Angling books read and re-read, and fly boxes replenished.
All the traditional things we do to while away the 'Winter Blues' while we sit and wait for the days to tick away until the new season finally arrives.
Aye Right.
Close season for browns maybe, but open season for rainbows (and grayling for those lucky enough to live within reasonable striking distance of them) and a change from the 'Far Flung' wild trek over the moors and peat bogs, to the more sedate stroll around well tended grassy banks, gravel footpaths of the local fishery with coffee and bacon rolls at the best of them. (And civilised toilets, it can be cold in the woods)
Nowadays 'Close Season Blues' refer to a certain colour strain of rainbow trout.
Ok not for all is the 'Artificial' style of angling found at a put and take fishery and some may choose not to venture forth as in 'Days of Youre', and others, as previously suggested, may be blessed with good accessable grayling close by. But for us lads in Scotlands North East it's away with the 'Traditional Flees' and out with the 'Okay Dokies', 'Damsels', 'Vivas', 'Apts Bloodworms' and, dare i say it 'Blobs' (along with a host of other things only fit to grace the Christmas Tree)
Dark in days and dark in nature to the traditionalist are these days of the Winter Blues, but if you've read this far then too late. Maybe i should have said at the start if you're not a fan then look away now.
'Fat flabby and not very fit,' (aye ok i really do need to go to the gym more often) is the often used description of the put and take rainbow quarry, but thankfully more often than not nowadays this isn't the case.
Moral dilemma? Chasing the artificial on my concience? Not really. Fact is i enjoy it and treat it as a wee break from my March to October wild troot chasing norm. Yes it looks like fishing but it isn't real (as quoted by old pal Bob Wyatt) but it's fishing none the less, a different style and different aspect of the sport.
Live and let live, we're all 'Brothers of the Angle' afterall are we not?
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| What a good quality Rainbow Trout should look like. |
Article written by Allan Liddle.
In association with the fantastic Scottish Angler forum discussing all things fly fishing.
