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Journal

£8.99 | Vol 02 No.04

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I N S I D E: New season prep • Grayling in Canada • Buzzing for buzzers

Vol 02: Jan 2024 Autumn - March : Oct - Dec 2023

A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L Q UA R T E R LY F O R T H E M O D E R N A N G L E R

Cover: Durham Ranger, tied by Richard Aeron Lougher Jones. Photograph by Ceri Jones.

Flyfishing Journal is published quarterly, you will receive a free set of flies with each new subscription. Visit www.Flyfishingmedia.co.uk or scan the QR code to start your subscription. Enjoy! You can receive your personal copy of Flyfishing Journal directly to your home.

Rob McGinlay - Director/Publisher J 07917 777721 M Rob@nousmedia.co.uk Saara Rootes Director/Publisher M Saara@nousmedia.co.uk Ceri Jones Editor M Ceri@ﬂyﬁshingmedia.co.uk David Guest Deputy editor M editorial@nousmedia.co.uk Nicola Howe Designer | For full list of contributers see pages 88-89

t’s that time of year when a lot of us are sitting at our bench tying the remainder of our fly selections ready for the start of the season. River anglers will have March Browns on their mind, while the reservoir and lough fisherman will have Buzzer and Duckfly patterns at the ready. It’s also a good time to be cleaning reels and lines, and stocking up on leader material in anticipation for opening day. Although many of the stillwater fisheries are now open throughout the year, for me opening day on the reservoirs is when it all starts. We all have hopes, goals, and plans for the year ahead. I personally had a great season last year so I’m hoping for more of the same, but one goal I do have is a return visit to Lough Arrow, a special water which I was fortunate enough to fish last year. This issue has everything to help you get success out of the next few months and is packed with features including fishing for rainbows, browns, tigers, grayling, salmon and even giant cutthroat trout. As well as the UK and Ireland we have destinations across the world from including the USA and New Zealand for those thinking of fishing overseas this year. I have now been the editor of the Journal for a year and enjoyed every minute – it’s great to see it growing strength to strength. We truly have an amazing team and some of the biggest names in the sport as contributors, so a big thanks to all. We have lots planned for the future, starting with this issue as it is now available as a digital download – see page 7 for more info. I wish you all a successful start to the season and let’s hear those reels scream, and please remember to send us your catch photos.

Ceri Jones

FlyFishing Journal

M ceri@flyfishingmedia.co.uk

@flyfishing_nousmedia Nous Media Limited 84 Colchester Road Manningtree, Essex, CO11 2BH D www.nousmedia.co.uk No parts of this magazine may be produced or transmitted in any forms without prior permission from the copyright owner. © Nous Media Ltd Flyfishing ISSN 2754-6020

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Contents VOL 02: JAN - MARCH 2024

08 Hungry For a New Season Our editor Ceri Jones oﬀers his advice for making the most of a new season. 14 The Learning Curve Gene Haran explains how being a constant learner can improve your fishing. 18 March Browns Mystery How to capitalise on March Brown hatches with Paul Procter. 24 Fly Scene Your dose of fly fishing news from the last few months, including your pictures. 31 Angling Trust Why join the Angling Trust? There are a whole host of reasons. 32 Ceri chats with Jamie Miller Our editor in conversation with Garnﬀrwd Fishery owner Jamie Miller. 37 Young Angler Spotlight We highlight the promising early angling career of Matthew Davies. 40 Tried and Tested Our team puts some of the latest fishing tackle and gear through its paces. 44 Eye of the Tiger The cold couldn’t stop David Hoppe from chasing down some elusive tiger trout.

Flyfishing Journal

Image courtesy of Ewan Maclachlan

GIVING YOU THE EDGE, SINCE 1840

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The finest products. Expert knowledge. Friendly advice.

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68 50 Time Travelling Trout Introducing the trout that time forgot at Pyramid Lake in Nevada with Nico Sunseri.

80 Springing into Action Chris Hague gives us some of his best advice for catching yourself a salmon this spring.

56 A Handsome Shrimp Another fly tying masterclass from Rob Redman, this time it’s a true grayling magnet.

83 Science Behind… March Browns David Bradley examines the entomology behind fly fishing’s most fabled insects..

60 The Art of Fishing Metalwork artist Sam MacDonald shares his secrets and his stunning fishing-based work. 64 Underappreciated Beauty Peter Cockwill shares his passion for catching Arctic grayling in the remote wilds of Canada.

84 Origins of… the Cascade Alun Rees gives us a brief history of one of the sport’s most iconic flies. 88 Meet Our Experts The guys and gals who help us make this magazine a reality with each issue. 90 Guides Directory

68 Off the Beaten Path Want to fish the Mataura river in New Zealand? Heed these tips from Dean Kibble. 72 The Realm of Buzzers The poetic dance of angler, trout, and buzzer, as told by Peter Boyle. 78 Early Season Flies Stephen Smalley shares with us some of his best early season fly patterns to get you catching.

Flyfishing Journal

Categories: Destination Fly Tying Tried and Tested Fly Scene Entomology Rivers Saltwater Stillwaters Conservation

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STILLWATERS

Flyfishing Journal

Hungry For a New Season Like most of us our editor feels the excitement as he looks forward to the first day of the season – here are his tips to help you make the very best of it. WORDS & PHOTOS: Ceri Jones

A perfect early season Talybont wild brownie for Ceri just short of 2lb.

ven though I may have a couple of visits to a fishery over the winter, I am stuck in my ways and prefer to wait until March for the traditional opening day of the trout season. As a boy, I would be counting down the days and busy tying

flies leading up to the start of a new season, no matter what the weather, I would never miss an opening day. I even remember a time when we had heavy snow the night before and all roads were closed but that didn’t stop me as I walked eight miles just to cast my line into the new season.

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STILLWATERS

Not a lot has changed as I still look forward to opening day. Not only is it good to cast a line again, but it’s also a great time to get together with likeminded anglers who you haven’t seen since the previous season. EARLY SEASON HUNGER For the first few weeks, the main food source for over wintered fish will be buzzers but

Flyfishing Journal

there is no need to be focused on imitative patterns all the time, as these fish are hungry so won’t be too fussy. Anything that comes across their path, the temptation is too much for them, and even when a good hatch occurs, a lure will usually pull a fish or two. Early season fish are usually to be found close in, and bank anglers will often catch more than those fishing from a boat. There are two reasons for this, firstly there hasn’t been any angler pressure to push them out, and secondly, it’s in the margins that they are most likely to find food. Riverbeds are prime hotspots, so take note where these are in the summer when water levels are down, as this knowledge will be invaluable come early season. My local lake is Talybont, located in the Brecon Beacons, where I have fished for many years. It is a wild brown trout fishery. Not the easiest of waters

High water and flooded banks will bring the fish in close to feed.

Taking a break and a cuppa to warm up helps concentration on a cold day.

with anything over 2lb considered special. However, like many lakes, it has stories of big fish, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen any with my own eyes. Hopefully this season I get to meet one, I’m on the case! At the start of the season the banks are flooded and water levels high, so wading is called for as it is very shallow for quite a way out. Care must be taken as the inlet splits into two meandering channels out into the lake. If we have had recent rain, the water can be coloured, so when wading a careful approach is essential, one wrong step and you’re into 10ft of river bed. TOO MUCH RESPECT? I’m sure we have all made the mistake of giving trout too much respect. How many times have we tried to match the hatch and struggled only to find out someone has bagged up using something that looks more at home on a Christmas tree? My choice of line when fishing the bank in early season is an intermediate as you get far more control of depth and nowadays,

LS Copper Ribbed Hares Ear, Silver Humungus and Ceri’s Shuttlehop.

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STILLWATERS

"I ALWAYS TRY THE HUMUNGUS FIRST AND IF I KNOW THERE ARE FISH IN FRONT OF ME AND I’M NOT GETTING TAKES THEN I CHANGE TO THE HARE’S EAR. " I rarely fish a sinking line. My top two patterns without doubt are a Black and Silver Humungus and a Large Copper Ribbed Hares Ear, both tied on a Kamasan B200. I love this hook, it’s a good weight and perfect for fishing on the point. The Humungus is a fantastic attractor pattern for browns, only change I would make is if it’s a bright sunny day I use gold instead of silver. I always try the Humungus first and if I know there are fish in front of me and I’m not getting takes then I change to the Hare’s Ear. Sometimes the fish may be a little cautious with half-hearted takes, so changing to a more imitative pattern usually makes a difference and will pull more fish. It’s always worth putting a dropper on, usually a Diawl Bach, Cruncher or similar 12

Flyfishing Journal

tied on a size 10, but I have found it’s the point fly that will usually catch at this time of year and I think it’s purely down to size. When it comes to retrieve, it has to be fast – cold water always produce more fish when pulled quickly, especially browns. Because of this, my leader choice is Maxima Ultra

Great care is needed to fish the top end like many reservoirs. Flooded banks can hide the drop offs to river beds. One of Talybont’s golden nuggets a welcome prize on a cold day.

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Green 6lb, no need for fluorocarbon as the fish don’t get too much time to inspect your fly unlike when you are fishing buzzers. Like most, I do love fishing a floater and dries, but surface activity can be few and far between until the water temperature starts to warm up. However, if there is any sign of surface feeding fish, I am straight on to the floater. The activity won’t last long, usually an hour at best and often around mid-day. It’s then I will be ready with my Shuttlehop. A fly I have used with great success over the years and as the name suggests a cross between a Shuttlecock and Hopper, lightly dressed sitting in the surface and at this time of year it will be taken with confidence. This fly really comes into its own from April but always nice to take a fish on a dry early on. Early spring is always a good time to get a big fish so fishing the Humungus or the large Hare’s Ear will give you a better chance of connecting with something special. Keep things simple, no need to constantly change flies, give them what they want. After all, why have a burger when you can have a steak?

As well as receiving your copy direct to your home, you can now also pick up the latest copy of FFJ at the following specialists stores. • Farlows - Paw Mall, London • Sportfish - Winforton, Hereford • Orvis- Stockbridge • Fyne Tackle - Lochgilphead, Argyll Plus, your local WH Smiths.

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STILLWATERS

The Learning Curve Gene Haran explains how his hunger to learn has helped him become a better angler and to be more in tune with his favourite of all waters; Lough Corrib. WORDS & PHOTOS: Gene Haran

Flyfishing Journal

new year, a new season, I could be fishing wets anywhere in the country from mid-February, however, it’s the duckfly hatch that is the real season opener for me. I was introduced to buzzer fishing 18 years ago by a friend, Darren Maguire, when I landed at a competition at Lough Corrib – all I had with me was wets. That competition was a real eye opener, buzzer was my new form of fishing, decided there and then, and I made it my mission to know everything I could about that game. In the beginning, I didn’t get it, ignorant to buzzer fishing, I bought the flies, I travelled to Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, I wasn’t catching. There was more to it than flies, Lough Corrib wasn’t my environment, I had to get to know it. But first, we need to know the basics. I should cover the value of this fishing for me, which is in the learning experience and the challenge. It’s getting the better

of what I deem to be the intelligent fish, trout are top of the game. To beat the trout, you must mimic its food as precisely as you can. There’s something therapeutic in the tying of flies in winter, it’s preparation for the new season. We all have thousands of flies in boxes, yet we’ll still tie a couple more every year. Generally, we have our pattern that’s been learned through several years of testing, several years of success. What I’m focused on with flies is hitting particular depths when I’m fishing, so it’s about the combination, the right cast of flies to hit what I call the killing zone! The right cast of flies for shallow water, for example, would be three 12’s on 6.6 froghair. For deep water then four flies, two 10’s, two 12’s. To be in the place where the fish are naturally feeding is where I want to be and then it’s method – my hand is moving in a slow figure-of-eight, and I pause. I’m getting myself closer to that natural movement of the buzzer itself.

(Top left) Columns of duckfly rise above the Corrib’s many islands.

Incredible photo of adult duckfly covering the bow of Gene’s boat.

