Even though of the reminders of winter streak the Pennine hillsides and Lakeland Fells there is warmth in the sunshine and more than a hint of spring down in the river valleys. Recent weeks have seen the trout fishing improving steadily and although hatches of olives and early upwings have been erratic there are some great fish showing up. We had a couple of hours of interesting sport the other day with trout taking a range of insects off the surface and in spite of bright sunshine and a tricky wind fish like this one fooled by Mike Marshall have been very obliging and put up a great scrap tearing about all over the place. Out on the Eden though, we had a real amazing session with Barry Griss. Following some good instruction from Mike Smith down in Norfolk, Barry was putting it all into practice and casting a good long line but the salmon were being typically unco-operative. By way of a change, and having bought a Sonik spinning rod we set about learning to fish a flying ‘c’ properly. First cast, aim towards the gravel bank on the far side and the spinner drops in…Give it a second to settle, pull the rod downstream to kick the blade in and turn the reel handle…wallop! Ten minutes of hectic tussle and this bright thirteen pound springer is eased into the net. Not a bad result for a novice on his first cast!!!!!

Mike Marshal and a lovely early season Brownie

And a first wild trout on the dry fly!!

First cast salmon!