River Wylye
Salisbury & District Angling Club
There are days when you just have to get out of the house. Thursday was one such day. I'd had enough of staring at the computer and looking out at the rain. The chances of any fishing were remote. The gauge on the Upper Wye had submerged days ago and the poor webcam has nothing but grey water to focus on. There was one chance, a very slim one, but enough for a desperate man.
So I drove across to the Wylye. The signs were not good. The river was high and dirty and running very fast. In fact a few more inches and it would spill into the meadows. The carriers that are normally dry were doing their work; they were carrying water.
In not ideal conditions -- there was a cold wind and occasional showers -- I decided to test any pockets of slack water. I watched the confluence of Till and Wylye, and sure enough there was a swirl and a few minutes later a Large Dark Olive made an appearance, sitting proud on the surface. They are hardy beasties! So I cast my line, and was duly rewarded with a grayling. Not a large one, but reward enough. I stayed an hour and left a happy man.