the newts.net

Me and Gaz set off for Toft Newton at 1:30pm and were fishing for 2:30pm. It was somewhat warmer than our last trip to Toft, but the wind was very gusty. We started off fishing near the pipe on the right hand side of the reservoir but the strong wind made conditions difficult, with the occasional wave crashing over the side of our anchored boat. A move to the left bank saw us in the lea of the wind and conditions a lot more tolerable. The first fish came from here and fell, as did so many last time we were here to the newts’s red buzzer.

I was fishing this red buzzer on the dropper unlike last time when I was using it as a point fly. The reason being mainly to see if the fish were going to take the fly wherever it was on the leader. And they did. Although I was using a very similar red buzzer but with a flourescent pink head on the dropper, the fish definitely preffered the original that fared so well last time. I’d had 2 when Gaz hooked what he thought was a big fish. Once the tiddler reached the surface we saw that he’d actually foul hooked it near the tail [which always makes a fish feel bigger than it actually is]. Still, it was in the net so unlike last time Gaz had chalked one up.

After a couple of hours and 3 more fish for the newts, we moved a little further down the reservoir so we were about 50 yards off the far bank. Takes came fairly quickly and we’d both lost fish before Gaz gets his Montana out and gives it a whirl.

Montana Nymph.

And result! A fantastic take with the fish [which in a fleeting glance looked half decent] leaping clear of the water. He said it felt decent, certainly better than all the others we’d seen today, and it was. Gaz, who’s biggest trout was yet to break the 3lb mark, estimated it at 2 & 3/4lb. Expert estimater newts was sure it was over 3lb and estimated 3lb3oz. Luckily, I’ve just bought a cracking little set of weigh scales so we could get the exact weight…

Congratulations to Gaz…

3lbs 2oz!

His new personal best rainbow trout and at last through the 3lb milestone. I had a couple more to a pearly pheasant tail on the dropper and Gaz missed the odd one but happy with his new record, and me happy with my usual lucky 7, we called it a day at 7:30pm.

Another very enjoyable practice trip before Ladybower, despite the gusting winds, and the final scores:

newts 7 : Gaz 2