This diary dates back to a holiday in 2003 when I think the urge to get back into fishing took off.
From around 2007 the trips became more frequent with 2010/11 probably being the peak of activity.
Things again pick up in 2020 - a sort of rebirth!
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More photos in the full report
For our summer break in 2009 we were staying in a farm house at Cringles, which is on high ground between Addingham and Silsden and not far from the Stake Hill Fishery.
We went to Kilnsey Park Trout Farm where I was able to hire a rod and enjoyed a few hours of somewhat amateurish fly fishing.
Mick, our neighbour's father, was visiting, and being a keen angler I invited him along. So we could keep together I suggested he fish at the opposite end of reed bed that forms part of my 'reed swim'. I knew he would get takes in the margin but warned him that he may lose fish. I fished a bit further along, next to a smaller reed bed; a spot I hadn't fished before. We arrived at 07.00. It was very warm (27ºC the previous day) with a light SE breeze.
More photos in the full report
As it turned out to be calm and warm I went over the lake for the afternoon, arriving at about 14.30.
Choices were limited as there were already quite a few people there, so I went in the reed swim as it was free, knowing full well that the risk of losing fish was high. The middle of the day is always slow so I wasn't surprised that I had to wait for any action.
More photos in the full report
After losing so many fish in the reed swim and, quite frankly, getting a bit paranoid over the carp, I decided to have a change of approach. Being first on the lake I went for a swim on the west bank that has the benefit of being sheltered from prevailing westerly winds, the forecast for the day being for quite fresh westerlies.
Only one photo today.
Larger light-box version in the full report
A bit of a mixed day.
A 07.00 start again and conditions were good; clear blue sky with a very light SW breeze that dropped completely at various times over the day. At the reed swim again.
Only one photo today.
Larger light-box version in the full report
Another less than perfect day.
I started at 07.00 and conditions were good, with a light NE breeze that was at my back, making casting and line control reasonably easy. It was colder than it had been but by no means cold. At the reed swim again.
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