1st days out

Farmoor 1 is no more - taken back by Thames Water - leaving Darlow for the
club. I got there last Thursday about 11.30. Light breeze and warm. Not
too many fishing - lots of space. I walked right round - very few fish
rising so started with a size 14 black superglue buzzer on a 12 foot leader.
1st cast - a take. Usual policiy is to release the 1st fish of the season
but as time went by it was clear that this was quite a fish. Eventually
turned out to be 4lb 3oz. Next 2 casts also took fish. Ended up with 7 in
about 2.5 hours. Kept the 1st - stomach contained sixe 14 black buzzers!
Thought it would have to be a "graved" trout but turned out to be most
delicate flavour after poaching in a white wine court bouillon.

Easter Sunday in N. Wales. Went to Llyn Derwen - quite high up above
Ruthin. Strong, cold breeze. 1st fish was a "pork-pier" - i.e. it took when
I had just bitten into the pie. Managed 4 in the morning - all returned -
all on a damsel nymph slow on a long leader.

Gordon