Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2018 i Trout & Salmon

OCTOBER 14-NOVEMBER 30 Salmon & Trout Conservation annual online auction salmon-trout.org/auction NOVEMBER 3-4 European Sport Fishing Show UWE Bristol Exhibition and Conference Centre, Bristol europeansportfishingshow.com NOVEMBER 10-11 The Irish Fly Fair Galway Bay Hotel, Upper Salthill, Galway irishflyfair.co.uk NOVEMBER 17 Grayling Society open day at Orvis Stockbridge store orvis.co.uk FEBRUARY 9-10 British Fly Fair International 2019 Staffordshire County Showground bffi.co.uk MARCH 9-10 The Scottish Fly Fair Stirling Court Hotel, Stirling scottishflyfair.org MARCH 22-23 The London Fly Fishing Fair Business Design Centre, London thelondonflyfishingfair.co.uk…

1 Cut a 1in piece of inner tubing, burr one end by heating it with a lighter and slide it on to the tube-fly pin. 2 Add a small drop of superglue at the burred end of the inner tube and slide on a small piece of medium tubing over it, pushing it down until it butts up against the burred end. This enables a piece of silicone hook tubing to be added if desired, or not if the fly is to be fished with a free-swinging hook. 3 Add a small drop of glue in front of the outer tubing and push a small cone up to it. I've used a metallic, coloured cone here, but silver or gold will work just as well. 4 Start your tying thread…

REGULAR READERS WILL BE aware of my wife’s penchant for a spot of machicolation. That sort of stuff is bound to rub off: these days, I fancy, I know my way round an embrasure - enough to tell a merlon from a crenel, at any rate. Which was all I could make out through the murk and rain of the high Pennines that night. It was the first week of June. It had been warm and dry for a month: it was going to get a whole lot warmer and dryer. But not here, not yet. I’d just spent a pleasant day among the mayfly of the Derbyshire Wye but now I was 100 miles further north and 500ft higher on the fells of the upper Tees. It was raining…

IDENTIFYING A RISE In some circumstances it is possible to identify when a rising fish is a grayling rather than a trout. Where the current slows, grayling often leave a tell-tale bubble after they’ve risen. This is usually accompanied by an audible “blip” or gentle kissing sound. The rise tends to be delicate with no push of water - instead a series of concentric circles radiates outwards. Trout prefer to station themselves close to the surface and generally cause a pronounced bow-wave when they rise. It’s not unusual to see parts of their head, shoulders, back or tail. In broken water and rapids, it is tricky to identify rise forms. Trout and grayling tend to stay close to the streambed and move quickly to intercept floating insects. The subsequent disturbance…

“I think it took about 15 minutes to get utterly hooked” I HAD BEEN A TROUT FISHERMAN FOR 30 years when I first tried my hand at salmon fishing. I hadn’t wanted to, but a friend pestered me to join him and I finally ran out of excuses. He sweetened the deal by booking a splendid lodge on the banks of the Scottish Dee, with space for both our families, lots of food, good wine and country walks. I was sure I could placate him with a couple of hours’ wielding the long rod. I borrowed an old 14-footer and gear from a trout-fishing friend, who winked knowingly and said, “And so you start on the road to penury”. I smiled politely, but knew he was wrong. I was a…

IF THE SHEER number of salmon caught by an individual is the surest measure of greatness, George Frederick McCorquodale was in a league of his own. Indeed, Major Hon. John Ashley-Cooper - perhaps the great salmon-fisher of the post-war generation - described McCorquodale as the greatest salmon fisherman of all time. G.F. McCorquodale fished the Spey from 1891 to 1935 and in those years accounted for 8,924 Spey salmon - mainly from Tulchan but also from what was to become the Brae Water at Gordon Castle, which he fished in spring and autumn. Plus more than a thousand fish from other Scottish rivers, taking his total to over 10,000 salmon with many falling for a Jock Scott - his favourite fly. What sets great salmon-fishers apart from the common herd?…

Q When you’re tying a tippet to a dry-fly with a downward-facing eye, do you thread the tippet through the eye from above or below? Alan Howell, by email A I always tie my flies on down-eyed hooks. I’m convinced the angle of pull on an up-eyed hook tilts the point down, rather than up into flesh. My father taught me to always thread the tippet through the eye from above, and I’ve never questioned the theory: I show beginners that way. However, I’m fairly sure that a series of turns of the tippet around a central core centres the knot to the eye irrespective of the original entry direction. I see no reason to change, and it’s much easier to find the eye from above – easier now that…

In 1958, my dad gave me a lovely cane trout rod for my eighth birthday. I couldn’t wait to get to the west on holiday. Family friend Susan Craigie and I would spend many happy hours on the river in search of sea-trout and in the end I got a nice 1lb fish. We were staying at The Great Southern Hotel (now The Park Hotel) at Mulranny and mother asked the chef to cook my trout for breakfast the next morning. To my shock the fish was presented with head and tail intact, not what I was accustomed to. I got many more little trout on the rod before putting it away for safe keeping. Sixty years after that first sea-trout, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be something to get another…

