Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2023 i Trout & Salmon

I 'D LOVE TO START THIS ISSUE WITH A gesture of good luck and new-season cheer, but instead I want to mark what appears to be a seismic shift in public awareness of pollution. The reckless and criminal contamination of our waterways is at last being seen and heard on prime-time TV thanks to the likes of Paul Whitehouse, Feargal Sharkey and other tireless campaigners. The public spotlight is now firmly on profiteering water companies that illegally discharge untreated sewage into our rivers and seas. This is capitalism gone mad and marks a tipping point for our environment. Ultimately, our Governments should be ashamed. They've not only failed to protect waterways but have purposefully granted water companies the freedom to pollute without scrutiny or prosecution. While filming his hard-hitting BBC2 documentary…

SEASON Brown trout, February 15-September 30. GEAR AND BASICS Visiting anglers should hire a boatman. They know the lough well, know where to fish and give sound advice. Wear good wet weather clothing plus thermal layers. It is always colder out on the water. Life jackets are compulsory when fishing from boats in Ireland. Bring boat seats for comfort and a mobile phone. TACKLE I use a 9ft 6in medium-action rod, rated for six-weight lines. Anything similar will suffice. I prefer a softer middle-to-tip action rather than a tippy action for traditional loch-style fishing. A selection of floating, sink-tip, and fast and slow intermediate fly-lines will cover all eventualities. Take a general selection of wet-flies to match the hatch. Ninety per cent of my patterns are size 12s; smaller in…

THE MIDNIGHT FLY Hook Partridge Double CS16/2S Tail Purple Crystal Flash Tag Fine oval tinsel, over the tail Body Purple holographic tinsel Rib Fine oval silver tinsel Hackle Purple hen hackle Cheeks Jungle cock eyes Head Black tying silk I dressed this fly the night before fishing and chose purple as the dominant colour. It was completed just after midnight — hence the name. That morning, the river was clear, but there was a "rag" (mist) on the water — a sight many fishers dread. I gave the Midnight Fly a swim on a sink-tip line. In clear water, purple looks attractive; the hen hackle provided movement and the jungle cock nails added spice. Halfway down a pool, the line tightened and a bright red 7lb cock fish made a…

{ MATERIAL OF THE MONTH } THE WINDING OF A NARROW FLEXIBLE material, such as wire or tinsel, along the length of your fly (or part of it) performs two functions: it secures and protects the materials underneath, providing structural integrity; and it adds colour, flash and segmentation. Wire and oval tinsel are the basic ribbing staples and most popular choices, offering great strength, flash, and a range of colours. Flat tinsel, thanks to its versatility and array of colours and finishes, is close behind, but due to its tendency to split when bitten by sharp little teeth, it may need protecting by counter- or over-ribbing. Aesthetically, I often use flat tinsel for a rib without protecting it with wire — fine, but one must be prepared for tears after…

■ Bass bag: keeps fish away from clothing and tackle. ■ Thermos flask: hot or cold drinks are essential to avoid dehydration. ■ Wellingtons: their smooth finish is less likely to snag line than laced boots. ■ Bib n brace: comfortable and their high back protects from wind. ■ Boat seat: elevated position makes casting easier; back support and padding improves comfort. ■ Snood: protects face from wind and UV rays. ■ Mobile phone: in case of an emergency or engine failure. NEXT MONTH Rob Edmunds continues his series on going afloat with tips and advice for fishing on the drift.…

UNTIL RECENTLY, 10FT RODS RATED for a four-weight line were fairly rare. This is where the boundary between conventional dry-fly/nymph rods and euro-nymph rods becomes blurred. Pure euro-nymph rods rarely cast dry-flies well with conventional fly-lines because the supple tip essential for effective tight-line nymphing compromises accuracy, especially when side casting. Now there are rods that perform both functions well — perhaps not as well as ones dedicated to either dry-fly or euro-nymphing, but more than good enough. They will appeal to anglers who euro-nymph only occasionally but don’t wish to carry two rods. On stillwaters, from the bank or in a boat, when using a floating line that lands gently and provides little resistance to a taking fish, these rods present stillwater dry-flies, wet-flies and nymphs delicately and accurately.…

TROUT MASTERS Plus this month’s badge winners from Europe’s largest fly-fishing competition See p age 124 SCOTLAND 45 Alness 46 Annan 47 Ayr 48 Beauly 49 Borgie 50 Brora 51 Carron 52 Cassley 53 Clyde 54 Conon 55 Cree & Bladnoch 56 Aberdeenshire Dee 57 Deveron 58 Aberdeenshire Don 59 Doon 60 Earn 61 Forss 62 North & South Esks 63 Findhorn 64 Girvan 65 Halladale 66 Helmsdale 67 Irvine 68 Kirkaig & Inver 69 Outer Hebrides 70 Lochy 71 Loch Lomond & Leven 72 Lake of Menteith 73 Nairn 74 Ness 75 Nith 76 Orchy 77 Orkney 78 Oykel 79 Scourie 80 Shin 81 Skye 82 Spey 83 Stinchar 84 Tay 85 Teith 86 Thurso 87 Tweed 88 Wick IRELAND 88 Lough Arrow 89 Bandon 90 Beltra 91 Blackwater (Cork)…

