Due to its makeup, Eyebrook, with an average depth of only 17 ½ feet and no aerators which would bring cooler water towards the surface. It is a challenge in the height of summer, as the fish will drop down in the water column to locate some cooler water. Were they feel more comfortable, at the time of writing this blog the 7am water temperature for the last 2 days has been 23°C. Meaning the trout will not sit and fed in these temperatures for prolonged periods which will mean the fish will dropped deeper. Although, this does not mean you need to stop fishing! Just get the flies down to where the fish are, and the sport can be fantastic.
A sunny hot day at Eyebrook in August with temperatures over 30°C.
At Eyebrook the majority of the fish when the water temperature rises head, for the Main Basin with a depth of 37ft this area provides access for cool water for the trout to refuge in. However, the old riverbed in between the Island and Robbo’s Cabin also offers deep water for the trout to head into.
When the trout do head into the deeper water a lot of anglers first port of call is to reach for the fast sinkers such as a Di 7 (Sinking at 7 inch per second) or the popular Airflo Booby Basher with 55ft of 400 grain Di 8 that is cut back to suit the rod. Both of these lines will sink quickly and help to keep the flies pinned down in the zone the fish will be feeding for longer.
However, a very enjoyable method to try in the hottest summer months is deep buzzers fished on a floater but more effectively on a midge tip. This method works best on the calmer days when you can have greater control over the floating line and also the boat to ensure a static presentation. My normal set up is 8ft from the fly line to the first dropper and then 4ft between all my flies with 4 flies on the cast giving a leader length of 20ft. If you cannot handle a 4-fly cast, then 3 flies will sort just as well again I would go 8ft to the first fly and then 4ft between the next 2 to keep the weight towards the bottom of the cast. The key to this method is to fish the flies as close to static as possible with a very slowly drifting boat.
Keeping the line static in calm conditions on a very hot day at Eyebrook.
The key is to allow the flies to sink down to around 25-30ft, using a slow figure of eight retrieve to take up any slack in the line. Then the majority of the takes come at the end of the retrieve when the flies hanging under the rod tip and start to inch them back up. It is at this point be prepared for the rod to just arch over into a hard fighting fish.
Bingo! A hard fighting Eyebrook trout that took under the rod tip, just as the flies started to be inch up.
My fly selection for this would be to have 2 large size 8s on the point and the next dropper up to give the cast some weight to help pull the flies down. Then smaller buzzers on the next droppers normally size 12s.
The reward for trying keep in the hot conditions, a lovely rainbow coming across the surface ready for the net.
Next time you are thinking of heading out in the hot weather, try fishing a bit deeper with buzzers. Its very satisfying catching trout on days, when all the conditions go against you.
Tightlines Tom Bird
