Natural Born Killers
(Total FlyFisher)
Pictures by Simon Steer
With fish holding features and natural food in abundance, the margins of any small stillwater are to be overlooked at your peril this winter. Dominic Garnett keeps it up close and personal with natural, imitative patterns for the prime rainbows of Bellbrook Valley fishery, Devon.
Strange creatures, trout fishermen. Give us a small water with rich insect life and a wealth of features close in and we still throw a long line. But just how often do we overshoot the mark? For the sake of sport as well as strategy we might all do well to take a closer look at the edges, because taking margin fish with natural patterns is arguably the real cream of late season fishing on a small still water.
Even in the cooler months of the year, trout will venture near in, drawn by the shelter and food provided. Indeed it is a mistake to assume that rainbows, an active cold water species, will always hold up in the depths and respond to lures over natural imitations at this time of year.
As Nature Intended
Bellbrook Valley in Devon is a prime example of a small water fishery that rewards a margin attack with natural patterns. The series of pretty pools here are well matured, with features that draw anglers and trout alike. It is a fantastic illustration of just how natural and scenic a day ticket fishery can be. It’s also great news for the imitative fly fisher, who will find a veritable smorgasbord of trout grub present. Indeed, the mild Devon climate ensures that even in winter, weed cover and insect hatches are still present on the fringes of these lakes.
Before we tackle up, our first task is to take a quick dip in the ponds with a fine meshed net. As well as a fun diversion in itself, this gives the angler a pretty good idea of which prey items are abundant. In no time at all we have a great number of creatures in the net. Most numerous are freshwater shrimp and the bigger, uglier hog louse; these form a year round staple for the trout of Bellbrook, just as they do at many other fisheries. Also numerous are corixa and, surprisingly, several immature newts, not dissimilar in size or wiggle to one of Bellbrook’s staple trout catchers, the damsel nymph.
Less surprised by the prolific array of trout food is fishery owner Chris Atwell. He is committed to keeping a natural looking, well-balanced fishery and firmly believes that as well as top class imitative fishing the rich pickings for trout here make for excellent, clean-tasting table fish. The lakes are “trickle stocked” here, just a few fish at a time. Most of these trout are already well accustomed to browsing for natural food, which makes for a refreshing challenge in finding acceptable patterns.
In the Clear
With some truly foul weather the day before our visit to Bellbrook, priority number one before casting out is having a careful look around. Heavy rains have coloured up some of the pools severely via the feeder streams and fishing small, natural patterns can be difficult at best in murky water. Thankfully, the two higher lakes we had briefly “dipped” both have acceptable water clarity, with a good two to three feet of clear visibility. So far so good then, and typically for Bellbrook there are plenty of features to choose between, from overhanging branches to outflows and reed beds. But the water I really fancy is a long margin of decent depth and fringed with weed life that, as we already know, will be packed with invertebrates.
Whilst you don’t need to be a commando to fish the margins effectively, a little caution and common sense go a long way. A good general rule of thumb for all such fishing is to move slowly and deliberately, in no rush. It also pays to check behind you- not only for casting space but available cover. Trees and bushes help to mask your outline, whilst open featureless banks can see you stick out like a sore thumb. At six feet five, I am not the most easily concealed angler admittedly, but make sure my approach is cautious and will happily stoop or even kneel if I feel my presence is too conspicuous. Should you find the water gin clear, as it quite often is here, your starting position should be further back from the water by another couple of yards, preferably crouched. Since we won’t be aiming for the horizon, it is also worth limiting yourself to just one or two back casts at a time to project your flies. Overall it is down to the angler to gauge their approach and how much care and fuss is required, but care is your watchword and on this score I am reminded of Richard Walker’s cautionary advice “you will scare more fish than you ever know about”.
Softly Does it...
