Warwickshire Trout - River Alne Pt.1

Now out of all British fish species the trout is the most accommodating. It is tasty, easy to catch, fights well and can be taken on a wide variety of baits and lures by almost every known method of angling. Of all methods, however, fly-fishing is the most graceful. (According to my Father-in-Law Sid as pictured)

Unfortunately, by over-enthusiastic devotees and others who follow blindly in their wake, fly- fishing has also been described as being the most 'sporting' method; other methods being considered less 'sporting' or, sometimes, even 'unsporting'. 

This is a pity, since it has created a form of snobbery, a sense of false values. In modern angling literature the terms 'sporting' and 'unsporting' are in constant use. They are words that flow easily from the tongue and from the pen. But what do they mean? 

There are many legal, but widely differing, methods of angling, is it reasonable to suppose that some are more creditable than others?

Most anglers the world over go fishing to enjoy themselves. Whatever their secondary motives to catch a meal, to win a prize, to impress their wives or friends their primary object is pleasure. 

Each angler has his favourite method or methods of fishing - perhaps because he enjoys handling the tackles involved, or because they are best suited to his temperament, or (most probably) because he finds that they catch him more fish. 

Whatever the reason, however, provided he does not interfere with another angler's pleasure, he should be free to catch fish by any legal method he chooses, and be thought neither more nor less of a 'sports- man' in consequence. 

But all too often anglers are not free to fish as they choose. Occasionally this is due to exigency, more frequently, however, some of the methods anglers would like to use are forbidden simply because they are considered 'unsporting'. 

I know there are plenty who wouldn't dream to fish their local rivers and streams in the coarse closed season for trout for example and because other anglers do, they must be in the wrong. Rod Fishing Byelaws: Midlands

I've caught plenty of trout in the Alne so after contacting the main man of the small syndicate he said yes, the agreement with the farmer is that you can fish for trout in the coarse closed season. Eyes and ears on the ground and all that. In-fact a sheep in the river a few years ago was swiftly sorted because I was there. 

To be honest another stretch not far from here run by one of the biggest angling clubs in the country is available too, because lets be honest here, trout are in good numbers in this river, in-fact when using bait sometime they are all I seem to catch. The weather really has been pants but there was a small break in the rain and a small window of opportunity so I might as well have a dabble to see if I could catch a trout or two. 

After going for a gander at the weir the recent rain it looked out of bounds so I headed upstream to the much shallower areas and got the recently pink enhanced Salmo Hornet. I knew it would be coloured so any enhancement was most welcome. I'm getting through them that's the problem they can get snagged up when fishing these sorts of rivers. 

Anyway I walked the whole mile stretch and fish a good number of swims without a hit and with the rain and hail on and off for most of the time I was there not exactly pleasant fishing conditions. So 2 hours in with nothing to show for it I headed back to the car donned my waders and decided to brave the turbulence of the weir. 

I know this stretch of this small river really well though having fished it for years so the part of the river you have to cross isn't very deep at all.Sketchy in wellies, but fine in waders. Sure enough the 4th or 5th cast from the protruding grassy island a proper hit and a trout was on. 

It took it near my feet almost and almost got confused what the heck was going on as it was splashing and trying to get rid of the hook without really making any ground. 😅. That was my lot I stayed for another half an hour to no avail and with some huge black clouds forming and heading my way I made a hasty retreat.