Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2021 i Trout & Salmon

I’VE JUST BROKEN MY ENIGMA 10FT 7WT ROD. If anyone has one, they’ll know why I’m in mourning and why minutes after the fateful cast I was searching for another. Enigmas were made years ago and it seems — after a fruitless hunt online — they are now extinct. There was nothing fancy about the rod. In fact, I disliked its round single-leg rings (I prefer snakes) and its reel seat, which would work loose over time. The handle wasn’t the most comfortable, either. However, the blank was amazing — it suited me to a tee. It had a gorgeous, progressive mid-action, smooth in the stroke with bags of feel. You need to feel a rod load, especially when sea-trout fishing at night. It helps you judge when to lift…

DOUBLE WHAMMY Rob Layton, from Pitsford in Northamptonshire, was fishing Church Hill Bay on Grafham Water’s North Shore when this stunning 13lb brown trout took his size 12 Diawl Bach on the top dropper of a 6lb leader. Rob said, “I met a friend mid-morning after being slow to get out of bed. It was a westerly wind, not great for Grafham, so we walked from Pylon Point to Church Bay where it was sheltered. Within minutes, I saw a huge fish rise ten yards off the bank. I assumed it was taking shrimp, so I covered it with a Shrimp and a Diawl Bach on a floating line. First cast, I felt it nip the flies. Nothing more happened for a couple of minutes and I thought I’d missed…

I WAS DELIGHTED TO PLAY A SMALL part in ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. ITV came up to North Yorkshire and filmed a segment called A Day In The Life. It began in our Northern Fishing School shop and office where we discussed the benefits of fishing and how participation has grown immensely this year, and in such a short period of time, too. We then visited Tanfield Lodge Lake in West Tanfield to go through the basics, starting with safety and then running through the equipment, casting, how to play and land a fish and the benefits of catch and release. All the time feeling the additional pressure from the camera crew. However, for the future of our sport I think it’s important that we reach as…

Run the thread down the shank, taking it well round the bend. Catch in a length of flat gold tinsel that’s been cut to a point, then apply in touching turns. Secure and trim off the end of the tinsel then catch in a golden pheasant topping. At the same point, catch in a length of fine oval gold tinsel. Fix the waste ends of the tinsel and topping along the shank then dub on a pinch of magenta seal’s fur. Apply close turns of the dubbed fur. Having formed the body, catch in equal-sized hen hackles — one claret, one magenta. Hold the feathers by their tips and apply evenly spaced turns. When the hackles have reached the base of the tail, take hold of the gold tinsel and…

IF ONE WERE TO CONSIDER THE attributes of a successful angling guide they would probably include patience, fishing ability, a down-to-earth approach and a willingness to go the extra mile to help their clients catch fish. Add a keen sense of humour to that list and you would be describing Guðmundur Atli Ásgeirsson. Gummi, as he’s more usually known, is one of Iceland’s top fly-fishing guides and owner of Fly Fishing in Iceland (flyfishinginiceland.com). He lives in Hafnarfjörður, ten minutes from the capital Reykjavík, and is a fanatical angler, particularly when it comes to catching huge brown trout from lakes. But he has few pretensions about the flies he ties and uses. The only thing that really matters to him is that they work. A prime example is his Golden…

Forty years later the three friends had fading memories and the photographs Peter had taken with his father’s camera. But no trophy of that magnificent, if somewhat out-of-season, ferox from the fabled waters of Loch Awe. But Peter was on the case. Over the years he’d picked up some old wood-carving chisels from local craft sales. Some time ago he’d got hold of a large alder log, chainsawed it to a thick plank and put it aside to season for six months or so. And then — hardly before time — he set about creating a fitting memorial to a Loch Awe Salmo ferox.…

ROB EDMUNDS Highly successful competition angler, reservoir bank and boat specialist. RONNIE GLASS Former Scottish champion on rivers and stillwaters and curator of the Tweed Salmon Fishing Museum. 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. Q I’ve tried stalking trout on small, crystal-clear waters but with limited success. What tips can you give me to  reduce the number of fish that I spook? Aaron Davis Stalking one fish certainly makes you aware of how easy it is to…