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STILLWATERS

RED LETTER DAYS In March 2021, I had been out on the Corrib every day I could, work and life juggled around being on the lake. As I’m self-employed, if I think the conditions are right on a Wednesday, I fish Wednesday, and I could be working on Sunday. I say Wednesday because that’s what it was – a dull, overcast, light westerly wind Wednesday. When I got to Annaghdown pier, the trees were smoking. I set-up two buzzer rods, one for deep, one for shallow. I set out on the water, and I didn’t get out of the bay. Anchored in a corner, I could see fish on the surface, heading and tailing, there were adults skating and ‘orange boys’ popping. Taking up the light set-up, the intention was that the flies wouldn’t sink, I was targeting rising fish. I caught nine good trout that day, but as the day was ending, there might have been signs that would be the end of the hatch there. That Friday, my friend Darren rang me and told me that there were early signs of a duckfly hatch up the other end of the lake. Come Saturday morning I was taking Nial Gelston out on the lake, he had the same spot in mind where I’d caught nine. I

said I hope you’re ready for the 45-minute drive. For a second, he thought I was crazy thinking about going halfway up the lake. We both knew if it was on, it’d be another red-letter day. We bolted up the lake and when we got there, we were on the lookout for signs of fly hatching, and we were also surveying the water depth to determine what set-up to fish. The first drift was quiet, the second drift, Nial caught a lump, about 4lb. We caught another two there and decided to hit a bit of deep water, a ‘duck hole’ that I knew about. Onto rod two, a deep set-up, another two fish we caught between us. Over and back between the two spots all day we were catching good quality trout. The hatch was perfect, and by the end of the day we had 11 between us, but we weren’t finished. At about 4pm we’d have been into our last few casts, I lost a fish, then I caught the biggest fish of the day, a six pounder! ENDLESS EXCITEMENT On Lough Corrib, it’s wild, it’s clear, you can see it. The fish are different colours,

Flyfishing Journal

Both dawn and dusk can provide great buzzer sport on Corrib.

Spooning reveals a feast full of buzzer for this trout.

A stunning Corrib brown slips back during a duckfly hatch.

Gene with a typical Corrib brown, don’t get much better.

different sizes, you have to present as the natural environment they have when you’re fishing. It’s a proper hunt, you’re not always casting into the dark, you have a target and you’re thinking how to better that target, and I think there’s an endless excitement in that type of fishing. You go from the clear to the deep and what you can’t see, you then revert to surveying their feed at the surface. All of this is learning, and I’ve been doing it in return trips to Lough Corrib for years. The Oughterard 50 competition was a great way to learn the lake through the experience of Galway-based anglers. I and a few other lads were at that competition every year, the only time I missed it I was on the other side of the world. In 2016, I moved to Galway to be closer to the action, I adapted my working life, so that I could invest more in fishing on Lough Corrib. I’m a member of Annaghdown club, I have a boat on the lake. I still don’t know the entirety of the lake, there’s still more learning to do, it’s vast. There’s around 44,000 acres of water, nooks, and crannies, I’ve walked shores on occasion finding

stuff I’ve not been to on a boat. I’m talking specifically about Lough Corrib, but there’s a lot of lakes and courses in the vicinity that provide a great variety of fishing. I’ll not be bored here.

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RIVERS

The Myﬆery of March Browns During a long, dark winter, the thought of March Browns can be enough to keep us all going. Paul Procter gives us his tips on how to make the most of these mythical Mayflies. WORDS AND PHOTOS: Paul Procter

mongst fly fishers March Browns (Rhithrogena germanica) enjoy the status as one of our most iconic flies. Remarkably, much of their reputation seems to be based on hearsay as sadly, March Browns are not that widely distributed nowadays. Yet this doesn’t prevent those who have never clapped eyes on them from becoming wrapped up in all the hype. Scotland is an obvious stronghold, as is the north of England, though decent pockets of March Browns can be found further south with parts of Wales producing some spectacular hatches. For me, what separates March Browns (MBs) from other upwings is the uncertainty and mystery that surrounds their emergence. You can experience two identical days back to back when one will produce a bumper hatch and the other passes without incident. Furthermore, the sight of such a large flecked winged fly so early in spring stirs emotions deep inside any who care to

Flyfishing Journal

waft a fly rod. And, once the trout are locked on, dry fly sport can equal any experience you’d except on a lush chalkstream during duffer’s fortnight. BRIEF AND INTENSE A strong trait with MBs is they tend to hatch ‘en masse’ in waves. In fact, it’s not uncommon to witness two or three pulses during a day with definite switch on and switch off times. Granted, there are periods when a more sustained emergence occurs,

The fabled March Brown creates a stir with both trout and fly fishers alike.

A spanker of a wild brownie – this fish couldn’t refuse the charms of a jingler.

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RIVERS

MB Hare’s Ear Nymph Hook: Partridge G3A size 12 Thread: Brown 12/0 Nano silk Underbody: Lead wire Rib: Semperfli 0.2mm brown lure wire Tail: Coq-de-Leon Abdomen & Thorax: Hare’s ear dubbing Legs: Natural CdC fibres Head: 2.8mm black bead

however I always set my stall out expecting brief, but intense flurries. It’s vital then to be on a known, or favourite pool leading up to prime time, which is usually anything from 11am onwards, though I’ve known duns keep me waiting until nearly 3pm on colder days. The squat like nymphs of March Browns are designed to hug rocks and boulders. Aside from the odd one being picked off now and again, unless a brawling flood dislodges them, the nymphs remain safely tucked up until their perilous journey prior to hatching. Like many (but not all) upwing flies, they emerge in open water, making them highly susceptible to predation, putting them at the top of a trout’s menu. As fly fishers, we’re understandably swayed by the visual aspect of our sport when dimpling trout have us instantly reaching for dry flies. Yet, more than once

Flyfishing Journal

I’ve been present when MBs have hatched in their droves and not a fin has stirred at the surface. Chatting with like-minded folk, I’m not alone in this observation either.

In anticipation of a March Brown hatch, I’ll wait it out on my favourite pool.

A MOVEABLE FEAST It wasn’t until a day when perfect light and low water conditions (a rare thing in spring) allowed me a privileged peak at what was

March Browns often hatch in one huge flush, something of an impressive sight.

MB Emerger: Hook: Partridge SLD2 size 12 Thread: Semperfli 8/0 rust waxed thread Rib: Semperfli burnt orange pure silk Tail/Humpback: Natural CdC Body: Rust superfine dubbing Hackle: Brown partridge/Braham hen hackle

going on. Trout seen weaving this way and that were clearly singling out ascending nymphs and ignoring any emergers or duns. Interestingly, this behaviour occurs on more blustery days when the dun’s wings harden quickly, allowing them to lift immediately after leaving their shuck. Such springboard behaviour makes it difficult for trout to secure a meal at the surface, which I’m certain is why their eyes are looking down. Because trout are accustomed to seeing the nymphs in March and early April, when duns fail to show, a nymph is well worth a whirl. If you commit to subsurface tactics, then a brace of flies are a far better idea. These are best tethered to a level leader of some 9ft, which due to less surface area than tapered leaders, sinks truer. Aim to target the faster water at a pool head. Short casts of approximately three-rodlengths make for quick fire stuff, so you

can effectively cover ground by progressing upstream while fan casting. Although we strive to present nymphs dead-drift, don’t be afraid to lead them every once in a while, by a steady lift of the rod tip. In fact, this should be compulsory where shallower water occurs. It can be a handy ploy too in the faster channels that are often squeezed between boulders. Whilst trout often eat both hatching flies and duns in the same sitting, there are times when they single out emergers. This tends to be in more blustery weather, especially when dry conditions exist as the wings of duns instantly harden and assisted by a breeze the newly emerged flies are away in the blink of an eye. Knowing full well their dinner is about to disappear in a blur of wings, trout then nab ecloding nymphs. The giveaway tends to be bugling rise forms though make a point of watching closely as it’s easy to assume trout are walloping duns instead.

"WHILST TROUT OFTEN EAT BOTH HATCHING FLIES AND DUNS IN THE SAME SITTING, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THEY SINGLE OUT EMERGERS. "

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RIVERS

Although all sorts of close copy emerger imitations exist, spider-type dressings have done me proud when trout home in on emerging March Browns. The main thing is to include an extra turn or two of hackle to make a straggly looking fly that loiters for longer at, or just beneath the surface. Furthermore, a small loopwing of CDC helps hold this pattern right in the film when trout become picky about the exact attitude of emerging flies. This will be single fly territory too, so droppers don’t prematurely drag flies beneath the trout’s focus. Ideally, I prefer to position myself opposite, or marginally downstream of feeding fish so short, accurate drifts are achievable. If the trout in question don’t respond then pick up line quickly to re-cast, rather than let your fly drift way downstream and off target. Takes to the semi-drowned spider are often like those to dry flies though be on your guard for fish will sometimes inhale the spider without so much as a surface ripple. Usually now, a slight heaviness will be felt on your fly line. STEADY YOUR NERVE Clearly, as part of their defence strategy, March Browns tend to emerge in a vast crowd to overwhelm predators. Not only is this spectacle impressive, given damp weather and light breezes the duns remain

Flyfishing Journal

glued to the surface for several minutes and sometimes longer. Such a flotilla usually has the trout queuing up to slurp them down. Be warned though, as for reasons best known to themselves, these hatches tend to be brief affairs, so it’s vital to act the moment you see a dun and prepare for dry fly tactics. It’s fairly obvious when fish are gobbling down duns as unfortunate flies either disappear in a satisfying swirl, or the dark nebs of trout will visibly breach the surface. Such scenes are exactly what have been played out in our mind’s eye during a long winter! So, take stock for a moment and steady your nerve before making a cast. At the start of a hatch, sometimes fish will eagerly pounce on anything that comes their way. However, March Brown surges

Sleet and even snow doesn’t always spell disaster for March Browns.

Wise, old trout, like this brute often station themselves in back-eddies and the likes, where food is continually filtered to them.

MB Jingler: Hook: Partridge SLD2 size 12 Thread: Semperfli 8/0 rust waxed thread Rib: Semperfli burnt orange pure silk Tail: Partridge hackle fibres Body: Brunt orange possum dubbing Hackle: Three wraps of partridge hackle in front of CdC fibres

build up in an instant when trout quickly become accustomed to seeing duns behave in a particular manner. More so than ever now, you need to be on top of your game regarding presentation. Aside from selecting a supple tippet material such as copolymer, think about delivering flies with a degree of slack line. At the peak of March Brown activity, countless duns get filtered into subtle current lanes, small eddies and slack areas. It’s here you’re likely to find the better fish taking advantage of easy pickings. Often feeding as regular as clockwork these fish regularly nab duns every few seconds. Strictly speaking the flows in these areas are tricky to predicate, so make a point of studying how

flies are carried to a particular rise. One advantage though is trout generally hold only inches deep, reducing their window of vision. This allows us to land our fly much closer to the disturbance, which in turn means less likelihood of drag setting in. That said, a slack line cast is still the order of the day.

The author clutches a braw spring trout taken during a flush of March Browns.

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FLY SCENE

River Summit event seeks to ‘make positive change’ A new event is being launched in the UK this spring that aims to help bring together all those who share a desire to work towards a more positive future for the country’s rivers. River Summit and Festival will take place at Morden Hall on the River Wandle in London on 21 May 2024 and seeks to unite brands, environmentalists, and members of the public in a collaborative, educational and celebratory gathering of the UK’s waterways. “We have gathered river people from all different walks of life and professions, enabling conversations and finding solutions,” said River Summit founder Claire Zambuni. “With so much anger and outrage in the media surrounding our waterways, we hope this event will not only facilitate lively debate but also collaborative discussion among different stakeholders, all of whom have a passion for our waterways. We invite the public to

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learn first-hand the issues our rivers are facing and distil our anger to make a positive change.” A panel of speakers will discuss various topics from water scarcity, agricultural and sewage pollution, the environmental impacts of industrial practices in the countryside, and much more, followed by a Q&A. At the inaugural UK event this year (2023), summit speakers included Jim Murray Actor and Founder of Activist Anglers, Penny Gane Head of Practice at Fish Legal, Gail Davies-Walsh CEO Afonydd Cymru, Jamie Cook CEO of Angling Trust, Nick Measham CEO of WildFish, Dylan Roberts Head of Fisheries Game Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), and Mike Blackmore Director of Operations Wessex Rivers Trust. Learn more about the event or purchase tickets at: D www.theriversummit.com

Your Pictures

The EWF venue in Fürstendeld, Germany. Photo courtesy of Veranstalungsforum Furstenfeld.

