The Autumnal Itchen
An Itchen Grayling
River Itchen
There are some days that are close to perfect. And after such a long period of rain and high winds, this day was just that; a small miracle to be treasured. I was fishing the Itchen as the guest of a kind friend. The weather was perfect, sunny, hardly any wind, and with that delightful autumnal feel to the air.
All the chalkstreams have suffered from a slight colouring of the water this year; I suppose it must be something to do with the exceptional amount of rain over the summer. But this didn't put off the flies or the trout. The morning began with mist and dew spangled spiders' webs. There were no trout rising and fish had to be found and then offered a nymph. They were feeding and a few gorgeous brown trout were tempted by a small PTN.
Then as the day warmed and the sun penetrated the water, the fly life increased. There were small up-winged flies, some stoneflies, tiny buzzers and a few largish brown sedges. Patterns that imitated the sedges seemed to be most successful, but at times a tiny black pattern was the most effective. Kingfishers, herons, plus buzzards keening overhead all added to a marvellous day of fishing; a day when it was a joy just to breath in the air and take in the beauty of nature.
The Autumnal Itchen
An Itchen Grayling