June 27, 2008
Well this week has been a holiday for me,bit of a busmans one really.Visiting the north east and fishing Knitsley mill with long time friend Terry Wilson and his son Thomas who caught his first ever fish on the fly aged 9.A very nice fishery in nice surroundings and well stocked with fish moving just under the surface.kate mclarens all the way from Scotland did the job and it was great sport and very friendly staff.I always find it of interest when speaking to and visiting other fisheries how,no matter where you go the same stories always are told.Anglers for the most, speak the same language and when its not happening you hear the same moans no matter where you are and far from putting fish on the hook for some its always "no fish" or needs stocked even when fish have just gone in right in front of you.i keep saying it to look at the water and try different things,ask the staff for help ,they are the ones who will always point you in the right direction and LISTEN and you will catch dont go and do the opposite as many do and end up blank.The fishery staff want their anglers to catch believe it or not.I enjoyed my day with 3 fish for my time and a few good pulls along with banter with staff and local anglersand of course my mate who after 20 odd years of not seeing him, angling once again proved its worth and showed that its not just about fishing but what else it brings to us as individuals.so spare a thought and think a little outside the tank and put something into action with your fishing and get fishing with friends you havent seen for a long time.

June 22, 2008
One of the pleasures of being and angler is sharing your sport with others and the past 2 weeks have been just that.With the Scottish Country Alliance next generation days showing 60 youngsters over 2 days the sport and an insight to it.All enjoyed the casting and showed very good skill with accuracy casting into hoops and other casts.They were shown what is on offer in the countryside away from the norm and hopefully were encouraged to do it more often.Next was an All Night Compy which each year is held for the anglers to enjoy an evening of fun and share time with other anglers and a way of thanks to them for their support.(some pictures are on the gallery page)always a good event and enjoyed and even again the youngsters had fun aswell despite damp conditions.Over the years you watch as friendships are formed and grow which is a major plus of the fly fishing world and it makes it alot of pleasure and much satisfaction is gained by playing a part in it.I would like to thank the many friends who have made it worthwhile and enjoyable for me and long may it continue and its not all about the must get a fish at all costs but seeing the whole picture which is far greater.Im off on hols now to see more of it.tightlines

June 9, 2008
A fine week of weather is good for the sun gods but in general not for the angler.Yet as the sun shines many anglers take to the waters with visions of taking bags of 30 ,40 ,50 and more fish in a session.I have to say that this is very unrealistic and you will have to be a very very lucky lad to do it.Look at like this.fish have no eyelids so cant look into the sun,so tend to go down a bit and they will feed hard on the abundance of hatching insects which are out and gorge themselves silly si it is very much the imitive pattern fisher who will take fish.it takes thought and skill and reading the water to catch in these conditions.Speaking to one on a day where it was what I would say was a perfect fishing day,warm,overcast and fish on the top and he had nothing,looking at his setup i saw why! A dawsons olive fished deep and would bypass any fish which would be interested.So looking at his boxes of flies of which there was many,lures,lures and even more lures and then even more lures untill I found a resemblance of some dry fly ,like a hopper and put this on first cast nothing,second a swirl but missed and then 3rd cast bang a fish and the moral is give them something they want and fish where the fish are not under not over but right on the button and make sure they are the right size of fly and not huge especially at this time of year.If you aint catching its not an automatic saying theres no fish or when was it last stocked but take a look at your self and how and what you are using and doing and change it,Do you ever go down to size 16,s or 18,s in hook size .?I here screams of thats too small ,i cant see it and fish wont see it but im afraid some times thats the sizes you need to catch fish or blank.the choice is yours you can catch but YOU have to change in order to catch.

May 31, 2008
A few busy last couple of weeks and enjoyable seeing many young anglers out enjoying the sport.In particular when we all enjoyed a small game practicing accuracy skills casting to hoops where they all did very well and it was very pleasing to see our future anglers with plenty of skill at a young age which will get better and better.To also see fathers teaching daughters and sons the art of casting in this day and age is very good and gives the sport hope and I can only hope to see more and more of it encouraged.Its something which i feel strongly about and doesnt happen as often as in the past ,but is getting more a regular site around waters and even though some traditionalists do not like stillwaters,they are an important feature for the new anglers and without them would be a dying sport and return to the days of the select few who fished.now the warmth has arrived ,insect life is more abundant and the cream of the fishing ,the dry fly,is more common.Nothing better than casting to rising fish and seeing the take and hooking into a nice full tailed beauty.Suspender buzzers,Cdc,s hoppers and buzzers mostly in olive,black and hares ear colours will be the pick at this time and dont forget to check the water for a guide to what is hatching which gives plenty of good clues which will influence flies to try.it only takes a second to have a glance and can save you a blank day when it could be one of your best and most satisfying.Enjoy every minute of this fishing as the winter is getting longer and it is cream time now.

