Trout Fisherman 495 (Digital Sampler)

FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH

BUYERS' GUIDStroES ng Orvis Super Plus tippet l Hart Skin waders l Fario flies l Vision Onki rod

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Experts reveal flies & tips RESERVOIRS

How to catch pressured fish

MAR 29 - APR 25, 2017 | £3.50

ISSUE 495

RIVERS

WILD BROWNS The season starts now

FLY PATTERNS

26 flies with dressings

TACTICS

FORCE A TAKE

Catch in tough conditions

SPECIES

ARCTIC CHAR

Hook a rare, beautiful fish

WHERE TO FISH

CHEW VALLEY Full early-season guide

Contents

BE INSPIRED

FLY-TYING

Fred Bainbridge finds solitude and quality wild browns on Yorkshire’s River Ure

Peter Gathercole ties a nymphy lure

6 Roam alone

67 How to tie a Cormorant

COVER STORY

70 Flybox fillers Cover image by: Richard Chapman

TACTICS

12 When fish have been battered

COVER STORY The tactics to employ when a water has slowed due to heavy angling pressure

Russ Symons ties a version of Dick Walker’s classic Mayfly Nymph

74 Flymasters 18 Travel light to catch Nick Hart on why he prefers to carry just the bare essentials when targeting a small stillwater

25 Flies to force a take COVER STORY The pressure is on when Craig Barr is faced with a difficult session at a Norfolk stillwater

OFFERS

Your suggestive nymph patterns are judged by Peter Gathercole, who also sets a new challenge

TACKLE 79 New gear

42 Subscription offer

29 Doris day

COVER STORY The latest tackle reviews including Vision’s Onki rod and Hart Pro 5 waders

Subscribe to Trout rout Fisherman magazine this month and receive a competition fly case

COVER STORY Peter Cockwill takes on Rockbourne’s Arctic char when Storm Doris is in town!

86 Fly-tying gear Robbie Winram looks at a new bobbin holder, dubbing brushes and realistic eyes

FOCUS ON...

36 Buzzers

COVER STORY Steve Cullen reveals his winning set-ups for fishing this most important stillwater fly

WHERE TO FISH

OPINION & NEWS 90 News

A young man’s charity marathon fishing session, flyfishing courses and what’s new on the trout scene

45 UK waters

93 Cockwill

Latest information on Kingfisher Lake, Loch Fad, Pitsford Water and Ringstead Grange

Peter Cockwill comments on the importance of having balanced tackle

48 Escape to the wilderness

94 Investigation

Take a walk on the wild side in search of salmon and dolly varden in Alaska

Jeff Prest discusses the latest news regarding cormorants, mink and otters

54 Spotlight on...

96 Letters

COVER STORY

The west country’s Chew Valley reservoir with local guide John Horsey

Trout Fishermann readers have their say on women flyfishers and prolonging a fishing career

ADVICE

98 Troutmasters

TF’s panel of experts answer your questions on fly-line choice, backdrifting and fishing Buzzers on the reservoirs

102 Match news

62 How to...

106 Wading in

Paul Procter’s indepth guide to fishing Buzzers successfully

Jeff Prest travels to New Mills, Cumbria and discovers a positive, forward-thinking water

84 Reader offer COVER STORY Leeda Volare chest waders and wading boots for only £129.99

JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN Bankside

an-up Our Bankside Cle Campaign Clean-up campaign continues to gain momentum with more fisheries asking for the poster and creating their own bins for discarded leaders. Spread the message…we can do this.

WHERE TO FIND US...

Are you among this month’s badge winners?

58 Advice Squad

COVER STORY

ONLINE www.troutfisherman.co.uk TroutFishMag troutfishermanmag Trout Fisherman

Iain Barr discusses the role match-fishing plays in providing enjoyment and friendship

SUBSCRIBE

PRINT AND DIGITAL

EDITIONS AVAILABLE

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THIS MONTH’S WINNER A brown trout caught and returned to the River Laune in Co Kerry.

Sent in by David Dunkley

HOW TO ENTER

Shot of the

MONTH

If you have a flyfishing image that you would like to see here, please send it to us.

Images must be: original size • high resolution.

Email them to leigh.johnson@bauermedia.co.uk If the image is too large to go over email, send via the free service wetransfer.com (for help see wetransfer.com/howitworks).

Published photographers will receive a landing net from Sharpes of Aberdeen.

Browse their products at www.sharpes.net or call 01466 794415.

Enter our competition now for your chance to win a Sharpe’s landing net

Words: Russell Hill Pictures: Peter Gathercole

Roam ALONE

Early season on the River Ure in the Yorkshire Dales promises solitude and the chance of some of the best brownies you’ll catch all year. Fred Bainbridge explains...

6 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25

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BE INSPIRE D

Celebrate t h of the wild e start bro trout seaso wn n

Bolton Castle Estate on the Ure is home to some super browns.

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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 7

Words: Gareth Jones Pictures: Peter Gathercole

When fish have been BATTERED Your pals have clobbered fish all morning but you can’t fish till after work. Gareth Jones has the answers…

12 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25

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TACTICS Catch m

ore w early sprin ith stillwater t g ips

Gareth Jones prepares to bring another Draycote fish to hand.

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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 13

TACTICS SMALL WATERS Words: Nick Hart Pictures: Henry Gilbey

Simple flies and set-ups accounted for cracking browns at Bratton.

18 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25

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Travel light TO CATCH Nick Hart carries the bare essentials to battle incredible Devon browns ...

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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 19

TACTICS SMALL WATERS Words : Russell Hill Pictures : Peter Gathercole

Flies to force A TAKE Imagine wise trout in a lightly-stocked lake and a sudden weather change. It couldn’t get any tougher.

Craig Barr relishes the challenge...

There are fishing days when desperation sets in and you just have to work extra hard.

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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 25

Fly-Tying In association with Veniard

trout FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH

How to tie a CORMORANT Peter Gathercole ties a fly crossing the gap between nymph and lure

Visit our website www.veniard.com

Words: Steve Cullen

Feel the pull on BUZZERS All-rounder Steve Cullen’s approach to fishing this most important stillwater fly...

36 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25

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FOCUS ON M astering th art of fishi e ng Buzzers

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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 37

WHERE TO FISH ALASKA Words: John Horsey Pictures: Martin Founds

48 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25

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Escape to the WILDERNESS John Horsey embarks on a scary walk on the wild side for salmon and dolly varden in Alaska...

John plays a lively dolly varden under stunning Alaskan scenery.

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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 49

DIGITAL SAMPLER

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