Good To Be Back

Sub-zero temperatures, snow, biting cold wind, freezing cold water...absolute heaven. After something like 7 weeks where the rivers have been in an almost continual flood it was a joy to finally have the chance to flick out a team of Grayling bugs in the hope of a catching a few fish that hadn't been put off by the recent drop in water temperature.

A few hours on the wye on Saturday and an hour or so on Irfon on Sunday resulted in a total of a dozen fish...nothing big but all very welcome.

All 8 fish caught on the Wye took my recently tied V-Rib Pink Glister Grub so I think it may result in a few more being tied this week.

Biggest of the weekend (gloves have non-absorbent palm!!!)

With a bit of luck the river levels will remain fishable over the Xmas break so we can all catch up on a little Grayling therapy.

I hope this Salmon got the chance to spawn before the resident Otter had it for breakfast!

The crabbing has definitely slowed down. While there is a still a good chance at getting a dungeness or two off the pier it is not the near certainty of the start of the season. Even from a boat, getting a limit is difficult. The red crab are still available to make up for any dungeness you're lacking. I haven't heard of any perch caught this past week, but then again I haven't heard of anyone fishing, either. Rain is forecast for the weekend so there may not be much to report next week, either.

Magic Glass V-Rib Nymphs

The last 4 or 5 weekends have been spent hoping and praying that the river levels would come right and allow us all to enjoy a few hours indulging in our favourite pastime, only to be told that 'more heavy rain was forecast' scuppering all plans to cast a fly.

The weather in Mid-Wales and around the Marches has wiped out any serious river fishing for over a month and with the water tables filled to capacity any further rain just keeps topping up the rivers to overflowing.

Time then to attempt my first Step By Step of a fly pattern using a material new to me...Veniards Magic Glass V-Rib is a exceptionally versatile material which brings nymph pattern to life and is easy to use even for a relative novice like myself.

Yellow 'Magic Glass' Grub

Hook - #12 Skalka G
Bead - 3.5mm Black Tungsten
Thread - UTC 70 Hopper Yellow
Tail - Grey Partridge
Breathers - Pale Yellow Ostrich Herl
Body - Magic Glass - V Rib (Yellow)
Extra Weight - 4 or 5 Turns of .60mm Lead Behind Bead
Thorax - Dark Olive Seals Fur

Tie in Partridge feather for tail.


Catch in Ostrich Herl and V-Rib, then add 4 or 5

turns of lead behind the tungsten bead and coat

it with a layer of varnish.


Wrap the body with the thread to form an even

tapered body.


Wind up the V-Rib material to form a

segmented body.


Then follow up with the Ostrich herl laying it

in the groove of the segments.


Apply the Seals Fur dubbing using the split

thread method.



Some variations using Veniards Magic Glass V-Rib

Same as above but without the herl body.

Using fluoro pink thread and shrimp pink V-Rib.

Partridge hackle added around collar.

Pink glister dubbing under V-Rib body.

'Free swimming' rhyacophila.