An Elusive trout!

I now have a battle with one elusive trout. It is not because its a monster or specimen fish, it is because it has escaped four times over two sessions. It is taking the biscuit!
I had to visit a B&B and a holiday cottage in Longnor to pay for some future use and could not pass over Windy Arbour Bridge without having a quick dibble.
This is the beat on the Peak Passport scheme that I lost my wild brown trout virginity on a few months back.
That was the first time I failed to connect with this particular trout in this particular pool to an olive Klink.

Today, the water was reasonably clear but lower than before with a slight upstream breeze aiding the cast. I had already got the rod set-up from the day before and had a BWO on the end of my short tippet. I had no reason not to give it a go so I entered the upper moorland Manifold a good 15 yards down stream and worked my way up the far bank and got into position behind a very convenient Alder. This left me with a good view and a reasonably easy cast around the tree. The trout was there and had already risen a few times as I got myself ready for battle. I was all set-up with the leader and tippet degreased. I knew I would only get a few goes at this. First cast - bingo! The BWO got hit the moment it made contact with the surface layer. But my elation lasted all of a  nano second. My pulse was racing and the blood pressure was up! I made a few quick false casts to dry the fly and dropped it in again on the same spot. A few moments later the fly got hit again and the trout got missed again. In my heart I knew that the trout was probably now wise to me and it was pointless to carry on trying, but I did for few minutes with obvious results.
I decided to leave it be for a while and went down stream to the place where I cought the bug and my first wild brownie. There were no rises here but it was a good distraction for half an hour, though I did lose the BWO on a back cast so put a Black Gnat on.

I walked back up to the bridge and slipped into the babbling brook to see if things had settled down. Sure enough, in exactly the same feeding lane, it was rising to food coming over the ledge. I took my time and watched several more sets of rings being pushed out by this busy little trout. That was it, time was pressing so I dropped a roll cast in right on the spot and just like last time, as soon as the gnat landed it was viciously attacked but not swallowed. I could see a pattern emerging here. I quickly dried the fly and put it in again, but this time it didnt accept the second offering, so the battle lines are now drawn.

I am sure that this fiesty little thing is no more than 6" but it is the principal that counts. It is winning. I know that this is sport but I will win! Until next time little friend..........

Love the streams,

March Brown