July and August are generally difficult months for the Stillwater Trout angler so I did not have high expectations when I joined half a dozen members of Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club at Wimbleball Reservoir. It is however always a delight to get out on the water at Wimbleball with its tree shrouded banks, rolling pasture and abundant wildflowers.
The lake was mirror calm when we arrived at the boat pontoon with light white clouds drifting across the summer sky. My boat partner for the day was Andre Muxworthy a long time member of the club.
We set off from the pontoon at around 9:00am and headed for the deep water off the dam an area that tends to hold fish during the summer doldrums as the fish seek the deep cool water.
I set up a fast sinking Snowbee Spectre Fly Line and fished a yellow damsel on the point with bright blob on the dropper. Andre used similar tactics as we set about exploring the deep water.
After twenty minutes or so Andre was first to connect bringing a nice rainbow of around 4lb to the net. The occasional fish was rising but I felt that most fish were likely to be deep.
I cast out allowing the flies to sink for 30 seconds or so before commencing a pacy retrieve. The hardest part of any days trout fishing is getting that first take. It took another twenty minutes before the line zipped tight as a good sized rainbow smashed into the fly. After a good battle a 5lb rainbow was safely in the net.
This proved to be the smallest of the three rainbows I brought to the boat during the day. The biggest a fine fish of 5lb 15oz with another of 5lb 5oz. All fish fought hard with the best fish taking me well past the backing. I also got broken by one fish that hit the fly hard leaping out of the water several times after breaking free. Other members also lost fish despite using 8lb b.s tippets! Two other fish came off and I glimpsed one absolute beast of a fish following the fly to the side of the boat.
Andre caught consistently throughout the day boating four trout and losing a couple.
As always the fishing time ended all too soon and we headed back to the boat launching area for the competition weigh in. The full result below.
An excellent days fishing not easy but it seldom is during the months of July and August when fishing early and late is probably the best bet. The quality of the fish is outstanding as my winning weight testified with three fish for 16lb 5oz.
1st Wayne Thomas 3 fish 16lb 5oz. Best 5lb 15oz
2nd – Colin Combe 3 Fish 14lb 2oz
3rd – Andre Muxworthy 4 four fish 11lb
4th David Eldred 2 fish 6lb 4oz
5th Nigel Bird 1 fish 3lb 8oz