Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2020 i Trout & Salmon

SALMON AND TROUT CATCHES FOLLOWING the relaxation of lockdown measures can only be described as sensational. England was first off the block with reports of bumper catches from the River Eden in Cumbria. “Local members of the Carlisle Angling Association have had their best spring sport for many years,” said chairman and T&S contributor Paul Davidson. The Eden was not alone. On the lower Tweed, beats such as Horncliffe and Tillmouth reported daily catches in the mid-teens, and on the Spey I know of one rod who took ten fish in one day and five on another. Similar reports are coming in thick and fast. On the trout side I’m told Loch Leven has fished superbly and on my doorstep Rutland Water got off to a flyer from June 2…

WHEN I WROTE MY FIRST column in February, I wondered if the rain would ever stop. Now I’m wondering if it will ever start again. The Yorkshire Ure, like many rivers, is desperately in need of a deluge. It’s been a steady 9in to 1ft 1in for more than a month now and being a spate river it relies heavily on rain — it can rise and fall dramatically. The water is so clear that almost every stone on the bottom is visible. Schools of chub can be seen lined up in pecking order while the odd trout scans left and right for a passing meal. It’s not all a waste of time when the river is as dry as a bone; it’s the perfect opportunity to get to know…

This remarkable tide-liced 37lb salmon was caught by Fochabers AA president Gordon Young in March 1975. It took a brown-and-gold wooden minnow. Gordon placed a stick in the bank at the point where he made his memorable cast and a week later he invited his cousin Charlie McLennan to fish the big salmon’s lie, but from the opposite bank, which is an easier cast. But Charlie insisted upon fishing from the same spot as Gordon and promptly landed a 34-pounder. Forty-five years later, Gordon says big doubles are still caught on the lower Spey in April and May.…

1. HACKLE PLIERS These hackle pliers were in a Veniard’s fly-tying kit that I was given as a birthday present in my early teens. The kit came in a wooden box with a sliding lid and included packets of hackles, threads, flosses, seal’s fur, tinsels and a few pairs of wings. It also contained scissors and a basic vice that operated via a thumbscrew and didn’t work very well. The smaller pair of hackle pliers I treasure, I haven’t seen anything like them for a long time and for more than 60 years they have given me great service, especially for intricate work. 2. FISHING BOOKS Every beginner has a great appetite for knowledge. I certainly did and before long I had exhausted my local library’s collection of fishing books.…

THE MOST IMPORTANT SENSE TO trout and salmon is vision. They hunt and, therefore, feed by sight. Many other species rely on taste, scent and smell. If trout did not hunt by sight, fly-fishing would not exist. Trout flies work by appearance, colour and movement, which can only be picked up by vision. As even the youngest child knows, vision is a sense provided by the eye. Light is taken into the eye and converted into nerve signals, which are interpreted by the brain in even the least complicated lifeforms. Therefore, light is a critical factor but, from a fishing perspective, also a complicated one. Light is not a steady, or reliable, energy source, and can be altered by many extraneous factors, such as the angle of the source (the…

TICKETS Lechlade — four-fish ticket, £70; two-fish, £45 (from 12 noon); boat, £17.50. Bushyleaze — six-fish, £40; four-fish, £40; boat, £15. Winter-only two-fish (includes six-fish catch-and-release) £35. Currently essential to prebook and to check availability. Enquiries and tickets for both waters from onsite shop at Lechlade. Boats (and Wheelyboat) must moor from buoys. CONTACT Tel: 01367 253266 E-mail: enquiries@ lechladetrout.co.uk Web: lechladetrout.co.uk DIRECTIONS Lechlade Trout Fishery is signposted off the A361 Burford to Lechlade Road in Gloucestershire. GL7 3QQ.…

