Thanks Lyndsey. I'm going through exactly the same at the moment. It happens from time to time, other anglers catching plenty, me, struggling. Just keep going it will come back. Thanks for fascinating and interesting films.
Here's a thing Lindsay. I've been fishing for fifty years now. I took up fly fishing 23 years ago. I didn't really know what I was doing when I took up fly fishing and had moderate success, at best. I then moved up to the Midlands and tried a local lake a few times with no success. Demoralised, I gave up fly fishing and went back to coarse fishing, which I enjoyed and was pretty competent at. For some reason I was drawn back to fly fishing just before Covid. Again, I was pretty clueless but yet determined. It was only through watching and learning from your good self and other TH-camrs such as Rhys Wadley, Tim Joyce, Howard Croston etc., that I continued to learn and develop my understanding of the sport. It also encouraged me to start tying my own flies. As a result, I'm now enjoying my fly fishing more than ever and would consider myself reasonably competent, thanks to you and your online colleagues. Like with anything, know that you know what you're doing and keep going; the luck will come!
After many years we all struggle with mojo problems. I nearly packed it all in the last few seasons . I still get out but fish about 10-12 times a year now and I appreciate the days out better .
As a competitive angler, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves and therefore struggle if the fishing is not on. I personally experienced that many a time and have been fishing competitively for over 10 years now. I have lost my mojo a few times, but I see it as a phase and mindset. In the end, I always remind myself that I am very passionate about fly fishing and do it for the love of the "sport". Getting some professional help will always help and it is sometimes just that one thing that can change your game!! All the best Lindsay. I trust you will get back into it very soon. Just keep on doing what you do here for us. Tight lines, Denise (ZA)
My competitive days are behind me now other than the low level friendly events. I still really enjoy those. I am sure that I will be fishing and filming until I am no longer able.
Hi Lindsay, I think we all struggle at times in any sport, the content you create is great and a real inspiration. I only fly fish for carp and pike but really enjoy your fishing especially on the rivers. The one thing that is true is that the downside will be balanced by upsides over the long term. Have a great Xmas and please keep the fantastic content coming
Another great video! The quality of the videos is class regardless of how many fish are on it! Everyone has bad spells mate. It was a hard year on the river for sure!
Always next time Lindsay!!! I've struggled on club res this year. However, I have done much more river fishing and these last two months have had excellent sport with grayling using dries including being out today. I would never have imagined catching grayling on dries as late as 14th November!
You’re much too hard on yourself Lyndsey….Ive learned a lot from your excellent videos and you can’t have had as poor a three months as I’ve had. Our local reservoir hasn’t been stocked for three months which is gutting. What you tried in the video is hard especially on a wide river full of water….maybe more suited to smaller pocket water. I’ve discovered the grayling tend to hang in the deep slow water on my local river and some kind of bung with two beaded nymphs does the trick. Keep up the good work!
@ you may be right Lyndsey ..you know that river well. I find they move around a lot ….I’ve even caught them on the Taff in spots where they’ve never been before. We do get alot of cormorants on the Taff now which is very damaging to native species….but that maybe why the grayling are on the move so much.
I tend to believe I learn more on tough days than I do on good days. Just today I got better at tying non-slip loop knots as I changed fly after fly on a sinking line setup. I continue to enjoy your content. Keep it up!
This is my first winter Grayling fishing exclusively. I have fished a few rivers and the Test has proved the most difficult in terms of numbers but bigger fish. If it is of any consolation many rivers have fished poorly after the floods of last year for many species. Tight lines for the remaining winter fishing.
Enjoyed the video , water looked stunning . Its a big river compared to where I fish . Mojo gets bashed up from time to time . I went out last weekend in the Cotswolds and had 2 Greyling in the first 30 mins yey . Fished hard all day and then lost one at last light . They ofter squirm off from barbless hooks due the the way they continually twist and turn during the fight .