Learning from others is the best and quickest way to improve your knowledge of fly-fishing. Many stillwaters host clubs that hold friendly competitions where you can mix and even fish with the country’s finest anglers. Joining a club will also expose you to these experts through social events such as talks and fly-tying evenings. Chat to staff at your local water and they will point you towards the best club. Many of the UK’s finest anglers are also fishing guides. They can be hired for a day and give invaluable one-to-one tuition. Take every opportunity to meet and fish with experienced anglers.…

I OFTEN TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES for my fishing, so it was a great pleasure to drive just ten miles from my home to the Peacock Hotel water on the Derbyshire Wye at Rowsley. I was going to fish with Andy Buckley, who guides full time on the Wye, Derwent, Dove and other waters nearby. Andy was keen to show me a new and effective way of detecting bites when nymphing for grayling. The Peacock has six miles of mostly double-bank fishing on the Wye that meanders through rich farmland in a wide valley and is maintained as a wild fishery by the light touch of keeper Jan Hobot. The wild rainbows for which the Wye is famous thrive alongside wild browns and grayling. Access is straightforward with good car parking…

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 ■ ALBURY ESTATE FISHERIES, Guildford, 07976 810737 1 Patrick Griffin, Horley, 8lb 2oz rainbow, Mini Blue-flash Damsel. 2 Tom Nathan, Middlesex, 7lb 5oz rainbow, Hot Orange Bunny Leech. 3 Donald Garner, Crawley, 6lb 8oz rainbow, Green and Blue-flash Damsel. ■ AMPORT FISHERY, Andover, 07775 953273 1 Gwyn Price, Andover, 4lb rainbow, Black Montana. ■ BRANSFORD GAME FISHERIES,…

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 Silver badge goes to Jim Watson, from East Kilbride, for catches at Borland, Broomhill, Burns, Moffat and Wellsfield. Senior Bronze badges are awarded to Gordon Swain, from Co Durham, for catches at Aldin Grange, Bessy Beck and Langley Dam; Neil Scowen, from Keith (Artloch, Delgatie and Mill of Kellas); David Hoppe, from Bromsgrove (Bransford, Draycote and Lenches Lake); and Richard Winser, from Huntingdon (Meon Springs, Rib Valley and Withern Mill). In the Junior section, a…

SO, I’M SAT ON THE BANK AT THE HEAD of the pool where the water tumbles out of the bend below the bridge. I haven’t smoked for years, but this is always a moment when I feel a pang. Looking at a fresh piece of water and thinking how best to play it and wondering what marvels might lurk within. A fish? A big fish, perhaps? Maybe the fish? The one that takes the rest of the morning to play and a lifetime to savour. It’s definitely a moment when a smoke would be a proper thing to do. In the days when we did such things. Instead, all I can do is check my leader for wrinkles and test the knot that holds the fly. I’m trying a smallish…

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MATERIALS Hook Size 8-12 Kamasan B175 Thread UTC 70, wine Butt Flat gold Tail Golden pheasant topping Rib Oval gold Body Magenta seal’s fur Body hackles Claret hen, then magenta hen Shoulder hackle 1 Red golden-pheasant body feather Shoulder hackle 2 Grizzle hen dyed “Silver Doctor blue” IF YOU HAD BIG PLANS IN 2020, CHANCES are they went down like a knackered lift. I was due to arrive at the bottom of the Great Glen in the first week of April to fish the fabled lochs Arkaig and Lochy under the tutelage of local expert Arthur MacDonald, when Boris pulled the rug and the estates pulled the boats off the water. And that, as they say, was that. The lochs will still be there, though, when we’re good to go…

Fix hook in the vice and run the thread down to where the two bends diverge. Catch in three or four fine peccary hairs or stripped hackle stems. Catch in pinches of yellow, then black, then yellow marabou. The soft fibres from the base of the body hackles can also be used. Immediately in front of the marabou tail catch in a length of fine, silver wire plus a single large dyed-black cock hackle by its base. Catch in two large dyed-yellow cock hackles at the same point, then, using hackle pliers, wind the first one up to the eye and secure the tip. Wind the second yellow hackle up through the first to create a dense effect, with no gaps. Next, apply evenly-spaced turns of the black hackle. Wind…