Europe prepares for major fly ﬁshing show More than 100 different exhibitors are preparing to show their wares at one of Europe’s biggest fly fishing shows in Germany this spring. The Experience the World of Fly Fishing (EWF) 2024 show will take place at the Event Forum in Fürstenfeld, near Munich in Germany from 13 to 14 April and is hoping to attract a large crowd of enthusiasts of the sport. As well as exhibitors, the show will host casting demonstrations and casting pools, supervised fly tying lessons, presentations from a wide range of industry experts, and the 17th Open German Fly Tying Championship. Tickets for the event cost €16 per adult for a single day, or €28 per adult for the weekend, while children under the age of 15 get free entry.

An all-too-familiar scene when fishing this winter – David Hoppe was glad of good waterproofs on this trip to Garnffrwd Fishery.

@davidhoppeflyfishing

Learn more about the show online at:

D www.experience-world-flyfishing.com

Start ‘em young Casting practice over the past few weeks paid off on this particular day for 11-year-old Anthony O Neill. He noticed this pike wreaking havoc on the roach population in the canal at Borris on the border of Carlow and Kilkenny, so put on a roach pattern fly and managed to capture his first pike on the fly. Well done, young man.

Chri Zu ended his fly fishing year with this lovely grayling near Innsbruck in Austria.

@fly_fishing_stubai

Anthony with his well-earned pike.

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FLY SCENE

Recycled fly reel set to make waves

Swedish fly fishing manufacturer Guideline has launched what it is calling the world’s first fully recycled range of fly reels. The brand-new NOVA family of reels feature spools and frames made from recycled alumnium. This recycled aluminium has also been used for parts traditionally made of singleuse plastic such as the handle, spool nut, drag knob, spindle cover, and drag cover.

Guideline’s marketing and brand director, Espen Myhre, said: “We started with the world’s first eco-friendly fly rod, the Elevation, in 2020, and now we have NOVA. Redefining how fly reels are designed, created and manufactured by blending innovative industrial design with low-impact, recycled raw materials means the NOVA fly reel is the most environmentally conscious reel

we’ve ever built! Empowering our vision to significantly reduce our environmental impact as anglers. This is a never-ending mission for us.” The NOVA is available in three sizes and a choice of black or ‘stardust’ colourways. Learn more online at:

D www.guidelineflyfish.com

Casting into the future

Barry Mitchell presenting Rugby union star Kiran Dan with the GAIA certificate. McDonald with Dan.

Flyfishing Journal

Young angler Dan Mitchell just passed his GAIA gold casting awards in both single-handed and twohanded casting with the Game Angling Instructors Association (GAIA). Dan is just 15 years of age, and his aspirations are to go on to become a coach. He is being ably mentored by both Barry Grewcock of the GAIA and Neil Lobban of AAPGAI. He has already tried his hand at coaching and has so far helped his stepmother and Newcastle Falcons rugby union player Kiran McDonald with their casting.

Greys launches Your new lochstyle Pictures championship Leading fishing brand Greys has announced it is launching a new four-person team fishing competition to the calendar for 2024. The Greys Lochstyle Team Championship will take place on Scotland’s Lake of Menteith from 31 August to 1 September this year and will see teams of four battle it out for a series of high-profile prizes and bragging rights. Greys teased the tournament on its social media pages and said that cash prizes of up to £10,000 will be available as well as plenty of tackle to be won as well. More details on the competition will be released later in the year, keep an eye on www.greysfishing.co.uk for more.

Auction to be held for Wild Trout Trust Fancy bagging yourself a day’s fishing on a private beat of the river Itchen? Or perhaps half a day of guiding in the beautiful wilderness of Assynt? These fabulous experiences and more will be on offer at a special auction to be held this March to raise funds for the Wild Trout Trust (WTT). All funds raised in this annual charity auction will directly support the work of WTT’s Conservation Officers to deliver in-river habitat projects and give practical advice to anyone who needs help – landowners, fishing clubs, community groups and other conservation bodies. More than 300 different lots will be up for this online auction, which takes place between 14 and 24 March, 2024. A PDF catalogue will be available to view from 20 February. To Learn learn more, visit:

D www.auction.wildtrout.org

We love to see coarse fish caught on the fly, so well done to Jase Price for landing several quality rudd on a bread fly at Church Paddock Fishery.

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James Barry doesn’t let a few waves stop him from getting out and chasing sea bass on the fly.

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Don’t forget to tag us @flyfishing_ nousmedia on Instagram for your chance to appear in our next issue. flyfishingmedia.co.uk

FLY SCENE

Flyfishing Journal

PHOTO: Ceri Jones

Dawn of a New Season As the Spring sun rises above the hills of the Brecon Beacons, Sean Thomas makes his first casts on opening day at Talybont Reservoir.

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CONSERVATION

Why join the Angling Truﬆ? You should know by now the great work that the Angling Trust does on behalf of the sport, but what are the beneﬁts of being a member as an individual? The Trust’s John Cheyne explains all.

ver the last few issues, we have been able to tell you about some of the work of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal. How we fight against pollution and take polluters to court, how we introduce young people to angling, how we support local grass roots angling clubs and how we promote the environmental work done by anglers all over the country. They are all great reasons to join the Angling Trust, but what about you as an individual? What are the benefits of joining the Trust that you will get yourself? Well, there are too many to list in a single article, but here are just a few…

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE – This is something that every angler should have. As an Angling Trust member, you are covered up to £10m if held responsible and are accidentally negligent for causing injury to someone else or damage to someone’s property whilst fishing. PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE – Provides ‘no fault’ benefits should an injury happen to an insured person whilst fishing. DISCOUNTS ON TACKLE – Angling Trust members receive special discounts at a number of key retailers, such as Sportfish, Farlows, Predator Tackle, and Go Outdoors. DISCOUNTS ON BOOKS AND MAGAZINES– Angling Trust members get special discounts on angling books published by Merlin Unwin and Quiller Books, and also get discount on subscriptions to a number of magazines including FlyFishing Journal (four issues for the price of three). DISCOUNT ON FISHING – at least 10 per cent off at over 100 fisheries nationwide. DISCOUNT ON TRAVEL AND MORE – discount on ferries to Europe with DFDS and discount on holidays booked with Amazon Angler, plus discounts on a number of other big brands such as Rhino Car Hire, Naked Wines, Whirlpool, and Zerofit. As a member you will also get a copy of our annual publication THE ANGLER.

SUPPORT OUR WORK AND JOIN TODAY www.anglingtrust.net or call 0343 507 7006

Most of all, you will know you are helping to fund the organisation which fights against angling bans, promotes the benefits of fishing, and leads the way with campaigns such as Anglers Against Pollution and Love Fishing Love Nature. Membership costs from just £30 a year for adults and £26 for over 65s.

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FLY SCENE RIVERS

Ceri chats with… Jamie Miller Jamie Miller, the owner of one of the country’s oldest Stillwater trout fisheries, Garnffrwd, opens up on how the venue has achieved its 40 years in business.

This season Garnffrwd Fishery is celebrating 40 years, have you anything planned? It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since we first opened all the way back in 1984. A lot of water has gone through the lake since then. To answer your question, yes, we will be doing something in the summer. A barbecue and a day spent with all those who have supported us over the years. There will be time spent reminiscing and thinking of those that are sadly no longer with us but fill us with such good memories. I remember your father, Colin; did he fish himself? I have a framed photo of my father fishing on the Tawe in Morriston as a young man. Surprisingly, Dad didn’t do much in the way of fishing when the lake was open. When asked why not, he always gave the same answer: that he took great delight and enjoyment from watching others enjoy what he had worked so hard to put in place for them. This was enough for him. It’s hard to believe that 40 years on and anglers are still enjoying his creation.

Flyfishing Journal

How did the fishery come about? We moved to Garnffrwd in 1976 – my dad Colin, my mum Sue, my sister Ceri, and myself. My parents wanted the ‘good life’, I expect with little knowledge of all the very hard work that would happen over the years! We had cows, sheep, chickens, goats, and a whole other gambit of small hold farming animals. The field which was soon to become the lake was mostly a bog and I can recall several failed attempts to drain it in the early years. Eventually, at some point in the 80’s, dad came out with the line: “If it wants the water then it can bloody have the water!” I can remember the evening he came back with the plans for the lake, I would have been a fishing mad 11-year-old at the time. In the autumn of 1983, the work started in earnest. An undertaking I think few people would ever consider doing. What changes have you seen over the years? I’ve seen first-hand how much fly fishing has evolved since the early 80’s – methods, tactics, and not forgetting social media. Also, the introduction of

Garnffrwd Fishery, showing the rustic bridge taking you onto the island.

"TODAY WE HAVE RAINBOWS, BROWNS AND SPARTICS. IT’S INTERESTING HOW THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITS, BOTH IN TERMS OF FEEDING AND THE LOCATIONS THEY PREFER IN THE LAKE." a full international competition in the small water category. Another big change I have seen is the weather – long gone it seems are those very cold winters where we would expect the lake freeze over for weeks on end. Largely, the camaraderie and friendliness of fly angler remains the same as it always has. It’s just a shame that we have lost so many good friends along the way in those 40 years. Garnffrwd has lodges and cottages for anglers to stay, when David Hoppe and I visited last year, we stayed in the Bell Tent (Meadow Camp), it was fantastic. Are you planning to put it up again this year? The Meadow Camp has been a huge success and will be back again in the spring, ready for a new season. It offers both comfort and an escape from a

busy life. Set at the top of the field, overlooking the lake it’s very peaceful and private. You have many strains of trout in the lake and at one time you even had landlocked salmon. What do you have in there now? That’s going back a few years now when we had the landlocked salmon, that would have been the early 90’s. Today we have rainbows, browns and spartics. It’s interesting how they have different characteristics and habits, both in terms of feeding and the locations they prefer in the lake. You recently retired from being manager of the Welsh International Bank Team, will you still be involved maybe compete yourself? I first took over from Hywel Morgan in 2014 and it has been a privilege to have had nine years at the flyfishingmedia.co.uk

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FLY SCENE RIVERS

Jamie, manager of the Welsh Bank Team in 2021 at Garnffrwd.

helm managing the team. I’ll take away many great memories. After nine years managing the team and passing the job on to Matthew Pate at the end of 2022, I did get my first opportunity to fish for the Welsh bank team last year in Scotland. It was a great experience. After all the anglers have gone for the day are you tempted to have a few casts yourself? Most definitely, although there always seems to be jobs to be done. So, it’s sometimes difficult to switch off. I’m sure anyone reading this that’s owned or run a fishery will understand.

Running a fishery is not an easy life. It’s long hours and surprisingly you don’t get time to fish very often. There are easier ways to make a living, it’s a lifestyle before anything else. But like myself growing up surrounded by the business, they would be better placed than most to take a challenge on like this, if they choose to. Over the years many fisheries have closed, what is the reason Garnffrwd is still going strong? An easy question to answer. First and foremost an outstanding lake, designed and built by my late father Colin Miller. Secondly, 40 years of very hard work and commitment.

With the majority of anglers fishing catch and release, how important is it for a fishery to also have anglers that practice catch and kill, and what percentage are they? Well, it’s undoubtedly very important to have that through put of fish going into the lake. Running at around two out of every 10 anglers opting for the fish tickets, it’s vital that as a fishery we encourage anglers to continue to take these tickets out. You have a son and daughter, Lewis and Katie, do they fish and are they interested in taking over the fishery one day? Both can fly fish; Lewis has two caps in the Welsh youth.

Occasionally Jamie gets the opportunity to get in on the action.

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FLY SCENE

Young Angler Spotlight: Matthew Davies Promising young Welsh angler Matthew Davies chats with Flyfishing Journal editor Ceri Jones about his career so far and his hopes and aspirations for the future.

