Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn Special 2020 i Trout & Salmon

HOW MANY OF US REALLY THOUGHT THAT when we returned to fishing after lockdown, we’d enjoy our best sport in years? Yet the prediction a few people made that fish would benefit from the “rest” and be keener to take our fly appears to be true. Since the lockdown was widely lifted catches of trout and salmon throughout the UK have been tremendous and are continuing. But why? On the salmon front, is it that exploitation at sea and in estuaries has been lower than normal due to lockdown restrictions? It sounds plausible. Another theory maintains that this year’s bumper catches are because fish are facing fewer flies. Beats have not been rodded day in, day out as normal. Which begs the question: “Do we ordinarily put too much pressure…

FATHER AND SON’S SEA-TROUT DOUBLE This stunning 11lb 8oz sea-trout was caught by 16-year-old Mattie Wilkinson. Mattie and his dad Nick were fishing their local Egton Estate water on the Yorkshire Esk. Nick said, “The water was too low to move the fly, so we decided to fish with a little gold Mepps No 2. Mattie started in Toll Cottage pool and when he hooked the fish, I was convinced it was a salmon. It wasn’t until I saw it in mid-river that I realised it was a huge sea-trout.” The father-and-son team weren’t finished yet. Nick said, “We were sharing a rod and after Mattie caught his sea-trout he was keen for me to fish. I went down to a pool called Broadfields and 15 minutes later I had…

TICKETS The Brecon Angling Society controls one mile of double-bank fishing from Llanfaes Bridge to the top of Brecon Promenade. It also has a mile of single bank on the west side up to near Llanspyddid. Day-ticket water runs from Llanfaes Bridge on the Promenade side all the way to the end of the field, where there’s a sign opposite a rope swing. CLUB MEMBERSHIP Local residents within a three-mile radius: £50 per season, plus £50 joining fee. Non-local (restricted to ten rods per year): £75 per season, plus £50 joining fee. Juniors: under 16s, free; 16-18, £20 per season. OAPs: £35 per season, plus £35 joining fee. DAY-TICKETS £10, available from Brecon Garden Centre in the middle of the town, or from The Boathouse and the Cat Soup Kitchen…

“I’m so lucky to live next to Draycote and be a part of this club. Older members that are now unable to fish still come to meetings. That’s testimony to the ethos of the club” Dave Adkins, member for 25 years “From my first phone call the club just seemed so friendly. Most of the members are in my age group and we often go back to someone’s garden after fishing for a drink” Keith Parris, member for a few weeks “At 49 I’m the youngest member. I just love it. We have a laugh and don’t take it too seriously. Some members even bring smoked trout sandwiches to our social nights” Jason Sly, member for ten years…

1 Run the tying thread down the shank in touching turns. Take a length of flat gold tinsel and cut one end to a point before catching it in at the bend. 2 Take the thread back up the shank, creating space to wind the tinsel. Apply two or three turns of tinsel then wind it back over itself to form the butt. 3 Secure and trim off the loose end of the tinsel then catch in a length of oval gold tinsel. Dub a pinch of the fur blend into a rope then wind it along the shank. 4 Take the body almost to the eye, leaving room for the collar hackles. Prepare and catch in a golden olive grizzle hen hackle and wind along the body in even…

OVER THE PAST DECADE OR so Scandinavian anglers have been instrumental in driving the development of modern salmon-fishing methods and, most notably, using groundbreaking techniques to create a new generation of fly styles and patterns. The overarching philosophy is one of imparting maximum movement into the fly. Stiff bucktail has been replaced by much softer materials, such as Arctic fox hair, and long pulsing hackles. This focus is exemplified in the classic Temple Dog profile — a pattern constructed with a layered wing, heavy at the front end to create turbulence, tapering to just a few fine long hairs combined with delicate, sparkling tinsel strands so that the fly flickers and pulses enticingly as it sweeps across the current. Håkan Norling and Mikael Frödin are two of the most famous…

