Are
you ready for the blues?
Opening day of a new season’s trout fishing at Ladybower reservoir
comes very early in the year these days, and as the day approaches I always
wonder whether fishing will be possible at all because of snow-covered
roads or ice-covered water.
Fortunately in recent years the actual opening day has been quite good
with worsening conditions arriving when the fishing has been open for
a time.
This year regular visitors to this fantastic water will be even more anxious
for a good start.
A treat awaits anglers at this big, beautiful, scenic, fish-filled water,
where permits whether for a day or a full year’s fishing are surely
the cheapest of all the big trout reservoirs, and where the boats are
comfortable to fish from, and boatman Nick is always helpful and hard-working.
The excitement is about prospects for this early season.
Last season was probably the best that we have seen since the reservoir
opened to trouting in 1946 with sport consistently good right until the
very last day.
Perhaps I was lucky though in that my boat partner and I did not suffer
a completely blank day all season, with at least one trout landed, and
many limit bags.
This season, however, we eagerly await the chance to capture the somewhat
ornamental blue trout that Allan Purnell has reared on the landsite fish
farm and in the holding cages.
These blue rainbows are beautiful creatures and they have grown on from
fry at an astonishing rate.
Allan tells me that many of the blues (and a few golden rainbows, too)
had reached a weight of two-and-a-half pounds by last December, and they
have a reputation for hard fighting.
It will seem sad not to enjoy joking with the lovely Sue in the office
this year, because to everyone’s regret Sue died last year at an
early age.
However since I caught my first trout some 70 years ago now I can hardly
complain myself, having enjoyed a long and happy fishing life.
Opening day at Ladybower is Wednesday, March 1.
The office near the reservoir will be open for a week before the opening
for advance ticket sales, both season and day permits.
Remember that from April 1 your new season licenses must be obtained and
these too are for sale in the fishery office.