Trout Fisherman 512 (Digital Sampler)

FREE 32-PAGE FISHERY PULLOUT INSIDE FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH

HOW TO FISH WITH DRIES

● Proven set-ups ● Try an F-Fly ● Tactics for success

100 TOP

Future venues

How waters may look in 30 years

FISHERIES 2018 Your guide to the season's best lakes

■ Incredible fish to catch ■ Great facilities to enjoy ■ Amazing new waters 18 JULY - 14 AUG, 2018 | £3.60

ISSUE 512

OLD V NEW Retro gear or modern...

Who wins the challenge?

RESERVOIRS

HIT THE DEPTH

Go deep for daphnia feeders

SMALL WATERS

SUPERB FISH

Tips for quality rainbows

WHERE TO FISH

THORNTON

Head for summer hotspots

TACKLE TESTS

WINNING ROD Buy a true all-rounder

Contents

BE INSPIRED

60 Tackle advice

COVER STORY Two anglers go head-to-head to see whether new gear is really that much better than old

FLY-TYING

TACTICS

Peter Gathercole’s step-by-step to a deadly dry that has many guises

Cover image by: Jeffrey Prest

6 Old gear V new

12 Deep on daphnia

64 Flybox fillers

18 “A proper job”

68 Fastmail flies

21 Tug of war!

26 Subscription offer

Save up to 51% when you subscribe to Trout Fisherman magazine

74 Reader offer

Greys Strata CTX breathable waders and Strata CTX wading boots for only £164.99 – a saving of £84.99

Popping dries can be a great technique in calm, clear water, as Russ Dyer discovers COVER STORY

FOCUS ON...

27 Summer set-ups

Peter Cockwill’s two-or-three-fly combos that work in mid summer

WHERE TO FISH 33 UK waters

Four top stillwaters to visit this month

36 Future fisheries

We predict what trout fisheries might look like in 30 years’ time, given current trends COVER STORY

42 Midmar’s in good hands

Jeff Prest discovers the story behind Midmar Fishery’s success

48 Comfort zone

The Greyhound on the Test offers luxury and fishing

50 Spotlight on...

Thornton Reservoir’s bank and boat hotspots for the summer months COVER STORY

PRINT AND DIGITAL EDITIONS AVAILABLE www.greatmagazines.co.uk/ troutfisherman

ADVICE

52 Advice squad

TF’s panel of experts answer your questions on indicators, CDC flies and perch on fly tactics

56 How to...

Fish the evening rise

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY www.troutfisherman.co.uk

61 Tie a Yellow Owl emerger

COVER STORY It’s not all floating lines and dries in summer as Craig Barr discovers at Rutland

Russ Symons reports from Burrator Reservoir, a success story in the making

OFFERS

Tips on smoking fish from Snowbee’s Simon Kidd

troutfishermanmag TroutFishMag troutfisherman troutfishmag

COVER STORY

Tie the F-Fly, an effective but simple dry

Phil Dixon’s take on Fastmail’s mid summer offerings

70 Flymasters

Peter Gathercole judges your high-floating Sedge patterns and sets a new challenge

TACKLE 75 New gear

COVER STORY Robbie Winram tests the latest tackle including rods, reels and clothing

80 Fly-tying products

Renomed scissors, Overton’s Wonder Wax and Flybox’s Eggstasy material reviewed

OPINION & NEWS 82 News

All the latest news from the UK trout scene, plus match results

84 Stay safe

Essential safety advice that could save your life

86 Letters

Trout Fisherman readers have their say

88 Cockwill

Why communication with customers is key to success

90 Troutmasters

Are you a badge winner this month?

95 Iain Barr

It’s all about shrimps in Iain Barr’s world at Grafham, Rutland and Draycote

98 Wading in

World Fishing Day telethon and how our man sat through the full 24 hours!

troutfisherman troutfisherman troutfisherman-online @troutfisherman

THIS MONTH’S WINNER

A 10lb 8oz rainbow caught by Dave Tomkins at Hawkridge on a Montana.

Sent in by Ian Armstrong

HOW TO ENTER

Shot of the

MONTH

If you have a fly-fishing 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 & pictures: Jonathan Tomlinson

OLD

6 TROUT FISHERMAN | JULY 18 - AUGUST 14

www.troutďŹ sherman.co.uk

BE INSPIRE D

Set up a ch a between yo llenge u and a mate

NEW How do the flies and tackle of yesteryear compare to modern equivalents? Jonathan Tomlinson reports from a head-to-head challenge...

Young Ben Beckwith and his grandfather Cullen battle it out.

www.troutfisherman.co.uk

JULY 18 - AUGUST 14 | TROUT FISHERMAN 7

Pictures: Peter Gathercole Words: Russell Hill

12 TROUT FISHERMAN | JULY 18 - AUGUST 14

www.troutfisherman.co.uk

TACTICS Sunk lin

e rese skills to cat rvoir daphnia fe ch eders

Deep on DAPHNIA

It’s not all floating lines and dries in summer. Be prepared for the unexpected, says Craig Barr

www.troutfisherman.co.uk

JULY 18 - AUGUST 14 | TROUT FISHERMAN 13

TACTICS STILLWATERS Pictures: Peter Gathercole Words: Russ Dyer

Tug of WAR!