Tbh. I have the feeling of being lost on a regular basis when I'm fishing (once or twice a season). For me it's a sign to switch something up or take a break. Im a fishing generalist, meaning I have a natural curiosity in exploring, what else is out there. But what I personally find most helpful in freeing up my mind is just trying things out that aren't the norm or very niche like Trout Spey or centrepin fishing. It forces you so see things differently and gives your mind something fresh to work on, rather than having to brute force an old slowly grown problem further and further. The key to go down this method is to keep it to yourself though, cause you are breaking with conventions and some people can't deal with that.
I think trying new things is a great thing its how we move forward. I am always trying to improve my skill set and am happy to share the success as well as the failures.
Well done mate, I have never caught a Grayling, keep up the good work, remember whenever you my way (Oxfordshire) let me know and I will get you on our club lake-Ray
Lindsay, i am an Ellerdine regular and blanked on 2 of my last 3 visits which is really unusual. I will just say that on those days others were struggling a bit as well. Generally a bit tough going which is unusual for this time of year. Oh well, it hapoens and there is always next time.
I never lose my fly fishing mojo but I have lost my fly tying mojo several times. Each time I have eventually got it back and get tying with gusto. I have found that keeping my bench tidy and my materials well organised helps.
Grayling numbers: It’s the same on the Avon. In five visits to the stretch I fish since the end of trouting I’ve brought only 9 grayling to the net. Our keeper thinks last winter’s floods led to a very poor spawning season and many of the previous year’s juveniles were washed out. He’s confident they’ll recover in a year or two because “they always do”.
That’s possible but I suspect run off from farmers fields as well as irresponsible water companies pumping sewage into the rivers is not helping. What part of the Avon do you fish? I have spent a fair bit of time there over the years.
I lost the love for reservoir fishing, most of all pulling lures from a boat… I’ll still fish them if I’ve no option. For me fishing is on the river with dry flies. If you need a pick me up I can recommend Austria, great rivers, mountains, pastures, wild fish and serenity. Oh and great beers and food, take your own flask with whiskers though Scotland do the best. It’ll feed your soul I promise.
Great filming, Lindsay. Interesting about your last comment. We are never too old to learn for a good professional. Im still at the other end of the scale and a professional would his or her blood pressure meds after a session with me ! Ha! Do you ever go fishing without you filming? I could do both, i admire how you film, edit and produce an excellent film AND catch fish!
It's a very rare day now that I go fishing and am not accompanied by six cameras......lol. I do enjoy it though and it gives me great pleasure to help my fellow anglers. As well as promote both fly fishing and fly tying.
Hi Lindsay. I have fished this beat and this film and others that you have made here have helped me to get to know it. Trying to fish and make a film at the same time is asking a lot of yourself. I have come to the conclusion that you really need to concentrate when you are euro nymphing and any distraction, like filming , will impair your performance. I'm sure you will return to form soon.
It’s a stunning part of the Test system. I will try and do other parts but access is always a problem. I do enjoy making the videos and I think it does help some folks out.
Loss of focus, mojo, luck, can get you down. Just enjoy your time by the water, while fishing change tactics, presentation, fly selection. You will turn it around. Take it back to basics, you will turn it around. Even if you start to get out of season even the odd coarse fish, it is a start, the target species will play ball eventually. One factor could be pressure from other anglers making the fish wary. Personally as much as I love fishing for grayling even when I managed to fish around Bakewell have not yet landed any larger fish. So often when targeting those larger fish just it is about to turn to the nymph or dry a small fish grab the fly. Whatever the size grayling are beautiful fish. After a safe release. There is nothing better than watching fish swimming of of unharmed.
I only really get up for the KitKat Cup pal, Once I retire in a couple of years I will have more time to explore the rivers North of the border. I know there are some great venues.