A sporting Highland hideaway Looking for your own wilderness in the Highlands? Fearna Lodge, in stunning Sutherland scenery, provides stalking, rough shooting, fishing, and a modern lodge. Situated 1½ miles from Lochinver, 35 from Ullapool and two hours’ drive from Inverness, the estate extends to 735 acres. Fearna Lodge, on an elevated position with 360-degree views, was built in 2012 with floor-to-ceiling glass to take advantage of the views, underfloor heating and solar panels. There are five ensuite bedrooms. The estate has been lightly stalked in recent years; hind numbers have increased and there is an expectation of up to four stags a year. There is walked-up shooting for woodcock, snipe and the occasional grouse, with the possibility of flighting on the lochs. There is wild brown trout fishing in…

I am saddened to report the death on September 20, aged 74, of Ken Bathers, President of Llangollen Maelor Angling Club. Ken was born and bred in Cefn Mawr, Wrexham. He was educated locally and commenced employment at the local brickworks before joining the chemical company Monsanto as a plant operator. He lived in Cefn Mawr until his passing and was a great champion for the village. Fishing the River Dee was Ken’s great passion although he also made trips to Alaska. He enjoyed being a gillie for Lady Malabar and her guests on the Llandyn beat of the Dee during the 70s and early 8os. Due to ill health his fishing had been restricted over the last 10 years. He remained, however, enthusiastic about the Dee. He was a…

“I tend to think about it most often in the bath.” DO YOU EVER LET YOUR MIND wander over what you might do if you won the Lottery? I don’t just mean a few thousands. Or even tens of thousands. Or millions. But the big one. The super double rollover jackpot of the century. Hundreds of millions. Of pounds. Many, many, many noughts of pounds. For some reason I tend to think about it most often in the bath. Perhaps it’s the water that turns my mind to all the fishing I would do, if I had the money. And the time. That’s what the really big bucks give you. Time. Time to think. Time to fly. Time to fish. We think of time as being free, but actually it…

HIGHLAND SALMON fishing rewards anglers with some of the most stunning scenery Scotland has to offer. The Beauly is no exception, combining beautiful views with a high chance of fishing success, all within a 12-mile journey of Inverness where the local airport receives regular flights from other British and Irish cities. Salmon Although there is trout fishing, particularly in the tributary rivers Farrar and Glass, it is as a salmon river that the Beauly is largely known. The river is divided into two beats, Upper and Lower, both of which fish well for salmon given the right conditions. The Lower Beauly usually produces the lion’s share of the salmon. Beauly Fishing Syndicate controls 3¼ miles of the lower river, which is divided into three beats: The Falls, Home and Dounie.…

THE DON is one of the best wild brown trout rivers in Scotland. Every season anglers from all over Europe travel to fish its pools, which is no surprise when you consider the impressive size of the specimens that are caught every year. It is not just a trout river, either: there are runs of salmon and sea-trout, too. For anglers in the know, the Don is one of Scotland’s fly-fishing jewels. Salmon As with many rivers, the Don’s run of spring salmon is not quite what it was. However, there is still the chance of a springer in the early months of the season with the lower beats providing the best chance. The middle of June usually sees the arrival of the river’s grilse, which cause sport to hot…

AS FAR as famous salmon rivers go they don’t come much more famous than the Spey, the river that gives its name to the style of casting that is synonymous with salmon fishing. More than deserving of its place among Scotland’s famous four salmon rivers, it has given rise to countless innovations in fly patterns and methods. Salmon The most productive beats are found between Grantown-on-Spey all the way downstream to Spey Bay, including some excellent stretches managed by angling clubs and associations where day tickets are available at very reasonable prices. The salmon season opens on February 11, and the first fish may come from any beat in Strathspey all the way up to Grantown depending on water height and temperature. Early season salmon don’t tend to be of…

THERE CAN be few places in fishing more famous than the Royalty Fishery on the Hampshire Avon, even Mr Crabtree has fished its illustrious waters. Three seasons ago an enormous salmon of 40lb was caught in the spring at the Royalty and big salmon are regularly caught in the early months of the season. Salmon The Hampshire Avon is a truly mixed fishery, its fertile waters home to good numbers of specimen coarse species such as roach, chub and barbel along with chalkstream brown trout and some truly monster salmon. The best of the trout fishing can be found in the upper reaches, where wild browns lie between waving fronds of ranunculus. The Royalty is only a few miles from the sea so the best time to fish for salmon…

THE DOVEY, or Dyfi, is possibly the best of the Welsh sewin (sea-trout) rivers. It is known for producing a remarkable number of big fish. The river rises in southern Snowdonia and meets the sea in Cardigan Bay at Aberdovey, flowing through beautiful Welsh countryside. As befits a premier fishery, it can be a difficult river on which to get day tickets. Salmon While the Dovey is primarily known for its sea-trout, the river also has a good run of salmon. The back-end is the prime time, but day and week permits are hard to come by from September to the end of the season in October. August therefore offers the best chance for the visiting salmon angler when double-figure salmon regularly appear in the catch records. Sea-trout The Dovey…