Chasing sea-trout on the dry-fly requires a little local knowledge: where and when. Ask on web forums and in tackle-shops. Five rivers where I know sea-trout will rise are: Teifi My local river in West Wales. Llandysul Angling Association has 30 miles of water to explore. Web: teififishing.com Annan Try the Hoddom beat, just four miles from the Solway Firth, and Halleaths on the middle river. Web: riverannan.co.uk Nith Another Solway river. I’ve known anglers have success on the Barjarg and Dalswinton beats. Web: river-nith.com Deveron Avochie. Some 23 pools to choose from on the middle river. Web: fishingthedeveron.co.uk Tweed So many beats to choose from. Try the Warks on the lower river. A good option if there are no salmon. Worth asking the gillie for their thoughts. Web: fishpal.com…

TICKETS A day member has access to Syon Park (Oct-Mar) along with Vale End and Weston all-year round. Season members may also fish Powdermills and Syon (Apr-Sep). Syndicate members have access to all waters and the exclusive Park fishery, which has a beautiful lake and longer beats on the Tillingbourne. As a member you can buy fish tokens, which must be handed in when you take a fish. There is no catch-and-release on any Albury water other than for the wild browns in the Tillingbourne. Day members can buy either two, three or four tokens while season/ syndicate members can buy blocks of 10, 20 or 50. Online purchasing is by far the most popular method and is slightly more advantageous cost-wise than relying on a bankside purchase — bailiffs…

TROUT MASTERS Plus this month’s badge winners from Europe’s largest fly-fishing competition See page 128 England & Wales BORDER ESK BY far the most productive Border Esk beat has again been the Burnfoot beat below Longtown. Its salmon total to July 23 was 108 and also 60 sea-trout. 40 salmon were caught in June and 68 in July. 36 sea-trout were caught in June with 24 to date in July. June 24 saw a big spate, which was fining down over a few days, and members of Esk and Liddle AC found some good sport. David Wildey caught a 4lb sea-trout at night. Then came another big spate peaking at 6ft. Just before the water rose, Mark Little caught a 7lb salmon and a 4lb sea-trout. Nigel Austin also landed…

The angling world has lost a giant of a man and angler, a friend to many, who will miss his modest but authoritative presence. Easy going, open, and slightly shy, Bob was an outstanding, thoughtful and innovative game-angler and fly-tyer. He came to the attention of the wider big-reservoir angling community in the mid-1980s when he was invited to join the Grafham Water Fly Fishers’ Association competition team under the captaincy of John Moore (the originator of the Hopper series of dry-flies). He was an integral part of the six-man team that won the English final of the Benson & Hedges knockout club competition at Rutland Water in 1986 — still regarded by many as the Golden Age of reservoir fishing. It was a real delight to use light floating…

HOW TO ENTER TROUTMASTERS All you have to do is visit a registered Troutmasters water and catch a fish. Fill in the official form, which you will find at the fishery, and then post the form to T&S. Senior, Youth and Junior forms are available. Captors of the three biggest fish from each fishery each month win an exclusive Troutmasters badge. For a full list of entry details and rules go to: www.troutandsalmon.com/troutmasters SENIOR BADGE WINNERS England ■ ALDIN GRANGE LAKES, Durham, 0191 384 6090 1 Paul Snaith, Chopwell, 5lb 1oz rainbow, Cat’s Whisker. 2 David Neilson, Birnam, 5lb rainbow, Davy K. ■ AVINGTON TROUT FISHERY, Winchester, 01962 779312 1 John Lyness, Isle of Wight, 11lb rainbow, Damsel. 2 Colin Paxman, Essex, 7lb 12oz rainbow, Blue-flash Damsel. ■ BESSY BECK…

ENGLAND ALBURY ESTATE FISHERIES, Guildford, 07976 810737 BLITHFIELD ANGLERS, Abbots Bromley, 01283 840284 CHALK SPRINGS TROUT FISHERY, Arundel, 01903 883742 CHATTON TROUT FISHERY, Alnwick 01668 215226, DRAYCOTE TROUT FISHERY, Rugby, 01788 812018 FRENSHAM TROUT FISHERY, Churt, 07711 387360 HIGHAM LAKE TROUT FISHERY, Ponteland, 07950 428159 HOLLIES TROUT FARM & FISHERY, Honiton, 01404 841428 LAKEDOWN TROUT FISHERY, Burwash, 01435 883449 LEIGHTON RESERVOIR, Ripon, 07815 114890 LENCHES LAKES, Evesham, 01386 871035 MARSTON WYSE TROUT FARM, York, 01904 738383 MOORHEN TROUT FISHERY, Warnford, 01730 829460 NORTON FISHERY, Stapleford Tawney, 01708 688525 PATSHULL PARK FISHERY, Wolverhampton, 01902 700774 RIB VALLEY FISHING LAKES, Ware, 07812 464323 SIBLYBACK RESERVOIR, Nr Liskeard, 01579 346522 SPRINGHILL TROUT WATERS, Pembury, 01892 826041 SYON PARK, Brentford, 07956 378138 TENTERDEN TROUT WATERS, Tenterden, 01580 763201 WASHBURN VALLEY FISHERIES, Harrogate, 01943 880658…