Hang on, 3 grayling, 5 brownies albeit out of season, and 2 sea trout, there’s every reason to be positive, as something was working. You can’t make the grayling appear if they’re not there yet. This autumn has been really strange so no wonder it’s a struggle. I think you are being way too hard on yourself! Maybe have some trips on the water when you don’t have to worry about making a video-just have some fun 👍
We all get that sometimes sir doesn't matter if it's fly fishing or other types of fishing you need to just get out and enjoy your fishing without the camera and enjoy an ordinary days fishing with friends to get mojo back
I never get into the big numbers. I might get 2 or 3 when the other guys get into double figures. Ive watched you and a few of the other guys on TH-cam. Ive copied your patterns and adopted your tips but nothing changes for me. I fish a few of the stillwaters around the central belt of Scotland. I blank regularly, and in these times, i think, am I wasting my time? I do believe skill and knowledge are important, but so is luck. Ive seen beginners start to catch regularly after a few months. They are not doing anything differently from me. But i still keep fishing as its about more than catching lots of fish for me. Im sure your mojo will return.
I know its a bit of a cliche but it really is not about catching big numbers and as long as you are enjoying your time in the outdoors its a win. Thanks for watching.
Protecting that camera equipment is a difficult task at the best of times. A rod and reel can take a dunking only resulting in a clean dry lubricate as needed. Cameras and water are like gills on a camel. Not a perfect pairing of fit for purpose
Hi Lindsey totally agree fishing can get you feeling like your Mojo has gone. Sad to say mine has been gone for quite a while , my main reason is that I live just outside Leeds and fly fishing venues are very few up here. So much so I started fly fishing for carp but most course fisheries don’t like people with fly rods. Very frustrating all round so much so I’m thinking of packing up and selling my gear . I’ll still watch out for you on TH-cam 🎣🎣
Sorry to hear that you have little access to decent Stillwater fishing but you are not far for some really good river fishing. Might be worth having a look at swapping out the Stillwater gear for some river fishing kit.
Loss of focus, mojo, luck, can get you down. Just enjoy your time by the water, while fishing change tactics, presentation, fly selection. You will turn it around. Take it back to basics, you will turn it around. Even if you start to get out of season even the odd coarse fish, it is a start, the target species will play ball eventually. One factor could be pressure from other anglers making the fish wary. Personally as much as I love fishing for grayling even when I managed to fish around Bakewell have not yet landed any larger fish. So often when targeting those larger fish just it is about to turn to the nymph or dry a small fish grab the fly. Whatever the size grayling are beautiful fish. After a safe release. There is nothing better than watching fish swimming of of unharmed.
@@lindsayiflyfishYou will turn it around my friend. This is just a bump in the road of your fishing journey. This time next year you will look back smiling on how much things have changed.
Thanks Lyndsey. I'm going through exactly the same at the moment. It happens from time to time, other anglers catching plenty, me, struggling. Just keep going it will come back. Thanks for fascinating and interesting films.
It’s happened in the past pal, I am sure you are right.
Here's a thing Lindsay. I've been fishing for fifty years now. I took up fly fishing 23 years ago. I didn't really know what I was doing when I took up fly fishing and had moderate success, at best. I then moved up to the Midlands and tried a local lake a few times with no success. Demoralised, I gave up fly fishing and went back to coarse fishing, which I enjoyed and was pretty competent at. For some reason I was drawn back to fly fishing just before Covid. Again, I was pretty clueless but yet determined. It was only through watching and learning from your good self and other TH-camrs such as Rhys Wadley, Tim Joyce, Howard Croston etc., that I continued to learn and develop my understanding of the sport. It also encouraged me to start tying my own flies. As a result, I'm now enjoying my fly fishing more than ever and would consider myself reasonably competent, thanks to you and your online colleagues. Like with anything, know that you know what you're doing and keep going; the luck will come!
That’s very kind of you to say thank you. 👍
After many years we all struggle with mojo problems. I nearly packed it all in the last few seasons . I still get out but fish about 10-12 times a year now and I appreciate the days out better .
Haven’t lost my love for fishing just don’t seem to be on my game.
As a competitive angler, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves and therefore struggle if the fishing is not on.