Fly-lines with the best water-repulsion properties will drift most effectively, but while every fly-line maker will tell you how high their new lines float, you can’t fish with a brand-new line on every trip. What you can do is grease the line regularly, to ensure it keeps repelling water. It will drift better, lift off the water more quietly, and help to set the hook quicker. The same is true of the 8ft polyleaders that I use. Yes, they have positive buoyancy and float, but adding Mucilin keeps them riding really high, which is critical when you are trying to drift flies.…

“Jim designed numerous patterns, and many were illustrated in A Dictionary of Trout Flies” ALL BOYS HAVE HEROES AND I had the usual list, names like Bader, Brunel and Churchill, to which I added James Nice — or Jim, as he was known. Jim was by profession a postman but more importantly he was an exceptional fly-tyer, an instructor at game fairs around the country. Donald Overfield, author of 50 Favourite Dry Flies, described Jim as one of the top tyer’s in Britain and requested he tie most of the dressings for his book. My father, Jim’s GP in Sidmouth, asked him if he would offer me guidance in fly-fishing and later fly-tying, to which he agreed. I was grateful but in hindsight I suspect he may have found it…

AS we move into August and particularly so if hot weather persists, we will find ourselves in the “dog days” when daytime fishing success will depend on luck, patience, close observation and a good bit of stealth, or being out there ready to fish in either the early dawn or late dusk hours. On stillwaters, the boats will enjoy a considerable advantage over the bank and will inevitably involve sinking line “deep and dirty” tactics. However, inspired by recent articles I’ve read on the subject, I’ll be giving dapping a proper go this year, conditions permitting that is. On rivers, the dry-fly is likely to reign supreme and Grey Duster, Double Badger and F Fly patterns will be my first recourse. Finally, please note that many fisheries are currently operating…

CLEARLY the immediate future is very positive. Grafham is full of fish. As previously stated, Anglian Water have honoured all their stocking orders and fish have been regularly delivered during the lockdown. The water is nearly at top height despite the very warm spring. Publication time is short and I can only report on the first day. Early-morning anglers on the second day also reported some good sport. Rutland has also benefited from constant stocking over the last few weeks. The water has warmed due to the exceptional spring and there is plenty of fly-life. There should be some quality top-of-the-water sport over the next few weeks. Maybe there will be two-man boats by July.…

England ■ AMPORT FISHERY, Andover, 07775 953273 1 Brian Jackson, Basingstoke, 3lb 8oz rainbow, on fly. 2 Mark Batehup, Newbury, 3lb 5oz rainbow, Green Damsel. ■ AVINGTON TROUT FISHERY, Winchester, 01962 779312 1 Samuel Chamberlain, Beaulieu, 10lb 12oz rainbow, Goldhead Hare’s Ear. 2 Garry Simpson, London, 10lb brown, on fly. 3 Gary Styles, Uckfield, 9lb 10oz rainbow, Hothead Damsel. ■ BESSY BECK TROUT FISHERY, Cumbria, 01539 623303 1 Jordan Firby, Bishop Auckland, 16lb rainbow, Black Buzzer . ■ BRANSFORD GAME FISHERIES, Bransford, 01905 830548 1 Anthony Duke, Malvern, 7lb 8oz rainbow, Montana. 2 Simon Batten, Worcester, 4lb 14oz rainbow, Buzzer. ■ BRICK FARM LAKES, Herstmonceux, 01323 832615 1 Patrick Bowles, Hastings, 7lb 1oz rainbow, on fly. 2 Robert Barden, East Sussex, 6lb 4oz rainbow, Black Buzzer. 2 Simon Price, St…

