Outside Days » Howard Day

Splashing Around in the Dark: Sea trout on the Itchen

Howard — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:53:33 +0000

Start eating your carrots: some of the best fishing to be had in the summer months takes place after dark. Sea trout, the peripatetic siblings of the brown trout, return to the streams of their birth to spawn in the summer months. Most active after dark, sea trout are found in numbers in the lower stretches of the chalkstreams, spreading out at they migrate upstream.

The best nights to fish are those when the incoming tide and the start of the ebb are after dark. Seven weight rods provide plenty of power to cast large snake flies. For those brave enough to cast droppers at night (risking tangling and the ensuing unknotting by feel), they maximise return for effort. Fortunately, the mill pool we fish is civilised enough to provide ambient light from street lamps and neighbouring houses, reducing the risks of unscheduled swimming and fishing by feel. Once I’ve settled clients, directing them onto the most likely lies, the wader-filling holes to avoid, I get started on the stream of teas necessary to keep everyone warm and awake.

Like all fishing, catching isn’t guaranteed, but this mill pool is very productive, with bass bagged regularly as well as sea trout. It’s proved so popular, in fact, that we were booked within hours of releasing this years dates. If you are interested in fishing the 2009 season, please don’t dawdle in getting in touch and adding yourself to the waiting list.

Fishing the Dorset Frome

Howard — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:15:39 +0000

Obsession is an ugly thing…even when it takes you to some of the most beautiful fishing spots around the globe.Since I introduced him to the sport four years ago, Mr. Mexico, more known for catching rooster fish and dorado on the fly, has honed the obsession to a pedantic art. He deigned to join me on the River Frome in Dorset in pursuit of more domestic fins.

Bright sunshine, a limited hatch, forests of weed, and very little rising made for a challenging day. We caught everything we saw rise, but were reduced to nymphing by a number of recalcitrant grayling in the beat. There’s nothing that gets my goat like watching enormous fish turn up their noses at everything I throw at them. At the end of the day, we had to admit defeat despite flogging the things with flies of every description. If anyone wants to catch a monster grayling, I know where some are sitting…I hope you have better luck than we did.

Toby has asked that we all refer (defer?) to him as the ‘Master Caster’…a moniker we feel might be a bit premature given the confusion he still stumbles into on occasion. The Mexican Maestro might be a better description, although he did forget the scales and couldn’t bear to kill the fish when he caught trophy (and possibly world class record) rooster in Mexico. A lesson he never forgets when sharing his passions for all things Mexican and flyfishing as an expedition leader.

Gamekeepa Fishin’

Howard — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:32:59 +0000

All of us need to escape the daily grind now and then, and flicking the fluff for mayfly-delirious brown trout is an addictive relaxant. Headkeeper Martin Broad stole away from the rearing field and the eagle eye of his underkeeper (and wife) to spend an evening on the banks of the River Test. The fishing was still challenging – all that rain has taken its toll on the hatch and the trout’s enthusiasm…or visibility.

A beautiful four pound plus brownie was ample reward for an evening’s patient work. Martin went back to preparing for the arrival of his partridge and pheasant chicks with lower blood pressure and a big smile.

Blast and Cast: Fishing the Derbyshire Dove

Howard — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:57:53 +0000

No, not another Orvis open day. This time I bagged an invite from an old college mate to join him on the Derbyshire Dove (or in, more accurately). In typical British style, the bank holiday weather was rough. We made the best of the weekend’s weather, fishing on Saturday with only the wind to compete with. Galeforce wind made casting…interesting. There was a reasonable hatch of mayfly, although any chance of a fall of spinners was slim as the wind whisked them off over the fields as soon as they took flight.

Tony’s resigned to his appearance on these hallowed pages, suggesting I might mention the tightness of his loops while casting into a headwind. Or perhaps his accuracy, placing a fly within a gnat’s breath of where he wanted it. Personally, I think it far more pertinent to mention his skill with the kettle: he is the country’s champion at the slow-boil. A demerit only compensated for by the quality of his wife’s baking (thanks, Claire). And then there is his skill at wader repair (his not mine, thankfully)…he was wearing more Aquasure than wader and still got wet feet.

The rest of the weekend was pretty much a washout for countrysport…the Highclere Country Fair had some fine weather, but by the time we rocked up on Sunday, it was damp. Unfazed by the inclement weather, our friend John Bye was exhibiting his latest paintings with enthusiasm. While his focus of late seems to be on wildlife, his portraits of dogs are stunningly accurate. Hector the Clumber’s father Rufus has been immortalised in paint. And if his son turns out to be any good, John will have him hanging on our wall in the future.

