An incredibly wet and windy night left the river in full spate this morning and has given it a good flush out. The wet and windy weather has persisted on and off throughout the day and the wind is not set to ease until later tomorrow. Casting will be a challenge, but with our resident trout stirred up and plenty of food in suspension fishing may be good this week.
The wind was so strong here this morning that it blew a goldfinch into the kitchen window. I went out and found the poor devil with its feet in the air clearly stunned. Placing it on the bird table well clear of the local cat community it fairly soon recovered and flew off.
I have just received from our historian a fascinating exchange of correspondence about salmon in the upper Ribble. Written in the late 30s it proves conclusively that salmon and migratory trout were not present at Horton at that time. This was due to the weir at Settle which had no fish pass. The writer of the first letter clearly rattled a few cages as he seemed to imply that fishing above Horton was very poor. This prompted a couple of rejoinders from MAA officers pointing out that the Horton fishery was outstanding and had been for many years. I have sometimes puzzled that there is no mention of salmon in early club records. I now know why.
Ian