ENGLAND ALBURY ESTATE FISHERIES, Guildford, 07976 810737 ALDIN GRANGE LAKES, Durham, 07957 831711 BLITHFIELD ANGLERS, Abbots Bromley, 01283 840284 DRAYCOTE TROUT FISHERY, Rugby, 01788 812018 HIGHAM LAKE TROUT FISHERY, Ponteland, 07950 428159 HOLLIES TROUT FARM & FISHERY, Honiton, 01404 841428 INNIS FLY FISHERY, Nr St Austell, 01726 852382 KILNSEY PARK FLY FISHERY, Skipton, 07765 688780 KNITSLEY MILL, Consett, 07960 747417 LAKEDOWN TROUT FISHERY, Burwash, 01435 883449 LANGLEY DAM, Langley, 01434 688846 LEIGHTON RESERVOIR, Ripon, 07815 114890 LENCHES LAKES, Evesham, 01386 871035 MOORHEN TROUT FISHERY, Warnford, 01730 829460 NARBOROUGH FISHERIES, King’s Lynn, 01760 338005 NEW MILLS TROUT FISHING PARK, Brampton, 01697 741115 NORTON FISHERY, Stapleford Tawney, 01708 688525 PATSHULL PARK FISHERY, Wolverhampton, 01902 700774 SANDFORD POOL TROUT FISHERY, Lydney, 07517 421907 SIBLYBACK LAKE, nr Liskeard, 01579 346522 SPRINGHILL TROUT WATERS, Pembury,…

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THERE CAN BE FEW KEEN TROUT ANGLERS OF my generation who have not heard of Geoff Bucknall. As a prolific angling writer, doyen of wild trout fishing and tackle company owner he was an idol of mine. As a boy growing up in the 1970s, I devoured his many angling books and magazine articles. We became friends when he moved from his native Weald of Kent to live and fish in the wilds of Teesdale in 1992. Geoff became an angling writer quite by accident when a dying friend asked him to finish his manuscript. The result was Geoff’s first book, Big Pike, in 1965. Its success led to the instant classic, Angling Days, in 1966. He followed this with Fly Tying for Beginners (1967) and Fly Fishing Tactics on…

SALMON SEASON /DAY TICKETS February 11-August 10. February-March £25 per rod. April £35. May £40. June, first half, £45. June, second half, £50. July, first half, £60. July, second half until August 10, £65. CONTACT Andy Milne, secretary and treasurer. E-mail: andrew.a.milne@btinternet.com Tel: 01343 820 259. Mobile: 07779 233 235. Gordon Young, president. E-mail: aultdearg@aol.com Tel and fax: 01343 821 059. Mobile: 07712 161 718. TACKLE A 15ft rod is ideal. The FAA website notes “the width of the river varies from easily covered to very wide at the tail of Cumberland pool, where even Ian Gordon would struggle to put his line across”. Take floating, intermediate/sink tip and full sinking fly-lines, depending on conditions. Attachable tips are popular. All the usual fly patterns are successful in sizes 10 to…

SO OFTEN IT’S THE EXPERIENCE AND character of a fishery owner that defines a venue, making it stand out from the crowd. This is certainly the case at Lechlade Trout Fishery, which lies in the beautiful Cotswold countryside. It attracts anglers from all around the country, many in search of that fish of a lifetime — Lechlade’s record brown and rainbow trout both weigh in at well over 20lb. The man in charge is Tim Small, one of the most high-profile fishery owners on the stillwater scene. He has been constantly evolving the complex for the past 36 years and was a fish farmer for ten years before that. He is passionate about the sport, and his input to a great many committees and organisations including DEFRA and the British…

HOT-ARSED RED SHUTTLECOCK Hook Size 12-14 Kamasan B175 Butt Glo-Brite No4 with superglue over Rib Stretched medium pearl tinsel wound in close turns Wing 5-6 natural CDC plumes Body Tightly wound red synthetic dubbing This shuttlecock may not look much like an insect, but it works well with fish feeding on corixa as well as being an excellent general pattern. Its very bright butt is important, but so is how it’s dressed. The heavy-wire hook, glued butt and tightly wound body make it cock immediately — as soon as it lands on the water it is fishing. When you are covering rising fish this is critical. I tie the butt first and allow the superglue to dry (unlike varnish, superglue doesn’t seem to affect the colour of the floss). I…