Where you are focussed on carefully presented natural imitations in the edges, sinking lines and long casts are not required. Our outfit for the day is a simple six weight floating line set up; an ideal balance of finesse and shock absorption. My own preference for a tidy turnover of line is to use a one piece, tapered leader, connected via a tiny ring to two to three feet of low diameter tippet material of around 4lb breaking strain. An overall length of twelve feet may seem a tad short for natural patterns, but feels about right when bank side features proliferate and we are typically searching four to six feet of water.
Perhaps the most common mistake in switching to natural patterns is to hurry them in. For anglers accustomed to lure fishing, the need for near constant movement must be overcome. Natural patterns, and especially the smaller, subtler flies, require a more gentle, patient approach, as well as a little thought if we are to trick any fish into thinking our dressed hook is a living thing. With the one fly at a time rule at Bellbrook, it will be a case of careful selection and experimentation to keep takes coming.
Our session starts on the Daiwl Bach. Whilst the pattern hardly leaps out of the fly box at you, nothing does subtle-cum-generally pretty damn edible like the Bach, hence it is an ideal first choice for the day. The first takes come just a few yards out and along the bank, giving the fly a good twelve seconds to sink and drift, before imparting an ultra slow figure of eight retrieve. By slow, I mean doing little more than gently taking up the slack in the line. Trout taking small, natural offerings seldom hammer at the line either- and unless your eyes are glued to the last few inches of fly line, you might miss the whole event. Whilst I fail to connect with the first little draw on the line, John Garnett reacts smartly to a subtle take along his own margin and the day’s first rainbow jolts off for the middle of the lake.
The key area early on seems to be the “drop off”. This simply means the area where shallower water meets deep. This is a productive area on so many fisheries and yet so easily ignored by anglers who cast long and then hurry the retrieve through those vital last few yards, exactly where they should be letting the fly pause for longer. Trout love to cruise around this natural holding area, where they can pick off a whole range of food items along the slope with minimum effort.
In my own margin the fish have backed off the Bach for a few minutes, so I consider a change. Having seen so many shrimp and hog lice in our earlier sample, I just can’t resist trying one of my own shrimp patterns. Rather than casting straight out, I send the line parallel to the near bank, landing around two rod lengths out where a fringe of sunken weed meets the slope to deeper water or “drop off”. I retrieve the shrimp with another fairly slow figure of eight retrieve, giving the odd little “kick” with a little pull on the fly line. I get a gentle pluck almost immediately, followed by a more aggressive tug the very next cast. A quick lift of the rod and a typically strong three pound rainbow is on, fighting right to the net.
Moving On
Although many still water anglers will find a suitable spot and stay put, it is certainly possible to spook an area- especially where fish are browsing close to the bank. Sometimes a change will work, but on most days I like to move swims periodically, attempting to find the best areas. If a spot has produced bites but then tailed off you can always return later in the day when hopefully things have settled again. Whenever fish are active around the margins, a move of swims can produce an instant reaction.
My next target is an outflow. The pools here are all connected, and the corners where water flows in are always worth a try. Today, the water in such areas is a little coloured by rain water, so I opt for a pattern with a little more presence. A natural Damsel pattern should be easily spotted by any trout hanging around the inflow. Out of all the imitative patterns in the box, it must be said that the Damsel Nymph, effective though it is, is perhaps the least likely to be mistaken for a real insect. However, there are baby newts galore in the margins at Bellbrook and I have my suspicions. The infants of last spring have a very similar profile to a marabou tailed Damsel nymph: green flanks, a length of around two inches and a real wiggle when in motion. At least, that’s my theory. I like to fish the nymph with a busy little retrieve to get the tail working, in conjunction with intermittent pauses just like the natural.
Even if the idea sounds a tad far-fetched, the trout certainly respond. On only the third cast on the edge of the flow, a slamming take tightens the line solid. The value of a forgiving actioned six weight blank is immediately apparent when a spirited fight starts in the confines of a corner swim. The fish is steered away from the near bank to fight in open water, where its headstrong antics pose no threat.
