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Albert Einstein is attributed as saying that "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results", it strikes me that the same quote could also be a pretty serviceable definition of the term "fly fishing". Although yesterday started off a bit grim, grey, cold and cloudy, the afternoon sun soon burnt through the veil to reveal a later half of the day that was all warmth, blue sky and the prospect of an evening spent down on the river in pursuit of good times and tight lines. Upon arriving at the carpark on Beat K, I was pleased to see a couple of other WFFC members cars were already there, not wanting to encroach on their fishing I took a stroll along the bank to do a bit of recon before getting into all my garb and jumping in headfirst. Good news, both other members were way down the beat and over on L meaning that I could start downstream on K without interrupting them and then better news, the fish were rising and rising consistently! I finally got into the water around 4.45pm and started as far down stream as possible. There was a good hatch of Green Drake coming off and fish were visibly exploding onto - and clear of - the surface all the way up the initial stretch of the beat, I don't like to presume, but it felt like I was going to be in for a good evening. Given that the hatch was ongoing, I tied on an OE Mohican Yellow May Dun pattern but no matter how precise my placement or presentation the fish were just not switching on to it, nevertheless I tried doing the same thing over and over again in the prospect of gaining different results, but I just seemed to be chasing the fish upstream as I waded on. I continued another 20 yards or so but decided to abandon that stretch and walk the path upstream in search of - hopefully - better success. Fish sure do love a man-made structure don’t they?! Despite the roar of the arterial road above, the fish congregate there across the entire breadth of the Wylye in the shadow of the concrete and in the stream of any passing mouthful. With several good-sized trout visible but no space to cast the only option was to Bow & Arrow cast ahead of the fish in order to try an induce a take, I continued to persevere with the Yellow May Dun but it became clear that it just wasn’t working, so I changed up and then changed up again, and again, in other words, I tried doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results, but alas, the fish were just so reluctant to take what I was offering. I made my way further upstream and bumped into the two Gents who were already on the stretch having made their way back from L – it was deeply remiss of me, but I failed to get their names. They were reporting similar things, some visible fish, a few rises, some takes but they had at least caught a couple of Wild Brown Trout. Having previously caught on the Nadder using the OE Mohican Mayfly I decided to swap that in and see if the fish respond, and there was definitely a reaction with the odd fish heading up towards the fly but turning off right at the last minute but if I was going to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results then it was going to be with the OE Mohican Mayfly. Once it reached around 7.30pm the two other members decided to call it a day and headed home I meanwhile continued to chase rising fish up and down Beat K striking to the occasional bite but not managing to set the hook. For some reason, be it atmospheric, astrological, temporal or chance, at around 8.15pm, finally I found a fish not far from the far bank holding behind a submerged log and after a couple of casts it rose fast to the Mayfly pattern and I hooked the beautiful, Silvery Wild Brown Trout played it into the net and released it back into the stream shortly after. I had been doing the same thing over and over again for hours and finally I had a different result. As I continued up the stretch there was another rising fish hugging towards the far bank, I put in a few good casts but nothing would convince the fish that my fly was the one to go for, I repositioned myself slightly and made my cast, but a slight gust of wind took it off target – bugger, I’ll try ag….Oh! never mind. A fish came out of nowhere from the bottom of the river bed to aggressively take my fly, not just take it in fact it smashed it, swallowed it! A good take a nice strike and I was in to a fantastic, fierce fighting fish that started a 10 minute challenge up and down the river but eventually I had a wonderful 35cm Stocked Brown Trout in the net.

This week Robin G (one of our club members) visited our new beat on the Frome and sent this update: "We had some great fishing despite the mayfly being rather sparse. It’s a beautiful piece of water. I had around 15 trout to 12” and lost a couple of decent grayling. Most fish came to an Adam’s or a Grey Wulff. I also came across two otters which I managed to film" Have a look at the attached video which was taken just above the bridge at the start of the middle section of water and please share your thoughts

A Saturday spent working that fell outside of my usual 9-5 meant that I had a free Monday to while away the hours wandering the river banks on yet another beautiful day. The seasons seem to have bypassed Spring and jumped from wet and rainy winter to crisp and warm Summer which means that the prospect of fishing from first light to last light is entirely plausible! Innevitably though, life got in the way of those plans and although I didnt have to write-off fishing altogether it was certainly cut shorter than i would have liked. Determined however, I set out in the evening to see what I could find on beats D & E at Barford St. Martin. As is pretty much tradition now, my first catch was of the Greater Spotted Foliage Fish variety which made short work of the Parachute Adams that I had decided to start out on in my exploration of Beat D and heading up stream, what is clear though is that the fish still havent fully committed to feeding off of the surface just yet with plenty of fish visible but only the occassional rise being seen. The footpath along the bank at Beat D is heavily covered in overgrowth of brambles and nettles meaning that traversing the bank and gaining access in and out of the water can be a little perillous, but I spotted a good looking fish actively feeding just in front of the Tennis Court by Mill House. Climbing gingerly down the carved tree stump that now acts as a ladder to the fishing platform I had all these thoughts in my head about how stealthy I had been, like a Ninja in padded slippers, silently getting into place to skillfully launch my attack. With elegant delicacy I made my cast and with an occassional reajustment I successfully landed my Parachute Adams in the Brambles behind me and snapped my leader. With that I decided that a change of scenery was in order and I progressed upstream to the beautiful surrounds of the larger pool at the foot of Mill House, with its slightly easier access and more open area to stand within when wading it was a great place to be able get some rhythm and confidence into my casting stroke and make some exploritory casts into the seams around the faster flowing water to see if there was anything lurking. Cast and step, cast and step slowly and carefully making my way further into the swirling water but alas, not even a nibble so I climbed out at the wading ladder on the corner and hopped the fence to gain access to the stretch of the beat that runs parallel to Barford village itself. Somewhat blindly edging my way along the bank above the river - the nettles are chest high along this stretch - my attention was largely occupied on catching any signs of fish feeding for me to notice much else, so it took me by supprise when I felt somthing land on my wrist, for the first time this year, a propper close up view of Ephemera Danica - "The Green Drake Mayfly" - a truly wonderful sight and an opportunity to play 'Match-the-Hatch' and tie an Oliver Edwards Mohican Mayfly pattern onto the end of my line. A few yards later - not far from the unstable bridge - there was a fish consistantly rising and after a few casts in its general location, I must have got the placement just right and the take was almost immediate. Are we about to wade into that beautiful period of time when the Mayfly hatch coincides with the Trout's insatiable appetite? I hope so! Any way, after a fight that belayed its size, I had a beautifully dark and intensely coloured Wild Brown Trout in the landing net. I decided that instead of making my way back along the heavily vegitated footpath towards Beat E, I would risk the unstable bridge and walk back through the village which had the delightful side benefit of having to walk close enough to the Barford Inn to mean that a light refresher between beats was called for, sadly the pub doesnt open on a Monday meaning that - thirsty - looped back and headed towards Duck Street and down to the club car park to rejoin the top of Beat E. This beat is obviously a little less built up that D meaning that you never know what you might see, on this occasions I didnt get a chance to cast for or see any more fish, but i spooked a beautiful pair of Roe Deer that took off across the meadows and into the sunset.