This is now the forth successive mild autumn and winter period with an incredibly low rainfall. In Southern England we are now entering drought conditions similar to which of those last experienced some seventy years ago, according to historic records. Those bygone days were so very different, human population and conduct was incompatible to our lives now. Water is a precious commodity and one, which our planet will cease to survive without. Should a fly fisherman get a bootie or wader full of water they should empty the boot and ring out there socks so the water is going back into the Whitewater to guard the little we have! Perhaps we should advocate also the use of dry flies sitting on the water surface to refrain from water being drawn out of the river with an imitation nymph and then flung far away on the back cast? It could just be that every pipette drop counts!
Nature has a way of being opportunistic in varying conditions and climates. In these dry bright conditions of recent years the photosynthesis phenomenon acts to enable a more abundant aquatic plant growth, this the home of insect larvae so in years to come we may experience stronger insect hatches to benefit the food chain cycle for fish, birds and all other riverside residents.
During the winter months our intrepid working parties were in action once again. Thank you once again to all of those who came along to help. We spent some time on the S bend stretch approx 400yds upstream from the Hatchgate bridge to continue the good work of recent years. Here we coppiced a couple of trees on the far bank which should regenerate this year to enable low bankside cover and allow light in. We also did some moderate tidying up around the top weir and down to the roadside bridge. The stocked brown trout once more have come from our usual source so look forward to some elegant and demon fish.
Following the success of our first mink raft last year we have installed a few more along the stretch. Once again please leave these alone to allow them to function correctly. If we our to improve the aquatic population we need to keep the mink numbers down. The farmers son will manage these mink rafts and Robert is certain to get the better of the mink. Later in the year we will introduce the crayfish traps this time with roadkill rabbit to entice the American critters.
Please be aware also of a new water flow monitoring station with submerged devices on the downstream side of the roadbridge. This is Environmental Agency equipment and must be left undisturbed. It is hoped that year on year water volume and flow information will help the Environmental Agency convince other governing bodies of the need to develop long term strategy's to retain and conserve water throughout the country.