Dever Springs is a corker.

For many years now I had resisted fishing at Dever Springs in Hampshire. I always had a gut reaction against the oversized beasts they stocked there. Add to which, in my experience, big trout over 6lbs never fought as hard as a fit 3 or 4lber.

Well, I will eat humble pie.

Ian Macdonald generously invited me to fish on his corporate day yesterday. There was a healthy mix of novices, semi-novices and hardened veterans.

One particular novice who was receiving his first ever casting lesson from Ian as I arrived, took us all by surprise bagging a 10lb fish after an hour or so. The surprise did not spring from his catching it, but more by how he caught it.

Ian had tied a Montana on the beginners leader and wished him luck. Aforementioned beginner fished the Montana for twenty minutes or so when he spotted a length of red wool on the ground by his feet and decided to tie a couple of inches of it to the leader just above the fly. He cast out and within seconds the rod nearly flew out of his hands as his first ever trout (a double figure fish no less) took him for a merry dance around the lake. I doff my cap to you sir.



I was delighted to see Fred Richardson again after a ridiculous 2 years. Fred is, aside from a fine angler, one of the most pleasant people you could ever travel and fish with. Hope we do it again soon.

In fact the less experienced fishermen outdid the veterans yesterday. Ian's friend Barry nailed a 12lb fish, see below. I believe it was Barry's third ever time flyfishing. According to him, not his last!!! Wonder why?

The record fish was caught by another comparative beginner whose name I didn't catch who nailed a 15lb monster. Seeing him carrying this fish to his car was was on of the highlights of a tough afternoon session.

My best (see top picture) was a 9lb beauty. Far from being the sack of rubble I expexted, this fish gave me fine fight that lasted well past the 5 minute mark. Having said that, I was fishing a Greys Streamflex 5 weight, so not overly gunned up.

Great fun, great day. Only disappointment was the lack of a rise. There were plenty of sedges, but no mayfly. Shame.