THE USK, or Wysg, is chiefly associated with some truly excellent wild brown trout fishing. The hatches can be phenomenal, especially in the early months of the season when March browns and numerous olive species emerge in numbers. It also has a very respectable run of salmon, which are best targeted during the summer months following a spate. Salmon The best of the salmon fishing on the Usk is in the summer and autumn months. The chances of connecting with one of these summer fish is heavily dependent on rainfall. Late May can see the sport begin to pick up and this will continue through June and July as long as there is sufficient water to bring fish into the pools. The autumn months of September and October are usually…

THE SALMON season opens early, on January 1, and there will be fresh salmon in the system from opening day. It is with good reason Carrowmore is considered one of the premier spring salmon fisheries in Ireland. Salmon The lough will hold a good number of salmon from the very first day of the year, though fishing usually intensifies after the first mild weather arrives in February and the winter storms subside. The lake is shallow so it is important to take a great deal of care as there are a good number of submerged rocks. The Green Peter, Bibio and Dabbler flies all work well. Sea-trout From July onwards the principal quarry becomes the sea-trout. Some of the favourite drifts of local rods include Gortmore Island on the southern…

CURRANE IS the main lough in the extensive Waterville system that includes the sister loughs Derriana, Namona and Cloonaghlin. A very high number of the specimen sea-trout that are caught every year in Ireland will come from Currane, and that alone should put it high on the must-fish list of the visiting angler, which is to say nothing of the excellent salmon and brown trout fishing that is also available. Salmon The salmon season on Currane begins early, on January 17, which is often when the first springer of the year is caught. It is advisable to seek the help of a local gillie as even experienced rods can benefit from assistance in holding the boat over the known lies, which allows the angler to cover the water with typical…

ALEX YOUNG As the season draws to a close, Tywi reporter Alex will be spending November and December walking the local streams on the look-out for pollution, as well as clearing fallen trees and branches on the Abergwili beats. He also hopes he’ll have the chance to visit a trout lake with his grandchildren. ANDY HURST Lune reporter Andy has just completed the Great North Run, raising funds to support work undertaken by the Lune Rivers Trust and the Lune Hatchery Group. Over the winter months he’ll be carrying out walkover surveys and redd counts in the beautiful valleys of the upper Lune catchment. SIMON COOPER It would be good to tell you that Simon will have a three-weight rod in his hand but it’s more likely to be an…

Grousewing sedge Of all the adult caddisflies the Grousewing sedge (Mystacides longicornis) is perhaps the easiest to identify. These small insects have long slender yellowish-brown wings, punctuated by three darker bands which, as its common name suggests, resembles a grouse feather. This caddisfly is found in all types of stillwaters, including lakes and ponds, as well as canals and slow-flowing rivers. The larvae have particularly long hind legs, which they use for crawling in mud and sand on the bed or climbing among submerged vegetation. The Grousewing is one of the brown silverhorn sedges, so called because of their long white antennae, which extend to two and three times the length of their body. They also have distinctive large red eyes, which make them unmistakable as they rest on bankside…

NO. 3 HUGH FALKUS (1917-1996) Hugh Falkus was a marvellous communicator, whether through the medium of film or through his articles and books. His best-known work, Sea Trout Fishing, explained the dark arts of sunk-lure fishing for sea-trout at night, changing forever the approach of anglers to this enigmatic fish. As entertaining and informative as his practical books are, his two volumes of autobiography, The Stolen Years and Some Of It Was Fun, are great adventure stories. His Salmon Fishing is the definitive modern book on the subject. “Falkus was a hunter who studied his prey with unflagging zeal. He worked harder, longer, more intensively, than any angling writer I have ever known.” (David Burnett in The Independent). Paul Morgan is the owner of Coch-y-Bonddu Books ( anglebooks.com…

RAINBOW TROUT EXCITE STRANGE passions in chalkstream fishers. Some loathe them with a passion, the catch-record books containing such entries as, “Lovely day spoilt by too many (expletive) RAINBOWS.” Others delight in the reel-screaming exuberance of our North American imports. So, as a humble fishery manager, how do I straddle this divide? Well, it’s worth acknowledging from the outset that rainbow trout are not entirely new to the United Kingdom, with the first stock arriving in 1859. I’m not sure when they found their way into the chalkstreams, but I suspect, with river owners of that time being particularly innovative, it wasn’t long afterwards. The fish were common by the early part of the last century in the River Test. An extract from a 1926 catch book, which hangs on…