Congratulations on getting top Welsh rod at the International at Llyn Clywedog – how did it feel? I was firstly just relieved that I had brought back a good bag for the team. But on a personal level, it was great to be able to finish my youth career with top rod on home soil. What age did you first pick up a fly rod and how did it all start? I first picked up a fly rod at nine years of age. When asked what I wanted to do over the school holidays, I chose fishing. It was then a natural progression then into fly tying so that I could keep my fly boxes filled. As you are now 18, will you be trialling to fish for the senior team this year? Unfortunately, due to academic and other commitments, I couldn’t trial for this year. However, I have offered my assistance to help with the youth team. I received heaps of help from various anglers, so it feels like time for me to give something back to the team. How did you get into fly tying? I started tying as soon as I started to fish really. The Vale of Clwyd Angling Club offer weekly classes, which is where I first learned how to tie. It started out with some questionable creations (mostly akin to half

One of Matthew’s Baitfish patterns.

a bright orange chicken with googly eyes), but soon I began to progress with more traditional patterns. How did it feel to have been invited to tie on the Tyer’s Row at this year’s BFFI? Being invited to tie on Tyer’s Row was a huge privilege for me. From needing a stool to even see onto the row, to tying on it in February was an amazing achievement for me. I am really looking forward to seeing some familiar faces there this year and showcasing what I do best. What would you say is your biggest achievement to date? I would have to say that being picked for the Deer flyfishingmedia.co.uk

FLY SCENE Demonstrating his tying skills at the 2023 BFFI (left).

A fin perfect Clywedog Brownie for Matthew.

Creek Pro Team. In 2018, I was taken into the Youth Team, this is where I started show tying, attending various fairs, open days and demonstrations, which has helped me massively in growing as a tier. What is your favourite water to fish? That is a really tough one! But I would have to say Tan Y Mynydd Trout Fishery in Abergele. It boasts friendly staff, fantastic fishing, and a relaxing, tranquil setting. As well as an evening rise, which in the summer months makes for sport that’s second to none. How often do you get out to fish? As I’m sure many people will say, not often enough! I try and get out once a fortnight or so, especially during exam season as fishing is great to clear my mind and makes for a great break from revision. What is your favourite type of fly fishing? I would probably have to say bank fishing, especially when on smaller waters. I do enjoy river fishing, I’m very lucky to be situated near the Welsh Dee, which is world renowned for its grayling sport. As well as the Clywd and Elwy for sea and brown trout fishing in the summer months.

Flyfishing Journal

What are your top three most successful flies and why? I am never without a Small Quill Shuttlecock; this fly looks amazing and imitates a wide range of food items on both still and running water. A cormorant of some variety is almost always on my cast on any reservoir for its amazing fish-catching abilities. And on the rivers, a Hot Collar PTN imitates pretty much everything, as well as being easy to adapt in terms of colours, sizes, and weights.

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F O R F U R T H E R D E TA I L S P L E A S E V I S I T

www.flyfishingmedia.co.uk Hope you are enjoying reading the latest issue

TRIED AND TESTED

Tried and Tested Our team at Flyfishing Journal spend a lot of time on the water, so who better to take some of the latest fly fishing products out and put them through their paces?

Seutgije

Solar LED Lantern amd Rechargeable 4500mAh 1000LM Emergency Power Bank Tried and tested by Ceri Jones Ever been fishing and your phone goes flat? You need to phone home to say you’re going to be late as the fishing is so good you just don’t want to leave? Maybe your engine breaks down, you need help, but your phone battery dies? I have been there done that! For me, this is a godsend and I will always carry this in the boat. The lamp is solar powered so if your phone does go flat, then plug it in and charge away. It is not designed to charge the phone to full but enough to get battery life to make a call. When I tested it, it took 20 minutes to get 10 per cent charge. It is lightweight at only 270g and 5 inches tall and is super bright at 1,000 lumens, lasting up to 12 hours. It has six settings, but the one I love is the reading light where you can open up the three light panels and hang the lamp up. Ideal for camping or van use. It states that the housing is splash-proof, although I have not tested this out. While this is not exactly a fishing-specific product, it is an item well worth including in your tackle bag or box.

Flyfishing Journal

D Available from Amazon T RRP: £19.99

Upavon

Apex Predator Fibre Tried and tested by Rob Redman The Upavon Apex Predator Fibre is a fantastic material that truly shines when you grasp its optimal proportions. With this predator fibre, I’ve found that less is more, allowing for enhanced movement and a more lifelike action in the fly. What’s particularly impressive is the ability to brush the materials out, creating a beautifully tapered tear drop shape that perfectly mimics the appearance of small baitfish. The material strikes a balance, being neither too soft nor too coarse, making it a pleasure to work with. Additionally, I’ve employed the Apex Predator dubbing for the body, and it dubs quite nicely. It’s important not to make the dubbing noodle too tight, as brushing the fibre out yields a stunning translucent flash once the fly is wet. I’m eagerly anticipating using this small mullet baitfish imitation on my next fishing trip for bass.

D www.upavonflyfishing.co.uk T £4.99 flyfishingmedia.co.uk

TRIED AND TESTED

Vision

Pupa Jacket Tried and tested by David Hoppe I have been wearing the Vision Pupa Jacket over the past season. Thanks to a very wet year, it has most certainly been put to the test and I am pleased to report that it hasn’t let me down. The Pupa Jacket is a great all-round wading jacket. However, it most certainly isn’t just a wading jacket as I wear it in the boat, off the bank, and I even do the kids school-run in it when it’s raining! In true Vision style, the colour is a very modern rusty orange. The jacket has curved sleeves made for longer casting moves and a nice and roomy hood with two-way adjustments. The main material is a nice and soft three-layer fabric. The spacious chest pockets take a couple of fly boxes each with enough room for a chocolate bar or three as well… The inside pocket is great for smaller items. Something I have used lately is the two hand warmer pockets which really do keep your hands warm. On the wrists there are adjustable Velcro cuffs to reduce the risk of unwanted water coming into the sleeve. According to Vision, the Pupa is made from breathable F4 fabric and has a YKK AquaGuard VISLON water-resistant main zipper on the outside

Flyfishing Journal

pockets. What this means is the coat is ridiculously waterproof and doesn’t leak. If you are looking for a new jacket that is stylish, durable and extremely waterproof, then I can highly recommend the Vision Pupa Jacket. D www.guideflyfishing.co.uk/product/vision-pupa- jacket/ T RRP: £329

Geoff Anderson

Reboot Sock Tried and tested by Ceri Jones When I was given these socks to try out, I have to be honest, I thought what difference could there be from one pair of socks to another? I have never given much thought when buying socks, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Trying these on for the first time, it was like the feeling you get having your first pair of Levis for they felt so comfortable as if you have had them for a while. Instantly, you know these are something special, very

soft and kept my feet warm throughout the day – something that is so important for me when fishing. They are made from New Zealand merino wool, which is what gives them their great comfort and warmth properties. I have had them six months now and they are still as comfortable as day one, and no holes! D www.geoffanderson.com T RRP: £29.95

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STILLWATERS

Eye of the Tiger A little snow and ice can’t stop David Hoppe from enjoying a day spent at one of his favourite fisheries chasing a species that not all of us will have caught before.

llerdine Lakes Trout Fishery has got to be my favourite small water. It’s located in Telford, Shropshire and consists of four lakes in total, including Meadow, Marsh, Lakemoor, and Cranymoor, which are spread out across four acres. Each lake has its own charm and character, and you genuinely have no idea what you will catch because this fishery stocks rainbows, browns, blues, spartics, and even tiger trout. All the fish are reared on site and range from 2lb to mid-doubles. FROSTY RECEPTION A date was set in early December for me and Flyfishing Journal editor Ceri Jones to visit the fishery, with the aim of catching a tiger. What we hadn’t really planned for was, once again, the weather. As we pulled into the car park the thermometer read a bone-chilling -8°C and the lakes were either partially or fully frozen. Thankfully, due to the lake’s aerators, which had been running all night, there was enough clear 44

Flyfishing Journal

David’s first casts onto a frosty and icy Ellerdine.

WORDS: David Hoppe PHOTOS: Ceri Jones

flyfishingmedia.co.uk

STILLWATERS

water for the 20 or so other hardy anglers who had arrived that morning. As we set up, the sun had just started to rise, and rays were reflecting off the ice and hard frost – the winter scene looked spectacular. My plan was to start the day on Meadow Lake. After spending too much time chatting in the car park, we missed out on the prime pegs next to the aerators, and so I made my way to the middle of the lake. To my left it was

frozen solid, but there was plenty of open water in front of me. Usually in cold, calm conditions the fish become a little lethargic and are found hugging the bottom. To reach these fish, I opted for a RIO Midge Tip Long line, a

Iced up rod rings can be a problem, dip the rod in the water occasionally to free up the rings.

A beautiful sunrise as David searches for water clear of ice.

Flyfishing Journal

Casting along the frozen margins proves successful for David.

A quality 3lb Ellerdine Tiger for David glistens in the winter sun.

heavy 3.8mm tungsten Hoppe Cat, with two corms up the cast. My plan was to fan cast the area with a slow start-stop retrieve to really get the tail pulsating on the cat whiskers. It didn’t take very long for the first pull to come, however, with my cold fingers, I fumbled and missed it. Next cast, I didn’t miss, and the rod bent around into something a little different. The fish kept deep with short bursts of speed, each run breaking the ice on my rod rings in a frosty flurry. Surely, I wasn’t fighting our target species already after just 10 minutes of fishing? Sure enough, a 3-4lb tiger trout soon splashed into my net and the colours and markings were simply incredible.

frozen solid, so that left Lakemoor and Cranymoor. What we hadn’t realised was that a few more dedicated anglers had arrived and due to the ice, there really weren’t many spots on the other lakes to fish. However, I managed to squeeze onto Lakemoor, casting towards the aerator. It looked perfect and it wasn’t long until I had a pull but missed it. Eventually the

SPECIES ROULETTE Shortly after that fish, a small rainbow took the cormorant on the top dropper. Then things went rather quiet so we decided to go explore some of the other lakes. Unfortunately, Marsh was flyfishingmedia.co.uk

STILLWATERS

David’s Tungsten Hoppe Cat and UV JC Minky.

A beautifully marked brownie for David.

Flyfishing Journal

line tightened, and I was playing a fish. It wasn’t big, but as it turned, I saw the flash of a spartic. Species number three, I thought, just as the line went slack and the fish swam away… How frustrating. I ventured back to Meadow and took advantage of a space that had appeared by the aerator. I changed to a RIO Aqualux, my cat, and a UV JC Minky on the top dropper. I cast to the little island and waited 10 seconds for the line and fly to

sink then started a slow retrieve. The line stopped and I struck. The fish kept deep – was it another tiger? Then it rolled, it was a brown trout! The pressure was now on to get this in, but thankfully, the healthy, fully finned brown trout found the net. RED HOT WINTER The fishery has a beautiful lodge with a roaring fire, ideal for a cold and frosty winter’s day. However, even the prospect of a bacon butty and warm cup of coffee couldn’t get me to stop fishing. I made my way back to where I started, thinking there might be a few more big tigers on the prowl. Soon I was into another fish, and I knew straight away it was a tiger. The colours on this fish were outrageous, deep oranges and white tipped fins. Around 2.30 pm I made my way back to the middle of Lakemoor to end the day. Just as I was about to cast, the aerator stopped. I wondered if this would impact the fishing. Back to the tip line and the line tightened on the

"HOWEVER, EVEN THE PROSPECT OF A BACON BUTTY AND WARM CUP OF COFFEE COULDN’T GET ME TO STOP FISHING. " very first cast – a beautiful blue trout was added to the tally. On the second cast, my fly landed onto the ice. I pulled the fly off and it went ‘plop’. The line tightened as a tiger took the cat on the drop. I repeated the cast onto the ice. ‘Plop’, then it was fish on. Three fish in three casts. Over the next 30 minutes, it was nearly ‘a fish a cast’ with most fish coming to the ‘plop’ off the ice. I wasn’t sure if I was catching because the fish were drawn to the ‘plop’ or if it was because the

aerator had been switched off, or if it was because the sun was setting? Whatever the reasons, the fishing was red hot – unlike my hands! Soon the light was fading, I had caught a good dozen or so fish in the last 30 minutes, most of which were tigers. It then dawned on me, I had caught tigers, a brown, a blue, a rainbow, and nearly landed that Spartic, which would have been the Full Monty! Ah, the one that got away strikes again.

