At the risk of perpetuating a spring stereotype, the word around Millbrook for the last several weeks has been… mayfly. Dun hatches mostly, although spinner falls have been of increasing value when we get the odd warm day. Mayfly hatches vary in reliability, intensity, timing and duration from year to year. Some mayfly seasons, it can feel as if we’d almost be better off without them – whole guiding days can be planned around when and where the dun hatches will happen (and the sometimes fickle trout response). If things don’t go to plan, you’re left wondering if it would have been better to just fish as if it were outside mayfly season.
But since late September this year, the mayfly have justified our obsession. Hatches have been incredibly reliable, long-lasting, and the trout have responded very well. The only problem really, has been some hatches so massive, the trout can’t keep up – at least in terms of finding an artificial fly among the crowd. But that sounds like the flyfishing equivalent of a first-world problem, and justifiably so. Overall, the mayfly fishing has been fantastic.
The big question is, how long will it last? Well, history shows that mayfly love lots of water, and we certainly have that, with Millbrook’s wet year showing no signs of abating. Last year (a good mayfly spring, but not in 2021’s league) big hatches persisted until mid-November, and we had less predictable dun action almost until Christmas. As always, nature will decide, but so far, soooo good.
For other fishing, the evenings have been okay, though so far not to the standard of the beetle and midge rises from late winter until mid-September. Polaroiding has been great on those quite rare sunny days… but cloud helps the duns, so you can’t have everything. Trout size and condition has been outstanding.
All up, it’s been quite an amazing spring, and we look forward to sharing it with more and more guests as Covid restrictions continue to ease.
But since late September this year, the mayfly have justified our obsession. Hatches have been incredibly reliable, long-lasting, and the trout have responded very well. The only problem really, has been some hatches so massive, the trout can’t keep up – at least in terms of finding an artificial fly among the crowd. But that sounds like the flyfishing equivalent of a first-world problem, and justifiably so. Overall, the mayfly fishing has been fantastic.
The big question is, how long will it last? Well, history shows that mayfly love lots of water, and we certainly have that, with Millbrook’s wet year showing no signs of abating. Last year (a good mayfly spring, but not in 2021’s league) big hatches persisted until mid-November, and we had less predictable dun action almost until Christmas. As always, nature will decide, but so far, soooo good.
For other fishing, the evenings have been okay, though so far not to the standard of the beetle and midge rises from late winter until mid-September. Polaroiding has been great on those quite rare sunny days… but cloud helps the duns, so you can’t have everything. Trout size and condition has been outstanding.
All up, it’s been quite an amazing spring, and we look forward to sharing it with more and more guests as Covid restrictions continue to ease.
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