Strewth , some serious rain last week, and some severe flooding in a lot of places in Wales, Shropshire and Herefordshire. At one point last week, it seemed endless, I think about nineteen hours of rain all told, with a couple of half hour lulls in the battle…. The river Wye locally in Rhayader responded quickly, and in no time was a raging torrent, all brown, angry and full of pent up power !!!! Certainly not fishing weather I can tell you. The Hanak Grayling competition is on this coming weekend up in North Wales…. I’m wondering if the glorious Dee will be sedate enough by then !!!! I used to be a member of Corwen and District Angling Club many moons ago, cracking grayling sport too ….. Mind you, some of the tributaries I still have permission on are the business as well !!!! I need to get up there this summer, although to be honest I have so much water, be it still or running to go at here, I’m almost toooooooo busy !!!! And of course with clients adorning the beautiful waters of the Elan, or one of the wild streams, I haven’t really the time to go mooching off up to North Wales during my busiest period !!!!
Prior to the deluge we had, which actually came after the snow fall, which didn’t help matters, making a serious amount of the wet stuff head straight for every conceivable stream, brook, dyke and river !!!! With the Wye looking like the Amazon after a monsoon, ‘twas time to put the nymphing rods away and enjoy some rifle shooting ….. I managed a couple of fun sorties on the Ithon and Dore, just before the snow, so wasn’t to disappointed, and actually, I had one very productive afternoon, on bright nymphs under a yarn indicator, cracking fun, with three really good sized ladies in the tally too !!!
A cracking few sessions up at Mid Wales Rifle Club again, with some of my old school spring rifles…. Total fun, nailing small half inch metal spinner targets in the pale wintry sun ….. great stuff. It really takes me back to my airgunning days of yesteryear, plinking at tiny targets with deadly precision, time after time. My old favourites have had a serious session up there, with some four hour shooting sorties. I can tell you, it’s very very addictive. I’ve mentioned it before, but M.W.R.C. Is a superb set up. I shoot from the comfort of a warm cosy shooting shack, and targets are out at various ranges, making things fun and with added variety. There are spinners, knockdown targets, tiny match stick targets, and magnetic silhouette animals, once you’ve dropped all of them, simply hit the half inch disc in the centre, and they are all released from the magnetic bar at the rear, great fun I can tell you !!!! The bigger rifles have also had a check zero ready for the spring time when helpless lambs adorn the landscape of the Elenydd …..
Moving on , I wonder what this week has in store for us, I did hear it raining last night, quite heavy too, I think it was a few hours looking at the met office app !!! Not really good for the river levels, and looking further into the week, looks like more for the weekend, ppffftttttttt never ending hey !!!! Still, it is winter time, so I guess it’s expected. It seems to be the norm now, heavy flooding and I must be honest, it still amazes me how many folks still try and ford deep flooded roads in conventional cars, knowing that they’re likely to stall right in the middle of it !!!! It’s just an extra burden on the Emergency services in fairness. My moto is, if there is no need, don’t go out. If it’s absolutely necessary, try and grab a lift with some one who’s got a raised up big 4×4. That’s what they’re meant for after all !!!! Not just for negotiating a bit of frost on the drive ……. Whilst driving the four miles for the school run !!!! lol ……… Chelsea tractors, I really wonder why some people have such big vehicles, and they can’t even drive them safely either. Ours is not to reason why !!!!
well, as I’m writing this, I’ve done some admin bits in the lovely town of Rhayader. Lots going on over the next month or so, and in fairness, festive gatherings and social events, that involve a few bevvies, are always fun …… HO, HO, HO …… I shall immerse myself fully into the Christmas spirit, and , if there is more arduous weather, then I’ll just get some rifle shooting done, and in fact over the break, I have a couple of shoots to attend ….. always a good social event to be honest !!! I’m sounding like a real owd fart, but it’s a really pleasant day today, albeit a tad cool….. Still, it is nearly December !!!!! Right you lovely lot, that’s me, I have aged parent duties over the next couple of days, and when the rivers behave, I’ll be back out on some stream maintenance !!!!! Stay safe out there folks, wait till these rivers are “playing ball” again before venturing out, and wade carefully…… know your limitations and if in doubt, don’t go out !!!!!! Catch you fabulous piscatorial peeps again very soon !!! 🎄🎄🎄🧑🎄🧑🎄🧑🎄🧑🎄🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐟🏴
