Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Trout & Salmon

“HELLOMYFRIEND, it’s Orri”. I won’t easily forget that familiar phone greeting, warm and sincere - true of the man. The untimely death of NASF chairman Orri Vigfússon on July 1 has shocked many salmon-fishers and conservationists. For decades Orri fought tirelessly to return salmon stocks to abundance and helped to save millions of Atlantic salmon from commercial exploitation. He was a realist, dogged and passionate, direct but generous at all times. I can’t think of another person in my lifetime who had a greater influence on the survival of Atlantic salmon. He will, of course, be missed most by those that knew him personally, but his impact on every salmon-fisher, whether they knew him or not, is unquestionable. Orri’s legacy is this: you and I would have caught far fewer…

MOST ANGLERS WOULD agree that standing waist-deep in water and belting out a long line makes them feel good, but each river we fish presents us with a different challenge and to catch big sea-trout on the Ystwyth in West Wales you must deliver short, accurate casts in darkness and have an excellent grasp of rivercraft. The Ystwyth rises on the western slopes of Plynlymon, a massif that also gives birth to the Wye, Severn and Rheidol, on the border between Ceredigion and Powys. A lively spate river, it flows for 20 miles through the scenic mining villages near the Cwm-Ystwyth valley before crossing lowland pastures and reaching the tide at Aberystwyth harbour. It is looked after by Llanilar Angling Association, a highly regarded club that has recently installed gates,…

Fisheries: Jim fished Lower Invercauld, but other beats in the area offer a similar fishing experience. Most beats can offer gillies, however with so much space and so many pools, they provide their excellent service with a lighter touch than on shorter, more heavily fished beats. For more information visit www.fishdee.co.uk • Ian Murray controls three beats: Lower Invercauld, Monaltrie and Glenmuick. He and his sons have set up super huts and kept rod numbers low. I fished seven-mile Lower Invercauld, limited to three rods. Three-mile Monaltrie has three rods, around and below Ballater. Glenmuick has two rods on the right bank below Ballater, partially opposite Monalitrie. Lower Invercauld has a five-year average of 60 fish, as does Monaltrie. E-mail: ianmurray.riverdee@btinternet.com • Crathie beat is above Lower Invercauld and offers…

THE PROPECT OF a balmy summer’s evening can send a ripple through our ranks. We can’t wait to get to the river after work, usually pinning our hopes on falls of the blue-winged olive, although these fabled flies don’t always deliver. Last year, heavy rain in Cumbria stopped me fishing on my local river for weeks. It can produce bumper b-wo hatches, but it’s fed by a lake that subsided at the rate of a bathtub with a blocked plughole. Water lapped over the riverbank and I was forced further afield. On other northern streams I had limited success because a nagging breeze sent the flies scurrying for cover, but my luck changed one night on the Lune. Anyone familiar with this Cumbrian spate river will know its high standing…

The fish in the picture was caught by my father, Geoff Proctor, on the River Polly on the Inverpolly Estate in Scotland. It was caught on a Polly Red, a special type of fly, created and tied by my father. It behaved normally in all respects and put up a reasonable fight, until that is we returned it to the water after a short time out to remove the hook. While it was out we noticed some damage on the underside and initially thought it had been attacked by an otter or something. When we returned it, the fish did not recover despite attempts to ensure flow through the gills. We took it out again, examined it properly and saw the red plastic band, it was growing through the head…

FROM PLASTIC CARRIER bags to spacious seat boxes, boat anglers use various means to carry their kit and each has the potential to cause tangles and frustration. To avoid a muddle of assorted tackle, one refined solution is to have your boat box fitted with precisely cut foam inserts to match the shape of reels, spare spools and fly-boxes so you never have to dig around in the bottom for the one item you need but can’t seem to find… SPARE SPOOLS IN EASY REACH Sometimes the difference between catching fish and not comes down to fine margins in line density. Having the full range of floaters, sinkers and sweeps within easy reach (see main picture of box lid, left) saves time. They can be ordered from top to bottom,…