Draycote Water.  Tel: 01788 812 018. Web: flyfishdraycote.co.uk Grafham Water Fishing  Lodge. Tel: 01480 810 531. Web: anglianwater.co.uk Rutland Water Fishing  Lodge. Tel: 01780 686 441. Web: anglianwater.co.uk Flies Matt's friend Martin Webster runs the online fly retailer Selectafly. He takes a hands-on approach to his business, constantly refining his patterns, and grumbling to Matt's amusement when his tyers in the UK, Sri Lanka or Kenya don’t get them exactly right. His Snakelet is an absolute killer. Tel: 01753 883 366. Web: selectafly.com Email support@selectafly.com…

Don’t hesitate to use a heavier tying thread. Heavier thread will ensure you can put enough twists into the loop to trap the mixed materials. Use dubbing wax on the thread. Wax will help to keep everything in place while you are spreading materials within the loop. When you start to spin the loop, pinch it just above the dubbing spinner. With your free hand, spin the dubbing spinner, then slowly release your pinched fingers allowing the twists to travel up the loop, spinning the materials in the process. Pay particular attention when spinning the loop: synthetic materials are slippery and you must spin the dubbing loop tightly to secure them. To test, after spinning, pull on a few fibres. Some material will come out when brushing and this is…

A day-ticket on Blackton Reservoir – or any of Northumbrian Water’s four wild trout fisheries – costs £9 (£7 concessionary). A season-ticket covering all four wild waters costs £90. Available from Grassholme Waterside Park Visitor Centre, Middleton-In-Teesdale, Barnard Castle. Tel: 0845 155 0236. Hannah’s Meadow Nature Reserve can be found where the Pennine Way crosses the road to Balderhead Reservoir. The Pennine Way passes through the flower-filled meadow. The Yorkshire TV documentaries Too Long A Winter and A Winter Too Many, featuring Hannah Hauxwell, are available on YouTube. Hannah Hauxwell died on January 30 this year.…

IN ALMOST ALL BRANCHES OF fly-fishing, vast leaps forward in tactics and techniques have been made in my lifetime, the most noticeable exception being loch fishing for sea-trout and salmon. The majority practising this esoteric sport are using techniques that would be immediately recognisable to their great-grandparents. There are many reasons for this. The most obvious is that there are increasingly fewer places where it goes on. It can be extremely expensive, necessitating accommodation in lodges and hotels tied to the fishing. Runs of migratory fish are steadily declining due to myriad factors, prime among them being the activities of multinational aquaculture interests along the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland. And the fact that much of it is carried out by visiting anglers who do little other fishing on…

I’D HEARD SNIPPETS about the Findhorn. Good things. It was not a river I knew much about. Pictures in magazines of spectacular pools had been tantalising. Then, in May, I received an invitation to fish the Logie estate. The beats lie eight miles from the tide, above the famous Findhorn gorge and the temperature barrier of Poolie Falls. By late April the fish should be clearing the falls in numbers, with Logie the first resting water. It was a mouth-watering prospect. I called ahead to get tackle pointers from gillie Ewan Manson. Ewan was measured and explained that the fishing was tougher than normal, there were far fewer fish than expected. But they had managed three the week before. Ewan left me with the thought that in the 14 seasons…

A TROUT TAKES, YOU strike and don’t make contact, you break off, you spook the fish and you put your fly into a tree. Did you strike too fast, too slow, too hard, should you strike at all? Then follows the blame game – this leader material is rubbish, these small hooks don’t take a good hold, I never had this problem with my old rod, the fish are coming short… There is no single method of setting the hook that works for every taking fish. By matching our hook set to the fishing situation we can dramatically increase our success rate. A few examples of my fallibility will serve to make the point: I was fishing a size 8 nymph tied on a heavy wire hook with a huge…

I FIRST CAME ACROSS THIS FLY ON the Orkney Trout Fishing Association (OTFA) website. Sadly, its description has since been removed. A great shame, considering the number of people who found the site a valuable resource for fly information when planning a trip to Orkney. Anyway, the Fat Cat is Orcadian. I spotted it when researching flies for my first visit in 2011 - I was after those in-yer-face patterns for which Orkney is famous. All things being equal - whenever that is - Orkney trout are only too pleased to back-flip on to any reasonably presented flies. When things are unequal (fish hiding in deep water, extreme light conditions, no hatches) it can pay to spice things up. Orcadian tyers, such as Jim Bews, Sandy McConnachie and Ian Hutcheon,…

The only monthly record of catches and news from the major fisheries of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland England & Wales BORDER ESK SPORT ON the lower river at Burnfoot has been a bit more like it used to be. Up to September 19 over 176 salmon and grilse were caught and 64 sea-trout. This is more than prime beats on the Tyne for the same period. Alan Dixon caught a 12lb salmon and a 2lb sea-trout on the Willow Pool spinning. Simon Laidler caught salmon of 10lb and 7lb on Willow and a 6lb salmon on the Cauldron followed by a 20lb salmon from the Willow. He also had a 3lb sea-trout. C Clegg caught sea-trout of 3lb from both Willow and Cauldron beats spinning. R Cohen, from France,…

