It was with my mind on other things that i made a dash for a local beat of the Lugg this morning , just on the outskirts of Leominster . With heavy rain imminent , i knew my session was going to be a short lived one , so tackled up with old faithful , my six foot , two weight stream rod , that has caught so many this season , and in fact over the last six years since I’ve been using this one . Shes a gem of a rod , light weight, wippy , and has tamed some big bruisers in the Arrow , Edw and Llynfi .
I was tackled up and scrambling down the banks by ten to eight , water cool , and at a nice height , initially opted for an eighteen parachute Adams , prospecting in the usual trouty haunts , bang after five minutes , splashy aggressive take , and a lovely Lugg brownie to the net , ten inches , quickly admired then slipped back in , wished her a good winter and plenty of egg laying !!!!!!
It was just right with the ambient overhead lighting , getting increasingly darker , with threatening clouds ….. was great conditions for seeing the dry fly following the course of the river , ohhhh wasn’t concentrating , lifted , ahhh lucky devil , fish still on , and a lively grayling had taken my dry fly ….. cracking , solid little fish , beautifully marked , perhaps eight inches , happy days …..
My last fish , which happened to be a brown trout , was from a stretch i know so well , and love for its dry fly sport , and this morning , up came an obliging fish , and another cracking brownie on the dry …. quickly released the barbless hook , and awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay …… my river season was complete …. but not quite with the spark and zest i usually end it on ….
Two days ago , it was with a heavy heart my lovely springer spaniel ”Spirit ” had to be put to sleep ….. we had had sixteen wonderful years , exploring hill and dale , mountain and moor , river and stream together , she was a marvellous friend and part of our family …….. a huge hole is now missing , she was a fabulous buddy , great gun dog , and , even after loosing a front leg , still a bundle of fun ……… those big brown eyes looking into your soul, now just a memory , go steady old girl …..
So on that note the river season is done , two brownies caught this morning , and a beautiful grayling , only a quick session , back to The Ponderosa , time to reflect , make a big coffee , a big glug of Baileys in it , and think of the seasons best days , and also think of the golden days with our Spirit ….. nothings forever hey …….