ORANGE MUSKINS Hook Size 12-14 wet-fly Thread Red Tail Brown cock hackle fibres Rib Fine red wire Body Natural cock pheasant tail fibres Thorax Hare’s fur Cheeks Fluorescent orange floss This simple nymph is deadly when trout are feeding on buzzers. It has been a favourite of mine since I began fly-fishing on the larger waters. The Muskins comes in a range of colour combinations, but I think the best version has bright orange cheeks and a slim pheasant-tail body ribbed with turns of fine red wire. Professional fly-tyer Lloyd Pallett dresses them for me; he’s a great tyer, so neat; they’re perfect. The Muskins has worked for me on Chew, Pitsford and Grafham reservoirs. I’m a member of Cambridgeshire’s Invicta club, so, in normal years, Grafham is my regular…

WHERE AND HOW Wimbleball is 13 miles south of Minehead in Somerset and is easily accessible from the M5. A significant proportion of the reservoir can be fished from the bank and there are paths around much of the perimeter. You can fish much of the north bank, although you’ll need to walk a fair way to reach some spots. The south, from Arthur’s Bay, is more difficult to access. It’s heavily treelined and when the water is high fishing from the bank is almost impossible. There are six new boats (four more will be added soon) and eight older boats, with quality outboards. BOOKING A five-fish ticket is £27, boat hire £30. Contact Trudi Underhill, tel: 07758 561412. Visit Facebook at the new “Wimbleball Fly Fishery” page. Or go…

England & Wales BORDER ESK THE 2020 season saw periods of good sport when conditions allowed. The lower river again proved to be the place to be. The Burnfoot beat performed very well but not as good as the previous season. Salmon numbers were up on 2019. Beats further upriver saw sport at times, especially after water. Anglers were seeing plenty of running fish which often proved difficult to move. November saw some lifts of water in the Esk system and salmon and sea-trout were busy on the spawning redds. Early spring fishing on the Esk sees a few keen anglers hoping to encounter an early springer. Hopefully anglers will be able to access the river without Covid restrictions which certainly kept rods away last season and obviously curtailed catches.…

THE Welsh fly-fishing community lost one of its genuine and respected ambassadors in November 2020 when Malcolm Edwards from Ammanford in South Wales passed away suddenly on the banks of Llyn Clywedog in Mid-Wales, following a day’s fishing with friends. Born and bred in the Amman Valley, Malcolm was a skilful and reputable carpenter and joiner who ran a successful business alongside his late father for many years. He joined the committee of his beloved Ammanford and District Angling Association in 1971, having fished its waters on the Loughor since he was a boy. He became a Trustee in 1997 and was an active and loyal member of the committee until his passing. He was also a long-term member of Llandeilo Angling Club and had many quality catches of sewin…

BOOKING Lower Floors has 1½ miles of double bank for four rods and two full-time gillies. In June and July, only two rods are let. Gillies don’t accompany rods in June and July but will be on hand throughout the day if advice is needed. Prices are from £75 plus VAT in February up to £280 plus VAT in late summer/early autumn. For further details, contact the factor, Ed Brown. Tel: 01573 223 333. E-mail: ebrown@ floorscastle.com. Find more information at tweedbeats.com TACKLE In the colder months and higher water, a 14ft or 15ft rod is ideal with sinking line and tip options for fishing deeper when required. During the warmer months and in lower water, lighter rods, full floating lines and small flies are effective with slow-sinking or intermediate…

Keep your hands to yourself Looking through the December issue of T&S it seems that the message regarding handling fish is just not getting through. There is plenty of advice available on how to deal with fish that are to be returned. Unfortunately, too many people are not following the advice. Take a look at the kipper on the back cover of the December issue or the pictures in the gallery section (p10-11). In the same issue, Bob White highlights the problem in “A lack of respect” (p43). The vast majority of anglers intending to return fish use barbless hooks because they cause little injury and allow fish to be released without being handled. So why do some anglers and gillies persist in unnecessary handling when they have gone to…

• Tie the two body hackles in together. They should be an identical size. Tie in the bottom of the feathers, then grip the tips with hackle pliers and wind them towards the fly’s tail. • Strip the lower third/half of fibres from the golden pheasant feather. Hold half a dozen fibres at the tip and stroke back the fibres in the central portion of the feather to 90 degrees from the stalk. Trim the tip fibres to a manageable length, tie in behind the eye and wind one full turn. Stroke the fibres slightly back towards the tail and tie off.…