England ■ BRANSFORD GAME FISHERIES, Bransford, 01905 830548 1 Paul Gwilt, Winchcombe, 6lb 4oz rainbow, red Montana. 2 Glenn Freeman, Malvern, 5lb 4oz rainbow, Diawl Bach. 3 Andrew Martin, Stratfordupon-Avon, 5lb 3oz rainbow, Damsel. ■ MARSTON WYSE TROUT FARM, York, 01904 738383 1 David Worrall, Pontefract, 13lb 4oz rainbow, orange Blob. 2 Michael Hancock, Wetherby, 11lb 4oz rainbow, on fly. ■ NEW MILLS TROUT FISHING PARK, Brampton, 016977 41115 1 John McDowell, Gateshead, 11lb 1oz brownie, white Worm. 2 Matthew Malt, Carlisle, 11lb brownie, Woolly Bugger. 2 James Henderson, Carlisle, 11lb rainbow, on fly. 3 John McDowell, Gateshead, 10lb 9oz rainbow, white Snake. ■ THRUNTON LONG CRAG TROUT FISHERY, Alnwick, 01665 574400 1 Adam Mulgren, Bedlington, 14lb 8oz rainbow, Cat’s Whisker. 2 Matthew Devine, Morpeth, 12lb rainbow, Devine Dancer. 3…

CLUES ACROSS 4. Five of these equal a teaspoon [abbr] (2) 6. Three-pronged hook (6) 9. Scottish town near River Averon (6) 10. In use (2) 11. Winged trout fly with silver body and red hackle (6, 7) 13. Birthday treat (4) 14. Extra-strong metal for hooks (5) 15. Male sheep (3) 16. Game-fishing river in Monmouthshire (3) 17. Wading staff (5) 19. Hook part between bend and eye (5) 23. Circular eddy (5) 25. Spring device once used to keep pike’s mouth open for hook removal (3) 26. Negative answer (2) 28. Spaceship for example? (1.1.1.) 29. Town on the banks of the Aberdeenshire Dee (8) 30. River Tweed tributary (4) 31. Long period of time (3) 33. Terra firma (6) 34. Walking in water (6) 35. You and I (2) CLUES DOWN 1. Extremely (4) 2. Tapped at a door (7) 3. Waterside willow tree (5) 5. Cumbrian salmon river (4) 7. Fishing…

TICKETS Four hours, £25.50. Eight hours, £39.50. Children £15. Fish over 41b must be returned. Catchand-release ticket, £16. For salmon fishing at Inverawe and Lorne on the River Awe, visit fishpal.com ANGLING SCHOOL Why not teach the family to fish on holiday? The school offers half-day lessons. Adults £49. Children £35. Family £70. SMOKEHOUSE AND CAFE A good selection of smoked fish and meats, fine country foods and gifts are available in the shop and online. The cafe serves hot and cold drinks, light lunches, sandwiches, and home-made cakes and pastries. INVERAWE SMOKEHOUSE AND FISHERY, Taynuilt, Argyll, PA351HU. Smokehouse. Tel: 01866 822 808. Email: info@inverawe.co.uk Web: smokedsalmon.co.uk DIRECTIONS Take the A85 to Bridge of Awe. Turn right just before the bridge and follow the road for 0.9 miles, then turn…

In 1804, George Schöffel was licensed to trade in hosiery. He started selling stockings, socks, nightcaps and Swabian pointed hats as a travelling salesman. Fast forward to 1961, Hubert Schöffel opens a clothing store in Schwabmünchen and buys a lederhosen factory where he starts producing outerwear pants. Starting with three seamstresses, the business soon grows to 40 employees. In 1967, Hubert spots the trend for sport and leisure and starts making breeches for hikers and stretch pants for skiers. By 1971, Schöffel’s breeches became market-leaders and by 1975 the company employed more than 100 people. Hubert was considered the “hiking guru”. Jet pants and skin-tight ski pants followed in 1976 and at the beginning of the ’80s Schöffel entered the world of technical clothing. In 1983, they were the first…

