Dear all

As we fast approach the start of the season here at Carsington Water its time to start sifting through the dusty fly boxes searching for that killer pattern....  Well if you find please let me know what it is!

A few good bets at Carsington Water early season will be skinny black and olive buzzers and may be blood worm. There will also be damsel nymphs and caddis larvae as well as a host of other mini beasts starting to get on the move as spring arrives. So it is a good idea to carry a good selection of nymphs; Pheasant Tails, Dial Bach's are a must but it is handy to have one or two other patterns available. This should cover most situations.

If conditions allow try a team of small black dries, especially when the hawthorn fly are on the wing. Even if there is not a big hatch going on there are always plenty of insects hatching and other terrestrials such as beetles and daddy long legs that get blown on.

If conditions don't allow and there is a good wave on then a team of three on an intermediate or medium sink line will give you a good chance. Start with something bright on the top dropper, a mini cats whisker or an orange blob. Follow it with a drab wet maybe a cormorant or a Mallard & Claret and put a small lure perhaps a black woolly bugger or an Olive Classic Fm.

If you fancy a go at competition fishing then why not come and enter the Carsington Water heat of the Lexus European Individual competition on April 22nd. We still have some places available for this great, friendly event. There are prizes on the day as well a star prize of a Lexus Rx400 for a year for the winner of the grand final. The winner of last years wild card prize at the grand final won a week-long fishing trip to the Yukon courtesy of Anglers World Holidays. To book your place on the Lexus and claim your goody bag, which includes a floating fly line worth £30 as other goods please fill in the attached entry form and return it, with your entry fee, to the address shown on the form or for any further details please phone the fishery office on 01629 540 769 or go to www.johnhorsey.co.uk

Our open day with the England Ladies Fly Fishing Association will be held on Sunday August 3rd this year and we will again be holding an open competition in support of the ladies team. To enter this superb event which has prizes down to 10th place please fill in the attached entry form and return it with your entry fee to the Carsington Water Fishery Office.

I hope that gives you a few idea's for when all the dust is gone and the line is wet again.

Tight Lines Phil