Get it on your chest Umpqua is a company known for its innovative fly patterns and boxes, but its range of hip, sling and chest packs is also considered one of the best. Its latest designs are the Zerosweep 2 Overlook 500 Chest and Wader Chest packs. ZS2 OVERLOOK 500 CHEST PACK KIT The larger of the two packs, the Overlook uses a four-point harness to distribute weight and avoid neck strain. Unlike some packs, its slim, tapered profile doesn’t hinder the wearer. It is tough, made from 420-denier nylon with ballistic nylon at the wear points. There are two zipped sections, each large enough to take two standard-sized fly-boxes, and a rear space for other tackle items and valuables. On the outside are two retractors for tools. A central…

WELSH FARMERS DAMAGING REDDS Natural Resources Wales has reported an increase in incidents of farmers illegally removing gravel from rivers. NRW freshwater habitats specialist Hilary Foster said, “Wales has lost over 50 per cent of its important gravel shoals over the last century. These gravels support over 500 species of invertebrates, over half of which are found only in these shoal habitats. Gravel shoals also provide habitat for fish spawning.” NRW is working with government advisory service Farming Connect to remind landowners that removing gravel from rivers is only permitted where it is demonstrated to be absolutely necessary. For example, to alleviate flood risk from nearby properties.…

I HAVE JUST BEEN GIVEN THE NOD TO GO fishing. That’s the good news. The less good news is that I don’t think that too many of the folk who are making these decisions are anglers. Almost no one in the higher echelons of government these days undertakes any sort of sporting endeavour whatsoever. Oh, they do photo-op kickabouts with disaffected youngsters in metropolitan parks and they probably recognise Wimbledon as involving tennis but they don’t hunt, they don’t shoot and they certainly don’t fish. Time was when the House of Lords could be relied upon to have something of a sporting perspective but now that they are mostly elected too — or kicked upstairs by disaffected party apparatchiks following electoral disasters — that safety net has also been lost…

WHERE AND HOW Wherwell Priory, High Street, Wherwell, Hampshire, SP11 7JH. Two beats. One to three rods per beat. 9.30am-dusk. Bank fishing with limited wading. Barbless or de-barbed hooks only. SEASON April 20-June 30: upstream dry-fly only. July 1-October 13: upstream dry-fly and nymph. BOOKING Fishing Breaks. Tel: 01264 781988. Web: fishingbreaks.co.uk April 20-May 12: £296/rod. May 13-June 7: £397/ rod (minimum booking three rods). June 8-July 31: £296/rod. August 1-October 13: £253/rod. Fish Camp (using own tent). Ring for dates in June/July/August. £475 two days/one night for two rods. £885 two days/one night for four rods ACCOMMODATION White Lion Inn, Winchester Road, Wherwell SP11 7JF. Tel: 01264 860 317. Web: thewhitelionwherwell.co.uk…

There is a limit to how many flies you can tie. I thought some readers may be interested to see how I have spent some of my time in lockdown. My late father, born in 1901, was a salmon fisherman in Aberdeenshire. He mainly fished the rivers Dee and Don and then the Ythan at Fyvie where it is quite a small river in very rural countryside. He took great pleasure in making his own lures: minnows and Mepps. Mepps were his favourite as they had proved successful in the sandy bottomed Ythan. After inheriting his gear, I wondered what to do with all the Mepps, beads and other assorted items. With time on my hands and having considered several options, I settled on producing a collage with four small…

■ Most hair and fur, with the obvious exception of deer and elk hair, is non-compressible so take care when tying a bunch in for the wing. Strong thread, pushed to the limit, is a must to prevent the fibres falling out when in use. Keep the wing slim, and if you’re not confident in your technique, simply tie one really slim bunch on top of the other. ■ Tie the tail hair along the full length of the body so it provides a flat bed for the tinsel/Mylar body. If the hair or fur is not long enough, build up the short area with thread. ■ Treat this fly as a basic template — don’t worry about not having precisely the same materials.…