The aerators helped to move the water keeping the water clear of ice.

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DESTINATION – NEVADA

Time Travelling Trout Nico Sunseri takes us on a journey through time and leaves us standing on the shores of the unique Pyramid Lake in Nevada, longingly staring into the waters and the monsters it hides WORDS Nico Sunseri, PHOTOS: Nico Sunseri

ime travel is a notion that captivates the imagination and eludes science. So many notable movies and novels have built their premise around this fantasy that evokes the deepest realms of human imagination and creativity. Despite how hard humankind has tried to make this a reality, it has proven to be a futile struggle. However, Einstein did basically propose that time is an illusion that moves relative to the observer, and thus is true when you step foot onto the shoreline of 50

Flyfishing Journal

Pyramid Lake, the home of the world’s largest cutthroat trout. So, want to know our formula for time travel? Get in a plane, fly into Reno Tahoe International Airport in Nevada, and then take Pyramid Highway north until you hit the crescendo view as you drop into the Pyramid Paiute Tribal Reservation. You will experience instant transcendence into a time and place as it was almost 10,000 years ago, well, almost. Water levels will be significantly lower, weather may be a tad drier, and some modern amenities will be

A PFC stillwater clinic lines the shores of shotdog beach. Look closely and you can see old shoreline markings from the ancient Lahontan Sea.

present, but other than that you are pretty much looking at the same landscape you would have seen back then. Henceforth, you will be in the presence of the remnants of the ancient Lahontan Sea. This ancient inland ocean spanned the northwest corner of Nevada and stretched into parts of north eastern California. A magnificent body of water that was runoff from the last ice age as well as a much wetter age during the Pleistocene period.

originates out of Lake Tahoe and its tributaries. We also refer to Pyramid as a terminus lake due to the fact it has no natural outlet other than natural evaporation. It is also fed by many hot springs, a majority of which are located on the northern reaches of the lake. This results in a lake that is rather high in pH level and alkalinity, and a majority

Birsdeye view from the western shoreline is a sight to behold.

All smiles from Cade Schwender and his client on this 20lb beast.

THE LAKE OF ‘SALMON-TROUT’ First, a little bit about the lake itself. Pyramid Lake is located roughly 40 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. It is designated as an endorheic salt lake and is fed by the mighty Truckee River that flyfishingmedia.co.uk

DESTINATION – NEVADA

of that alkalinity is due to the high calcium content. These significant amounts of calcium deposits are actually part of its namesake as the mineral led to the creation of Tufa’s and pyramidal limestone columns. John C. Fremont, the first settler credited with discovering Pyramid Lake in 1843, named it as such due to the pyramidal limestone island he saw on the eastern shore. This structure is also referred to as Wono by the Native American Numu population at the lake. Fremont engaged with the local Numu population, and they offered the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in trade for goods. Fremont aptly named this new species “Salmon-Trout”, and referred to the Truckee River as the “Salmon-Trout River” in which they spawned in during Spring and Fall. One hundred years later in the year 1943 would be the first year where Pyramid Lake would be devoid of any trout. A multitude of unfortunate events would lead up to this, but the main culprit was commercial fishing. Despite many

Flyfishing Journal

"LEAVE THE 5-WT 9FT RODS AT HOME. THESE ARE BIG TROUT WITH BROAD SHOULDERS AND A POWERFUL KICKER. "

attempts to revive the species they were not seen again… until the 1990’s that is. The discovery of a suspect looking trout in the Pilot Peak Range that straddles the Nevada/Utah border led to the resurgence of the extinct native trout population. Essentially this trout was a genetic match to the extinct species, and thanks to the efforts of researchers prior to the lakes depopulation many samples were kept in universities around the United States that could verify this incredible find. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service took this discovery in stride and made exemplary efforts to resurrect this strain from the dead. They successfully reintroduced the “Pilot Peak” strain to Pyramid Lake in 2006, and within a short time we started seeing fish of tremendous size.

Early bird gets the worm! Sunrise catches from ladder chairs are a great way to start the day at this remarkable winter fishery.

The author showing off the predatory smile of a Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.

NOT YOUR USUAL TROUT FISHERY So, how does one approach this lake? Well, probably in a way that may bewilder the common fly fisher. You will see many ladders and ladder chairs in use during the prime months of the season, and early and late season you will see the use of Watermaster kickboats. Ladders are a unique approach as they help us reach the tiered sandy shelves that the trout cruises, otherwise we would be standing chest deep in rather chilly waters for long periods of time. Our season runs from October 1 to June 30 and that gives the trout an ample break during the hottest months of the year. Leave the 5-wt 9ft rods at home. These are big trout with broad shoulders and a powerful kicker. These trout are naturally anadromous, so when in baitfish mode they can and will hit like a freight train. We are keen on using switch rods or even short two-hand rods, so anything from 11ft up to 12ft in the 7-wt class. Big, large arbor reels that can handle heavy backing

such as braided line or 30# and up dacron and beefy switch line. We favour the Rio Chucker line paired with a Floating MOW tip for

Big Rigs for heavy seas. Roll casting is the name of the game at Pyramid Lake. PFC Guide Cole Hildahl has a knack for getting clients on big fish.

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our indicator set ups. A note to the wise; we don’t back cast here unless on a streamer rig. Roll cast only as this protects your presentation from getting banged up on rocky shorelines behind you, keeps other anglers safe, and most importantly this lake is windy, so we can avoid endless tangles with roll casting. Mainly we are offering the trout balanced leech type patterns or chironomid (midge) patterns. You will be surprised at how many of the biggest fish we catch on this lake come on small midge patterns. Bobber fishing is a mainstay here as we can stay in the cruising lanes for extended periods of time hence maximizing presentation time. My professional recommendation to you would be to come and fish with our team at Pyramid Fly Co. This isn’t an easy place to tackle by yourself, and with its expansive shorelines and constantly changing daily temperaments the wise choice is to come fish with the fellas that are keen on its behaviours. We have a full-time staff of four guides and support team that is here

to make this a memorable experience, and on top of that we offer packages that only require you to show up at the airport, we can take care of the rest. And remember we are in Nevada, so you not only get to experience the most magical trout fishery in the northern hemisphere but maybe a bit of the legendary casino world as well. Come on out and experience a piece of history that will certainly lead to a lifetime of memories.

The Pyramid Lake Dream Team. From L to R; Trevor Herring, Cade Schwender, Cole Hildahl, Morgan Kane, Nico Sunseri, Jacob Erickson, and Captain Robert Hagerty. Early season splendor can be found out of Watermaster kickboats and Cade Schwender demonstrates.

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FLY TYING

A Handsome Shrimp Indeed Rob Redman explains how necessity led him to create his own twist on a proven grayling catcher – the Rainbow Handsome Bobesh. Here’s how he ties his effective version. WORDS Rob Redman, PHOTOS: Ceri Jones

Flyfishing Journal

Tying list Hook: Size 12-14 Czech nymph Thread: UNI 14/0 white Under body: Adhesive back flat lead Rib: UNI mono fine/clear Shell back: Brown stretch scud back Dubbing body (sequence): Light green dubbing • Piscari Fly pale pink • Light pink spectra dubbing no 19 • Hends pink no47 Sharpie pen: brown, red, and black

Rob’s Rainbow Handsome Shrimp, a rainbow handsome bobesh variant

he Rainbow Handsome Bobesh is a Czech fly devised by Vladimir Sidivy, and is a very successful pattern for grayling, especially throughout the winter months. I decided that this was a fly I needed to have a go at tying for myself, however, when I first attempted to tie the pattern, I didn’t have the correct materials. Not to be deterred, I thought I’d put my own twist on the fly by utilising materials I had to hand. I then made the pattern more of a shrimp-type fly rather than a bobesh (Czech nymph). It’s been a very successful pattern for me for grayling throughout

winter on rivers such as the Welsh Dee and numerous other Welsh grayling rivers. It’s a great top or middle dropper fly in the winter months. As it temptingly flutters in the current, it seems that most grayling simply cannot resist it.

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FLY TYING

Begin by cutting the flat sheet into thin strips. Then, mount the lead to the body, building a taper by adding the lead in two layers.

Cut a length of scud back around a body length and a half. Using your scissors, cut the shell back into a pointed shape as a tying-in point. Then, catch in the fine monofilament.

Select a small pinch of pale green dubbing and dub it onto the thread. Slightly taper the start of the dubbing noodle, and then wind it onto the body until you are halfway up the bend of the hook. Next, blend a small amount of light pink and green together.

Add light pink and repeat the previous process with the light pink until you reach halfway up the body. Then, add a small amount of Hends spectra 19 to the light pink dubbing and wind forward.

Blend Hends no. 47 with the Hends 19, then add no. 47 pink only and dub forward. 58

Flyfishing Journal

Keep winding the pink 47 towards the hook eye, and then stop.

Whip finish at this point to prevent anything from slipping or unravelling.

Pull the scud back skin overhand, pull tight, and catch it with the thread.

Grab the monofilament rib and rib up the body in overlapping turns to give a segmented eﬀect. Then, build a nice head and whip finish.

Using the three Sharpie pens, select the black and colour the head of the fly black. Then, colour the first part of the body brown and the rest red.

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FLY SCENE

The Art of Fishing Accomplished metalwork artist Sam MacDonald explains how falling in love with the rivers of his youth led him into a career in creating fish sculptures of beauty and importance.

efore you read this article, just take a couple of seconds to search for the ‘Isle of Lewis’ on the internet and soak up a few of the images. Now, imagine being born and raised in such a place. It’s easy to see why capturing the art of nature is something that comes naturally to Sam MacDonald. Sam, an accomplished artist, was born on the

island and became enchanted with the salmon and trout of the waterways here from a young age. “I was genuinely fascinated with the nature, and particularly the fish around me. It was a wonderful place to be young.” Sam left Lewis to study at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts for four years before moving to Orkney, where he lived for 20 years. Somewhere along the way,

WORDS: David Guest, PHOTOS: Sam MacDonald

Flyfishing Journal

Sam's work is inspired by the hidden underwater world of his favourite species.

his piscatorial passion merged with his natural talent for metalwork, and he began creating sculptures dedicated to the watery wonders he held so dear. “I always aim to share the wonder and fascination I have about fish with fellow anglers,” says Sam. “About 50 per cent of my work is commissions and often I will get to hear a great angling story when working with either an individual or a fly fishing lodge to create a piece of work. I like to hear those stories; they inspire and inform my creative process. I also just love to share time with fellow passionate anglers.”

Most of Sam’s work is hand-crafted from pewter and coloured with a variety of techniques to create some truly captivating work. As well as focusing on the fish local to the United Kingdom, Sam has been lucky enough to travel to exotic destinations including Venezuela, the Bahamas, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic in search of bonefish, permit, tarpon, and barracuda. These trips have helped him expand his repertoire. “I like to see the environment a fish lives in to be able to truly replicate it in art,” says Sam. “I like to understand the fish in its natural habitat.” ﬂyfishingmedia.co.uk

FLY SCENE

This process has seen Sam have two large salmon artworks installed in the prestigious East Ranga Lodge in Iceland. And it is that particular species where Sam’s true passion lies. “To me the salmon represents nature and free spirit in the wilderness and the fact that this icon is now threatened

Flyfishing Journal

epitomises the dire situation that we as humans now find ourselves in due to greed and belligerence. From the audacious, precocious parr to the noble old spent kelt, the salmon in all its stages has been a source of fascination and intrigue to me. A trout makes sense and is logical. Cast the right fly, imitating the correct insect at the correct depth, and the trout will try to feed on it. A salmon however has no such logic. It seems to have no rhyme or reason as to why it chooses to attack, play with, or pluck at a gaudy imitation of nothing in particular when it doesn’t need to feed. When you catch a salmon it is more like the salmon has allowed you to do so and has given you a gift, so you have to treat this creature with the reverence it deserves.” Sam’s work varies from small, photograph-sized works, to large wallmounted masterpieces – each of which receives the same level of care and

"WHEN I AM IN THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO OF A NEW PROJECT, I AM FULL OF PASSION AND EXCITEMENT."