May 17, 2008
A very busy week and fish are well on the top now and dries are taking well.what has been good to see is the excellent hatches of various flies,especially mayfly.hawthorns have been abundant as has olives.Black and olive and brown will now be the main dominant colour to use at present.Tying has been hectic for a while and in between progressing with my own personal knowledge which i enjoy and feel important by taking the federation of flyfishers instructors certificate.This was a very good learning and most enjoyable exam and intense as most instructor courses are and should not be taken lightly as they are not just attend courses.Assessors are of the highest grade and know there trade and anyone who is considering taking them should prepare and practice well in advance before attending any as it will show and failure will follow ,no doubt. but those who take it serious and prepare and study will endeavour to pass.as with all things it is a case of practice practice practice and enjoy it and try to relax.Thanks to those who helped me with it and also helped futher my knowledge and skills,this Ii do appreciate alot.

May 2, 2008
welcome to may and the satrt of the mayfly time.Sport whith drys should be coming into its own now and fish activily feeding and sport for the angler should be very good.Ths has certainly been shown from where I have been with very good bags of fish being taken and quality of the fish is premium.best of all has been the beauty of the Wild Browns which have really been top notch and specimans of 5lbs a sight to see,the clear markings and colouring absoloutly gorgeous.Another species being regular and unusual ,but more and more been seen and caught is the carp.Some specimans of 20lbs plus taken regular on the fly.So if you want to sample good fishings ,now is the time to get out and fish with smaller dark and black patterns favourable around this time ,like bibios,kate mclarens,pennels,buzzers and suspenders for when they are just below the surface.Not forgetting drys,like black gnats and cdc,s.
Not having had a report up for a couple of weeks due to being so busy with fly tying and tuition among other things.forums have not been top of my list and having just glanced through some of the magazines there was one which did make my blood boil and being diplomatic ,I am constantly amazed to see some of the propaganda printed just to get people through the doors in some magazines.Why some feel they have to boost fish sizes to a proportion rather than just say it as it is is beyond me.Then for a magazine to print it brings the low down even lower in my eyes.rather than say fact so much fantasy and fiction leads toto and alice with red shoes down the yellow brick road and anglers who believe the written word in SOME magazine to a false hope.If it aint there or it aint happened dont print it.If I cant be honest with anglers, Im afraid Id stop writing altogether and will always prefer facts to fiction.Thankfully most have the same view as me when they write but some prefer to dance with Toto and Alice down the yellow brick road.

April 6, 2008
decent weather was short lived and the return of the cold and wind returned.Catches were up and fish were actually taking dry flys which is a good sign that winter is very slowly slipping away,wish it would just have a big trip away,a huge carp was caught estimated from 26 to 30lbs in weight and on a purple fritz.The angler certainly had a battle on his hands and it took well over 30 mins to get it in before being carefully released back to enjoy the deeps again.While the fishing may be getting hit due to forcasts,it is lending more and more to take up tying which is growing and growing and I am intending to start fly tying lessons later in the year and will put more up about this at a later date.For those who dont tie their own,it is a very relaxing hobby which has a good end result and is by far an art.Just as casting and the whole sport of game angling.More and more youngsters are appearing within the sport and they are enjoying it and it is important that this is continued and encouraged.In a fishing enviroment it is interesting to see how attitudes towards youngsters is different to that away from it.people speak to them and encourage them rather than look uncertain towards them which is a growing trend of this day and age.I enjoy speaking to the younger anglers as they do offer ideas and not all of them are bad as todays image of the younger generation is portrayed.When you take a long look at angling it is something which has something which is unique and which other sports just dont have.Yes tackle and flies change but the comaradary and the release of pressures of modern day life all go away when you fish,we still have the same aim and relax when we fish ,forgetting about everything else and we could be standing in 1950 or 1960, days and dates dont matter and its the release it gives that is important.over the years I have seen many strong friendships grow which is what its about and this is something we need to pass on to younger people which can help them in the outside world.i wa sasked by a reporter" where would you say was the best place to fish?then followed by "If you had the choice of anywhere to fish where would it be?"I could not answer straight away and as hard as I thought still could not answer.The reason after thinking about it is simple.I cant really name the one place as having fished so many,I look at each time I go as the best and as I enjoy every chance to fish,Im not bothered whwere it is,Im fishing and thats what its about.The one which does stick in my mind is always my first few outings which are still stuck in my head and my first ever 2lb fish which was a monster to me and still in my mind was the biggest fish I had ever caught.On floating line and a gold muddler and as clear as day in my mind.be it river ,stillwater reservoir or loch, every day fishing is a bonus and its just nice to be able to cast that fly.