{QUICK FIX} A FINGER TIP Isn’t floatant messy? Especially the gel type, which liquifies when warm, dripping over your fingers, which then spread it on to your degreased leader, which then decides to float. Not good when you’re trying to achieve perfect presentation. A way to prevent this contamination is to avoid the fingers and thumb you normally use to hold and apply things. Instead, apply floatant sparingly to your dry-fly with the tip of your little finger. If you get in a pickle with your pinkie, try floatants (liquid or silica powder) applied by brush. Other precautions include always applying floatant to a dry-fly after treating your leader with sinkant. And get into the habit before casting, or when inspecting a fly, of holding only the treated fly between…

LARGE EXPANSES OF WATER CAN be daunting and many experienced river and small-stillwater anglers don't feel comfortable going afloat on a reservoir. Handling a boat is a skill set they often don't possess. Of those that try, if unsuccessful, some give up after just one or two sessions — in today's world, many of us need instant gratification. But I implore you to persevere. My skills have been honed on reservoirs for 45 years and I can tell you the rewards are great: there is immense satisfaction to be had from catching fish on a difficult water, and the fish are generally in excellent condition — a fully finned, grown-on, silvered rainbow trout is a sight to behold. I would always recommend tackling a large body of water by boat…

LAST MONTH, WE covered drift-fishing in a boat, so I assume many of you are still drifting, awaiting further instruction. This month, we’re moving on to still stillwater fishing — that is, finding a good spot and anchoring up. But how do you find such a spot? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about in the next 513 words. So, drogue in, oars out and here we go. The stockies will generally be cruising round and round a stillwater until the shoal splits up into smaller schools and they start to become properly educated. However, the overwintered fish — the ones that have settled and begun to grow — will always be hanging around where there’s a reliable food source. But where are those food sources — what do…

SHOP FOR A BRIGHT NEW SEASON Like many of you, we look forward to the Sportfish Spring/Summer catalogue with a sense of excitement, at the prospect of browsing its lovely pages and because its arrival heralds the start of the trout season. For more than 30 years, through knowledge, passion and skill, it has transformed into a book of dreams for every fly-fisher. A ridiculous amount of time and testing dictates which products make it into the catalogue, and which don’t. But it’s not all about the best of the best. Sportfish aims to offer a range of quality game-fishing products to suit every budget. It sells fishing rods for under £80 and for over £1,000. The more than 8,000 products in the 228-page catalogue are there because they’re the…

BRANSFORD Three picturesque pools in the heart of Worcestershire with superb views down the Teme valley. Quality rainbow and brown trout (brownies must be returned). Pools are accessible to wheelchair users via casting platforms. Day ticket £38 (four fish, followed by catch and release). Tel 01905 830 548 Web bransfordgame.com NEW MILLS A stream-fed water in Cumbria, home to hard-fighting rainbow, tiger, blue and brown trout up to 20lb. The lake is open all-year round, with disability fishing available. Tuition can be arranged. Onsite accommodation. Day ticket £28 (one fish, eight hours). Tel 01697 741 115 Web newmillstroutfishingpark.co.uk SWEETHOPE Sweethope Lough, in Northumberland, is stocked with hard fighting rainbow trout. There are 20 boats, an on-site shop and toilets. Sweethope also has two well-equipped holiday cottages, and a five-pitch caravan…

The Salar II wading jacket from Schöffel is made from a Gore-tex two-layer laminate that gives outstanding performance in the worst of weathers. It has a three-point adjustable packaway storm hood with peak, two large breast pockets with storm flaps, side handwarming pockets, and an internal security pocket. There’s also a reinforced net D-ring at the rear, a velcro fly-patch pad and wading belt loops. The one-way YYK front zip and adjustable velcro wrists ensure rain and wind are kept out and you can focus on the fishing. Machine washable. One lucky winner will receive a Schöffel Salar II wading jacket in graphite, in a size of their choice (UK 36-50cm). For more information call Schöffel Country on 01572 772 480. Web: schoffelcountry.com…

UP NORTH WE MAY BE BLESSED with top quality wild brown trout and grayling fishing, but we're not exactly lacking when it comes to stocked stillwaters, too. I've a particular fondness for the day-ticket fisheries controlled by Windermere and District Angling Association — Bigland, High Newton and Ghyll Head — small upland reservoirs that, despite being essentially man-made, are sufficiently established to feel like they've always nestled there. A visit to Ghyll Head seemed long overdue. We'd had a break in the weather — a remarkably quiet spell lasting for two weeks that brought with it the first signs of early spring. It felt like a good time to give my casting arm some practice, so I picked up Dad and headed for the South Lakes. We nearly didn't make…