WE SHOULD ALWAYS be highly conscious of how our fly is presented, but never more so than during the warmer months when low and clear water conditions can make salmon highly cautious of the surface disturbance created by the fly-line and fly entering the water. Your tackle can play its part in making the difference between enjoying good sport or enduring a frustrating day. In late summer, fishing with floating lines and small dressed flies, size 6 and smaller, can be effective but consider using them with long knotless tapered leaders, 15 ft-17 ft, to improve the fly’s turnover and, ultimately, its presentation. Using manufactured leaders of this length has the obvious advantage of increasing the distance between the fly-line and the fly, but it can also help your spey-casting.…

WAKE UP TO the tranquillity and stunning panoramic views of the Welsh hills, slip out in the peace of an early dawn, dew upon the grass, and step down to the river. This could be you when you stay in one of Premier Leisure Park’s comfortable new glamping pods on the banks of the Irfon. The park has a selection of touring pitches and pods available for short breaks as well as static caravans for sale - each with its own manicured lawn, mains electricity and plumbing. For those who like the traditional camping experience of a night under canvas, there is also a tented camping area. Lush meadows and wooded valleys provide a backdrop to this superb riverside setting, which includes 1¼ miles of private fishing on the Irfon.…

Q WHEN FISHING Snatcher patterns I get more tangles than I do with Buzzers. I dress them on grub or emerger hooks. Is it the hook shape that causes the tangles? Geoff Brown, via e-mail A: I STILL use grub hooks for emerger patterns on rivers, where they drift freely and on stillwaters for static Buzzer fishing, but I no longer use those with offset points for any tactic where my flies need retrieving. The reason? It was a National Final on Loch Leven (2006) and a small group of us (including T&S’s Stan Headley) had found out that a small, very slim Claret Snatcher had been working. I tied a few in readiness and was so confident in the pattern that I intended to fish a team of them.…

EASY-ACCESS TACKLE BAGS Three new Guideline Experience bags and packs can be used alone or together and are a great way to organise your gear on the water GUIDELINE EXPERIENCE BACKPACK £139.99 This 28-litre backpack borrows heavily from the hiking industry. The large main compartment has a pouch for the addition of a hydration pack and there is a small zip pocket for holding a wallet and valuables. The smaller front zip compartment has a clip for keys. There are two stretchy water bottle pockets on the outside and a large elasticated compartment that will hold a net or a rod tube (with a securing velcro strap). Both Experience waist bags can be clipped to the backpack’s front straps to turn them into a chest pack. GUIDELINE EXPERIENCE LARGE WAIST…

THE NEW SCOUT waders use the latest 37.5 fabric technology to bring breathability back into fashion. Your body has an efficient system for cooling itself, but unfortunately most breathable waders inhibit this system to some degree. The new material in Scout waders uses active particles permanently embedded in the fabric to increase surface area by 800 per cent. The Vision team has worked hard to develop a pair of waders that will keep you comfortable no matter how hot you get or how far you roam. CUT FOR COMFORT Scout waders use a curved NoSeam cut to give you excellent freedom of movement. The waders’ lower section is woven to provide increased durability and wear resistance while the upper section maximises breathability around your torso. The seams are ultrasonic welded…

England & Wales BORDER ESK FROM JUNE 6-14 the Esk was in great ply, but generally sea-trout were still thin on the ground. Hopefully the main runs will arrive soon. On June 12 Martin Coulthard caught a 12 lb sealiced salmon and a 2 lb sea-trout in the Willow Pool. Alan Dixon had a 12 lb salmon on the same day, also from the Willow Pool, and David Laidler landed a 14-pounder. Geoff Harvey caught sea-trout of 1 lb 8 oz, 1 lb 8 oz, 3 lb and 2 lb. John Croasdell caught a 14 lb salmon from the Willow and a 12 lb salmon and a 1 lb 8 oz sea-trout from the Cauldron. J. Golightly had a 1 lb 8 oz sea-trout from the Cauldron. David Laidler had…

“The chairman of the local branch handed me the 5 lb of locally made artisanal sausages with a deep sigh” IT WILL NOT have escaped your attention, I dare say, that the game fair season is upon us once again. It is not merely The Game Fair, of course, that vies for our attention and our attendance these days but the county shows, the game and country shows, the craft fayres and even the good old village fete, any and all of which are seeking our participation and, needless to say, our hard-earned cash. And it is the participation that we need to address just now because if the game fair season is upon us, can the casting competition be far behind? Now some of those of you who have…

