Trout Fisherman 497 (Digital Sampler)

FREE UK & IRELAND STILLWATER GUIDE FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH

www.troutfisherman.co.uk

MAY 24 - JUNE 20, 2017 | £3.50

ISSUE 497

HONEST GEAR REVIEWS ● Scierra Memento rods ● Hodgman jackets ● Alfa fly reels

plus more

Big hits on

DAMSELS Best flies & retrieves revealed GETTING STARTED

EASY SET-UPS

Simple ways to catch trout

SMALL WATERS

BUZZER TIPS

50 years of fly evolution

RESERVOIRS

LLYN BRENIG

Guide to hotspots & flies

WHERE TO FISH

SAN JUAN

Catch city tarpon on fly

Contents

BE INSPIRED

ADVICE

Paul Procter samples sport at Esthwaite which has gone ‘brown trout only’

TF’ss panel of experts answer your questions on Buzzer fishing, knots and beads

TACTICS

66 How to...

Phil Dixon suggests what to do when trout have seen the same old flies

69 New series: Snowbee advice

18 Too many set-ups?

FLY-TYING

Cover image by: Peter Gathercole

6 Esthwaite goes native

62 Advice squad

Get the best from your hooks

12 Avoiding group-think

Nick Hart reminds us not to spend too much time changing tactics

Simon Kidd on how to choose a floating line

71 How to tie a Damsel Nymph Peter Gathercole provides a tying sequence

24 Eyebrook’s new buzz

OFFERS

Iain Barr enjoys a cracking Buzzer session at an in-form Eyebrook Reservoir

74 Flybox fillers

30 Two simple ways to catch

78 Flymasters

COVER STORY

Try these easy set-ups and catch your

first fish!

36 Buzzer evolution COVER STORY Peter Cockwill examines how buzzer imitations have changed over the last 40 years

A Storafly fly box and 200 assorted flies for only £29.99 – save £148!

COVER STORY

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...

TACKLE 83 New gear

COVER STORY Latest gear reviews including Scierra’s Memento rods and Hodgman jackets

Rob Edmunds explains why anglers need a selection of Snake lures in their armoury

90 Fly-tying gear Robbie Winram looks at ostrich plumes, hair patches and a new UV-cure resin

FOCUS ON...

44 Damsels

88 Reader offer

Peter Gathercole judges your Damsel Nymph patterns and sets a new tying challenge

40 Deadly new Snakes 48 Subscription offer Subscribe to Trout rout Fisherman magazine this month and receive a competition fly case

Russ Symons ties an Olive Cruncher

COVER STORY Hatch facts and top imitations for you to try out this season

OPINION & NEWS 92 News

All the latest “happenings” on the trout scene

WHERE TO FISH

95 Cockwill Highlighting the “sod’s laws” of fly fishing

51 UK waters

96 Letters

Five fisheries from Cornwall to Ayrshire to visit this month

Trout Fishermann readers have their say

98 Troutmasters

54 Spotlight on...

This month’s badge winners plus a gallery of your latest catch pictures

COVER STORY Llyn Brenig – a guide to the mid summer hotspots for boat and bank

103 Match news Iain Barr comments on the current match scene

56 San Juan lagoons COVER STORY Dave Lewis and friends hunt for tarpon in the shadow of a bustling city

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

106 Wading in Jeff Prest on the idea of hookless flies!

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Fly-Tying In association with Veniard

trout FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH

Tying a DAMSEL NYMPH

Peter Gathercole takes you through the process

Visit our website www.veniard.com

Words: Paul Procter Pictures: Alamy/Rod Calbrade Esthwaite’s stunning scenery in summer: the perfect place to cast a fly in England.

ESTHWAITE GOES NATIVE

Paul Procter samples sport at this Cumbrian water which is now ‘brown trout only’

6 TROUT FISHERMAN | MAY 24 - JUNE 20

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BE INSPIRE D Stunning p la to cast a fl ces this summ y er

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MAY 24 - JUNE 20 | TROUT FISHERMAN 7

Words & pictures: Jeffrey Prest

Phil Dixon returns a rainbow at Chester’s Meadow Fishery.

12 TROUT FISHERMAN | MAY 24 - JUNE 20

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TACTICS Catch m

ore w early summ ith stillwater t er ips

Avoiding GROUP-THINK

When your local small water has been hammered with the usual suspects, what fly do you go to in order to break the monotony? Phil Dixon’s answer comes in threes…

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MAY 24 - JUNE 20 | TROUT FISHERMAN 13

TACTICS RESERVOIRS Words: Nick Hart Pictures: Henry Gilbey

18 TROUT FISHERMAN | MAY 24 - JUNE 20

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Too many SET-UPS?

Nick Hart tries a little too hard in a tough session at Clatworthy...

Nick Hart warns us not to chop and change too much in a session.

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MAY 24 - JUNE 20 | TROUT FISHERMAN 19

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

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Subscribe and benefit from: Advice that will help make you a better angler l Delivered directly to you, hot off the press, downloaded to your iPad/iPhone or both (posting and an packing is free)) l PLUS for a limited time only receive a complimentary Competition Fly Case Cas

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DON'T THIS G MISS REAT OFFER !

Competition Fly Case This double-sided fly-box measures 27.5 x 21 x 6cm and provides storage for hundreds of patterns. Being nice and deep means any flies with delicate hackles will not become crushed.

The box is lined with slotted foam and has an integral carry handle and clear lids so you can quickly see your fly patterns. Rubber seals and sturdy turdy clasps ensure the box closes securely.

Ideal for the bank or boat angler. l Please note, flies are not included

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Terms & Conditions: onditions: Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. Minimum term is 13 issues. Payments made by Direct Debit will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise. herwise. We reserve the right to replace the gift with one of equal or higher value or offer a 3 issue extension if the offer is exhausted. This offer closes on 20th June, 2017.

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TACTICS RESERVOIRS Words: Iain Barr Pictures: Peter Gathercole

24 TROUT FISHERMAN | MAY 24 - JUNE 20

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Eyebrook’s NEW BUZZ Iain Barr enjoys terrific Buzzer fishing on a revitalised Eyebrook reservoir...

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MAY 24 - JUNE 20 | TROUT FISHERMAN 25

TACTICS BUZZERS Words: Peter Cockwill Pictures: Peter Gathercole

Buzzer EVOLUTION Peter Cockwill fishes his favourite Black Pennell and highlights the evolution of the Buzzer...

36 TROUT FISHERMAN | MAY 24 - JUNE 20

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MAY 24 - JUNE 20 | TROUT FISHERMAN 37

WHERE TO FISH PUERTO RICO Words & pictures: Dave Lewis

SAN JUAN LAGOONS

Dave Lewis & friends hunt for tarpon in the shadow of a bustling city…

You soon forget that you’re close to a busy city.

The fishing takes over.

56 TROUT FISHERMAN | MAY 24 - JUNE 20

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MAY 24 - JUNE 20 | TROUT FISHERMAN 57

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