Now to cap it all my wife has had to have a cancerous growth removed from one of her kidneys, (never rains but it pours!) however, she is home now, and in recovery and doing well, she has to go back in 6wks for a check up, and i'm due for a scan in Dec. to check everything is going as planned, more trips up the M5 to Southmead Hospital! lovely!  The rivers will have changed the banks and altered the pools by now, so its going to be a case of wading with care when fishing resumes next year, (nothing like filling your waders at the beginning of the season) The time to tie flies and refill fly boxes is upon us, (luckily?) i don't need to tie a lot this winter, mine didn't get wet or attack any trees! so i have been messing around with some ideas i've had, if they turn out to be any good, i'll put them on here. For now, Have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Well, the river trout season has now ended, didn't manage a day on the rivers this season, due to medical problems. However, as things seem to have gone seemingly well so far, there is a possibility that i shall be back river fishing next year. Had a go at Amherst fishery, and managed an hour and a half before i started to get a bit fatigued, and had to call it a day. Fingers crossed etc. that all goes well 'til next season.

Hi, Have had my Op, major surgery to remove my Bladder & Prostrate ( 4hrs+ ) 30 days ago, i'm back walking etc, but not allowed to lift or do any heavy work!! It's nice not to have any more pain or discomfort, and i get a nights sleep, instead of an hour or so throughout the night. Hopefully, i should be back fishing next year (fingers crossed) and am really looking forward to it. It's been a long time coming but i think it's all finally done and almost dusted. hope you've all had a good season up to now. back soon.

Had to see the Urology Specialist today after a lot of phone calls between the Hospital and myself, the outcome of which is that i am going to require more treatment, as i now have a Cancerous growth giving me another Prostrate problem, it never rains but it pours! So it looks like my fishing is going on hold again! Might not be too many posts/tweets from now on, but will try to keep you posted. Tight lines.

May 30th & June 1st, saw me at Otterhead Lakes for some Brown Trout Fishing! albeit for an hour in both cases, managed 3 fish the first outing, and 1 on the last outing. All fish fell to a small (16#) Black Nymph. 
I am not completely better, but i don't have the catheter in anymore! (and the hour was about as much as i could manage.) So, onwards and upwards as they say, given some more good weather i hope to get out a bit more. After being more or less house bound since December, it was nice to finally get out and fish. 

The end of the year ('18 ) hasn't been the best of times for me, managed to get a Urinary infection, and then Bladder problems which resulted in having to have a Catheter inserted, not to be recommended! so for the moment there won't be any tweets until its all over "hopefully" all the best for the New Year to you all, Tight lines.

The top group of flies proved successful on the R. Test (21st Oct) for Grayling. ( and 1 out of season Brown Trout.) 
​Black bodied flies the Butt is Pink.
Hook.......#16 Barbless
Butt.......Hends dub No. 25
Body.........Brown dub
Hackle......Brown Hen.

Some Nymphs I have been using to date, proving quite useful.

Just back from my annual holiday, had a change this year, went East instead of West, 2 weeks in Mauritius. Took the fly rod etc with me just in case there happened to be some fishing available from the hotel, just so happened there were some South Africans with the same idea! good fun stalking Permit from the shore, alas, only went wading with my phone in my pocket! took about a week to get it finally dry enough to charge it, and get it working! alas no pics. Nearly over the jet lag, 11 ½ hr flight home! set off midnight your time on Monday from the hotel, and landed at Gatwick 20 to 6 in the evening, one backside numbing journey not for the faint hearted! Just about got everything sorted at home now, time to think about some WBT fishing in the local rivers. tight lines. 

The tying as follows :-

Hook...........#12-14-16-?
Tag...........Orange Floss
Body.........Rabbit Fur
Rib.............Fine Pearl Tinsel
Wing..........Ice Dub UV Pearl (Hareline/Funky Fly Tying)
Bead............Gold
​Thread.........Your Choice. I've used Black, but whatever you fancy.