As I'm sure regular readers will know, I seldom put fish on a net photos up. This isn't so much a fish on a net as a fish in a net. Its also one of our new stock, weighing in at 20+ that Barry caught Friday night. Its an unusual photo, perfectly balanced as she rests in the net before release.

Pollarding the willows.

What ever you may think, or in my case don't think, of Trump and his cohort you have to hand it to him, he gets on with the job. I find trying to get things done in this country akin to wading through treacle. Decision makers hide behind consultants, health and safty and the determining legislation. Each layer involved drag out the work for as long as possible, for obviously reasons. I'm afraid at my age it is simply no longer worth getting involved with the regulators. Certainly with the expectation of achieving anything in a reasonable time scale and cost.

Just what level and in what form should regulation of the agricultural community take? Can the farming community and their agri-chemical companies be trusted to safeguard the environment? I certainly wouldn't like to answer that second question! I do believe many farms are responsible enought to be allowed to manage the environment under their control. If that were so, how is any such management agreement to be rewarded, monitored and what are the consequences for failing to act responsibly and honestly? Key questions in urgent need of answers from Defra. Unfortunately, I believe there's more chance of an ice-age than Defra having the imagination and resolve to bring about the radical change needed.

A further glimpse of some of the pools, that remain high but very fishable. The middle shot is of Lake Run. With the turmoil of the new breakthrough just upstream this section may well prove productive as fish wait to assess what lies ahead. The third shot is one for the coarse rods, showing the big slack in Lower Cabbage. I have cleared the brambles behind, to provide a little more dry ground to sit on. I have also cleared the weedbed below the old disabled platform to make it easier to fish the eddy. I will pollard the willows that can be seen in the background when the water levels drop a little more.

I thought long and hard about putting this shot up as it has the potential to be misinterpreted. The decision was made easier by the ludicrous policy change emanating from No 10, regarding beaver release licensing. If we are to believe the Guardian, No 10 has gone back on the licensing of beaver releases as they consider it a Tory legacy. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! How to upset the environmental lobby in one easy lesson, never let it be said the views of the riverine community stand in the way of politics. It would seem those behind the decision are totally ignorant of what is actually happening across the entire country with regard to the status of beavers. They are showing up on rivers from one side of the country to the other. However they attempt to justify the petty political jiggery-pokery, it doesn't alter the fact they appear out of touch and reinforcing the view this government are no better than the previous bunch living in the rarefied air of the Westminster bubble.

The photo actually shows the beaver activity in one of the over-stood stands of willow beside the river. This activity has proved quite thought provoking when considering the natural state of the river valley. It is the nature of beavers to coppice willow to produce fresh new growth, which is their preferred diet. If there were a natural population density of beavers in the valley, the habitat would look considerably different. The ancient white willows and the multitude of hybridised willow growth would not exist. There would be dense clumps of willow stools with an over story of alders where they could establish. We have not had resident beavers long enough to know what their impact on grey willow, sallow. They do seem to eat a little of the fresher growth and fell larger trees in a similar way as Grey willow but nothing like to the same extent as with white/crack willow. Time will tell how dramatic a change they will bring about. I have to admit to being delighted about their arrival and despite the efforts of No 10 it looks as if they are here to stay.

Its that ruddy duck again. Actually its a Ruddy Shelduck, the one that thinks its an Egyptian Goose. Its turned up again in the company of a pair of Egyptian's, as it has for the previous three or four years. There are one or two odd looking Egyptian geese about but I can't see any traits of this bird showing, so I guess he just likes the company!

Pile Pool looking smart and ready for the off on 1st February for the new salmon season.

A dramatic sunrise this morning, highlighting the gulls yet to leave the roost out on the floods.

Up and downstream of the bridge looking equally as dramatic. Red sky in the morning and all that, I wonder what lies in store for us!

WeBS day today and with the valley for the most part still underwater, a tricky count. The shot above included a mixed flock of Tits, Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs feeding in the reedbed at the base of the willow. There was also a large dog otter in the reeds upsetting the coot flock that was sheltering in there. As for the count, nothing of particular note other perhaps than the large number of Lapwing, over 600 loafing out in the water meadows, where the water was shallow enough.

One record I was quite surprised to see today is that the Great crested grebe is still sitting. With all the recent rain and cold I thought they would have abandoned their early first attempt.

One record that was missing was the Lesser Scaup that has been on the Estate for a week or two. I can't say I am too unhappy to see the back of it as it seems to attract some of the less desireable box-tickers of the bird world.

Still with us.

Still busy looking for an extension to the lodge.

As many of you will be aware, I have been away for a couple of days. I'm back in harness now and normal service has resumed. That's not me on the see-saw by the way!

For anyone thinking of visiting the Avon Valley in the next day or two, beware! The first shot is looking northeast from Fools Corner, along the Avon Valley Path toward Ibsley. The middle shot looking south from the lakes at Blashford. The third, north from the lakes, with the House in the distance across the flood. To add insult to injury, we are forecast heavy rain Wednesday and Friday. If we are within the banks by 1st February, at the start of the salmon season, it will be a bloody miracle! Any rods making plans for the new season ensure you have plenty of T18 leaders!

A frosty start along the fishing road, on my way to work this morning.

Ibsley Pool with the frost on the meadows beyond. Fingers crossed the pool remains at the current level for another month. A great height to present a fly over the lie at the tail of the pool. The weirpool is still running high with more heavy rain forecast for Sunday. We really are in the the lap of the gods when it comes to what will await us on 1st February.

I predict 2025 will be the year of the beaver on the Hampshire Avon.

Busy setting up home.

Just how they got here I wouldn't like to speculate but they are certainly here now and I hope, here to stay.

As many of you will know I am a great believer in circle hooks for certain methods of fishing. In sea fishing they have several advantages for such species as bream, conger and shark. More and more these days I have been trying them on the lakes and rivers. I have long fished my dead-baits for pike on single circles fished on what is in fact a hair-rig, with the hook an inch or two clear of the bait. This allows the hook to articulate and move freely ensuring it comes into contact with the scissors or side of the mouth as it is ejected or tightened as the fish takes. I have found that deep hooked fish are very rare indeed and tooth and gill rake damage is similarly reduced. If a fish is missed on lifting into the resistance, no striking with circles, simply let the bait drop back down and usually the fish will follow and soon pick up the bait again. My salmon fishing is also done with straight eyed circles, fished on swing flies that also have the advantage of no strike being necessary, simply tighten into the fish. Most of the fish caught on the fly at Somerley are now caught on similarly presented flies.

In light of my preference for circles, I decided to do a little experimenting with lures. I have recently been changing some of my lures from trebles, which I dislike intently, to single barbless circles fished as assist hooks. The theory is the long assist mounts will allow the hook to articulate clear of the lure body once the fish has taken. I have changed the assist cord mounts to plastic coated wire, in the hope the rigidity of the wire will keep the hooks clear of the body. The jury is still out as to the effectiveness of my approach but early signs are definitely encouraging. Today I ended up moving over a dozen jacks between four and twelve pounds. Most came short, probably due to the clarity of the water, two hit and didn't connect and I landed two. The shot above shows the adapted lure.

Showing the perfect hook position of the single circle.

A fine pair of drakes, part of the dozen or so Goosander that can usually be found on either Meadow or Kings-Vincents. A shot Paul Lloyd took on his last visit out on Sibley's Point.

It looks as if the position of this trail camera may be blown! I have them set all over the place looking for various creatures about the Estate.

Clarification of the above.

It makes it clearer just what the fella above thought of the camera.