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The second annual Christmas fish off and Dyl, Steve & myself ventured into deep dark Wales in search of rainbow trout. They are stocked fish but it’s catch and release so they’ve seen it all before and in a spring fed, gin-clear pond it’s not easy fishing.
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Dyl was first to bump a trout before I nailed one on a twitched
Purple Headed Womb Ferret. Next I switched to a fast paced
Blue Vained Flute bagging a second fish. And after a few follows I landed a third on a
Bucket-Head Bruce Banner from under a bush.
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A three fish lead against the fly guys, perhaps it was going to be my year. Steve swapped to a deep diving
Tinky-Winky Spam Javelin, bagging his first trout and a
One-Eyed Custard Flinger accounted for two more. Tea break; 3-3-0.
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Last year’s top catcher, Dylan, struggled after losing a fish early on - and post tea break fishing was tough going. So it was great when one hit his slow sinking
Mushroom Headed Meat Weasel while I was there to get a few action shots.
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When the sun dipped behind the hill it started to get really cold, and the trout were happy to follow but not hit a fly. Steve bumped a couple before landing one on a
Bubblehead Bangstick, I answered with one on a static
Slippery Bishop. Four-four.
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But Steve had saved the best until last. A big rainbow hit his bottom hugging
Bald-Headed Buzzer. Hell of a fight and I remembered I had scales in the car, best of the day
5lb 12oz rainbow to end on. 5-4-1. The day was Steve’s but a great day was had by all.
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Cheers guys, same again next Christmas? Oh, by the way, I have no idea what the names of the flies were. (All trout returned alive).