BEDRAGGLED CADDIS Hook Size 14 TMC 2488 Thread Semperfli primrose waxed 12/0 Rib Semperfli black poly floss Body Veniard’s OE Masterclass dubbing No.27 caddis green Hackle CDC fibres Wing Dun or tan Medallion sheeting Depending on size and colour a generic dressing that covers a range of caddis species. Its busy-looking profile leaves just the right calling card when trout are searching the margins. KLINK SPINNER Hook Size 16 Sprite All Purpose Grub Thread Semperfli rust waxed 12/0 Rib Semperfli Spyder silk brown Body Mahogany brown Superfine dubbing Thorax Pine squirrel dubbing Post Fluoro yellow TMC Aero Dry Wing Hackle Blue dun cock Lacking tails and dressed on a curved hook this is not your typical spinner pattern. That said, countless naturals lose their tails prior to egg laying with…

George Waters is from Bolton and visits the southern “stalking waters” as often as he can, despite his 86 years. “My philosophy is simple. I enjoy every minute I am fishing and love Lechlade as much for Tim’s friendship as the superb quality of the fish.” George has an impressive 600 doubles to his credit including a 30lb 3oz fish from Pennine fishery and a Blagdon record brown of 16lb 5oz caught in 1986. An expert at short-range targeting of trout, today he obliged with a fantastic brown of 14lb 4oz.…

ROB EDMUNDS Highly successful competition angler, reservoir bank and boat specialist. RONNIE GLASS Tweed Commissioner and a Scottish national champion on rivers and stillwaters. STEVE CULLEN Guide, instructor and all-round game angler with a wealth of knowledge. PETER GATHERCOLE Photographer, expert tyer and chairman of the Fly Dressers' Guild. PAUL PROCTER Cumbrian-based AAPGAI instructor. Prefers the imitative approach. GARETH JONES Welsh international and stillwater expert. Has fished all over the world. PETER COCKWILL Small water expert with more than 60 years’ fly-fishing experience.…

England & Wales BORDER ESK THERE was fishing on the English parts of the Border Esk with Netherby and Westalls fishing but conditions were very poor with the river on its bones and lots of “glit” about, constantly fouling flies. The Fauld and Burnfoot beat was scheduled to open in late May. Anglers should be back on the whole river by the time this report is read. Fly-box suggestions include: Silver Stoats Tail, Border Belle, Teal, Blue and Silver, Thompson’s Terror, Black Pennell, Butcher, Peter Ross and Invicta which are all popular Esk sea-trout patterns. Smaller fly sizes often out-fish larger offerings in low water conditions with sizes 14 and 16 worth a try. On a falling water a 10 or even an 8 will take sea-trout. June and July…

The Angling Trust is urging anglers to respond to the Environment Agency’s major consultation on the future management of water resources in England. It has written a handy guide explaining how the issues under discussion will affect fishing. The EA consultation, called Challenges & Choices, asks 33 questions about: water levels and flows; chemicals; invasive species; soil erosion and man-made obstacles; and pollution from plastics, old mines, agriculture, transport, urban areas and sewage. Your views are also sought about managing water on a catchment basis, and who will pay for future water management. Read the Trust’s guide at www.anglingtrust.net/ ChallengesChoices The EA also supplies a guide to help you answer the questions. Read it at consult.environment-agency.gov.uk (search “Challenges and choices”). The deadline for submissions is September 24, 2020.…

The Canonbie beat on the Border Esk offers four miles of double-bank fishing. The beat is manged by an excellent club and has good holding pools with long runs that are excellent for night fishing. The sea-trout sport can be excellent if you time things right. Early arrivals of salmon are usually MSW fish weighing teens of pounds. Given good water levels the stocks continue to increase throughout the summer months. Late July usually sees the arrival of grilse, which given favourable conditions continue to run until they merge with the main autumn shoals from late August onwards. The river can produce 20-pounders — be sure to pack some strong string. Day tickets for salmon £30. Contact FishPal, 01573 470612…