A March afternoon on the Manifold

I was going stir crazy in the office and for the second day running it was a cracking, very early spring day, dry with a warm coloured low sun, but still with a chill in the air. It had rained quite a bit three days ago so I was keen to see what the local river was like.
 After tackling up I went for a walk down to my favorite spot, the pool bend downstream of the bridge by the Manifold Inn. The winter floods had made their mark. A huge silt bank had been deposited on the outside of the bend and new shingle shallows had formed in various places, potentially, very trout friendly!

 The river was at a lovely level and running, for the Manifold, a moorland river, very clear.
It was a warm looking late afternoon sun, but the air still had a winter chill in it and my inexperience of tying on size 18 flies with cold fingers and bi-focal lenses showed.
I spent a delightful few hours exploring the new looking beat, enjoying the early spring sun and learning the feel of my new 'cheap as chips' Wychwood Truefly 8' #3/4, I love it! What more could you ask for? Just a shame that the Inn was not open.
I don't care that I didn't connect with a Greyling, it was just nice to be out  and by running water.

Love the streams,
March Brown