Willersley castle 20th feb 2008

cold start this morning arrived around 9 .30 am
nobody here had the whole castle stretch to myself.
today i set out coarse fishing for grayling ,chub and
barbel.


one of many grayling falling too my upstream trotting
method(bit like nymphing)


this chap went straight back maybe see him in season.


fin perfect small chub made my day.
lost count of the grayling caught today,
they are there but are hard too tempt.
roll on spring.

willersley 13th feb 2008

Arrived at willersley just after lunchtime.
Checked in and noticed i would be sharing
the river with five other anglers.
Has i made my way up towards the top
of the stretch i stopped and spoke to each
angler asking how they were doing.
consensus was that fishing was slow but
what a glorouis day to be out.


One of the chaps mentioned that he sometimes pike
fishes willersley and as caught pike upto 14 lb.
i started at the weir ,nothing for the first half hour
then from no where six grayling in about 15 minutes.


Carried on for a while with not much action.
just as the sun dipped behind masson mill
sending the temp down at least 10 degrees
the grayling came on again for about 10
minutes with a further 4 coming to hand.
too cold i'am going home.


Lovely day.

River Manifold 10th feb 2008

Tried the manifold for the first time this morning.
Arrived at west side mill near ecton with frost still
under foot on in the shaded parts.
The river looked in fine fettle but no signs of fish
went through my nymphs pink bugs ,czech and
hares ear but no intrest but what a fantastic
looking river .I will return when spring tranforms
this river into life .

Willersley castle 6th feb 2008