Airflo’s Super-Tuff PVC chest and thigh waders are made to last. Ideal for fishing and river work parties. • Made from Plavitex 680g/m2 PVC • Double-stitched and double-welded seams • Elasticated adjustable braces • Reinforced knees • Pre-studded cleated boots • Sizes 7-13. HOW TO ORDER When ordering please quote “T&S Airflo Super-Tuff offer” code “114TS” and select your boot size. Free P+P. Tel: 0141 212 8880. Fax: 0141 331 6340. E-mail: sales@fishingmegastore.com Order online: www.gac.fishing/0114TS Post: Glasgow Angling Centre, Unit 1 The Point, 29 Saracen Street, Glasgow G22 5HT.…

STILLWATER TROUT FISHERIES are core to our sport. They offer invaluable and easily accessible fishing for local, novice and seasoned anglers. There are clear waters for stalking, specimen lakes for those that like to target big fish, and idyllic fisheries set in beautiful surroundings and full of wildlife. Whether you are holidaying or looking for something more local, we hope this guide to UK & Ireland stillwaters will plant the seed of future waters to try and become a useful addition to your glovebox. Facilities such as lodges, car parks, tackle sale or hire, refreshments and disabled access are listed to help you plan your day. Some of these fisheries are Troutmasters waters. These are endorsed by T&S and are where you can enter our monthly Troutmasters competition. We’ve provided…

RED-HEAD DIAWL BACH Hook Size 10-12 Kamasan B175 Thread Red Tail Brown cock hackle fibres Rib Red holographic tinsel Body Peacock herl Hackle Brown cock hackle fibres Head Red varnish Use on a floating or intermediate line and long leader with a slow figure-of-eight retrieve. Another popular dropper fly. APPS’ BLOODWORM Hook Size 6 wide gape Hayabusa, debarbed Beads Six seed beads Legs Red Flexi-Floss Fish slowly from a floating line and long leader so that the bloodworm is on or near the bottom.…

Suffers in terms of numbers of fly waters. Many have become carp because shallow stillwaters struggle in summer heat and carp are more resilient to low oxygen levels than trout. Nevertheless, those waters’ remaining offer super sport in the right conditions. BERKSHIRE Barn Elms Fly Fishery Barn Elms Fishery, Dark Lane, Bradfield, Reading, Berkshire RG7 6DF Contact: Rosemary Balsdon Tel: 0118 974 4214 Mob: 07768 581785 barnelms@btopenworld.com www.barnelmsfishery.co.uk Felix Farm Trout Fishery Howe Lane, Binfield, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 5QL Contact: Rob Barrett Tel: 07768 853449 Mob: 0745 496 4787 felix.farm@yahoo.co.uk www.felixfarmtroutfishery.co.uk Sportfish - Haywards Farm Lake Sportfish Game Fishing Centre, Station Road, Theale, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4AS Contact: Sportfish Tel: 0118 930 3860 gamefishingcentre@sportfish.co.uk www.gamefishingcentre.co.uk Sportfish - Hobby Lake Sportfish Game Fishing Centre, Station Road, Theale, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4AS…

SUMMER DUCK DABBLER Hook Size 10 Fulling Mill All-Purpose Medium Thread Rusty brown Tail Summer duck fibres Rib Fine oval gold Body Invicta-yellow seal’s fur Body hackle Light furnace cock Wing Cloaking of summer duck Flash A few strands of pearl flash Stan Headley tied this deadly trout fly, which fishes best on the top dropper and does well when mayfly or sedges are hatching. CHOCOLATE DROP Hook Size 8-10 Thread Black Body Dark brown seal’s fur Thorax Dark brown seal’s fur Wing Deer hair tips Hackle Dark furnace cock hackle A great pattern for Irish sedge hatches in summer.…