Options Open
As well as a terrific choice of effective natural imitations, Bellbrook also offers some interesting ticket options. As well as fishing for “normal” sized trout in the two pound plus bracket, a popular option is to add allowance for an additional fish or two from the specimen pools. Indeed, on one special ticket option you can even aim for the goal of a fish from each of the six lakes in a day! For today’s visit however, we each have just a single bonus fish on the cards.
Moving lakes it seems that the fish are still responding best to the smaller patterns at our disposal; I aim for a quick, dramatic finish, but the bigger fish don’t fancy the Damsel. Once again, it is the Daiwl Bach that does the damage- a patient, just about moving retrieve just the ticket for the best fish of the day, just on the drop off where the margin tapers away to deeper water. This time the fight is less of a sprint, but more dogged. It’s not one of Bellbrook’s real monsters on this occasion, but a fine and fully-finned three and a half pounder nonetheless.
Perhaps the only frustration of the day has been that overnight rain and extra tinge to the water has prevented any serious fish spotting. This makes spooking the fish less of an issue though, and clearly there has been enough visibility for the trout to locate even pretty small natural offerings. Hopefully this only proves the point that less than ideal conditions needn’t be your cue to pick out the biggest, brightest flies in the box- trout have an uncanny knack of finding even tiny food items in their environment. Indeed it is the angler’s confidence in presenting a smaller, more subtle target that is often the sole barrier to a good session on imitative flies. But by studying the margins and persevering with natural patterns, you might just discover some of the most intimate, satisfying sport on offer.
Holo Daiwl Bach-
Nothing says generally pretty-damn-edible like the Daiwl Bach. Target points such as dyed biots can work nicely in less than gin clear water. A slow, patient retrieve works best.
Hook: standard to heavy nymph 12-14
Thread: Black or brown
Body: Peacock herl
Rib: holographic tinsel or mylar
Tail & bib hackle: ginger cock
Cheeks: Red goose biots
Partridge Shrimp
There is no better material for achieving a “leggy” feel on shrimp patterns than partridge: I mix the softer fibres in with the body dubbing for added movement, whilst longer partridge fibres are terrific to imitate the more prominent legs towards the head of the bug.
Hook: Kamasan Grubber 12-14
Thread: brown/gray
Body: Spectrablend Dubbing with a few soft partridge fibres.
Rib: clear mono (you can also try a tinsel rib for less than clear water)
Tail: A short tuft of partridge
Legs: Natural partridge
Back: polythene or “thin skin” cut to size.
Natural Damsel
Always worth a try when the fish want something with a little extra size and movement. Is it pure coincidence that this killing pattern works so well where you find scores of immature newts?
Hook: Extra long nymph pattern 8-12
Thread: Olive
Tail: Marabou with a single strand of krystal flash
Body: Olive dyed hare’s mask
Rib: Gold Wire
Legs: Olive partridge
Thorax: Olive dyed Pheasant fibres
Eyes: Mono section, melted with a lighter
Pearl Belly Corixa
Another species which can be prolific year round, this Water Boatman pattern mimics the pearly sheen of the natural with mylar. I also like to incorporate two knotted rubber legs for added kick.
Hook: Nymph 10-14
Thread: White, then black or brown to finish
Body: Pearl mylar over white thread
Back: Brown body stretch or similar
Legs: Rubber
Fishery Fact File:
BELLBROOK VALLEY, DEVON
Situated Between near Tiverton, Devon, Bellbrook consists of six quality fishing lakes in a pretty, secluded valley and is noted for its superb imitative fly sport. A good mix of normal and specimen fishing is on offer with various ticket options. Popular choices include a standard three fish ticket at £18, or the 2+1 ticket (ie two normal sized trout, plus one from the specimen pools) for £25.
Call Chris & Linda Atwell on 01398 351292 or visit www.bellbrookfishery.co.uk for more details.