TICKETS The fishing at East Tuddenham is run by the Norfolk and Suffolk Flyfishers’ Society. Membership costs £60 per year (although it is free to under-17s) and entitles members to fish at greatly reduced daily charges. A range of fishing possibilities are open to visitors, from full rods to half-rods and day tickets. An overview of the society’s work with contact details can be found at norfolkandsuffolkflyfishers.org.uk FISHING All standard stillwater patterns and approaches will probably work at the lakes. I used smallish (size 12) and generally-suggestive floating patterns purely but buzzers, sedge pupae, damsels, snails and fry will all figure in a season’s angling thinking. There will almost certainly be a society member present on the lakes at the time of your visit and he or she will be…

1. FIRST SEA-TROUT I was 12 years old in 1966 when I caught my first sea-trout, 2½lb, from the River Wear. I was spinning with a 3g No.1 Mepps. All youngsters started by spinning then. Take a look at the elastic, snake belt worn by my brother: it was 54 years ago, but I remember it well. Although I fly-fished the Wear for brown trout, it wasn’t until the next season that I caught my first sea-trout on fly — 1¾lb on a size 8 Black Pennell single at night. 2. UNCLE FRANK My uncle, Frank Willey, nicknamed Froggy, inspired me to go sea-trout fishing. This photo of a 13½lb fish was taken in 1965. It was caught in a pool called Rat Hole in a falling spate. Notice the…

MANY STILLWATER TROUT fisheries have been in the same capable hands for decades, and nowhere is that more true than the lovely Innis fishery near St Austell where Dave Johns has been at the helm for almost 40 years. The fly-fishing bug took hold of Dave when he was 18 and first fished Porth Reservoir, one of Cornwall’s early trout waters, near Newquay. When Porth eventually closed to trout fishing, Dave wanted somewhere he could continue his love of the sport. With a good water source and just a “little” excavation needed, things got underway around 1982 when Dave persuaded his dad Butch to let him dig a trout pond on moorland owned by the family. That first pond led to the idea of charging people to fish and the…

John writes: My favourite fishing memories involve my wife and three sons. I’m blessed to have many of them: fishing in local lochs; watching our bubble floats like hawks; days at the Muircomer dam pool on the Lochy as a family. One freezing snowy February day stands out. My son Craig had come with me to fish the River Moriston on the Ness system. He was 11 and there was 6in of snow on the ground. It was probably a bit cold for him. But it was beautiful. We were taking it in turns to fish the key areas with fly and spinner. Craig would fish for a while, then warm up in the hut, fish a bit, build a snowman, warm up, and repeat, while I plugged away. I…

WHERE TO STAY The Peacock at Rowsley, Rowsley, Matlock DE4 2EB. Tel: 01629 733518. E-mail: reception@thepeacockatrowsley.com TICKETS The Wye grayling season is October 8 to January 7. Put it in your diary for later this year. Grayling day tickets, £35, are only available to Peacock Hotel residents or anglers who’ve booked a guided day. The Peacock Flyfishing Club has season tickets to fish the Wye, Derwent, Bradford and Lathkill. Write to the keeper, Jan Hobot. Web: wyeriverkeeper@sky.com GUIDE A day with Andy Buckley on the Peacock Hotel’s water is highly recommended. He also guides on the Derwent and Dove. He and his partner Ieva have a YouTube channel with great instructional content delivered in a humorous way. Web: abangling.co.uk E-mail: andy@abangling.co.uk YouTube: IB and Andy…

The green triangular plate visible through the reel retains a small V-shaped pawl held under tension by a flat spring above it. As the spool is turned, each tooth of a ratchet on the hub engages with the tip of the pawl, rotating it until it springs into the next tooth, producing the click. The process is the same if the spool is turned the opposite way to give line. When the drag adjustment knob on the back of the reel is turned it rotates a cam that pushes down on to the flat spring, increasing the pressure on the pawl and the resistance needed to click it on to the next tooth of the ratchet. This is what provides the reel’s simple drag, applying up to half a pound…

FISH OF THE MONTH Julian Oakes fished a Cat’s Whisker on a floating line with a fast retrieve to tempt this 16lb 4oz blue trout from Loynton Trout Fishery, where he is a regular visitor. The superb fish earns Julian, from Talke, Staffordshire, an Airflo Superflo line. 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,…