March 30, 2008
Having managed my first outing of the year at last and I hope not an omen for it, having blanked ,it can only get better.
but still had a good and enjoayable outing as I look at my fishing as being out is what its about and a fish is a bonus.So glad really, as I dont want to blank too many times when out fishing,but it just shows that it happens to us all at times.having tried most things and even fishing into the wind nothing would look at any of my offerings and I have to put it down to one of those days.Still the company was good which is a major factor for me also when out and to see the first osprey of the year is a positive step towards better weather and more fishing to come.with so many boxes of flies,which can often be a problem rather a than an advantage,its maybe time to thin them down a bit and choose good certs and stick with those.but as you all know when you do that and your fishing theres always that fly you wish you had taken with you and before you know it your loaded down with the same old amount.looking at the positive,better weather,better fishing and time to get out on the water and take a friend with you.

March 23, 2008
With a bad week of weather which even wildlife would think twice about going out in,not much fishing has been done.We can all wish that as we have had a type of winter we MAY possibly get some kind of decent summer and enjoy some good fishing.This is where flytying comes in,when the weathers bad,its a good time to sit and tie up a few patterns and stock up.when we start tying and decide we like it,a couple of things I feel are worth getting which is really a safety thing and protects eyes from straining.A decent overhead lamp is important and you can pick these up at places such as argos as long as its a good enough to give sufficent light to stop you from squinting when your tying.If you already have glasses this might not be as important but a good magnifying attachment can be got.It attaches to your vice and helps to draw the fly to you so your not straining your eyes to see thread turns etc and can be valuable to those who have problems seeing up close.Another valuable thing is a back plate,normally it is white and it gives you fullview of your fly when your tying and does reduce eye strain alot.All of these do not cost alot of money and are simple things but they will help your eyes and protect them and make your tying alot more enjoyable.If you cant find any of these items let me know and I will try and point you in the right direction and they are worth it.

March 15, 2008
This week it was a pleasure to see brown trout around 6lbs which have grown on in the wild and perfect markings.Really beautiful fish and certainly a shame to kill something like that in my opinion.Fishing certainly switched with the better weather and plenty were being caught and buzzers seem to be doing the trick,which is always a good sign.This was the first week that the spring birds appeared,wagtails and oyster catchers showing up being a good sign for the spring and hopefully a good summer after a hard ,cold winter.
many questions are often asked about what tools and vices to get when taking up fly tying and it is a case like most things to keep it simple and not to go over the top.My recommendation for a vice will always be a rotatable regents vice ,not expensive and will last you for many years tying and strong.it has a lever action which is simple and fast to use.Usual cost of these range from £16.99 to £19.99.Any more than that and your paying over the odds.For tools,a bobbin holder,2 if you want,hackle pliers,dubbin needle and the one thing which I would spend most on is a pair of sharp pointed scissors,Dr Slick,s are perfect .This is all you need really to get you going.decide what flies you want to start tying,like buzzers and then buy the materials for it and progress from there and build up your kit as you go along.there are plenty of kits out there but alot of the contents you will still have years later and flies you make at the start resemble nothing like you see elsewhere but it gives you practice at the very least.If you decide you enjoy it progress and get better tools to suit your budget ,of which you only know and be practicle and dont go daft.But if you end up devoted to tying that will be hard and before you know it you will have endless materials and not know what to tie next.But it is a good hobby and passes many a dark evening and when you catch a fish on a fly you tied yourself ,alot of self pleasure you will gain from that.more next week.

