Sharpley shapes up in the gales

Jan 31 2008 by George Macintyre, The Journal

DESPITE the recent gales, Sharpley Spring has continued to fish well with anglers pitting their skills against the conditions to land quality fish.

Mike McKee, fishing a Black Fritz, safely returned a hard-fighting 12lb rainbow while Sharpley regular Stephen Fish also landed a 12-pounder and lady angler J Middlemass, from Sunderland, fishing for the second time, landed a personal best 9lb rainbow on a black lure.

At first – and last – light, midge pupae are providing easy pickings for Sharpley’s fine stock of trout. Given an easing wind or any semblance of warmth and there are also good hatches during the day to keep the sport ticking along.

Black buzzers are the most effective imitations at these times and should be slowly retrieved on floating line with a longish leader. If there is any surface activity, then the leader should be shortened and the retrieve quickened.

Although the prospects for the coming week remain good, anglers should be prepared to change tactics to suit the conditions. Wind and cold will see the resident trout feeding a little deeper on larvae so the ever-effective bloodworm patterns should be included in any fly box.

The rod average at Knitsley Mill this week was an impressive 4.5 with many fish in the 2lb to 6lb range brought to the net.

Trevor Highway brought 20, the best at 9lb 2oz, to the net while J Swaine also had 20, the best at 6lb 8oz.

FLY BOX

KNITSLEY MILL: Cat’s Whisker, Black Fritz, Bloodworm, Buzzers, Nomad, Diawl Bach.

SHARPLEY: Black/Brown Buzzers, Bloodworm, Leech, Pheasant tail Nymph, Cat’s Whisker, Black/Green Fritz, various lures.