Home to some amazing small waters, reservoirs or rivers. Fine, well-run small waters include Graiglwydd Springs in the north offering trophy trout right down to the pristine Garnffrwdd in the south. In between lie wild upland waters, reservoirs and rivers amid beautiful surroundings. ANGLESEY Cefni Angling Association Cefni Reservoir, Llangefni, Anglesey, Contact: Secretary Charles Meadows charles.meadows.six@gmail.com www.llyncefni.co.uk CARMARTHENSHIRE Garnffrwd Trout Fishery & Country Holiday Garnffrwd Fishery and Country Holidays, Mynyddcerrig Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA15 5BB Contact: Mr Jamie Miller Tel: 01269 870539 garnffrwd@btinternet.com www.garnffrwdflyfishing.co.uk Pant y Bedw Fishery Pant y Bedw, Nantgaredig, Camarthenshire SA32 7LH Contact: Duncan Yearley Tel: 01267 290315 Usk Reservoir Brecon Beacons National Park, Tel: 01495 769281 CEREDIGION Fron Farm Fishery Bontnewydd, Bronant, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 4JG Contact: Sue Diplock Tel: 01974 251392 sue@fronfarmfishery.co.uk www.fronfarmfishery.co.uk Season: Open all…

In the event of it being difficult to buy a print copy of Trout & Salmon in a newsagents, your favourite magazine is still available on digital platforms. So, if you can’t find us in stores, or if you’re stuck inside, please consider: • Downloading our Trout & Salmon app from the iOS or Android app stores. We have superb one-off subscription offers with discounts of up to 50%. You can also purchase single-copy issues if you wish. If you’re a Kindle Fire user, you can download our magazines from Amazon Newsstand. • If you are a print subscriber and we cannot deliver issues to you owing to the Covid-19 situation, please visit: greatmagazines.co.uk where clear updates will be given. We appreciate your support and readership during this period of…

“It was one of those sessions where I forgot to eat and drink because of how in tune with the river I became” I AM DELIGHTED THAT GUIDING HAS picked up and I am back on the water doing what I love the most. The majority of the fishing school’s clients come to learn trout fishing. Normally this is done on one of the Swinton river beats or on one of our local trout lakes, which include Leighton Reservoir and Tanfield Lodge Lakes. The Swinton Estate has recently dredged a lake so by next season we hope we will have a lake on site where we can host days for local schools, charities and beginners. With the water so high I’ve been trying out different methods, including swinging streamers and…

The building of Draycote Reservoir in Warwickshire began in 1967. It opened in 1970. Thoughts of forming a fishing club had been expressed from the off, but with poor fishing in the initial year and then superb sport in the following three seasons, it wasn’t until 1974 and a drop in form that local anglers felt the need to unite and their voice to be heard. Draycote Fly-Fishers’ Association was formed to represent those who fished the reservoir and express their views to fishery management and Severn Trent Water Authority, which owned the reservoir. Initial committee members leading the fight for anglers included secretary Gordon Griffiths of fly-tying fame (a teacher in Coventry at the time), professional Coventry-based casting instructor and DFFA president Dennis Bailey, chairman David West of Allied…

1. SKETCH PAD AND PAINTS These may not immediately be thought of as angling essentials, but I would be bereft without a sketchbook and my little black battered paintbox. I have taken them with me on countless trips to countless places. The black and white image is of my father and mother — my father asked for my mother’s hand on that salmon trip to Norway. Both are, still, my beacon — my father a constant reminder of the dual passions of art and angling, and a continuous search for excellence. 2. STEVE PARTON ROD We all have angling heroes. Steve Parton was mine. He was the brother I never had; the odd couple, perhaps. But what a genius (in the true meaning of the word) that man was. Sense,…

1 Burr the tube with a flame then fix it on to the mount. Slip on a US metal tube then apply the thread, catching in a length of oval gold tinsel. 2 Wind thread turns over the metal tube then, to stop it slipping, add more directly on to the plastic tube. Apply the tinsel in touching turns. 3 Once the oval tinsel has covered the metal tube, secure it and trim off the waste. Catch in a pinch of yellow hair so its tips project forward. 4 Fold the hair back on itself and secure with thread. Add a generous pinch of gold dubbing to the thread and apply three or four turns. 5 Catch in a pinch of orange hair in the same way as the yellow.…