Sam completes work of all shapes and sizes, from small, picture frame-sized to huge wall-hangers like this.

attention from him. “When I am in the first week or two of a new project, I am full of passion and excitement, eventually it becomes more of a process, but by the end I hope to have

observed and captured a fleeting moment of nature,” says Sam. “My aim is to express an emotional response to something very private: a moment shared between man and nature.”

See Sam’s work on his website:

www.sam-macdonald.co.uk or on his Instagram @sammacdon flyfishingmedia.co.uk

DESTINATION – CANADA

Flyﬁshing Journal

Underappreciated Beauty It wasn’t long into a trip to Canada’s Northwest Territories when Peter Cockwill realised he’s at his happiest slipping the net under a ﬁsh shunned by most others who travel there. WORDS & PHOTOS: Peter Cockwill

t’s an interesting thing that some anglers choose to revere a particular species. They will happily fish for it, maybe even when the chance of success may be limited, and indeed, when other, more numerous, or maybe much bigger fish, are readily available. It’s a puzzle, isn’t it? I have long known that my ‘problem fish’ is the grayling, and it might possibly be from when I was around 14 and carved one out of elm in the school woodwork class. It was around that same time (1961), that I actually caught one from the upper reaches of the Tamar and it crept up on me, that given the chance, I would rather cast to a

grayling than a trout. Many, many years late (it was actually 1986) I was incredibly lucky to make the first of what turned out to be an annual pilgrimage to Alaska, and I caught my first Arctic grayling. Well, that was it. A new passion took over, as this fish to me was so beautiful that I would sooner catch one of a pound, than cast to the mighty king salmon or the many thousands of other salmon in those pristine waters. It’s true that not everyone has such regard for grayling, and on those July trips I soon got tagged as that weird Brit who would waste his time on those ‘stinky fish’. I didn’t care, and soon I was dreaming of maybe one day catching a really big one.

Another grayling comes to hand for Peter in the crystal clear water of Great Bear.

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DESTINATION – CANADA

To be honest, I had heard, and continue to hear, amazing stories of big grayling, and so very often with little factual evidence. But, right into the late 90’s this fish had me in its clutches and I tried lots of places in Alaska. It was only in later years that I learnt so much of their migratory habits, their incredible age to reach an appreciable size, and indeed it’s a whole separate story as to how I ended up with the Alaska State Record. Maybe that’s for a future issue, but this is about the longing to catch more and more of these lovely creatures. It was through the immense kindness of Robin and Kim Arnold, who many times fished Alaska with me and had also developed a passion for the grayling, that we ended up going to Great Bear Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territories. It was here that our research had shown that most of the world records for the various tippet classes in both fly and spin fishing had been taken. Logic said that this must be the place, but it’s only when the plane lands at this, the ninth largest lake in the world, that you begin to appreciate the immense size. It’s more like an inland sea! We went to Plummers Arctic Lodges, which truly is a first-class operation – although this place is really a lake trout paradise, and almost no one fishes from the shore for grayling. Once again it was the oddball Brits who flicked fly gear off the shore when everyone

Flyfishing Journal

else was out in boats trolling big lures, and indeed catching very impressive lakers. Occasionally we had our hooked grayling taken by a laker – and that would be a heart stopping moment. It’s no exaggeration to say that we caught the most stunningly beautiful grayling, with the best being just a couple ounces under three pounds. I went there for many years, arranging groups, and we had fabulous fishing. Some of the inflowing rivers held enormous numbers of grayling, and it really was easy to accumulate an impressive

Great Bear Lake in Canada’s Northern Territories, where Peter discovered his passion for Arctic Grayling.

Peter’s Alaska State Record Arctic Grayling.

score. The lake itself could be a little more testing some days, especially if a big blow came up, but I always hoped it would one day produce one of the fish which seemed to be regularly caught by those who would

do casual spin casting for shore lunch. Stories of four pounders came almost daily, but they always turned out to be the same size fish which us Brits were catching. Nevertheless, this was indeed a grayling Mecca and I still believe that a truly big fish could come from any of the incredibly remote places in the NW Territories. More of these ‘stories’ of big fish in a future article, but if you want to genuinely catch fabulous grayling, then get yourself to Great Bear. It’s certainly on my wish list for a return visit, if only for the photo opportunities in that super clear water. The colours of the fish were so impressive, and a ‘good’ photographer would have an absolute ball. Great Bear Lake is very special and for 10 years, I truly did have the most wonderful grayling trips, topped off with one fish of 3lb 3oz, and I am so glad that life let me experience this one-of-akind fishery.

Below, Peter at home with his Grayling he carved out of elm as a young boy.

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DESTINATION – NEW ZEALAND

Oﬀ the Beaten Path Our resident expert in New Zealand, Dean Kibble, explains why the lesser-famed lower reaches of the Mataura river may be more fruitful for visiting anglers from overseas.

very fishing season, Southland gets inundated with anglers, all with dreams of big, easy fish. Unfortunately, most of these visiting anglers step off the plane without having done their homework, and they soon learn that it’s not quite like the heavily edited YouTube videos. The fish are here, but without a guide or local knowledge a hell of a lot of time can be wasted trying to find them. Fortunately, here in Southland, we 68

Flyfishing Journal

Dean into a good fish on the Lower Mataura.

5 lbs sea runner caught on 16 pheasant tail.

WORDS AND PHOTOS: Dean Kibble

have the famous Mataura River that runs from above Garston to the sea at Fortrose 150km (93 miles) away. It has easy access; the road runs parallel on lots of stretches and the high average size of fish makes it a great option and it gets lots of anglers’ attention especially in the middle and upper reaches. The fishing here mainly above Gore can be good but on occasions very frustrating because the fish have had a lot of anglers trying to catch them. For this article, I wanted to concentrate on the

Mataura below Gore, it’s usually off radar to most visitors because it’s a big river and sight fishing, although possible especially on sunny days, is restricted. I have had many messages from British anglers asking for advice as they are struggling and this is where I tell them to head because it has a huge head of trout that will respond to many of the tactics that work well in the UK. Every stretch has numbers of trout unlike many streams here where if you can’t see them, it’s not worth fishing. ﬂyfishingmedia.co.uk

DESTINATION – NEW ZEALAND

NOT THE MAINSTREAM The day Lisa and I went out to do this article, we arrived at the river to find a Mayfly hatch in progress. These are not the same Mayfly as you associate in Europe, all upwings here are called Mayflies. I tied on a size 18 Mayfly pattern and cast at a riser only for it to refuse at the last moment. This happened once more, then as if someone had flicked a switch the rise was over. I moved upstream to a nice riffle, changed tactics to a high-vis parachute with a size 16 pheasant tail hung below it. I was soon into a fish followed by another that took the dry fly. Moving to the next riffle I hooked a few that unfortunately fell off cartwheeling off out in the main current. We decided on a move to another beat further downstream, which has a lovely shingle bank with willows on the opposite side. We could see trout rising in water that barely covered their backs. I got a few on the Mayfly pattern then things went quiet, so again I changed tactics. This 70

Flyfishing Journal

time I put on a big stimulator with a pink sighter on in and a size 16 pheasant tail with a heavy size 12 caddis pupa on the point. It didn’t take long for the stimulator to go under and the rod to start bucking, this was repeated a few more times as I headed upstream. As I got to the head of the run, I cast into a nice bit of riffle on the edge of the drop off and was rewarded with a

Dean fishing towards the willow trees which are a magnet for trout looking for willow grubs.

Waiting for the take.

Plenty of trout this size lower down the system.

If a hatch is on you can catch fish this size all day.

nice fish on the pheasant tail. We decided to call it a day then – we had only been fishing for four hours on a much less than ideal day, not much sun, too much wind. KICKSTART YOUR ADVENTURE Although the number of trout in the lower reaches far

outnumber the higher reaches, the size is not as large. You can expect fish of 1.5lb to 3.5lbs as the norm, with the occasional bigger one. My best here has been 5lb, but I have seen bigger and know of anglers who have had them to 10lb. Below the falls in Mataura if you are lucky, you may even get a sea runner or salmon. This lower river below Gore, gets an extra month’s fishing, it closes at the end of November. During this month there can be some spectacular Mayfly hatches and the fishing is off the charts, the trout rise everywhere often right at the edge of the bank in inches of water. Further down towards the estuary the Mataura holds good numbers of sea run trout that are mostly targeted with spinners and soft plastics, with a high average size here, it’s on my radar to try catching them with streamers. The lower Mataura does not have the spectacular mountain views, huge trout of the headwaters, and mountain streams, but it has a huge population of fish and easy access that could change the fortunes of a visiting angler or kickstart their adventures here in Southland.

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STILLWATERS

WORDS: Peter Boyle PHOTOS: Ceri Jones & Peter Boyle

Flyfishing Journal

The Realm of Buzzers Peter Boyle guides us through the poetic dance of angler, trout, and buzzer on Irish loughs – nature, more often than not, has the last laugh.

avigating the realm of early-season buzzer fishing presents a canvas of challenges that may lead one to the brink of contemplation, not only questioning personal sanity but inviting a shared introspection from those in proximity. Beyond the inherent intricacies of outsmarting our spotted piscine companions, this artistic pursuit is further painted with the unpredictable strokes of weather, and perhaps the most formidable stroke of all – an exquisitely intricate dance

with exceptionally localised hatches. Upon the enchanting Irish loughs, the mere utterance of the word buzzer often conjures images of the duck fly or Campto in the minds of anglers. Yet, such an association proves to be a delicate misstep, for the realm of buzzers unfurls a diverse tapestry of variations, each captivating both the angler and the discerning trout. These varied species unveil themselves in a choreography of emergence, scattered across time and space, rendering some hatches so intimately localized that the difference of a

Peter heads out into Portacarron Bay, Lough Corrib.

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STILLWATERS

mere boat length renders a once poised rod redundant. A POETIC ENIGMA In the poetic dance of angler and trout, a term born from the mystique of Lough Corrib, emerges – the ‘Duck Fly hole’. Discover this sacred ground and you’ve unearthed a jackpot, a nexus of piscine fascination. Etch its coordinates into memory, return to it as seasons evolve, for these humble beds of weed cradle not only the renowned Duck Fly but also the lesserknown kin of the Chironomidae family, adding an ethereal dimension to the angler’s pursuit. Embarking into the enchanting expanse of Lough Corrib, I found myself entranced by the hushed tales spun by fellow anglers about these hallowed havens. Initially, my mental canvas painted a scene of a quaint bay wreathed in wisps, where diminutive black buzzers gracefully ascended from the water’s embrace to seek refuge amid the sparse early-season foliage along the banks. However, this picturesque imagery proved to be a mere illusion. As my journey unfolded, I came to a 74

Flyfishing Journal

profound realisation: the existence of these sacred beds of weed is a poetic enigma, scattered unpredictably across the expanse of the lough. Moreover, I discovered that some lay dormant, seemingly lifeless, for spans of several years before reawakening, breathing new vitality into the ever-changing tapestry of the lough’s landscape. In this context, engaging in conversations with fellow anglers along the shore emerged as a vital aspect of earlyseason fishing. These kindred spirits,

Spooning reveals buzzer and corixa are high up on the menu for spring feeding trout. A selection of Peter’s buzzer imitations which brings him success.

Another brown returned from one of Peter’s favourite duck fly holes.

resilient and taciturn in the safeguarding of their piscatorial insights, transform into willing traders when enticed by the allure of exchanging knowledge concerning the elusive active Duck Fly holes.

