that trout had been stocked and before you knew it the folks you never
see at the river came out of the woodwork.
I was unable to make a decent drift with the nymph because of the guys, girls and kids
tossing very crude tackle almost at my feet.
Perseverance paid off though and when the circus was over and the people left I started
catching fish again.
The day started breezy and clear but it the rain was pretty thick at the end of the day
and I guess fall has really started now as it was chilly.
Still got the last trouting trip of the season coming up next week and the predicted weather
has been changing by the week … now the temps are halve as what they predicted last
week so I guess some insulating clothing might be in order 🙂

Today my fishing plans where to the fish the mill pool of my German fishing club.
Normally off limits but at the end of the year open when buying a special permit.

I intended to fish for shiners, perch and the odd left over stocked trout but it turned
out not quite as planned.
I arrived on the water just after the stocking crew, they dumped a boatload of trout
in the mill pool so it was pretty clear what I would catch.
Well not exactly as I had forgotten my landing net and even though I managed to hook
the largest brown trout of my season on the 2 weight it all went south when after the
drill I wanted to grab the fish …. and so the fish was gone …

Just near sunset I got another major pull just under the weir of the mill and it was
again a massive fish.
It did not last long even though I had a very sturdy tippet on, still no match for a
northern pike.

But as they say ” hope springs eternal”, I have got another ticket for the pool for tomorrow and
even though the weather will be nasty I think I might manage a fish or two.

Went now the third time on a trout trip to the same place and everytime
the water gets clearer and lower as it has not rained here decently in months.
Fishing gets really difficult and the fish can spot you for miles but the deeper
pools still yield fish from time to time.
Nymphing has really failed me at this spot as the trout and grayling seem to
ignore all my offerings.
A few good downpours might get the action started again but no rains predicted in
the coming weeks just as I have booked a few days for a fourth trip.
Still highly enjoyable though as the weather was perfect and the catering well …
we always seem to pick the right places 🙂

The annual fishing venue of the club was planned for today and so we joined
the worm drowners for a couple of hours fishing the mill pool.
My buddy had the day off for a chance ( … never go work in retail) so we
counted two flyfishermen today.

As usual we were more or less exiled to the shallow part of the mill pool that was
holding no fish (for practical reasons).
We still got hold of some of the rainbow trout and when most of the other anglers had
caught their limit of five bows we could move to the good spots.

We got the required five fish pretty quickly and started fishing for fun.
The presence of my buddy was not really appreciated by one of the last
worm drowners who desperately tried to get his five trout … meaning my
buddy was catching trout at every cast while the worms where left alone 🙂

It has been quite a while since we had any decent rain and frankly fishing gets kind of difficult if you fish an already shallow ditch.
Had to make quite some tracks today to get into fish and they sure where not willing to eat most of the nymphs I presented.
The low water and the lack of current really gives the fish the edge at the moment.
At least the dry fly saved the day with a very nice chub and a brown trout as last fish of the day.

Unfortunately the battery of the camera turned out to be dead so I had
to use the mobile for the (shabby) pictures.

Hot hot hot … unusually hot for September so off to the waters of
syndicate nr. two.
First time I fished this particular stream this year and pleasantly suprised
by the amount of (very wary) chub in the pools.
Got one fish on the dry fly, perfect sight casting fish .. worked like a charm.

Another fish fell for the nymph but after that the fish where on to me and
nothing worked anymore.
The waters of syndicate nr.1 only yielded some small gudgeons so it
was off to the pub early.