River Avon
Salisbury & District Angling Club
Mayfly time is special. I still get animated at the thought of the abandon displayed by the trout in the presence of those large insects. The Mayfly hatch is traditionally considered to be the last two weeks of May and the first of June. So it's odd that the time is known as Duffers' Fortnight. This term is also a little queer, for while the fish can be easy to catch at the peak of the hatch, the opposite can be true in June. So I set off for the Avon this week with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
A sad concoction of distractions and work meant I arrived at the river bank in the afternoon. The river looked ravishingly beautiful in the soft sunshine. The tresses of water weed swayed in slow motion in the clear current and the flowers of the crowfoot punctuated the dark surface of the stream. There were mayfly in abundance and a few fish were feeding; not yet sated. There were rises and fish to cover. But what were they feeding on? By a slow process of elimination I found that most were not interested in mayfly duns or spinners. More delicate upwinged flies seemed to be of more interest, and all the fish taken in the afternoon came to small artificials.
The evening brought flights of spinners and now more trout showed themselves. These fish definitely were feeding on the egg-laying and spent adults. A decent imitation was enough to bring a few fine trout to the hand. The day was easily summed up. Eight hours of pure pleasure spent beside the river. I needn't have worried.