I BEGAN AS A BANK ANGLER. SO WHEN I FIRST GOT into a reservoir boat and saw an anchor, I assumed that you rowed to an area, dropped anchor and fished from a static boat. Fishing at anchor allowed me to use all the techniques and retrieves I had learned when bank fishing, but I found it harder to detect gentle takes. I noticed that some boats weren’t anchored, they were drifting with the wind. When I tried this the boat drifted quickly and erratically, making it difficult to control my flies. I hadn’t noticed that the drifting boats were using drogues to control their drift speed and their angle to the wind. Using a drogue, it became easier to control my flies, but it took me some time to…

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.…

OLIVE FRASER NYMPH Hook Size 8-14 Fulling Mill All-Purpose Thread Olive 8/0 Rib Olive Krystal Flash Tail & body Hen pheasant tail fibres Thorax Olive-dyed rabbit dubbing Thorax cover & legs As body CLARET MIDAS Hook Size 10-12 Kamasan B170 Thread Red Rib Clear 6lb nylon Abdomen Claret seal’s fur, well picked out Legs Four hen pheasant centre tail feather fibres Thorax Crimson/dark red seal’s fur, well picked out Hackle Red game cock hackle Head Gold Lite-Brite FIERY DEER HAIR EMERGER Hook Size 10-14 Kamasan B100 Thread Red UTC 70 denier Body Seal’s fur mix: 50:50 fiery brown/fiery ginger Thorax As body Wing Natural deer hai NESS C VARIANT Hook or tube Tag Silver oval tinsel or wire Tail Mix of green, orange, yellow and purple bucktail with a few…

WHAT YOU CAN WIN Each month Trout & Salmon will award an Airflo Superflo floating fly-line worth £69.99 to the captor of the best fish of the month caught from a Troutmasters water. Trout & Salmon will judge the catch based on fish quality and tactics used. The winner will be the pick of those submitted for that month. The Editor’s decision is final. E-mail your catch pictures to troutandsalmon@bauermedia.co.uk or post to Troutmasters Fish of the Month, H Bauer Publishing, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Please follow your national government’s social-distancing rules. ■ The Airflo Superflo fly-line is high-floating, durable and has almost zero memory. Its slick coating and super-thin running line will enable you to generate fast line speeds. It has a low-stretch core that will keep…

In addition to the monthly Troutmasters badge, anglers can also win Gold, Silver and Bronze badges. Gold is awarded to anglers who win monthly badges from ten different fisheries during the Troutmasters season, Silver to anglers who win badges from five different fisheries, and Bronze for badges from three different venues. This month, a Senior Bronze Badge is awarded to Malcolm Proudlock, from Stanley, for catches at Aldin Grange, Bessy Beck and Knitlsey Mill. Youth Bronze and Silver Badges go to Alex Aamer, from Aberdeen, for success at Kinross, Lochter, Mill of Kellas, Raemoir and Wellsfield.…

Sharpe’s of Aberdeen Fish of the Month competition celebrates your great fishing achievements. If you’ve caught a big fish, you could be one of our monthly winners. But it’s not always the captor of a big fish that triumphs — other factors that make the catch special are considered: where the fish is caught, method and circumstances (perhaps it’s your first fish. Perhaps you’re a young rod). There are two categories — salmon and trout (brown, rainbow or sea). The trout winner receives a Sharpe’s single-handed rod. The salmon winner receives a double-handed rod. Both winners also receive a landing net or wading staff of their choice. View Sharpe’s tackle at sharpes.net. If releasing a fish, keep it in the water, in a net. Keep handling to a minimum. August…

TM All fisheries carrying this symbol are registered as a Troutmasters venue. Disabled facilities If you are visiting a fishery for the first time it is advisable to check on the facilities before setting out. Refreshments Some venues may provide free tea and coffee or facilities for making hot drinks, while others can provide meals of a corporate standard. Flies for sale Many fisheries now carry a range of patterns, some of which will be specific to that particular venue. Tuition This symbol shows that the fishery is ableto provide some level of instruction. This may have to be booked in advance so always telephone first. Boats Indicates that boat fishing is permitted. Catch and release Signifies that the fishery allows catch and release, but always check rules as it…