I personally experienced that many a time and have been fishing competitively for over 10 years now.
I have lost my mojo a few times, but I see it as a phase and mindset. In the end, I always remind myself that I am very passionate about fly fishing and do it for the love of the "sport".
Getting some professional help will always help and it is sometimes just that one thing that can change your game!!
All the best Lindsay. I trust you will get back into it very soon. Just keep on doing what you do here for us.
Tight lines, Denise (ZA)
My competitive days are behind me now other than the low level friendly events. I still really enjoy those. I am sure that I will be fishing and filming until I am no longer able.
Hi Lindsay, I think we all struggle at times in any sport, the content you create is great and a real inspiration. I only fly fish for carp and pike but really enjoy your fishing especially on the rivers. The one thing that is true is that the downside will be balanced by upsides over the long term. Have a great Xmas and please keep the fantastic content coming
David many thanks for the comment and I will surely try to keep going. Already got plans for videos next year.
Keep up the great work..love your uploads especially your kit kat cup.. jesus that was some walk at the start
Keeps you young ;-)
Another great video! The quality of the videos is class regardless of how many fish are on it! Everyone has bad spells mate. It was a hard year on the river for sure!
I know you are right you just get used to a certain standard and I feel I have dropped a bit in that level.
Lindsay my British friend! You are number one😊
You are too kind pal.
Always next time Lindsay!!! I've struggled on club res this year. However, I have done much more river fishing and these last two months have had excellent sport with grayling using dries including being out today. I would never have imagined catching grayling on dries as late as 14th November!
I think everyone has an off period, I am sure it will come good.
You’re much too hard on yourself Lyndsey….Ive learned a lot from your excellent videos and you can’t have had as poor a three months as I’ve had. Our local reservoir hasn’t been stocked for three months which is gutting. What you tried in the video is hard especially on a wide river full of water….maybe more suited to smaller pocket water. I’ve discovered the grayling tend to hang in the deep slow water on my local river and some kind of bung with two beaded nymphs does the trick. Keep up the good work!
Not sure if there is an issue with water quality but the Grayling do seem to not be there in the numbers of years gone by.
@ you may be right Lyndsey ..you know that river well. I find they move around a lot ….I’ve even caught them on the Taff in spots where they’ve never been before. We do get alot of cormorants on the Taff now which is very damaging to native species….but that maybe why the grayling are on the move so much.
I tend to believe I learn more on tough days than I do on good days. Just today I got better at tying non-slip loop knots as I changed fly after fly on a sinking line setup.
I continue to enjoy your content. Keep it up!
You are right more lessons from a bad day than a good day definitely 👍
This is my first winter Grayling fishing exclusively. I have fished a few rivers and the Test has proved the most difficult in terms of numbers but bigger fish. If it is of any consolation many rivers have fished poorly after the floods of last year for many species.
Tight lines for the remaining winter fishing.
Thanks pal. 👍
Enjoyed the video , water looked stunning . Its a big river compared to where I fish . Mojo gets bashed up from time to time . I went out last weekend in the Cotswolds and had 2 Greyling in the first 30 mins yey . Fished hard all day and then lost one at last light . They ofter squirm off from barbless hooks due the the way they continually twist and turn during the fight .
It is a great venue, very picturesque and a pleasure to be there.
Tbh. I have the feeling of being lost on a regular basis when I'm fishing (once or twice a season). For me it's a sign to switch something up or take a break. Im a fishing generalist, meaning I have a natural curiosity in exploring, what else is out there. But what I personally find most helpful in freeing up my mind is just trying things out that aren't the norm or very niche like Trout Spey or centrepin fishing. It forces you so see things differently and gives your mind something fresh to work on, rather than having to brute force an old slowly grown problem further and further. The key to go down this method is to keep it to yourself though, cause you are breaking with conventions and some people can't deal with that.
I think trying new things is a great thing its how we move forward. I am always trying to improve my skill set and am happy to share the success as well as the failures.