SALMON FARMS EXPOSED Secret filming of diseased and deformed salmon on a Scottish salmon farm has brought the appalling farming practices of Scottish aquaculture to the attention of the wider public. Footage of suffering farmed salmon taken by T&S contributor Corin Smith at Loch Roag off the Isle of Lewis was aired on BBC1’s The One Show on September 10 and widely shared in the national press and on social media. The film also revealed how more than 80 wild salmon, infested by up to 700 lice each, had been found dead at the mouth of the nearby Blackwater river. Their migratory path passes by the farm. Corin also filmed the shocking disposal of thousands of dead farmed fish in landfill on Uist. A petition urging Scottish Government to take…

THE DEE enjoyed an excellent salmon season in 2017, but like on most Scottish rivers, the 2018 season has been one anglers would rather forget. It would be reckless to base its form on the basis of 2018’s catches and therefore it is reasonable to assume things will improve significantly next year. The Dee still deserves its place in the top four salmon rivers in Scotland. Salmon The Dee is recognised as one of the best rivers to fish the fly for salmon. There are many famous beats and storied pools where the fly swings perfectly in the flow. Should we experience a cold winter then the early-season salmon fishing on the lower and lower-middle beats may be some of the best to be had anywhere in the UK. Day…

SUTHERLAND IS blessed with thousands of trout-filled lochs and lochans as well as wonderful rivers and estuaries home to migrating salmon and sea-trout. It is so diverse that it is very difficult to know where to start. To the West the landscape is topped by majestic mountains, with it’s rugged coastline and countless lochs and rivers; sandy beaches and forestry are highlights of the north while central Sutherland offers vast open skies where the famous rivers of the Kyle of Sutherland (Carron, Shin, Oykel and Cassley) flow from high moorland to mingle at Bonar Bridge and on into the waters of the Moray Firth. Salmon and sea-trout Small and medium-sized spate rivers are the bread and butter of this Highland wilderness, offering on-the-hoof sport for the intrepid angler. While the…

THE RIVER Tay is the longest river in Scotland and its mighty flows are bolstered by a number of important tributaries, many of which are excellent salmon fisheries in their own right. The Tay is also the first of Scotland’s famous four salmon rivers to open, with the season beginning on January 15. Fresh salmon will enter the river every month of the year, making the Tay a popular early-season destination for anglers in search of an elusive springer. Salmon Salmon fishing on the Tay is world famous, and beyond the main stem there are many other beautiful adjoining rivers such as the Earn, Isla, Ericht, Tummel, Garry, Dochart and Lyon. Sport begins in January, and while there will be fresh fish entering the system from day one, the chances…

WITH RUNS of spring, summer and autumn salmon, excellent wild brown trout stocks and a good run of summer sea-trout, the River Eden is one of England’s finest game-fishing rivers. For the winter rod, its good head of grayling – with plenty of fish over 1lb – provides great sport in the colder months. Salmon The early days of the season give the salmon angler the chance of a bright springer while there is still snow on the fells. Given the right conditions, fish can be caught from opening day on January 15 and through February and March. In recent years the spring run on the Eden has been good, and with a day’s fishing starting from £25 it is well worth visiting at this time of year. As the…

IS THERE a more famous river in the history of fly-fishing than Hampshire’s Test? It’s regarded by many as the birthplace of modern fly-fishing, with prolific mayfly hatches and an abundance of trout and grayling. Unlike the neighbouring Itchen, many Test beats are available to the visiting angler. Salmon As with many other chalkstreams, the best salmon fishing is generally found lower down the river. The famous beats of Broadlands, Testwood and Nursling all offer the chance of a salmon, whether by spinner, prawn or using specialist nymphing tactics. Brown trout The brown trout fishing on the Test is world-renowned, and the famous mayfly hatch brings some exceptional sport. Mayfly time on the Test can see the price for a day’s fishing rise above £200. May is not the only…

THE TEIFI is known as the Queen of Welsh rivers. It is famous for its salmon and sea-trout, but the brown trout fishing can be excellent, too. There are even some grayling in the river, largely concentrated around the town of Llanbydder. Salmon Although the spring run is modest, fish of more than 20lb are caught occasionally. The best of the salmon fishing usually comes from summer and into autumn, when the main runs of fish, including grilse, enter the river. The timing of the run is heavily dependent on rainfall, with the potential for good sport in August during a wet year, or a delay until well into September if it is a dry summer. The best chance of fish is generally on the lower beats where day tickets…

THE WYE, or Gwy, forms part of the border between England and Wales. Indeed, most of its lower reaches flow through England – though it is “born” in Wales, on Plynlimon mountain. It is also the fifth-longest river in the UK, flowing into the Severn Estuary. The Wye also has a number of significant tributaries that are great fisheries in their own right, such as the Irfon, Ithon, Monnow, Lugg and Arrow. Salmon The Wye is a rare thing in salmon fishing in that it retains a good run of large spring salmon. Fish of 20lb are regularly caught in the early months of the season, fish of 30lb occasionally show up in the catch returns, and in recent times rumours of 40lb fish have been heard. The Wye is…