March 1, 2008
This week has been gales and not very fishu weather.But a couple of things jumped out at me worthy of note.having just got in a nice Blue zonker strip,I tied up some blue bunny leeches and first time out it caught fish of 12lb 11oz,5lb 2oz and 4lb 10oz,not by me i may add but just goes to show how much of an impact blue is making in the flies to catch fish market.Purists will say that its not fly fishing or some other crap,but it catches and thats what its all about.What really is a purist? Its a big debate this one.For example if you were going to fish on say the river Test,a famous chalk stream,what would you use to fish it?.I had a very interesting chat with someone this week who fishes it regular and I was taken a back when he told me what he uses and he catches Browns and big browns,wild along with grayling and anything else thats there.The fly was a bunny leech and he catches when others dont.It proves a point for which I have said for many years that no matter what game fish we fish for they will take a fly be it a lure or tradtional and it is not lures which are just for rainbow trout it is a big falacy.A fish is a fish is a fish.I know one man who caught a 6 lb salmon on a blue damsel which I tied on the findhorn.it is merely the fact that we are passed down how to fish by friends and family and get into a certain catagory and dont tend to look at other things and scorn other catagory of anglers if they dont fish the way we do.We are all anglers and if we want to catch then we need to change methods at times and not stick to something which is not working just because thats the way we normally fish.Funny how someone catches on buzzers and then someone fishes a lure and ends up with a good bag of fish ,on the other hand it could be the opposite on another day.Its not to say that the bigger fish are not there just because you are not getting them.all food for thought.
As for fly tying we all like to save money and road kills and feathers given to us from the shooting season are always a good source.I learned a valid lesson many years ago when I used to shoot and thought I was archie saving money and just plucked them and put the feathers into my box and when I went back a month later they had come back to life!! mites all over so in the bin they went and it put me off tying for a while.when I came back to it and took up serious tying i wasnt going to make the same mistake again.It is paramount to protect you stock.When you get something be it in a packet or fresh always check it.Not shop bought things as they have been treated but if a friend has given up and the materials have been left in a loft or garage,I can assure you if you look it will be no use if they have not had any use for a while.mites will get in and small larvae will be seen very easy,if you see one bin them dont take the risk.Fresh kills all you need to do is to make sure any meat is removed and wash it in detergent,like Venpol and give it a good scrub.Then rewash in clean warm water and get right in between the feathers.take a hair dryer after dabbing off excess water and dry it thouroughly,make sure it is dry completly it is important.Put it into a bag and then add napalathene crystals of about a small teaspoon full and seal it.Put into a freezer and leave it there for about 2 months,this will kill anything you may have missed and then they are ready to use.I do this with all my feathers given to me.it does work and keeps your valuable tying materials clean.its always worth having small bags of crystals among your feathers at all times to keep moths of them aswell.keep all your feathers in sealed containers and keep them safe.The crystals I will add do stink but it does fade as you get used to them but saves you alot of money in the long run.

February 23, 2008
Well if you have read this months Todays flyfisher magazine you will see this months results of the flytying challenge.The winners have done exceptional tyings and deserve the prizes as I found them excellent and the thought which has gone into them, along with the actual tying itself makes them worthy winners.Not that I would use them and find they are more a decorative fly and better in a frame,than on the water,its not to say they wouldnt work but tying a dozen of each and to lose one would hurt.With all the materials we have today it just goes to show that if you expand your mind and fiddle about with materials it is amazing what you can come up with.Most tyers follow the norm ,standard patterns,but a few minutes just looking at materials and the actual insects themselves can give an idea to a new discovered pattern, which when tried could be the holy grail which most tyers look for.Now and again ,when time allows I like to dabble a bit with tying the fancier flies which will never be used, such as butterflys,purely to test my tying and my imagination.This is both relaxing and challenging and enjoyable.many fly anglers are turning to tying their own flies now and its good to expand within the sport to use another arm of it and when you catch a fish on your own tied fly each and every tyer says the same thing,"the buzz you get and pleasure from catching on your own fly that you tied yourself is a great feeling"So if you have just had thoughts of trying fly tying ,put it into action and you will find another part of this fantastic sport and hobby which will give hours of pleasure when the weather is not favourable for actual fishing and it can save you money in the long run.Saying that if you really get into it,cost can grow as you end up buying more and more and before you know it you have heaps of materials so be wise with your buying.Over the next couple of weeks Ill give some ideas and tips out,like how to preserve your capes from infestations,cleaning road kills and feathers given to you, what to do when someone gives you any materials before you put them among your own.All very usefull and saves you having to bin things becuase you didnt know.Hope you will pick things up from it and find it usefull and helpfull.If you want to ask any questions ,just give me a call and i will help with any queries you may have.

February 17, 2008
Good weather inspired many back to the water and with a strong sun its never a good omen for fishing.Still many perservered and caught even though it has been slow.The river Spey opened this week and reports of well mended kelts were good and a fresh 10lb salmon from association water was reported.Most been taken on spinner and flying C,s.most of the week has been spent with a film crew who enjoyed time on the Spey and at the fishery which the weather made even more inviting filming.Cold nights and warm days does effect fishing and it is down to patience to catch with these conditions ,but at this time of year Ill take it.Plenty good fish are being taken and its always good to see fish of good quality with full tails and fins ,putting up a good account of themselves.With all the scourges and politics in todays life I find it very gratifying when I see families and Dads and the kids out on the water,which sadly is a factor missing in todays age,but is beginning to be a regular site on fisheries and is encouraging and shows that fishing is not only good for relief of stress and strains of modern living ,but also it brings people together and gives something back to the communities where certain morals are seriously lacking and should be supported rather than antied.