 THE FLOW COUNTRY that extends over large swathes of Caithness and Sutherland has a pull on trout fishermen and it isn’t always easy to explain why. I have enjoyed more consistently good fishing, in more immediately arresting scenery, and caught bigger trout in other areas of Scotland, and often much closer to home. Nevertheless, the A897, which veers north-east from the A9 at Helmsdale towards Melvich, is a road up which I keep being diverted. “Lucy doesn’t attract much attention. She perhaps suffers from being too easy to reach” The beauty of Strath Helmsdale is undeniable, it is one of the most seductive and arresting valleys in all the land, but as you follow this fine salmon river further upstream the outlook gradually becomes more barren and by the time…

FISHING: At its best during summer, beginning in June and tailing off in late August. Guiding can be arranged with prior notice and a selection of local flies can be supplied. Contact Llanilar AA club secretary, Nathan Pursall, tel: 07912 511 575. Permit prices for visiting anglers start at £20 per day or £60 per season. Available at Aber Tackle, Aberystwyth (tel: 01970 611 200) and GB Fishing Tackle, Aberystwyth (tel: 01970 630 974). WHERE TO STAY: The seaside town of Aberystwyth has many places to stay within a short drive of the river. Park Lodge Hotel offers excellent food and is only two miles from the Rhydyfelin beat: Ffordd Parc y Llyn, Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth SY23 3TL. Tel: 01970 636 333. Or try Trip Advisor or Booking.com but remember…

WE ALL KNOW how it should end: on the last day of the month, on the season’s last day, on a day that finds just the hint of a breeze drifting its slow way upstream, a day that has seen golden September sunshine glowing on red berries and on changing leaves; and your river - unless it is a chalk stream - will have been flowing with just a touch of colour from rain three or four days ago; and the trout will have risen all day, or at least for a few hours in the afternoon; and at least a brace of them will have eaten your flies, will have stayed for the net and been knocked on the head or returned to the river. And now the light…

WHEN THE MAJOR duckfly, olive and Mayfly hatches have petered out on the limestone loughs of Ireland, anglers look to the prolific hatches of sedge for much of their summer sport. Daytime drifts with a team of wet-flies can produce good baskets of fish plump on the spoils of spring, while hunting the flat water on summer nights with a team of dry-flies can stir heavily-spotted giants from their stupor. The sedges on Irish loughs come in all shapes and sizes, from the small Welshman’s button to the huge murrough, which sprint tantalisingly across the water’s surface. Good sport can be had by day, in the evening and at night when the explosive sound of feeding trout resonates in the darkness. Trout feed on all stages of the hatch from…

“The biggest was going to be our supper and that left a handsome brace for the former US President, George Bush Snr” MANY YEARS AGO when I was fishing the Tay, someone told me about a man who was using business methods in an effort to conserve salmon. He was buying up estuary nets and long-lining concessions that accounted for tons of returning fish each year. Some years after that I came to know his name, Orri Vigfússon, and the name of his organisation, The North Atlantic Salmon Fund; and not long after that I knew him as a friend, visiting his home in Reykjavik, eating with his family and fishing with Orri and his son, Vigfus, on the northern Icelandic rivers, the Big Laxa and the Fljotaa. I remember…

WHAT INGREDIENTS DO you need to design an effective, modern salmon and sea-trout fisher? After 25 years of working in the fly-fishing industry in the company of world class guides, gillies and experienced fishers I have had the opportunity to watch, learn from and listen to this highly skilled group. They have generously shared their passion and knowledge and changed not only the way I fish but how I think about my fishing. So, what are the ingredients that make this group stand out? Each has favourite methods, but they share common fundamentals. In a nutshell, they cast cleanly and consistently with excellent turnover, and are comfortable with all lines from floaters through to fast sinkers, thus ensuring that they always fish their flies at the correct depth. All can…