PART OF the River Moy catchment, Conn is one of Ireland’s Great Western Lakes. There are a number of public access areas from which anglers can launch boats. Salmon The majority of anglers who deliberately target salmon in Conn do so by trolling with lures or spoons. However, it is not unheard of for salmon to be caught on the fly by anglers pursuing trout and so targeting salmon with the fly is possible. Brown trout Conn is a very good wild brown trout lough. Fishing is usually with traditional lough-style wet-fly tactics. Although the lough also fishes well with dry-flies, particularly during the extended mayfly season. Some of the favourite early season flies include the Fiery Brown, Peter Ross and Bibio. Success in the later part of the year…

LOUGH MASK is the wilder and lesser-known neighbour of the famous Lough Corrib, but for all that it is no less productive and is rightly considered one of the great loughs of Ireland. The 20,500-acre lake holds very good stocks of wild brown trout, though it is deeper and more exposed than Corrib so weather can be an important factor in determining success. Brown trout The primary quarry of the Mask angler is the hard-fighting brown trout. This is an entirely wild fishery with no stocking. The hatches may not be as prolific as Corrib, but they are steady and follow a similar pattern. Fishing begins in March with duckfly, which continues to May when mayfly appear and its hatches often continue into June. Summer will bring on very good…

ALTHOUGH THE Blackwater has been a close contender in recent years, the Moy system is still Ireland’s most productive salmon fishery. It is a large watershed, extending from the Ox Mountains in the east to Castlebar in the south, and it drains both Lough Conn and Lough Cullin. It is famous for its salmon and grilse runs. Salmon There is a prolific grilse run that in a normal year begins in June, peaks in July and continues through August. There’s good news regarding the spring salmon, too, as the numbers seem to have increased in the past few seasons. The way fishing is organised on the Moy is unusual in that it’s controlled by the state, a few private owners and a number of angling clubs and associations. The visiting…

LOUGH SHEELIN is a fascinating sheet of water split across three Irish counties: Cavan, Meath and Westmeath. Its 1,880 hectares are highly fertile, a consequence of the limestone common to nearly all the famous Irish lough fisheries. There is an abundance of aquatic fly-life, which sustains an extremely healthy population of wild brown trout. Brown trout Sheelin has the potential to give the visiting angler truly memorable days. It is often referred to as the jewel in Ireland’s angling crown. The quality of the trout is high: there’s always the distinct possibility of catching a fish over 4lb. There is even a local, unofficial “over 8lb club”. The limestone gives Sheelin a high pH level and that coupled with the shallow nature of the lough means that there is a…

THIS is a seriously good book. Beautifully designed with superb photographs ancient and modern, it tells the story of a Co. Cork river that has been vandalised by the hand of man. Everything and everyone – the electricity board, poachers, netsmen, pollution and disease – have been against it. I had a day on the Lee in, I think, the 1980s and was lucky enough to get a good salmon on a Stoat’s Tail from the pool immediately below Inniscarra dam, but I am too young to have known what the river was like before two hydro-electric dams were built on its course in the 1950s. The old photographs, however, show a mighty river – a “proper” salmon river, in fact – before the dams buggered it up and caused…

MONTY, OUR WORKING SPRINGER spaniel, has transformed our lives in ways we could not have envisaged when we acquired him as a pup just a year ago. First, we changed our car for him, now we’re moving home to somewhere more rural where he can forage in the hedgerows to his heart’s content. His contribution to fishing has been less disruptive, largely positive in fact, thanks to Joseph Hudson, the man whose 19th century invention has echoed down the generations in sport and conflict. Hudson’s ACME whistles - the Thunderer and the dog whistle - have become almost permanent fixtures around my neck, as useful in the river as they are in recalling the dogs. In Joe Irving’s excellent book, Training Spaniels, first published in 1980 when domestic household arrangements…

I PLAYED AROUND WITH this idea in my head long before taking it to the vice. It wasn’t the composite loop that occupied my thoughts - this technique has been used for many years in American Intruder patterns - it was the idea of introducing it to modern Scandinavian-style tubes. The composite loop technique may be alien to some, but it is straightforward and versatile. Many of you will be familiar with using a dubbing loop to make a hackle with a longer-fibred material (often fur). A composite loop is just the same, but as the name suggests, different colour combinations, lengths, textures and effects can be achieved simply by adjusting the mix of material you include within the loop. I’ve tried it successfully on Irish shrimp patterns and smaller…

THERE MAY AT times come to us more assertive, more aggressive and consuming pleasures, the sort of pleasures that possess the whole being, admitting no thoughts or feelings beyond themselves, and you are perhaps relieved to read that I am not here concerned with pleasures of this sort. I am thinking of a soft, a very gentle but at the same time a very deep pleasure, a pleasure that leaves the mind free to roam wherever it fancies; I am thinking of the pleasure of sitting in the sunshine on a grassy bank by the edge of running water, sitting there with a beaker of red wine in my hand and taking slow, grateful sips. For me - with or without the sunshine - this has become one of the…