Well done mate, I have never caught a Grayling, keep up the good work, remember whenever you my way (Oxfordshire) let me know and I will get you on our club lake-Ray
Very kind Raymond thank you.
super video Lindsay and lovely stretch of water to be fishing
I am so lucky to have such a beautiful venue so close to me and it is a privledge to fish there.
Great video Lindsay really enjoyed it 🐟🎣
Thanks pal.
Lindsay, i am an Ellerdine regular and blanked on 2 of my last 3 visits which is really unusual. I will just say that on those days others were struggling a bit as well. Generally a bit tough going which is unusual for this time of year. Oh well, it hapoens and there is always next time.
I like to catch fish but it is no longer essential to me having a good day. The company of fellow anglers in stunning places is much more important.
@lindsayiflyfish any day not at work and out in nature with like minded folk is a good day.
I never lose my fly fishing mojo but I have lost my fly tying mojo several times. Each time I have eventually got it back and get tying with gusto. I have found that keeping my bench tidy and my materials well organised helps.
David I totally agree having a tidy space to tie in does make it easier to be inspired.
Grayling numbers: It’s the same on the Avon. In five visits to the stretch I fish since the end of trouting I’ve brought only 9 grayling to the net. Our keeper thinks last winter’s floods led to a very poor spawning season and many of the previous year’s juveniles were washed out. He’s confident they’ll recover in a year or two because “they always do”.
That’s possible but I suspect run off from farmers fields as well as irresponsible water companies pumping sewage into the rivers is not helping. What part of the Avon do you fish? I have spent a fair bit of time there over the years.
@ Services stretch between Bulford and Fittleton.
Hi Iain, got the sub-titles! Fantastic !😊😊😊😊😊😊
Accent that bad....lol.
I lost the love for reservoir fishing, most of all pulling lures from a boat… I’ll still fish them if I’ve no option. For me fishing is on the river with dry flies. If you need a pick me up I can recommend Austria, great rivers, mountains, pastures, wild fish and serenity. Oh and great beers and food, take your own flask with whiskers though Scotland do the best. It’ll feed your soul I promise.
I do fancy Austria it’s on the list for my grand tour when I retire.
Excellent video again, just a question on your bottom rod section was that small hair bobbles to retain your dropper flys on ?
They are little 'o' rings rubber grommets to keep my dropper flies Rodger.
Great filming, Lindsay. Interesting about your last comment. We are never too old to learn for a good professional. Im still at the other end of the scale and a professional would his or her blood pressure meds after a session with me ! Ha!
Do you ever go fishing without you filming? I could do both, i admire how you film, edit and produce an excellent film AND catch fish!
It's a very rare day now that I go fishing and am not accompanied by six cameras......lol. I do enjoy it though and it gives me great pleasure to help my fellow anglers. As well as promote both fly fishing and fly tying.
Hi Lindsay. I have fished this beat and this film and others that you have made here have helped me to get to know it. Trying to fish and make a film at the same time is asking a lot of yourself. I have come to the conclusion that you really need to concentrate when you are euro nymphing and any distraction, like filming , will impair your performance. I'm sure you will return to form soon.
It’s a stunning part of the Test system. I will try and do other parts but access is always a problem. I do enjoy making the videos and I think it does help some folks out.
Loss of focus, mojo, luck, can get you down. Just enjoy your time by the water, while fishing change tactics, presentation, fly selection. You will turn it around. Take it back to basics, you will turn it around. Even if you start to get out of season even the odd coarse fish, it is a start, the target species will play ball eventually. One factor could be pressure from other anglers making the fish wary. Personally as much as I love fishing for grayling even when I managed to fish around Bakewell have not yet landed any larger fish. So often when targeting those larger fish just it is about to turn to the nymph or dry a small fish grab the fly. Whatever the size grayling are beautiful fish. After a safe release. There is nothing better than watching fish swimming of of unharmed.
I know your right.
I’m at the point myself. I’ve gone from fishing every Sunday sometimes twice a week, for a year solid, to not going in over 12 months now.
