Mid May

Oliver Edwards has been going on for years about the massive hatches they enjoy on the Wharfe of the small caddisfly called the Grannom. On my rivers
to the west of the Pennines, in north-west England, this has always been a rare insect. But then... Peter and I visited the Ribble on a warm spring morning, too early for the afternoon olive hatch. To our amazement we found
ourselves in the midst of an enormous hatch of Grannom and the fish were feeding keenly on them. The numbers of flies involved was staggering, recalling the great hatches I have seen in summer nights on the Gloma
(Norway) and Gim (Sweden). We caught many fish, Pete having an exceptionally beautiful large brown, before we began investigating. The hatch, it seems, occupied only about 2-3 miles of river but, Oliver insisted when I phoned him, they will spread. So next April, from about 10-28 April, I hope to enjoy something new on my own
river. Chatsworth Angling Fair on 22-23 May in Derbyshire, England, and on the 24th.

I fly to Ireland for the big Danica mayfly. Please God it will be warm!

Malcolm Greenhalgh