OUR FASCINATION WITH the grander insects, the mayflies, March browns, large olives and sedges, leads us to overlook less glamorous bugs such as stoneflies. With the exception of the impressively large gadgers of spring, most anglers think the stonefly family is just a bit dull. Perhaps they don’t grab our interest because of their secretive emergence. When the nymphs crawl on to dry land before leaving their armoured shucks, they are largely ignored by the trout. However, from early March to the closing days of September and beyond, one or more stonefly species is likely to be active. Whether it’s the nymph or winged adult, which can crop up at any time of the day, these prehistoric-looking beasties provide square meals for fish. KNOW THE HATCH After emerging, the winged…

Q WHEN I talk to gillies they are often highly critical of deep wading. Sometimes they call it “over”-wading. Can you explain the problem, and suggest how best it can be avoided? David Milligan, via e-mail A THE CRITICISM is more of over-wading than deep wading per se. And by over-wading, what we mean is wading further out from the bank than is absolutely necessary to cover the fish efficiently. Remembering that salmon will lie in shallow water in some pools, as soon as we’re wading deeper than our knees there’s the possibility that we will be pushing salmon out of their lies. In extreme cases, I’ve seen fishers wading beyond the salmon in a pool. “They’re behind you!” as children like to shout at pantomimes. Only salmon fishing isn’t…

“The softer hen hackle liberates the fly from the confines of the top dropper” IN MUCH THE same way that little guys often feel an uncontrollable urge to thump big guys, I struggle to resist the temptation to tweak and “improve” classic flies. I’ve even had the brass neck to bring one or two to your attention through these pages: Haul a Gwynt, Kate Maclaren, Alexandra, to name a few. Some would say these flies are sacrosanct and it’s a crime to tamper. In which case, I’m a confirmed recidivist. In my defence, perfection, like beauty, and that “fishy” look is in the eye of the beholder. There’s no harm in bringing your own little twists, new ideas and new materials to a pattern as long as variants, no matter…

■ BEST IN SHOW The European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition, better known as EFTTEX, took place from June 29 to July 1 and included the annual Best New Product awards. Notable winners were the Sage Salt HD for best fly-rod. The Salt range is designed for the rigours of saltwater fly-fishing with rods ranging from 9 ft 5 wt up to a monstrous 8 ft 6 in 16 wt. Runner-up in the category was the Wychwood Drift XL, which is a great achievement for the brand having recently revamped its product line. The Hardy MTX won best fly-reel, with the equally new Sage Spectrum LT as runner-up. The Rio Flats Pro and Snowbee Thistledown 2 shared best fly-line. Scierra X-Stretch waders won best clothing, while Innovation of the Year went…

HOME OF THE GIANT SEA-TROUT Golden Grove on the Towy, regarded as the finest sea-trout fishery in the United Kingdom and probably Europe, is to be sold by Sir Francis Dashwood Bt and his fishing partner. With its record of large and hard-fighting sea-trout, exciting to catch and difficult to land especially at night, Golden Grove attracts anglers worldwide. Situated near Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire, it provides 10 ½ miles of double-bank sea-trout and salmon fishing; a farmhouse and other buildings with development potential; 649 acres that include pasture and woodland bounding the river; and sporting rights over a further 3,366 acres of farmland and woodland with ponds, splashes, oxbows and small areas of back water and small coppices that attract geese, teal, mallard, and widgeon, snipe and a good head…

Tommy O’Malley, or Tommy Melia as he was known locally, died earlier this year at the age of 89. He was one of seven children and had a smallholding on the southern shore of Lough Mask – poor but beautiful land. Like his father before him, he supplemented his income by acting as a gillie and allowing people, for a modest charge, to park their caravans on his land beside the lake. For many years, he had a part-time role with Inland Fisheries Trust, removing perch from the lake. On a wall in Eddie Lynch’s Fairhill Guest House is a terrific photo taken in 1935 of Tommy’s father standing with his rod and a 15 lb trout. Tommy was kind, gentle and had a great sense of fun. From binmen…