NATURE’S DECEPTION To the intrepid angler, braving the chill to seek refuge on a boat in the crisp air of March, I propose a journey of exploration. Within this timeless panorama, extraordinary buzzer holes can materialize unexpectedly. Here, the absence of the customary avian swooping becomes a silent symphony, as some migratory birds have yet to grace our shores, and the covert emergence of these aquatic wonders leaves the local bird population oblivious to the banquet beneath. The only discernible sign is the fly’s delicate popping off the water’s surface, as wing buds alight with a radiant orange glow, signalling the surge of life within, accompanied by the occasional mysterious

"EMBARKING INTO THE ENCHANTING EXPANSE OF LOUGH CORRIB, I FOUND MYSELF ENTRANCED BY THE HUSHED TALES SPUN BY FELLOW ANGLERS ABOUT THESE HALLOWED HAVENS. " flyfishingmedia.co.uk

STILLWATERS

rise of a fish. Picture a wild brown trout, exploding with anger and disbelief, as it fiercely latches onto your cast, only to realize it has been outsmarted by your crafty offering. It’s a dynamic interplay between nature’s deception and the angler’s skill, unfolding in a symphony of surprise and mastery. The challenge often lies in maintaining position atop the weed bed or within the elusive hole, where the trout gracefully linger. During the early season, the capricious nature of buzzing insects dictates that, more often than not they eschew hatching in blustery conditions. While exceptions exist, my experience suggests a prevailing inclination for them to ascend vertically from the submerged weed bed, emerging into a gentle ripple of light before taking flight. In the absence of strong currents, the scent of hatching buzzers beckons the trout, orchestrating a congregation directly above the submerged foliage. An example of this materialized on the expansive water of Lough Sheelin. It was an inauspicious March day with a serene calm mirrored across the lake and a cloudless sky. As I cautiously ventured forth, contemplating a potential retreat, an unfamiliar buzzer gracefully broke the water’s surface. Questioning my own sanity, I prepared the buzzer rod, initially deemed unnecessary, while my companion opted for minkies, the normal early season staple

Flyfishing Journal

on Sheelin. The scene unfolded with a conventional arrangement, a single size 10 curved fly leading the way, flanked by two size 12 curved buzzers, all elegantly tethered by a 22-foot cast of frog hair fluorocarbon. A silver holographic adorned the point, while a pearly green companion with a golden buzzer at the tail completed the ensemble—the custodians of my angling fate that spring day. As the initial excitement of my venture passed, the enchantment of hatching flies began to wane, replaced by a perplexing frustration. Why the blank slate when there was an odd trout rising? My angling companion, too, found no solace in the minkies. A sense of disquiet settled, urging me to return to the fundamentals. In contemplative pause, my gaze sought inspiration from the fly resting upon the gunwales – a peculiar specimen, a pale light olive with a robust, stumpy physique. Intrigued, I embarked on a deviation from the norm. A size 10 buzzer with a white rib

Peter’s weathered warrior and battlescarred 7lb Lough Sheelin specimen. Peter’s imitation amongst the duck fly naturals.

"PICTURE A WILD BROWN TROUT, EXPLODING WITH ANGER AND DISBELIEF, AS IT FIERCELY LATCHES ONTO YOUR CAST, ONLY TO REALIZE IT HAS BEEN OUTSMARTED BY YOUR CRAFTY OFFERING. "

and biot, a size 12 buzzer with an olive rib and dark orange cheeks, a claret fly with red holographic cheeks, and a hearty buzzer on the apex – all tied on straight hooks. With each carefully executed cast, the line sailed gracefully, revealing a captivating natural display. A trout, just over 5lb, gently landed in the net, soon joined by a companion of similar size and a pair of 3-pounders. Seven more fish followed suit in the ensuing two hours, the finale featuring a weathered warrior, battle-scarred from the stream’s relentless pursuit touching the scales at just under 7lb. A day etched into the annals of memory – the weed bed produced one of the most memorable red letter days I have witnessed. VEIL OF IGNORANCE Returning two days hence, armed with an

anchor saw the initial two hours elapse in silence – a stark contrast to the previous crescendo. No fly, no fish, prompting reflection on the incredulity of the previous encounter. It was when I retrieved my anchor that a revelation submerged in the depths came to the surface. The anchor, a treasure trove of larvae, fry, snails, and corixia, encapsulated the bountiful banquet beneath. Yet, a boat’s length away on either side, the anchor returned with naught but silt. In that revelatory moment, a profound understanding washed over me, banishing the veil of ignorance. The trout, once intricately arranged atop the weed like dominos during the previous expedition, had now dispersed back into the depths, their presence fading with the absence of the unassuming little buzzer.

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STILLWATERS

Early Season Flies Stephen Smalley’s excitement cannot be contained. He’s already thinking about those early season buzzer hatchers, and luckily for us, he’s sharing his favourite patterns for them too. WORDS And PHOTOS: Stephen Smalley

BLACK DIAWL BACH Hook: Partridge G3AY Barbless size 10,12 Thread: Black Tail: Black Cock Hackle Fibres Body: Black Thread Rib: Brown Spanflex Thorax: Red Holographic Tinsel Throat: Black Cock Hackle Fibres Cheeks: Jungle Cock or Goose Biots

s we turn from winter into early spring with the days beginning to lengthen and temperatures slowly on the rise, most anglers I know begin to look forward to the prospect of early season outings. Whether fishing from bank or boat, there’s the promise of some great fishing given the right conditions. The first hatches of buzzers won’t be far away on the warmer days and trout will be eager to make the most of this. Through 78

Flyfishing Journal

A stunning over wintered buzzer feeding rainbow for Stephen, look at that tail!

BUZZER Hook: Sprite Wet Competition Barbless S2175 size 10,12 Thread: Textreme Pale Yellow Thread for Body, Black UTC 70 for thorax Rib: stripped peacock herl Cheeks: Sunburst Goose Biots Body: Thorax Cover Red Holographic T One coat of UV resin on the whole fly with one coat of Sally Hansen’s varnish over the whole fly keeps this pattern both durable and allows the segmented effect to come out on the body.

BLACK BUZZER Hook Sprite Scud S2499 size 8 and 10 Thread: Black UTC 70 Thread Rib: Stripped Peacock Herl Cheeks: Orange Holographic Tinsel One coat of UV resin on the whole fly with one coat of Sally Hansen’s varnish over the whole fly keeps this pattern both durable and allows the segmented effect to come out on the body.

early to late spring, buzzer fishing can be excellent, even bringing the best sport of year on some waters. When fished on floating line or midge tip with a three or four-fly set up, using a slow figure-ofeight retrieve with the occasional short pull just to lift the flies, you can expect savage takes. Fishing the flies completely static can also be deadly – keep them just under the bung and don’t forget about the hang. Given the time of year, there will still

be cooler days making lures the go-to choice with weighted lures, blobs, or boobies taking their share of both the freshly stocked fish and over wintered fish. Most anglers will tend to fish these flies in conjunction with sinking lines with various retrieves until the correct holding depth is found. Whatever you choose, I thought I’d share some of my favourite flies that I use early season that have been reliable fish takers. flyfishingmedia.co.uk

RIVERS

Springing into Action Dreaming of hooking into a silver springer? Master casting instructor and seasoned salmon tamer Chris Hague has some words of advice for you. WORDS & PHOTOS: Chris Hague

Flyfishing Journal

A Dee Monkey, one of Chris’ top patterns for spring.

The smile says it all, perseverance and resilience gets rewards.

pring salmon fishing demands perseverance and resilience, enduring harsh conditions like freezing temperatures, rain, snow, gales, and ice. Only the most determined dare to venture into the challenging early season on a salmon river, but the gratification of connecting with a fresh fish makes it all worthwhile. These magnificent creatures undertake an incredible journey back to their birthplace, facing predators and adapting to freshwater along the way, showcasing their astounding resilience. Regardless of size, each salmon I catch evokes admiration before its release, embodying a certain magic that captivates us, compelling us to chase these early season chrome treasures.

THE RIGHT KIT The choice of equipment largely hinges on water height and flow. Typically, I opt for the Mackenzie FX2 rod, 13ft 7in, or 14ft depending on the river I’m fishing, paired with a multi-tip line set-up for its versatility in fishing at various depths promptly. Most multi-tip lines on the market include both a floating line and a float sink line, with the latter being my preference for early season salmon fishing. It aids in getting the fly deeper and slows the swing down, enabling it to graze the riverbed – exactly

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RIVERS

where I want it for as long as possible. Once I have made my cast, I will put large upriver mends in my line until I feel the fly is at the desired depth. Then, I like the fly to swing naturally. I am also keen to have the fly swinging at my desired depth and tight before the fly hits approximately 35 degrees to the bank or the back of the boat, as I class this as the main taking zone. These lines with multiple densities offer differing sinking rates, enhancing fly presentation. They also assist in easier fly manipulation, preventing uniform sinking and allowing better fly control without the line belly interfering at the riverbed. I’ve found incredible success in extremely cold conditions using integrated sinking lines like GL’s 3D, boasting sink rates of 3/5/8. However, these lines can be challenging to cast, so unless you’re a highly skilled caster, I’d recommend avoiding them and opting for a float/sink three-body with a tip system. WEAPONS OF CHOICE Fly selection can vary; always ask the ghillie for advice. But a large, black and yellow tube fly, the Dee Monkey, is probably my favourite spring pattern. I fish this attached to approximately 3ft of fluorocarbon tippet. For me, there is no point using fast-sinking tips and then adding a long length of tippet as this will allow the fly to swing back up in the water column, potentially away from 82

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the salmon, which will be holding up deep in those cold conditions. Just a note on tying my fly on – I either use tube flies I have tied myself with extended plastic at the back, which sets the hook further back, or I use a swing tube, which does exactly the same thing just in case a fish comes up a bit short. I learned this technique fishing in Iceland many years ago, and it has served me well. If you decide to go out in the pursuit of one of these magical fish, wrap up well, and good luck.

(Top left) That unmistakable tail, which gives the salmon its power.

Chris about to release a bight bar of silver.

ENTOMOLOGY

The Science Behind…. March Browns Already itching for the spring to arrive? Allow Dr. Dave Bradley to whet your appetite further with an explanation of the entomology of the hatches you can expect to see.

uring the late winter months, I suspect most obsessive river trout anglers find themselves dreaming of the first fly hatches of the new year. Whilst large dark olives (Baetis rhodani) might be the first to capture the trout’s attention, it’s the appearance of the iconic March brown (Rithrogena germanica) in March to midApril that really captivates anglers who are fortunate enough to fish the freestone rivers of Wales, northwest England and Scotland. Although it has declined in some parts of the UK, populations of March browns have expanded across many post-industrial rivers and have made a dramatic comeback on the River Usk over the last 10 years.

WORDS: Dave Bradley, PHOTOS: Ceri Jones

HOT-SPOT PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH

The Heptageniidae family of mayflies is characterised by flat-bodied nymphs that have adapted to exploiting the boundary layer between the surface of stones and fast-flowing currents. They are often dislodged and will swim if disturbed, becoming vulnerable to being eaten by drift-feeding fish. I use this pattern early in the trout season, often on the point of a team of spiders or under a dry fly before March browns start hatching. Hook: Fish On Ultimate Jig #16 Tail: Coq de Leon Butt: Glo Brite No. 5 Body: pheasant tail Rib: 0.14mm gold wire Thorax: grey squirrel Hackle: English partridge Bead: 2-4mm copper tungsten slotted

MARCH BROWN EMERGER CRIPPLED DUN (ECD)

This pattern suggests a vulnerable dun during a March brown hatch. I based the design on the highly effective crippled midge pattern, with the parachute post and hackles pulled forward to the eye. This gives the fly a lively attitude, and it is highly functional in providing extra visibility on the water and easy maintenance during short, frantic fly hatches. Hook: Fish On curved fine #12 Thread: Fish On Ultimate Tying Silk yellow Tail: two pheasant tail fibres Body: grey squirrel underfur Rib: stripped peacock quill (coated in a thin layer of varnish) Post: Fish On Ultra Dry Yarn light tan Hackle 1: English partridge Hackle 2: two CDC feathers mounted in a loop of silk

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FLY TYING

Origins of… the Cascade Alun Rees explores the history behind one of salmon fishing’s most iconic flies, the Cascade. Just why is it so effective in so many different conditions? WORDS: Alun Rees, PHOTOS: Ceri Jones

ied by the renown angler and author Alistair Gowans, the introduction of the Ally’s Shrimp is one of the most important developments in the history of salmon flies. Not only because of the style of the fly but also because it spawned a whole series of extremely effective flies especially for fast water. The one fly pattern in particular, for me at least, that is the most stand out of the series is the Cascade. In common with all of the series, the Cascade has a long tail made from fur, a split body, a fur wing and front hackle. It also incorporates one of the first uses of synthetic material, Krystal Flash; the inclusion of which, and the observation of how the material flowed or cascaded along the dressing, led to the name of the fly. It does not contain an underwing of Golden Pheasant tippet collar. Like many fly patterns, the Cascade can 84

Flyfishing Journal

be tied on a variety of hooks including doubles and trebles in various sizes to suit water height and flow conditions. It is particularly suited to single hooks due to the slim profile of the dressing. For higher water conditions where the flow is increased at the start and end of the season or during a spate, the Cascade can also be tied on plastic, aluminium, or copper tubes. The inclusion of a conehead also adds to its versatility. A GOOD LOOKER Why does the Cascade tick so many boxes with so many anglers? Because it looks good? Because it catches a lot of fish? Or are these observations and results due to a combination of some other factor(s)? Whether deliberately or unknowingly (and I prefer the former), Alistair Gowans included many elements that would ensure the effectiveness of this fly.

