George U organised his friends trip for a second time this year. Weeks before correspondence sallied back and forth. Questions over tactics what patterns? Fish seen and caught. Eventually the party assembled and plans were hatched to search out their quarry. They were seen at various times at different locations surveying the river lines, fly boxes and head scratching.
ConfusedSalmonFishers.com at Farnley
They kindly requested I enjoy their now famous BANJO breakfast bap ‘Dead Farmyard’ style. Will normally supplies Wiltshire fare and in particular his amazing eggs, regrettably between car and hand these failed Will’s juggling skills and were no more.
Will Preparing The ‘Banjo’
Some excellent secret flies were tied by George some on single hooks. They covered the water well and day 1 some fish taking and properly on but not landed. James started proceedings and was delighted with his grilse!
Jammy James
Its possible that day 1 the successes hoped for were dulled by a great selection of highland spirit in the lodge the previous evening?
Day 2 the river was a little up a bit coloured but very fishy looking. We saw runs and the chaps redoubled their efforts. James got straight in early on to a fish estimated to be 17lb on one of his specials!
James bags one early doors! Farnley where dreams can come true ….
Will had a cracking take in Hut but fractions of a second separated this with a salmon annoyingly we watched in horror as the fish just dashed away. Day two he decided that enough was enough and hooked a fierce cock fish. It fought one heck of a battle and even leaped out of the net, it swam off hopefully to successfully spawn.
Will gets a Farnley Tyne Tiger
The day just got better as fish were about all hopes high and excitement in every cast. George got another in the afternoon much to everyones delight :
Fresh off the Tyne she escaped the Seals but not George
We had a good chat about conditions given the river was holding more colour and not much seen later on. They decided to keep at it and some fish showed interest, persistence paid off and James got his hattrick! It was a great fight the temperature had dropped and for a period it seemed they were back ‘On’ ! The other love of George’s life is also a Missy Salmon …
Has he the right to hold her ? The other Salmon …. ; )
They decided to call it a day and following a day where on and off heavy showers occurred no one knew if the river would be fishable on Saturday.
Day 3 and one fish lost !! James once again dear me . Everyone got after them but the river was definitely up and coloured. Hours passed not much seen rests were taken the river hut stocked with provisions and so the search continued without any success. When it seemed their last day would be fishless a girly shout could be heard way down in Dead Tree, James was into one! The trip was a great success and much was learnt about the beat in higher conditions, we look forward to seeing Will James and George in 2019.
James cradling his Tyne Cock !