The Mayfly Have Landed

Howard — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:24:49 +0000

It’s been a funny kind of year for flies: almost no hawthorne, and straight into the mayfly hatch. Despite a stiff breeze, the mayfly started hatching about lunchtime on Tuesday, and trout took immediate notice. After a morning with limited surface activity (mainly grass snakes on the move), the clients and I packed it in and headed to the Peat Spade Inn for beer and sympathy.

Changing the morning’s Klinkhammers for Grey Wulf and French Partridge to better mimic the rise, we tackled up and strode out to face the challenge. The experienced rod of the pair was quite quickly into a string of nice fish, catching 3 brownies in rapid succession. Just when the chalkstream novice was ready to blow retreat and head back to lakes and ponds, the fish obligingly took his fly. Needless to say, four brown trout later (including the 4lb plus fish of the day), he is off to invest in his first river rod.

With the weather set to change at week’s end, it will be interesting to see whether the mayfly are still around in number, or if the hatch slows.

Game Corporates Simulate Driven Days with Clays

Howard — Mon, 12 May 2008 22:47:17 +0000

Game clays offer corporate institutions the opportunity to swap the confines of an office meeting for rural vistas and salty banter. Simulating the experience of a driven shoot, game clays offer novices insight into the sport and more experienced shots the opportunity to hone their skills out of season.

The team who came down last week fired 4000 cartridges in two drives between 12 guns. We just discovered CCI’s latest clay, the Stardust, a florescent orange clay that explodes with a puff of pink powder when hit. By combining these with pink and white clays and awarding points for hitting certain clays and not others, a fierce competition was born.

Unseasonable May weather has given me a tan worthy of David Dickinson, but leaves the trappers muttering about hazard pay for their sunburns. A number of you have let us know our comment facility is on the fritz…we are working on it, but the computer genius behind the Outside Days website has gone walk-about on the Pennine Way so it may take a few days.

Flyfishing claims another victim

Howard — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:25:31 +0000

It’s always rewarding to introduce someone to a new passion and pastime. This week we watched as builder extraordinare and all-round superhero Lee dipped his toe into the flyfishing pool by taking an evening lesson with me. His first fish was an enormous 4lb 4oz rainbow caught on a Montana. And he didn’t stop there, catching several others before dusk (and my wife) caught up with us. Using another awful pun, I’m glad to say he’s hooked…to the extent he made me late for a dinner engagement. I look forward to spending several summer evenings watch him get tangled in line.

Lessons are a great way to explore flyfishing without extensive investments of time and finance. They also make fabulous birthday, anniversary and wedding gifts.

Jealous of Jon : Trophy Chinese Water Deer

Howard — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:22:25 +0000

Whilst I continue my personal quest to bag my first muntjac, the empathy from my fellow stalkers has been astounding. My colleague Jon took the opportunity to rub salt in open wounds, sending me evidence of a successful stalk for a stonking pair of Chinese Water deer, and bragging about the Gold Medal muntjac in his freezer awaiting mounting.

Chances to add Chinese Water deer to your game book are few and far between, but we have snagged a few opportunities. If you are interested, get in touch.

Orvis Cast and Blast Meon Springs

Howard — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:39:05 +0000

Family-friendly Meon Springs provided the perfect setting for Orvis’ Cast and Blast, and the powers that be provided unbelievable weather despite the best efforts of the meteorologists to convice us otherwise. Even my parents put in an appearance, tried their hand at flyfishing, and went home with a trout for the table. Richard Banbury kept me busy with a reprise of my presentation on large mouth bass, and the debut of an introduction to shooting.

Dickson and Macnaughton, gunsmiths with a concession in Orvis’ Stockbridge store, were kind enough to loan me some choice weapons as props as well as being on hand to offer technical advice. Really it was just a platform for me to vent my pet gunhandling hates that peeve me over the season.

For those anglers out there looking for something a little different, we have just secured a few nights sea trout fishing on a productive tidal pool new to us on the River Itchen. Last year I pulled a PB salmon out at 2am…just after all my clients packed it in for the evening.

Missing Muntjac

Howard — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:37:36 +0000

Over a beer or three in Texas, I confessed to headkeeper Martin Broad that I’d never shot Britain’s smallest deer, the non-native Muntjac. He’s taken the bit between his teeth, and I’ve spent several evenings ensconced in a high seat in one of his woods. Contrary to my wife’s belief that prey are oddly attracted to me, hence my luck with rod, rifle and gun, I can’t seem to shoot a munty. We’ve seen plenty of fallow and roe, including some stunning Gold Medal roe that are for sale, but only the rapidly retreating behinds of muntys. If I stay home, everyone shoots munty. I’m developing a complex. If you fancy an evening (or morning for that matter) stalk, for cull or trophy beast, get in touch. Unless, of course, you want that munty buck Martin’s saving for me…