Take one stretch of the Nadder that hasn't been touched in 20 years+

Add a handful of victims, uhmm I mean, volunteers.

Mix in a dash of bowsaws, axes and rope.

Season with brute strength and ignorance.

Stir, shake, mix and basically throw about vigorously and leave to simmer for 5 hours.

Remove from the oven and leave to settle for a while before fishing.

Another work party this weekend gone, a good turnout and a very satisfying work. I think we only got through maybe 1/4 of the water but it becomes immediately obvious a) how good this fishery could be, and b) how much work is involved...

The usual happened; People got wet (thanks for making me smile Jozef), People ached the next day, Mark used saws underwater (we have proof) but in the main, people went home happy. Another 3 work parties and I think we have a great fishery here, still hard, wild trout fishing, still needing a small rod, still needing an ability to cast through branches, but a good fishery nonetheless.

I'd personally like to thank everyone that turned up, it's one thing for me to organise these things, it's another for people to actually take their valuable weekends to come and help. Thanks guys, see you in a month for the next? :)

























So as you can see, we went against modern fishery management practice and removed large wooden debris! To be fair, we left a considerable amount in the stretch but it was so overgrown and choked with Alder that it really really needed some of the log jams, dams and fallen trees removed. What we achieved I believe is to let some more light into stretches and still leave enough cover and features to keep it 'interesting' and 'wild'.

Trout season is almost upon us here in the Salisbury area. Our rivers open to us on April fools day, an auspicious day to begin I find.

Moving slowly on from my winter of discontent I decided today was a good day to go back to the river and take a sneaky peak at how things were looking for my upcoming summer of solitude.

Walking the banks of the Nadder at Wilton, daffodils blowing crazily in a stiff breeze, clouds scudding overhead I was reminded of last year when we thought spring was on the way only to be brought up short by snow. Well the forecast is for a hard frost here tonight followed by, yup, snow...

Putting the possibilty of frozen extremeties aside (yes we're soft southern jessies) the rivers are in the best shape that I've seen them in years. High water levels, a good flow and even the Nadder is running clear (for now). There is more weed in the water than I've ever seen on this stretch, I think this year will definitely be a cutting year.



That's all I wanted to say today, just thought the photo summed it up quite nicely. Clear water, good ranunculous (was going to say good weed, but thought you might get the wrong idea) and blue sky shining through. Ahhh

I've just got back from another week playing in the snow. There really is nothing quite like it for raising the spirits and although as soon as you get in that queue for the plane the real world comes crashing back (crash, hehe clever huh?) the freckles and the happy smile stay with you for a while afterwards.

I'm only putting up a few snaps today, just wanted to add something and then get on with getting on.

















Malcolm