1. MIDGE Hook Size 18-22 TMC 2488 Body Black 8/0 Nano silk Wings Pearl Semperfli Micro Glint Thorax Hare’s ear dubbing Wingpost Natural CDC I know experienced fishers who have long relied on small flies to fool winter grayling, which often seem to rise to fresh air. The truth is that, due to increased siltation, midges have become more widespread. Thirty years ago, few streams had a hatch. Today, chironomids emerge throughout spring and autumn. They’ll come to the dry-fly even on chilly days. A shuttlecock dressing has taken pride of place in recent years. It not only passes as a bedraggled adult midge, but also a swamped tiny terrestrial, a bibio. Varnish the silk body to make it last. Add a wispy CDC wing to keep it afloat and…

Booking: Logie Estate. Tel: 01667 458 900. E-mail: info@logie.co.uk Web: logie.co.uk Also book on Fishpal. Tel: 01573 470 612. Web: fishpal.com Jim writes: “To enjoy the beats’ full potential, you need to be firm on your feet and fit enough to walk up and down the steep banks. If you’re unsteady then I don’t think you would feel safe or relaxed. If you fish hard then I’d say catching two or three fish is a reasonable expectation for a week and while that might not set the heather on fire, I doubt there are many places where the capture will be as memorable.” What to take: Waders aren’t needed for much of the time. But they’re worth packing for high water. Hiking boots are a good option. Waterproof trousers are…

NORTH AMERICAN hairwing patterns took off to such an extent in the early 20th century that I think it’s fair to regard Atlantic North America as the spiritual home of the hairwing style. In the UK we were still predominately using feather wings - the Garry Dog was our most notable early hairwing but it wasn’t until the 1940s that the Hairy Mary made its mark and inspired the creation of standards such as the Tosh, Munro Killer and Stoat. To my knowledge, the two best-known American patterns are the Rat and Cosseboom. They have been in continuous use for the best part of a century. To have been so popular for so long suggests they have something about them. The Cosseboom has a distinctive look with a squirrel wing…

IFI responds to criticism The recent letter published in your magazine by Mr Dennis Moss (September 2018 issue) entitled “Ireland’s game-fisheries under threat” is littered with misleading statements and factual inaccuracies and Inland Fisheries Ireland would like to take the opportunity to clarify a few points. Inland Fisheries Ireland continues to deliver its remit to conserve, protect, develop, manage and promote Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea-angling resources. Inland Fisheries Ireland has not withdrawn from conservation works as alluded to by Mr Moss. Since 2011, along with doing conservation work itself, Inland Fisheries Ireland has made funding available to allow stakeholder involvement in both conservation and development works. We have delivered two million euros in additional funding since 2016 through the National Strategy for Angling Development. Both rounds of capital funding,…

OLIVE & ORANGE CZECH NYMPH Hook Size 10-12 Hanak H300BL Thread 12/0, black Rib Brown translucent mono Shellback Olive Nymph Skin Abdomen Medium olive hare’s ear or Hanak Czech Nymph dubbing No.11 Thorax Half orange Spectra dubbing and half Hanak Czech Nymph dubbing No.17 FLOOD BUG Hook Size 10-12 Partridge grub Thread Danville’s Flymaster 6/0, brown Underbody Lead wire Rib Benecchi soft copper wire Tail Glo-Brite No.7 fluo orange floss Body Hare’s fur Hackle Natural CdC Head 3mm tungsten copper/ gold bead TAY RAIDER Hook or tube Thread Black Tag Silver wire or oval tinsel Tail Orange and yellow bucktail tied long with pearl Krystal Flash Butt Glo-Brite no. 5 Body Pearl Mylar RED FRANCES VARIANT Tube Sean Stanton Signature Liner Red Tail Brown calf tail Feelers Stripped white and…

THE ANNAN is best known for producing specimen brown trout and grayling, with some seriously big fish caught in recent years. There is also a respectable run of salmon and sea-trout. It is a river that offers excellent sport throughout the year. Brown trout The Annan has a great wealth of aquatic insect life and experiences many of the key hatches, which makes it an extremely popular fishery among trout anglers, many of whom travel the length of the country to fish it. The season begins in March but it is in April and May that the very best sport is usually to be had, continuing into early June. Trout fishing is available throughout the Annan, with the very real possibility of catching the fish of a lifetime in the…

THE DEVERON is often considered to be Scotland’s fifth salmon river, lining up behind the Spey, Tay, Dee and Tweed. A position that doesn’t fully reflect the river’s beauty or importance to the history of salmon fishing – after all, the record fly-caught salmon of 61lb was caught from the Deveron by Mrs Clementina Morison. Big fish still run the river, with 30lb-plus fish appearing in the catch records each year. Salmon The majority of Deveron rods concentrate their efforts on the autumn run, with September and October considered the prime back-end months. However, the river also has a good run of spring and early-summer fish, which is underexploited. This means that Deveron beats often represent good value for early-season sport. Grilse usually enter the river in June and July,…