A hotbed of English fly fishing with stunning, rugged scenery forming the backdrop to quality small waters, reservoirs, upland tarns and of course rivers filled with wild browns and grayling. CHESHIRE Clay Lane Farm Trout Fishery Clay Lane Farm, Mobberley, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 7BH Contact: Brian & Margaret Cooper Tel: 01565 873337 cecooper22@btinternet.com www.claylanetroutfishery.co.uk Season: Opening times, weekdays 7am until dusk, weekends 8am until dusk. Location: Clay Lane Farm Fishery lies half a mile east of Bird In Hand Inn, on the Knutsford to Alderley Edge (B5085) road and approximately 7.5 miles distance from Junction 19 on the M6. Four miles from junction 6 on the M56. Look for small grass triangle with the bus stop on it on the north side of the road. Description: Lake of approximately 2.5-acres.…

CLARET HOPPER POPPER Hook Size 10-14 wet-fly lightweight Thread Claret Butt & rib Pearl tinsel Body Claret seal’s fur Legs Cock pheasant centre tail feather fibre, knotted Hackle Greenwell’s or furnace cock hackle Thorax Claret seal’s fur Head Black foam Twitch across the surface and watch for the following bow-wave. CLARET MIDAS Hook Size 10-12 Kamasan B170 Thread Red Rib Clear 6lb nylon Abdomen Claret seal’s fur, well picked out Legs 4 hen pheasant centre tail feather fibres Thorax Crimson/dark red seal’s fur, well picked out Hackle Red game cock hackle Head Gold Lite-Brite Everything a dry-fly shouldn’t be – but an incredibly successful stillwater pattern! Fish it on a short line and just drop it in front of patrolling fish.…

Offers a fine blend of stillwaters large and small as well as excellent rivers for salmon and wild brown trout. This region is gaining in popularity as its reputation grows. COUNTY ANTRIM Cairn Farm Fly Fishery 27 Cairn Road, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim BT38 9AP Contact: Mr M Weatherup Tel: 02893 368273 www.cairnfarmfishery.com Craigmore Fishery 30 Clonkeen Road, Randalstown, County Antrim BT41 3JL Contact: Claire Reed Tel: 02894 472806 Mob: 07834 005216 craigmorefishery@hotmail.co.uk www.craigmorefishery.co.uk Kilgad Lake Trout Fishery 89b Kilgad Road, Kells, Ballymena, County Antrim BT42 3HY Contact: Tina Turner Tel: 02825 892806 horwich9633@aol.com Straid Fishery 21- 23 Castletown Road, Ballyclare, County Antrim BT39 9PU Contact: Ray McKeeman Tel: 02893 038721 info@straidfishery.com www.straidfishery.com Tildarg Fishery 42 Breckenhill Road, Doagh, Ballyclare, County Antrim BT39 0TB Contact: Sam Henderson Tel: 02893 340604 tildargfishery@hotmail.co.uk…

World famous for its large loughs offering some of the finest brown trout fishing on the planet. Anglers flock here for the duckfly (buzzer), mayfly and olive hatches when quality browns come on the feed. There aren’t many small waters but that’s not what this part of Ireland is about. COUNTY GALWAY Lough Corrib County Galway Lough Derg County Galway COUNTY KERRY Lough Currane County Kerry COUNTY LIMERICK Bleach Lough Fishery Kildimo, County Limerick Contact: David J Buston Tel: 0035 3879595610 / 00353871845736 (Clubhouse) www.bleachloughanglers.ie COUNTY MAYO Lough Carra County Mayo Lough Mask Co Mayo Tel: 00353 91 563118 COUNTY MEATH Lough Sheelin Co Meath Tel: 0871 24527 www.shannon-fishery-board.ie Rathbeggan Lakes Dunshaughlin, Co Meath Tel: 00353 18240197/0868 113259 COUNTY SLIGO Lough Melvin Co Sligo Tel: Sligo Tourist Information: 00353 71…

