Driving through to the Lake on a June Sunday, the outside temperature is showing 15 degrees and there is good cloud cover, so I have a real sense of anticipation. On arrival, there is a fair wave on the water, but the swallows are working well and still the feeling remains positive.
I get a take to a dry on the first drift in International Bay and, despite the fish coming off, I can’t wait to re-cast. Seven hours later, with a very full fly patch, but a very empty bass bag, the mood has changed somewhat. My boat partner, Dougie Goddard, has also had but a single contact. Thought… this is too short lived… we’ve worked hard with the dries, but to no reward, and going deeper produces no better success. When we find that most of the other members on the outing are also fishless, including two past club champions, we feel a little better, but not a lot.
However, on what turned out to be such a difficult day, the guys who did get fish deserve even more credit. Top rod was Brian Griffiths, with 3 fish to a Kate McLaren, fished slowly on a floater – and it is good to see that trads can still do the business here. Gary Heseltine had two to Blobs on a fast glass, and I am pleased to report that a number of the young members managed to get singles to a variety of techniques.
I have been on the Lake enough this year to know that there are certainly plenty of fish in it, but there are some days on which it can be a frustrating venue. This was one such occasion, with a mere 8 fish from 14 hard working rods.