In calm, clear water, popping dries can entice a take, says Russ Dyer

Elinor produces some beautifully clean trout just like this one.

www.troutďŹ sherman.co.uk

JULY 18 - AUGUST 14 | TROUT FISHERMAN 21

FOCUS ON Th e best team of flies for s hot weather

All-rounder Peter Cockwill picks his top two and three-fly combos WHAT a wonderful time of year it is to be a trout fisherman. Our waters have warmed up, the insect life is at peak hatch and the trout are feeding avidly.

It doesn’t get much better than this and all it takes is a floating line outfit

www.troutfisherman.co.uk

to take maximum advantage of sport in the upper layers of the water.

Truly, this is prime time and with the longer evenings too there’s no excuse to miss out on this, the best time of the year.

JULY 18 - AUGUST 14 | TROUT FISHERMAN 27

WHERE TO FISH SPECIAL FISHERIES OF THE FUTURE

1

12

12

2

Fishery Illustration: Andy Steer

7

10

FISHERY OF THE FUTURE? Is this what our trout fisheries will look like in 30 years’ time?

Peter Cockwill gets his crystal ball out, so to speak

36 TROUT FISHERMAN | JULY 18 - AUGUST 14

www.troutfisherman.co.uk

9 11

4 6 5

3

7

5

9

2

8

At a glance – the future explained 1 Approach road/Car park: These will be tarmac. No more pot-holed approach roads to trout fisheries.

2 Pine lodge/Cafe: The public will expect something more akin to a golf club lodge, not wooden sheds.

3 On-site shop: Where better to purchase the latest trout gear than at your local trout fishery.

4 Gutting room: Anglers won’t want to gut fish at home, it will be done at the fishery.

5 Landing net dispenser: Landing nets will remain at the fishery to halt the spread of disease.

6 Otter-proof fence: Otters are popular creatures and will be everywhere in the future - but they eat fish, lots of ‘em!

7 Big fish lake: There’s a desire for a big fish in all of us. but we must be prepared to pay extra to catch one.

8 Catch & release pool: The trend towards catch and release continues. Platforms allow release into deep water.

9 Any method pool: Anglers will be able to catch trout with spinner and bait.

Main lake: This will hold a variety of trout cross breeds – anglers will crave variety and love a surprise.

Recovery pool: Any fish that are struggling can be placed in an aerated pool and fed regularly.

Accommodation: Comfortable accommodation will be expected, and will appeal to couples too.

Parking: Ample, spacious parking on tarmac Restaurant: Fisheries will offer quality food for

corporate events, angling groups and families.

Information: “What’s on” leaflets or a notice board Security cameras: To catch poachers etc

Turn over for in-depth opinion from Peter Cockwill ... www.troutfisherman.co.uk

JULY 18 - AUGUST 14 | TROUT FISHERMAN 37

WHERE TO FISH UK OXOXOX WATERS Words & pictures: Jeffrey Prest

Oil and UNTROUBLED WATER

When a Canadian oilman decided to wind down in retirement, a charming Aberdeenshire fishery was the outcome. We watch Peter Cockwill fall in love with Midmar…

42 TROUT FISHERMAN | JULY 18 - AUGUST 14

www.troutfisherman.co.uk

Having finally torn ourselves away from the lodge, Peter begins his reconnaissance.

www.troutfisherman.co.uk

JULY 18 - AUGUST 14 | TROUT FISHERMAN 43

Fly-Tying In association with Veniard

trout FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH

Yellow Owl Peter Gathercole ties a top emerger pattern

Visit our website www.veniard.com

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

Save up to 51%

*

when you subscribe to

Three great ways to enjoy your magazine PRINT ONLY 13 issues for £36 when you pay by Direct Debit OR 13 issues for £40 when you pay by Debit/Credit card or PayPal

DIGITAL ONLY

13 issues for £26 when you pay by Direct Debit or Debit/ Credit card or PayPal

PRINT & DIGITAL

BEST OFFER

13 issues of Print + Digital issues for £46 when you pay by recurring payment OR 13 issues of Print + Digital for £50 when you pay by one-off payment *51% saving applies when you choose the print and digital package option and pay by direct debit.

SAVE* 51%

Subscribe securely online at:

www.greatmagazines.co.uk/troutfisherman

or call our order line on 01858 438884 Order lines open Mon-Fri 8am-9.30pm, Sat 8am-4pm

QUOTE offer code HEAA TERMS & CONDITIONS: *51% saving when you choose the print and digital package option and pay by recurring payment. Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. The minimum term is 13 issues.

Payments by Direct Debit will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise and you will not receive a renewal reminder. This offer closes on 14th August 2018. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Cost from landlines for 01 numbers per minute are (approximate) 2p to 10p. Cost from mobiles per minute (approximate) 10p to 40p. Costs vary depending on the geographical location in the UK. You may get free calls to some numbers as part of your call package – please check with your phone provider. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). UK orders only. Overseas? Please phone +44 1858 438828 for further details. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes. Full terms and conditions: www.greatmagazines.co.uk/offer-terms-and-conditions

PRINT | DIGITAL | ONLINE

Print & Digital Subscriptions

www.greatmagazines.co.uk/trout-fisherman-magazine

www.troutfisherman.co.uk OFFICIAL HOME OF

TROUTMASTERS Europe’s largest flyfishing competition Available from

Connect with us