THE OUTER Hebrides offers an almost unimaginable wealth of angling opportunities for visiting fishermen, with some of the best summer salmon and trout fishing to be found anywhere in the country. Lying just off the north-west coast of Scotland, the Outer Hebrides is a chain of islands that ranges from Lewis in the north to Barra in the south via Harris, the Uists and Benbecula. Salmon Although the salmon season officially opens in February, it is not until June that fishing really begins – this is a deliberate attempt to allow the precious spring-running fish to reach their redds unmolested. Fortunately, the summer and autumn runs of both salmon and sea-trout more than make up for this comparatively late start to proceedings with fish of 20lb or more being caught…

FOR A long time, few would have disputed the reputation of the River Tweed as Britain’s best salmon fishery. In recent years, there has been a reduction in the number of salmon returning to the Tweed, particularly towards the back-end of the season. However, it remains one of the most productive rivers in Scotland. Salmon Early season usually offers the best value for money, and the Tweed offers a good chance of a fly-caught springer. Similar to the Tay, fresh fish should enter the system throughout the course of the year. As the weather warms towards May the number of fish in the river grows and water height plays a vital role in determining whether the middle or lower river will have the best sport. Fresh fish are often caught…

ONE OF Hampshire’s famous chalkstreams, the Itchen is shorter than its equally famous neighbour, the Test, and is therefore more exclusive. Many Itchen beats are controlled by syndicates and private owners with fishing reserved for members and friends only, although there is some day-ticket availability – and even a free stretch through Winchester city centre. Salmon The lower reaches provide the best chance of a salmon, with the Lower Itchen Fishery one of the best beats to try. Most Itchen salmon are caught on spinners or the prawn (fishing with worms is prohibited) but they can be induced to take a fly. The more unusual method of fishing a salmon nymph, by casting upstream and fishing down to a sighted fish, is one of the most effective ways of taking…

WHEN IT comes to catches, the Tyne is the most prolific salmon river in England. Similar to the famous Scottish rivers such as the Tweed and Tay, there are fresh salmon entering the Tyne in every month of the year. The North Tyne rises close to the Scottish border while the South Tyne’s source is in the North Pennines. Both rivers provide excellent salmon and sea-trout fishing before they join together near Hexham and continue to the North Sea at Tynemouth. Salmon The salmon-fishing season opens on February 1 when there will be snow in the high places – and possibly in the low places, too. Your breath will form a cloud of vapour and you will rub your hands to try to keep the feeling in your fingers. Spring…

THE TOWY, or Tywi, is perhaps the most accessible of the big three Welsh rivers for the visiting angler. There are a number of fishing associations that offer day tickets throughout the length of the river, plus the extremely popular and productive Golden Grove fishery. The Towy is a noted big fish river, with double-figure sea-trout regularly appearing in the catches. It also has a good run of salmon, and brown trout throughout most of its length. Salmon As with most Welsh rivers, the salmon fisherman is best advised to visit in the autumn. The Towy is a spate river and it is the last few months of the season that generally provide a better chance of a dropping river. That said, summer rains will bring grilse into the river…

THE BLACKWATER rises in the boglands of County Kerry, and although the peaty tinge it carries gives rise to its name, it also flows through limestone and that helps it to support a diverse range of fly-life which provides plenty of sustenance for salmon parr and trout. The river is one of Ireland’s most productive salmon fisheries, along with the Moy. Salmon The Blackwater drains a large catchment that includes 14 main fisheries and a number of angling clubs, which make it an accessible river for the visiting angler as day tickets are available for many beats while others are run on weekly lets. There are few restrictions in terms of methods, with room for those who wish to fish the fly, spinner, worm or prawn. All methods have their…

PROBABLY THE most famous fishery in Ireland, and certainly its greatest limestone lough, Corrib has been attracting anglers to the Emerald Isle since Victorian times. At a staggering 44,000 acres it is the largest lake in the Republic – a vast expanse that’s characterised by sheltered bays, an array of islands and rocky shores. Salmon Although it’s notable for its trout fishing, Lough Corrib receives a considerable run of salmon. The River Corrib, which flows out of the lough, is home to the famous Galway Weir salmon fishery. Every year, a great number of salmon head for spawning grounds in the Clare and Cong rivers, which can give visiting anglers tremendous sport from May onwards. Many fish are taken from the lake by trolling, but some are taken on the…

LOUGH MELVIN is the most important salmonids fishery in the north west of Ireland. At seven miles long and covering an area of 2000 hectares, it has significant runs of salmon and grilse which enter the lough via the river Drowes. Salmon The River Drowes is one of the best-known salmon rivers in Co Donegal. It opens on January 1 for salmon fishing and almost always produces Ireland’s first fish of the season – often on opening day. The peak of the spring salmon run is in March and April while the often-prolific grilse run peaks in June/July. Draining Lough Melvin, the river is around five miles long and has a huge variety of pools, suitable for both fly-fishing and those who fish bait and spinner. Faster streams and slower…