It seems that time spins past ever faster as life passes by and with mid- summer approaching I decided to take full advantage of the long summer evenings. Wimbleball Reservoir offers an excellent value evening ticket catch and release with one fish for the table for just £25. Starting at 3.00pm until an hour after sunset gives six hours fishing at this time of year.

            I set out along the path through lush green vegetation intending to fish Rugg’s bank. There was a brisk cool westerly breeze blowing into the shoreline and after an hour I decided upon a move to the calmer waters of Bessom’s. There were fish present as I made brief contact with what felt like a big fish and had a couple of tugs. There were very few fish rising and I hoped a few beetles might be present where the wind was blowing off the land.

            Bessom’s was certainly far more comfortable and I could put out a good line with ease. I had set up a floating line, with a Montana nymph on the point a PTN on the middle dropper and a small black cormorant on the top dropper. I allowed the flies to sink before starting a slow erratic retrieve. On the second cast I missed a fish and then on the third the line zipped tight as a good rainbow powered away somersaulting from the lake amidst a flurry of spray. It was four pounds of full tailed power and a great start to the session.

            Two more fish were brought to the net in the next hour both hard fighting rainbows of around 3lb in prime condition both tempted on the PTN on the dropper.

Early evening sunshine illuminated the scene as gig rowers powered across the calm waters. Horses frisked on the fields across the lake adding an air of drama to the landscape.

Working the team of flies slowly I settled into a pleasing searching rhythm with the occasional missed fish keeping me alert. As sport slowed I changed over to a blue-flash damsel on the point trying differing speeds of retrieve. A slow retrieve was rewarded with a fourth rainbow of close to 3lb. Then a solid take brought connection with what felt like a big fish. After a minute or so the broad shouldered rainbow came adrift after a headshaking display.

 The next thirty minutes proved fruitless prompting a move twenty yards or so along the bank that proved no better. So as the light started to fade I moved back to my original position for that last cast or two. As I started the retrieve a good fish hit the lure hard erupting from the water before stripping line from the reel. After an exciting tussle a beautiful rainbow of at least five pounds graced the net provided a fitting end to the evening.