A plethora of waters dot the landscape so it’s no surprise that holiday-makers venture north to enjoy salmon, rainbow and brown trout fishing. You’ll fish amongst stunning scenery and have so much variety at your fingertips. AYRSHIRE Borland Trout Fishery Cumnock and District Angling Association, 1c New Cumnock Road, Cumnock, East Ayrshire KA18 4QP Contact: Alex Reid Tel: 01290 420981 Mob: 07958 279740 alext55@hotmail.co.uk Season: Closed Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Location: One mile south of Cumnock on A76. Description: Two ex-local authority reservoirs of 2 and 3-acres. Stock: Brown, blues, rainbows. Minimum weight 1.4lb up to double figures. Fishery Records: Brown - 14lb 2oz, rainbow - 23lb 2oz. Natural Insect Life: Abundant. Recommended Flies: Damsels, Hawthorns and dries. Prices: £15 (2 fish). C&R £10. Facilities: Lodge with…

MEMBERSHIP Draycote Fly-Fishers Association.Web: www.draycote-fly-fishers-assoc. co.uk Contact club secretary Mark Johnson-Jones by e-mail: info.dffa@gmail.com The joining fee is just £12 (£8 OAPs and juniors). Members receive discounts at the Draycote Water tackle-shop and newcomers enjoy discounted tuition packages. TICKETS AND TACKLE For information on Draycote Trout Fishery ticket prices, maps, tuition and the latest catch reports visit the website: flyfishdraycote.co.uk Tel: 01788 812018. Draycote Lodge stocks tackle and flies. It is a good starting point to find out what flies are working, and which areas are fishing best. FOOD AND DRINK Dunchurch village has a selection of good pubs. The Dun Cow has an impressive menu, but for a cheaper snack the local chip shop is highly recommended. Dunchurch Social Club is used by many members after a day on the…

MATERIALS Hook Size 8 or 10 Kamasan B170 or B175 Thread UTC 70 denier brown-olive or black Butt Flat gold Rib Oval gold Body Hare’s ear and grey squirrel mix, 50:50 Body hackle Grizzle hen dyed golden-olive Shoulder hackle 1 Mandarin flank feather Shoulder hackle 2 As body hackle or furnace/Greenwell’s hen HAVING A PENCHANT FOR A brooding sky, a good wave and a floating line, I appreciate that I am slightly biased, but is there anything in our sport that gets the heart pounding as much as seeing a good fish roll over your top dropper? Nothing beats making eye-contact with your quarry as he commits to the take. He turns and heads for the depths, the line goes tight and the rod bends. Two seconds of pure magic.…

COULD I DRIVE A DOG SLED? There was a problem, Peter said. It was Easter in Åre, high in the mountains between Norway and Sweden. We were on our first — and, I trust, only — skiing holiday. I had skied, after a fashion: I was anxious to move on to something else. I’d met Peter, who worked as a guide, taking folk on wildlife treks up into the mountains to look for reindeer and ptarmigan and experience the life of the Saami. He’d told me about arctic char in the mountain lakes up there and offered to take us on the next trek. I could fish through the ice while the others picnicked in a Saami kåta — a skin tent. We’d be travelling by dog sled. But when…

WHEN CAMERON CRAIGS MOVED to Albury in 2013 it was like a breath of fresh air to this long-established complex, and he summed it up rather neatly when he told me, “This is home. Abby and I love the area, our twin boys are doing great and this has given me the challenge to create a really first-class trout fishery, right in the heart of Surrey.” Hugely popular, Cameron is not just a fishery manager, but a top class, competition river angler, with a diverse knowledge of fish, water and the countryside. That all sits rather well with the Albury ethos. I talked it over with Richard Melhuish, who heads up the fisheries. He has been in partnership with the Duke of Northumberland since the early ’80s to develop the…

RUTLAND BLACK PHEASANT TAIL Hook Size 8 Kamasan B130 Thread Black Sparton Professional Tail Black cock hackle fibres Rib Fine silver wire Body Black pheasant tail fibres, wound flat Wing cases Four natural pheasant tail fibres Thorax Dubbed black marabou fibres to form a dense thorax This is my only really “original” pattern. I came up with it about 30 years ago to represent the large black buzzers that I found in fish caught at the bottom of Rutland’s South Arm. I noticed that the fish gorged on large buzzers with dark brown wing buds. So this is a very natural looking pattern, with no flash or bright cheeks to frighten wary fish. Over the years it has picked out a lot of the better specimens. I also tie it…