Alun Rees has a passion for tying sea trout and salmon flies.

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FLY TYING

The colour combination of the fly uses a tried and tested formula of colours in its make-up; black, yellow and orange. Widely regarded as the most successful colour combination for salmon flies, many new salmon flies incorporate this colour scheme in some form or another. The long tail on this fly was initially incorporated to mimic the long feelers of a shrimp. Other than possibly the General Practitioner, the use of a long tail on a salmon fly was, until the introduction of this series of fly, uncommon. The integration of a long tail, sometimes twice the length of the hook shank, has the advantage of providing lift towards the backend of the fly. Depending on the ‘weight’ or amount of hair used and combined with the chosen tying platform (tube or hook), this enables the fly to swim straight and not hook down as with many other flies. The split body is a feature that appears on many Classic Salmon flies. In this instance where silver and black are used, they combine with the black wing to give a solid profile so that even in the fastest water, the fly has presence. This contrasts with the yellow and orange hackles that appear at the head.

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TRUE GENIUS If looked at separately, the many elements of the fly have beneficial individual features. However, it’s when combined that the true genius is revealed. We all know that black and yellow is an early season favourite colour combination for salmon. In early season water, these are the colours that pop out on the Cascade. During low water or bright conditions, the yellow and orange disappear to leave a black and silver fly. In spate conditions or autumn, where the golds and oranges are evident in the leaves on the trees, once again, these are the colours that pop on the Cascade. Against a dark riverbed or in low light conditions, the fly appears as Orange and yellow. Yet in bright conditions or against a lightcoloured riverbed the fly appears just black and silver. Although a relatively modern fly, its introduction was made nearly 40 years ago. In that time, it has spawned many imitations, has inspired fly tiers to incorporate many of the elements in their creations and still 40 years on is in use regularly, worldwide and is still one of the best fish catching flies ever created. Thank you, Alistair Gowans.

"IN EARLY SEASON WATER, THESE ARE THE COLOURS THAT POP OUT ON THE CASCADE. "

The Cascade tied by Alun, still one of the best salmon catching flies ever created.

WHAT’S COMING UP IN THE NEXT ISSUE? A P R IL - J U NE

• Deadly Dries • Success with Sea Trout • Match the Hatch • Destinations to Inspire • Mayfly Magic • Cooking your Catch • PLUS MUCH MORE

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Meet Our Experts… Craig Barr

David Guest

An England Lochstyle International and the man behind Flash Attack Flies. Craig is also a guide on his local waters Rutland and Grafham.

David is a writer and photographer with 17 years of experience in the fishing tackle and outdoor industries. He’s thrown flies at fish everywhere from Montana to New Zealand but can most often be found on the banks of the river Dove.

D www.flashattackflies.com

D www.david-guest.com

Gilly Bate

Chris Hague

Gilly has been fishing on the Hampshire Chalk Streams for 25 years, an AAPGAI advanced single handed casting instructor and professional guide. She also arranges fly fishing days and corporate entertaining on the rivers Test and Itchen.

Chris Hague is a Certified Master Casting Instructor in both Single and Double-handed techniques. His role as an integral member of Mackenzie Fly Fishing's design team speaks volumes about his expertise. Chris excels in teaching fly casting to individuals and groups across all skill levels, from beginners to aspiring instructors.

D www.flyodysseychalkstream.co.uk

D www.flyfishingwithchrishague.co.uk

Dr Dave Bradley

Lewis Hendrie

Dave has been passionate about fly fishing and fly tying for 35 years and is a regular competitor on the national rivers circuit. He is a professional freshwater ecologist and director at the environmental consultancy firm APEM Ltd.

Lewis is an England International with a wealth of knowledge and represented his country in numerous European and world championships. A full time fly fishing guide and specializes in river fishing for trout and grayling. D www.lewishendrieflyfishing.co.uk

Peter Cockwill Pete has vast experience as an angler, instructor, fishery manager, retailer and author. He’s been hosting trips for 35 years. Based at the famous Dever Springs his seventh book – The Small Stillwaters – is a best-seller. M petercockwill@aol.com.

Darren Duffy Darren lives on the banks of the Munster Blackwater in Co. Cork, he specialises in tying flies for the wild Irish Loughs, where he does the majority of his fishing with dry fly fishing being his main passion. He is a brand ambassador for Chuck N Duck Fly Tying.

Lee Hooper Wiltshire born & bred, enjoys fishing the chalkstreams, expecially his local River Wylye. Angling Trust Level 2 coach working for Fishing for Schools charity and also a member of the Fly Dressers Guild committee.. Has a real passion for fly tying. D Instagram: @lee_hooper_flytying

David Hoppe David is a highly successful fly fisherman with numerous national caps and many individual and team titles to his name. He is a RIO Products ambassador and is sponsored by Sage, Vision Fly Fishing and The Fly Shop. D Instagram: @davidhoppeFishing

D Instagram: @duffy9499

Lucinda Ewin

Charles Jardine

Lucinda is part of the LTS UK and Ireland pro team. She’s currently a Level 2 angling coach and working towards professional exams in Spey casting. She offers coaching and guiding in the north east of England.

Renowned fly fisherman, writer, artist, and director of the ‘Fishing for Schools’ charity. Charles was also recently inducted into the American Fly Fishing Hall of Fame.

M Lucinda85@hotmail.co.uk

Flyfishing Journal

D www.charlesjardine.co.uk

Ceri Jones Our editor. Fishing for wild browns in Wales and Ireland is Ceri’s passion, specializing in Lough Corrib ferox. He also runs a successful weekly fly fishing podcast chatting with some of the country’s leading anglers. D www.castingwithcerijones.com

Rasmus Ovesen Rasmus is the Marketing Manager for FlyFish Europe. As a freelance angling journalist and fly fishing explorer, Rasmus has fished extensively around the world in search of big trout in scenic locations.

Tried and Tested Our team at Flyfishing spend a lot of time on the water, so who better to take some of the latest fly fishing products out with him and put them through their paces?

D www.flyfisheurope.com

Paul Procter AAPGAI qualified to Masters level, Paul offers guided days for wild brown trout throughout the Northwest, as well as fly casting tuition. All aspects of fly fishing covered and overseas hosted trips can be arranged. Paul also offers a range of bespoke flies, with many unique patterns available. M ppflyfish@gmail.com

Rob Redman A sea trout guide from north West Wales. Even though his passion is fly fishing for sea trout he is equally at home also fishing for salmon, grayling, and brown trout. D Instagram: @rob_redman_sewinstalker_

Alun Rees Alun is a lifelong angler and an accomplished fly tier. His primary passion is Sea trout but is equally at home chasing Salmon, Trout, Grayling and Saltwater species. He is currently Head of Assessors for GAIA. M sewinangler@gmail.com

Steve Smalley Steve started on rivers in the northwest of England before moving on to small stillwaters and reservoirs. He is a member of the The Ospreys and is an ambassador for Vision Fly Fishing UK.

If you would like your product reviewed by our experts and featured in Flyfishing Journal, please contact Ceri Jones at ceri@flyfishingmedia.co.uk

Sean Thomas Innovative fly angler Sean fishes for wild browns, grayling and bass around his home in South Wales. However, his true passion is sea trout fishing at night. D www.seanthomasflyfishing.com

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Guides Directory Lyn Davies

Justin Connolly

Capturedonline P Swansea

Professional casting instructor and accredited fly fishing guide for sea trout, brown trout, grayling and rainbow trout throughout South Wales and the borders. GAIA member/DBS checked. M lyn@capturedonline.co.uk D www.capturedonline.co.uk

Justfishin P Abergavenny As a professional game angling instructor and guide, I enjoy sharing beautiful surroundings with individuals or groups who wish to learn or improve their fishing or casting skills in a safe and controlled environment. M justin@justfishin.co.uk D www.justfishin.co.uk

Brett O’Connor

Craig Barr

Brett’s fascination with the sport has led him to fish all over the world. He specialises in both fly-casting and flyfishing tuition. This can range from a two hour one-toone lesson, to a group session or even a group day out. M bretto_connor@mac.com D www.brettoconnorflyfishing.com

An England International and England Youth Team Coach. He is a fly fishing guide on both Rutland and Grafham Water. M craig@flashattackflies.com D www.flashattackflies.com

Brett O’Connor Fly Fishing P Stockbridge

Craig Barr Flyfishing P Oakham

Lee Watts

Stuart Ray

I regularly fish the river Neath along with the rivers Usk, Wye and Tywi. I also fish the Llyns and reservoirs of Brecon Beacons National Park. I am an AAPGAI and FFF qualified instructor and an Orvis Endorsed Guide. M info@leewattsflyfishing.co.uk D www.leewattsflyfishing.co.uk

P Between West Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear Stuart is an AAPGAI instructor specialising in Atlantic Salmon fishing and Spey casting techniques. Instructor and guide at The Northern Fishing School, and instructor with The North East Fly Casting Club. M drsturay@icloud.com D www.northernfishingschool.com

Stewart Collingswood

Jackie Mahon

Alba Game Fishing, established in 2004, is the only company to offer fishing throughout Scotland. With a team of 22 professional fishing guides and casting instructors, come and enjoy the experience with Alba. M stewart@albagamefishing.com D www.albagamefishing.com

A fly fishing guide and a fly tyer located on the west coast of Ireland where he guides full time on Lough Arrow and Lough Melvin. M mahonjackie@gmail.com D www.jackiemahonfliesandguiding.com

Lee Watts Fly Fishing P Neath

Alba Game Fishing P North Berwick

Jackie Mahon Flyfishing P Grange Sligo

James Curley

James Curley Flyfishing P Elphin

Based in Elphin in the North-West Scottish Highlands, surrounded by a wild and dramatic landscape, James can guide you through the vast array of fishing opportunities to be found here. M info@jamescurley.org D www.jamescurley.org

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To be featured in our Guides Directory contact: M editorial@nousmedia.co.uk

SAM MACDONALD SCULPTOR

Sam MacDonald, who now lives in East Lothian, grew up on the Isle of Lewis and, after 4 years at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts training in Silversmithing and Metalwork, lived on Orkney for 19 years and in Perthshire for 10. This enabled his love of ﬁshing, diving and the sea to combine with his developing skills in metalwork. Sam uses old, traditional metal work techniques to produce contemporary and unique works. He creates impressions of ﬁsh, using the tactile effects that metal, its processes and techniques have to offer.

SAM MACDONALD SCULPTOR If you are interested in commissioning an artwork or ﬁnding out more about where Sam exhibits please get in touch: J 07711 825 931 M s.macdonald54@yahoo.com sammacdon /SamMacDonaldfish

WWW.SAM-MACDONALD.CO.UK

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A N I N T ER NAT I O NA L Q UA RT ER LY F O R T H E M O D ER N A N G LER

£8.99 | Vol 02 No.04

Flyfishing Journal - Vol 2 - January - March 2024