Yesterday we had an official holiday overhere called "Queensday".
I skipped the festivities and headed straight to Germany for some fishing.
Since I am without a car I went by train and took a good hike to the fishing water.
At a path across the fields I came along a young rabbit that did not scoot away
as they do usually.


Rabbit

It was again a bright clear day with a strong easterly wind.
It has not rained now for over 30 days.
We need rain, lot's of it....


Bright skies

Just for a change I tried fishing the open stretch of the river first.
There was still a lot of debri on the water but the wind pushed most of it onto the shore.
The water was clear but I could not spot any fish at all.


The open stretch.

When I came to an weir I saw the first fish of the day.
Large dark shapes where hovering in front of the weir, carp!
Of course I tried to catch them on the fly but they just ignored the nymphs I fished.
Below the weir there where also some two carp in the outflow.
These fish also ignored the nymps.


Below the weir.

In the open field I came across a school of bream but these fish ran off as soon as I peeked over the embankment.
Maybe I would have more luck with the shady stretch in the village.
I came across some rather large dace on my way to the village but ignored them.
The next honeyhole was a spot where the sunken branches of a willow tree provided shelter for many roach.


Schools of roach behind the tree.

I fished a gold bead pheasant tail nymph and dropped it behind the tree.
I managed to get the smallest fish of them all.


Not what I had hoped for.

I fished the rest of the stream in the village but just was not able to hook any fish.
When I switched to a streamer I had at least expected a perch to come out and play but none of that.
This winter the local club had cut down many trees along the embankment which gave more room for flycasting.
They also removed the sunken trees from the riverbed so there was no cover whatshowever for fish to shelter, a very bad move.
When I came back for the Dace the fish where gone, next time I will not pass a chance to catch them.
The trout that where stocked have all been cleared out or have moved downstream in search of shelter.
Hopefully it will rain again and some trees will be washed down the river so a couple of deeper pools will developed in time.