FISH THE WHARFE FROM YOUR GARDEN The River Wharfe, which rises on Cam Fell and flows for 60 miles south-east to join the River Ouse below Tadcaster, holds trout in the upper reaches and coarse fish downstream. On the southern bank at Addingham there is 1 Low Mill Lane, which provides an opportunity for updating. The Victorian spa town of Ilkley is three miles away and Leeds is 20. The current layout includes a large open-plan living and dining room, three bedrooms, study/box room and a shower room. There are gardens and, over a beck, an area that has been left to grow wild that borders the river. There are fishing rights. £499,950 Dacre, Son & Hartley, 01943 600 655 GRAND HOUSE WITH HISTORIC CHALKSTREAM Pudding House Farm at Headbourne…

WE MAY BE HEADING INTO AUTUMN already but there is still time to fire up the barbie and see off some of the bounty that has been accumulated since we got back on the water. It doesn’t matter what sort of cooker you use — except I don’t think that the gas versions really work. Well, they work; actually, they work perfectly well but they don’t add anything to the process because they are just a gas oven out in the garden. So, you might just as well cook stuff in the kitchen and eat it outside. I have never used a wood fired oven — the brick and cement dome style that gets up to 500° and cooks a pizza in a minute flat — so I won’t comment…

Home to some of the finest reservoir trout fishing in the UK with superb grown-on specimens resulting from the rich feeding. Grafham, Rutland, Ravensthorpe, Draycote and Pitsford attract fishermen from all over Europe. DERBYSHIRE Alton Manor Fishery Idridgehay, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 2SH Contact: Stephen and Caroline Jones Tel: 01629 823723 Mob: 07932 511827 info@altonmanorfishery.co.uk www.altonmanorfishery.co.uk Barlow Trout and Coarse Fishery Millfarm, Crow Hole, Barlow, Derbyshire S18 7TJ Contact: Rex Ward Tel: 01142 890543 Mob: 07949 045336 millfarmbarlow@gmail.com www.barlowlakes.co.uk Carsington Water Fishery Carsington Water, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 1ST Contact: Carsington Sports & Leisure Ltd Tel: 01629 540478 flyfishing@carsingtonwater.com www.carsingtonwater.com Season: March to November. Location: . Description: Carsington Water offers fly fishing at its best, its natural beauty, crystal clear waters and stunning fish combine to make Carsington Water the perfect venue…

BLACK SHUTTLECOCK Hook Size 10-14 light grub Thread Black 8/0 Body Tying thread Rib Stretched pearl Wing Five or six CDC tips Thorax Hare’s ear, dubbed behind and in front of the wing to set it at the angle A deadly pattern when trout are feeding on emerging buzzers. Look for those classic head-and-tail rises. DAMSEL NYMPH Hook Size 12 nymph Thread Olive Weight Fine lead wire (optional) Tail Olive marabou Rib Fine gold wire Body, legs, thorax Olive marabou A simple but highly mobile damsel nymph imitation. CLARET SEDGEHOG Hook Size 10-12 Fulling Mill All-Purpose Medium Thread Black Body Fiery-claret seal’s fur Wing Four or five sparse bunches of deer hair Hackle Claret hen Keep hair bunches perpendicular over hook shank with as little drift and flare as possible.…

A region extremely popular with holiday-makers and fly anglers due to the many excellent trout waters including Chew, Blagdon and the incredible stillwaters and rivers of Devon and Cornwall. CORNWALL Colliford Lake Bodmin, Cornwall PL14 6PZ Contact: Ben Smeeth Tel: 01288 321262 www.swlakesfishing.co.uk Drift Reservoir Penzance, Cornwall TR19 6AB Contact: South West Lakes Trust Tel: 01736 786613 bsmeeth@swlakestrust.org.uk www.swlakesfishing.org.uk Innis Fly Fishery Water Meadows, Innis Moor, nr Penwithick, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 8YH Contact: Mr D. Johns Tel: 01726 852382 Mob: 07773 282724 innisfishery@aol.com www.innisflyfishery.co.uk Rose Park Fishery Trezibbett, Alternun, Launceston, Cornwall PL15 7RF Contact: Anne Burford Tel: 01566 86278 Mob: 07712 155894 Siblyback Lake Country Park Nr Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 6ER Contact: Nigel Tomkinson Tel: 01579 346522 www.swlakesfishing.co.uk Stithians Lake Nr Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6NW Contact: Beth Cross Tel:…