A day with Russell Owen at Ellerdine lakes

By Wayne Jones Fishing News 0 Comments

A day with Russell Owen at Ellerdine lakes

For the last trip of the year I decided to visit Ellerdine lakes for the first time with Russ Owen. I can’t believe I have never fished here before. Russ has fished it a few times and we planned to fish together and cover all 4 lakes. The night before I was sorting my gear and made a quick phone call to Andy Taylor for some pointers. He recommended 2 methods. Method one, a floater, 2 corms and cat on the point with a short 12-foot leader and he said make sure you fish the cast right to your feet. Second method a midge tip, 2 diawls and an apps worm slowly figured of 8.

We decided to meet up at the fishery at 9 am. It’s not a bad drive for me, about 1 hr 20 and the same for Russ. We were greeted with a warm welcome from Jane and a nice hot drink. I was very impressed with the lodge and shop. The fishery looked fantastic with people already bending into fish. After a chat and some advice, we decided to start on the biggest lake, Meadow. I set up with an Airflo 12-foot slow tip, 12 foot leader with a Hot head UV cat rabbit on the point, Russell’s green head corm in the middle and a shorty orange quill corm top dropper. Russ set up very similar but with a hot head black Tadpole on the point, a red head holographic corm top dropper and his green head corm in the middle. We tried a few spots on Meadow but only had a couple of very sort takes on the drop. Russ had a few takes and managed the first fish of the day, a nice rainbow around the 3-pound mark taken on the top dropper corm. We moved over to Marsh on the back side, the wind was pushing left to right. I had changed the point fly now to a Hot head black lurcher as the water had a bit of colour in. I always find black stands out really well in coloured water and gives a strong silhouette. Casting down the edge and down wind a very slow figure of eight and the line went tight my first Ellerdine trout was hooked. After a great fight I slid the net under a fish around the 3 to 4-pound mark. The fish had taken the hot head black lurcher.

Russ was also getting into the fish on a slow figure of 8 and most of his fish where taking the corms. I manged another 4 on the corms and all down the edge. I was really impressed with the quality of the fish. We both had lots of pulls, takes and fish on and off. A great morning, 5 fish for me and 6 for Russ. We decided to head to lodge for another hot drink. Warmed and refreshed we headed back out to the back lakes. Russ went onto Lakemoor and I went onto Cranymoor. The water was really clear on both of these lakes and it was great to see lots of small perch in the margins. The sun was now out but fishing was tough. I switched to the Indicator with an MM (Mojito Mitten) on set at about 4 feet casting to tight in to some reeds. First cast I missed one then second cast same spot the indicator flew under And a firm strike was meet with solid resentence. This was a good fish and after a dogged fight I slid the net under a good size rainbow. This was a cracker 6 pound plus.

Russ manged one on Lakemoor and then moved down wind on Cranymoor where he fished down the right side and me the left. When Russ got into the bottom corner, he turned the skill on. Fishing very slow and letting the wind bring his flies round he was into to fish, landing 2 rapid both to his green head corm. I had now come to see Russ and he was fishing tight down the side. Again, his line went tight and solid he knew he had hooked a good fish. The fish slowly went out from the edge into the middle. I was convinced he had hooked a big brown. After a good fight he needed his first Spartac. What a cracking fish, the colours in the fish were the best I have ever seen. The fish had taken his top dropper corm, the red head mirage jungle cock corm.

This is now a new fish now on my bucket list to catch. I love the colours and the look of the fish. As I was walking back to my gear Russ gave me a shout, he had hooked another good fish. This fight was much faster and zipping about all over the place, then we got our first look at a good-sized blue trout.

These are a real gorgeous fish to look at. This was a cracking blue it had taken his green head corm. We decided to fish our way back to lodge. A few more takes and lost fish but no more netted. As with all fishermen we decided to have one last go on meadow before heading home. I had a very frustrating time on here losing 4 fish on the bounce all on the MM (Mojito Mitten) at about 4 foot. With the time now approaching 2 30 pm and promises made to our partners we decided to call it a day. Russ finished with 12 including the 2 fantastic looking Spartac and Blue trout. I had finished with 6 all great fish and one lump. The best method was an Airflo 12-foot slow tip and the 2 cormorants proving the best flies with a weighted lure on the point.

I have visited a few fisheries over the last couple of months and I must say this is one of the best. Great facilities, a warm welcome and good fishing over 4 lakes. Definitely worth a visit. Already looking forward to going back. What a great days fishing with Russell and a nice way to end the year.