1. FAMILY HOLIDAYS This picture of me and my late mother is a special memory and shows how fishing has been an important part of my life. Family holidays were spent exploring West Wales and fishing for sea-trout and salmon. I used to spend hours fishing alone while the rest of the family went to the beach or shopping. I became absorbed by life in and around the river: minnows, trout, salmon, parr, eels and, above, buzzards. It left an indelible impression — I'm rarely happier than when I'm by a river, especially one with salmon. 2. ANGLING COACH I decided to train as a game angling coach and when the opportunity arose to guide for Casting For Recovery UK and Ireland, I was so pleased. To volunteer with this…

ALTYRE BEAT The Findhorn’s Altyre fishing is split into two two-rod beats and is let with Ian Neale as guide. The cost of three- and six-day packages with fishing on both beats for up to four rods is available on request. Upper and Lower beats rotate at lunchtime. There is a well-equipped fishing hut. A 4×4 vehicle is advisable, but Altyre will suit less-mobile fishers because wading is easy on most key pools (except Garden). CONTACT Ian Neale. Tel: 01309 641 658. Mob: 0771 303 0429. Web: speycaster.net Email: ian@speycaster.net TULCHAN Tulchan Estate has four beats across eight miles of prime fishing on the River Spey, with available lodge and cottage accommodation. The estate’s gillies are first-rate. CONTACT The Estate Office Tel: 01807 510 200 Web: tulchan.com Email: estateoffice@tulchan.com T&S…

Wind speed is critical when fishing from a boat, whether you’re drifting or anchored. As a rough guide, I consider 0-6mph calm, 7-11mph a gentle steady wind, 12-16mph a strong wind, and 17-24mph extremely strong winds with extra care required. Fishing in winds over 17mph is definitely not suitable for a beginner — it’s uncomfortable and dangerous. Anglian Water does not allow boats out on their reservoirs (Rutland, Grafham, Pitsford and Ravensthorpe) if wind speeds exceed 24mph. Check on a weather app.…

Mackenzie Fly Fishing’s new NX trout lines use the latest manufacturing processes and technology to produce a durable yet extra-supple coating. This translates to better loop shapes and improved turnover. Each line weight has a tailor-made taper to achieve the best performance and presentation, but each has an extended rear taper to improve stability in the air. This also allows the caster to aerialise more line when needed, especially when longer casts are required. To determine the optimum line carry, there is a distinctive colour change from the 43ft moss-green head to the ivory running line. All lines have welded loops front and back to make attaching backing and leaders easier. With excellent consistency, turnover and stability in the air, the NX range is ideal for fishing delicate dry-flies and…

JOHN TODD was born in Ballymena, Co Antrim. He trained in civil engineering and worked in the construction industry until 1991 when he established his own business, Gillaroo Angles, providing angling guiding, tuition, and organising angling holidays in the north of Ireland. He was a consultant to government agencies responsible for developing angling tourism in the 1990s, bringing many well-known angling personalities over from Britain, including Chris Tarrant, fly-fishing writer Malcolm Greenhalgh, and pike fishing guru Mick Brown. He was actively involved in REFFIS and a founder member of the Wild Trout Society, now the Wild Trout Trust. John was known and respected throughout Ireland and beyond as an authoritative angling writer and commentator, contributing to Trout & Salmon, FlyFishing & FlyTying, his weekly ‘Reel Thing’ angling column in the…

Junior ENGLAND ■ NEW MILLS TROUT FISHING PARK, Brampton, 016977 41115 1 Lewis Herdman, Haltwhistle, 6lb 4oz brownie, black Egg Fly. WALES ■ TYN-Y-GRAIG FISHERY, Crynant, 01639 750894 1 Jayden Sadler, Kidwelly, 9lb 4oz rainbow, Zonker. Youth ENGLAND ■ NEW MILLS TROUT FISHING PARK, Brampton, 016977 41115 1 Kenzie Reynolds, Haltwhistle, 11lb 8oz brownie, Blue-flash Damsel. 2 Kenzie Reynolds, Haltwhistle, 10lb 1oz brownie, black Snake. 2 Kenzie Reynolds, Haltwhistle, 8lb 8oz rainbow, Cat’s Whisker. WALES ■ LLANDEGLA TROUT FISHERY, Wrexham, 01978 755851 1 Kyle Hutchinson, Broughton, 2lb 8oz blue, Damsel.…

TALK ABOUT KICKING A HORNETS' nest. Still, here goes. How much should we tip the gillie? After a day or a week or a whatever? The riparian owners I know all assure me their gillies are adequately — indeed, generously — remunerated for their toil and I would like to think this is the case. I would actually think that these days if a gillie considered that he or she was not adequately rewarded for their efforts they would say so, and that there would be a grown-up conversation between them and their employers, which would resolve the matter to everyone's satisfaction. I would also like to think a tip was a gesture of gratitude from the occasional angler to their guide, adviser, mentor and — I hope — friend…