What a good year it’s been!
While
disquieting scenes of severe drought in southern waters filled our screens
and newspapers in the hot summer months we Derbyshire anglers enjoyed
some luck with water levels satisfactory despite the hot weather.
Not only did our reservoirs stay quite well filled but sport was more
than satisfactory in several different waters though age and infirmity
prevented me from taking full advantage of the situation.
The mayfly fortnight was superb and I managed to enjoy this myself.
River levels were perfect and hatches of E. Danica and E. Vulgata mayflies
hatched in profusion, and both anglers and trout enjoyed the mayfly carnival.
On our coarse fishing rivers sport was better than in recent seasons my
friends tell me, with the barbel fishing on both Trent and Derwent really
exciting with fish of high average size and some real whoppers landed.
Our commercial small stillwaters gave huge bags of fish to several anglers,
and how nice it is to have comfortable fishing on these venues with safe
car parking close at hand and toilet facilities and sometimes good snack
bars too.
I was given valuable assistance by friends including Neil Ashmore, Simon
Brough, Allan Purnell, and boatman Nick Bundy and this was much appreciated
now that I am in my 76th year.