River Wharfe 09-11-2012

Wild and windy day fishing the River Wharfe at Burnsall on Friday with fellow guide Chris. First time I'd been there and I could imagine what it would be like on a day when it wasn't so inclement. Upstream wind and constant drizzle didn't make for good fishing but still we persevered. Czech nymphing was the order of the day with not a fish to be seen.
Chris was first to be into a fish in the fast run about 1/2 a mile above the bridge, a nice Grayling, he managed a further 2 from this run. before moving on further upstream.
I chose to fish the far run off the island down into a small pot and on into the tail of the pool, carefully fishing all the way down and not managing even a pull.
Further upstream we tried the slower deeper water of the pool above. However no results for either of us.

On to the next pool which looked really fishy, a run off just below the fast water coming down from the falls. We both fished slowly down the run and I was soon into a lovely Grayling a nice fish of about 1.5lbs & in great condition. The fish took a red czech nymph, fished as the fly swung up onto the shelf at the end of the run. Chris meanwhile tried both Tenkara & conventional methods on this run both to no avail.
Next stop was the stretch below the bridge in the village by the green where we fished the run beneath the bridge footings, no luck for either of us.
Onto the next pool and we both fished one behind the other Chris opting for Tenkara and myself sticking with the traditional rod. No luck until right at the end, when Chris was into a fish that broke him off without him even seeing it one for next time perhaps.

Time to call it a day and head for the dry & warmth of the local pub for a well earned drink.