Oh man! I would be climbing the walls, I think my wife would end up stabbing me if I didn't go fishing for a year.....lol.
@ last time I went, I came home to a spotless kitchen and guttered 3 large trout in the sink and nearly got stabbed 😂
@@CBCB78 😆
Where in Scotland do you fish for grayling Lindsay 🎣🎣
I only really get up for the KitKat Cup pal, Once I retire in a couple of years I will have more time to explore the rivers North of the border. I know there are some great venues.
Hang on, 3 grayling, 5 brownies albeit out of season, and 2 sea trout, there’s every reason to be positive, as something was working. You can’t make the grayling appear if they’re not there yet. This autumn has been really strange so no wonder it’s a struggle. I think you are being way too hard on yourself! Maybe have some trips on the water when you don’t have to worry about making a video-just have some fun 👍
I think it’s an expectation thing Robert in years gone by it’s not unusual to have 50 grayling a day there.
We all get that sometimes sir doesn't matter if it's fly fishing or other types of fishing you need to just get out and enjoy your fishing without the camera and enjoy an ordinary days fishing with friends to get mojo back
You might well be right buddy.
Nice video thanks I'm out every weekend on a class A stream
Good man thanks.
@@lindsayiflyfish do you ever pick up rocks and see what is crawling on them to match your flys sir
@@dennybowser5533 Very occasionally.
I never get into the big numbers. I might get 2 or 3 when the other guys get into double figures. Ive watched you and a few of the other guys on TH-cam. Ive copied your patterns and adopted your tips but nothing changes for me. I fish a few of the stillwaters around the central belt of Scotland. I blank regularly, and in these times, i think, am I wasting my time? I do believe skill and knowledge are important, but so is luck. Ive seen beginners start to catch regularly after a few months. They are not doing anything differently from me. But i still keep fishing as its about more than catching lots of fish for me. Im sure your mojo will return.
I know its a bit of a cliche but it really is not about catching big numbers and as long as you are enjoying your time in the outdoors its a win. Thanks for watching.
What are the rubber rings on your rod
They are for hooking up my dropper flies so they don’t get tangled when I am moving.
Lost yourojo sounds like a Austin Powers movie
I wish I had a Time Machine getting old is shite 🤣
Protecting that camera equipment is a difficult task at the best of times. A rod and reel can take a dunking only resulting in a clean dry lubricate as needed. Cameras and water are like gills on a camel. Not a perfect pairing of fit for purpose
It is what it is pal.
Hi Lindsey totally agree fishing can get you feeling like your Mojo has gone. Sad to say mine has been gone for quite a while , my main reason is that I live just outside Leeds and fly fishing venues are very few up here. So much so I started fly fishing for carp but most course fisheries don’t like people with fly rods. Very frustrating all round so much so I’m thinking of packing up and selling my gear . I’ll still watch out for you on TH-cam 🎣🎣
Sorry to hear that you have little access to decent Stillwater fishing but you are not far for some really good river fishing. Might be worth having a look at swapping out the Stillwater gear for some river fishing kit.
Don't care for that reel much lindsey????
I am developing a love hate relationship with it. 😉
Loss of focus, mojo, luck, can get you down. Just enjoy your time by the water, while fishing change tactics, presentation, fly selection. You will turn it around. Take it back to basics, you will turn it around. Even if you start to get out of season even the odd coarse fish, it is a start, the target species will play ball eventually. One factor could be pressure from other anglers making the fish wary. Personally as much as I love fishing for grayling even when I managed to fish around Bakewell have not yet landed any larger fish. So often when targeting those larger fish just it is about to turn to the nymph or dry a small fish grab the fly. Whatever the size grayling are beautiful fish. After a safe release. There is nothing better than watching fish swimming of of unharmed.
It will come good I hope. 🤞
@@lindsayiflyfishYou will turn it around my friend. This is just a bump in the road of your fishing journey. This time next year you will look back smiling on how much things have changed.