Tip of the month for young anglers: March 2019

Spring is here and the pond and river life is starting to awaken. Fishing for Schools' Bob Goble gives us the benefit of his wisdom to help us improve our fishing this month

March is finally here, heralding the official start of spring, It is comforting to watch the countryside start to awake - the trees budding and greening up, the grass under your feet starting to feel alive, the reeded margins around lakes, rivers and ponds looking resplendent with spiky leaves pushing up and forwards and the sun climbing higher as the daylight hours get longer.

The water, mind you, is still very cold, but I'm sure all that live beneath are aware of the coming warmth. Invertebrates will get active and start looking for a mate to carry on the cycle of life, including one creature that is very important to the angler - the non-biting midge or chironomidae, known as the buzzer to you and me.

The cycle of the buzzer starts with the male and female mating in the air above the water. The female returns to the water to deliver her eggs, which fall through the layers to the bottom and into the silt, were they stay for a very short while. Then the larvae appear in the tens of thousands, if not millions, writhing and lashing. These are what we call blood worms, as they are red in colour and by mimicking these larvae we can make a very successful fly.

The pattern illustrated is an apps bloodworm and is tied with rubber latex and several strands coming away from the body, to create chaos as it moves around. The gold bead is for weight to get the fly down quickly as well as the bright gold colour being an added bonus.

The next stage of the buzzer's lifecycle is the pupae. They appear to be mostly black with some of the red colour. Luckily for us anglers they are the shape of the hook that has been dressed to imitate them.

The pupae's aim is to get to the surface where they try to emerge out of the shuck and lie on the water's surface with their wings out stretched before flying up to mate, completing the cycle again.

As you read this you will realise the importance of this insect. It is one of the staple diets of trout and indeed all fish and is also on the menu for birds and other insect-eating creatures.

Fishing the buzzer could not be easier. Use a rod of 8ft or 9½ft and a fly line to match with a tapered leader of 10ft to 12ft and of 7lbs or 8Ibs breaking strain.

If you can manage two buzzer patterns all the better, have a blood worm pattern on the point and a black one on a dropper about 3ft above that.

Now we are all set. The most important thing to remember is the wind direction. If you are right handed, when you are standing by the water the ideal wind or slight breeze would be coming from your right to left shoulders and slightly behind. Vice versa if you are left handed.

Cast out your imitations - you won't need to cast far as presentation is the key. Let the flies settle, giving a little time for them to go deeper, then start a very slow retrieve.

Your fly line will start to bow around; this is fine but be aware if there is too much slack you could miss the take or pull from the fish.

Don't forget to follow the line around with the rod, you will be more in touch with your offerings.

I find this way of fishing very satisfying as you are using a fly that mimics the naturals and this method can be deadly on its day.

Be observant of what is hatching and give it a go. You might be pleasantly surprised and it will add another string to your bow!

Keep warm be safe and importantly have fun, Bob G.