FISHING: If you enjoy losing yourself in the middle of nowhere, catching prodigious numbers of feisty little wild trout with the chance of something bigger, then a week at the Achentoul Estate is the perfect getaway. The best times to fish are from June onwards. Culaidh is catch-and-release (trout) and Arichlinie is catch-and-release (salmon). The estate also has fishing on a hill loch that has a mayfly hatch. Rowan Cottage is self-catering and has two bedrooms. The estate has other, larger accommodation options. For further fishing information, contact head keeper Duncan Bentley on 07834 041 116 or 01431 831 323. TACKLE: A 10 ft, five- or six-weight rod is ideal with floating and intermediate lines, plus a sink-tip if conditions are really dour. All traditional wet-fly patterns will work, especially…

IT HAD BEEN a heavy week at work and truth be told we were jiggered. The need for a caffeine hit and some Saturday morning stodge lured us into a Ballater bakery. With coffee and a bacon roll under our belts we headed for some diesel, a final chore before we could meet Ian. The small Esso station on the edge of the village is directly opposite the river. While Corin filled up, I crossed the road and sized up the water. I knew it was low from the online SEPA readings, but my heart sank. In all the years I’ve been fishing the upper Dee I had never seen it like this in May. Corin hadn’t fished this part of the river before. As I trudged back to the…

“Discovering that fishing has to be from these boats has caused hardened men to burst into tears” I SAW THE initial take. I guessed it was a fairly run-of-the-mill Croispol brownie, around the pound mark. But as the fight progressed I was losing the upper hand, and the bow in the rod was increasing beyond expectation. I was confused. Had I foul-hooked this fish? The typical fight from a foul-hooked fish is a series of dugged pulls followed by fast, exaggerated runs against the bend of the rod. This fight did not match that pattern at all. There was much more weight than expected and a large number of arm-shuddering staccato thumps. I looked down into the gin-clear water and there was an amazing sight. Down to about 20 ft…

THERE IS A painting at the heart of this story. It’s the work of Robert Maclaurin, the celebrated Scottish artist whose works hang in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and in numerous collections of worthy institutions and individuals from the Queen to JK Rowling. The painting, in oil on linen, depicts a Scottish loch at late evening with the shadow of a lone figure stretching across the rock and heather. It’s a haunting, poignant image. But the story starts three years ago when I bought a new computer. I was filing the emails on the old machine when I noticed one I’d never opened. It was an enquiry for two books. From Australia. I’d never sold a book in Australia. I had a…

SINGLE-HANDED SALMON FISHING I was fascinated by Jim Coates’s article about catching salmon on singlehanded rods ( T&S, August). Having been born - more than 80 years ago, long before modern prosthetic limbs became available - with only one hand, I have fished throughout my life with a singlehanded rod. I would agree with everything that Mr Coates writes. The only disadvantage comes from a slight lack of length but I have never found this to be too serious. It does inevitably mean you have to choose the rivers you fish with care. Clearly the wide waters of the Tay and Tweed are far from ideal but generally speaking, with those exceptions, most rivers have more than enough pools that can be covered perfectly adequately with a smaller rod. Of…

IF YOU ARE a river angler a good wading jacket is essential, but with so many available and at different prices, choosing the best option can be difficult. Here, we look at six of the latest designs from Airflo, Snowbee, Patagonia, Hodgman, Vision and Guideline plus the popular Simms Guide model. Look for a shorter-cut jacket to make deeper wading easier, without pockets positioned below chest height, which would otherwise fill with water. One of the most versatile styles is the shell, which can be worn over insulating layers in cold weather, or on its own in warmer weather. Extra-light or summer-specific jackets are usually more packable, making overseas travel easier. If you fish in spring, an insulated lined jacket will help keep out the cold. Finding the right fit…

FAUX BUCKTAIL £6.29 (PER BRUSH) Most synthetic hair is disappointing because it rarely has the taper and appearance of natural materials, but this bucktail substitute from Fish Skull is impressive. We challenge you to tell the difference between it and natural hair at first glance. The benefits are considerable. The length (6 in) and diameter of the fibres are consistent. They have the same crinkle and tapered points as natural bucktail, but because there are no short or damaged hairs there is no need to separate the wheat from the chaff. This elimination of waste makes the process of preparation quicker: simply cut a bunch from the easy-to-handle brush in which the hair is bound and tie it in (you may want to mix the lengths to achieve a more…