041 - Fly for Course Angler Spring 2014_News page A.qxd 18/03/2014 15:12 Page 41
Be a code More and more anglers are crossing codes to discover the excitement of catching coarse species on fly tackle. With a panel of MATT HAYES, JOHN BAILEY and DOMINIC GARNETT, Fly For Coarse is a contest and website that captures the spirit of a growing community.
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hat have a tiny dace, a giant pike and a surface browsing carp all got in common? The answer is that they’re part of a rapidly growing list of species now regularly targeted with a fly rod, as anglers seek new thrills and become ever harder to categorise. Why do more of us want to combine coarse and fly disciplines? The simple answer is the excitement of the exercise. This is not just a break from the norm, but a fantastically intimate, visual style of fishing. Virtually all species will take a suitable fly and even a small fish will put a serious bend in a fly rod. Moreover, it puts a bit of the soul back into fishing: the emphasis is firmly on enjoyment and adventure, rather than pounds and ounces. Fly For Coarse is a contest to celebrate this ethos and an invitation to Britain’s anglers to give it a try and see what is possible. The 2013 event threw up an incredible range of catches, from huge pike on streamers to carp on dry flies. Other entries included fine chub, roach, and even a tench. Appropriately enough, it was a river bream stalked with a wet fly that was voted the winner. Panelist and Angling Trust ambassador Matt Hayes describes Fly For Coarse as “the true spirit of angling”, while fellow enthusiast and also AT ambassador John Bailey has also been encouraged by the way the contest brings anglers together: “The barriers between coarse and game fishing must break down one day — and this is a fine way to do it,” he remarks.
www.anglingtrust.net
Completing the panel is Flyfishing for Coarse Fish author Dominic Garnett. “The response has been excellent so far and it’s very much a community feel,” he said. “The focus isn’t big fish, but a sense of shared enjoyment and discovery. All species are valid, big and small, and everyone is welcome. The refreshing thing is that traditional categories no longer apply: we’re all just anglers with a common passion.” Share your own catches and get involved at: www.flyforcoarse.com which also has a growing list of tips, fly patterns and free content. This is also an excellent place for newcomers to find guided days and professional tuition for coarse fish. You can also join the Flyfishing For Coarse Fish group on Facebook, which welcomes anglers from coarse and game backgrounds alike.
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