February 10, 2008
At last a break in the weather and signs of the actual fishing seson getting up and running.It is amazing just how much temperatures do effect fishing and this was proven this week.weds saw a very hard day and then thursday onwards the fishing took off and fish were high in the water and even suspender buzzers worked and took plenty of fish.How many anglers would even think of putting a suspender buzzer on at this time of year.Nothings ever certain in angling and its sometimes just a little change out of the ordinary that makes the difference.Waters are very clear at the minute which is good and signs are excellent for a good year.Spring is certainly in the air,with birds arriving ready for nesting and good to see all the wildlife about which is also what makes fishing a pleasure.Around forums ,debates still rage on and canbe a good source of information for all ,but should be taken with a little caution and not gospel.It can be for the newcomer a very daunting experience and the 2 I would recommend, where advice is, in general, very good and informative is www.flyfishingforums.co.uk and www.completefisher.com both of these are friendly(tongue in cheek) and a good bunch of anglers who will help you out and have good discussions on them and apart from those who go on for their own ends and self bravado, will do their best to help anyone which for me is what a forum is all about.There is a good chat room on the complete fisher forum site which is good for an evening where the banters good .when taking any advice always make sure it is good and seek from various sources so as you can make a good informed choice as a advice is only a persons opinion and credentials are also valid to look for.One which struck home to me was a topic"tackle for normal people" This is just spot on as most talk about top whack tackle and gives the impression its all rich folk on there but its not and there is excellent tackle at very fair prices out there just as good as the top end of the market.The key is knowing where and who to ask.

February 3, 2008
Just recently received mail from a known Fishing gov organisation,i was surprised to see just how many net fishing stations there was still in existance,I know we speak about predators killing new fish coming in and at sea which does have an impact but seeing the amont of netting stations and where they are,would also impact on fish stocks aswell.Big klondykers out at sea still are the major worry for me and are the biggest culprits.If you go back 50 years there was plenty of fish in our rivers and there didnt seem to be a problem,et we still had predators,poaching,netting aswell more than today and yet we still had plenty of fish.The only real change from what I can see is the klondyking ships decimating the stocks.I may be wrong in my assumption here but logic says not.yet scientists and goverment org seem to blame everything else including the brown trout and rainbow trout but the brown trout have lived happily alongside salmon and sea trout for centuries so I cant accept that argument.Things do seem to be looking up but it is a slow process.Bleakest of weather is not helping fishing at the minute and its a long waiting game, for milder, more fishable weather to come which most find more comfortable and enjoyable to fish in.Temperatures are always an important factor in fishing and does have a big impact on catches sudden drop and sudden rises dont make for good fishing and I work on a system of 2 days steady conditions will normally giv a good days fishing as fish will have adjusted,this is nothing written in stone ,I may add and only my own observation over the years.Even only one month into the new year debates are rife and arguments are in full throttle and the average angler just wants to get out and have a days fishing rather than being embroiled in politics of the sport.As an individual,I just want to enjoy a day fishing without any politics or arguing about who has caught what and how many.Catching 50 fish in a day does nothing for me,nor does it impress me,who wants to catch 50 fish in a day?I have been in that position but many years ago but it brought me to me senses that it was just a case of chuck and catch which didnt make me any more skillful an angler as Give a monkey a rod and he could catch the same.better to catch less by using skills learned in fly fishing and catch one fish after a hard day working it all out to acheive that one fish than just throwing anything and catching many, which involves no thought and no skill.Satisfaction comes from working it all out and I learned this through the circle of fly fishing and will always hold my hands up as I have done it myself.

January 25, 2008
With the time of year being cold, wet and miserable,there is not much new year cheer.Long do we wait for warmer times and to see fish popping about on the top of the water readily taking insects which free them selves to start a cycle of life once again.As you wait you hear the moans and groans when the fish are not taking and and the place has no fish etc etc while anglers opposite are steadily taking fish( must be lucky or cheating comes the next words).Instead of the moans and accusations we should always look to ourselves rather than make up excuses.Yes blanks and hard fishing days have adorned all of us and will again in the future,no doubts about that but that is fishing be thankfull you are on the water at all and if someone else is hauling away at fish go and ask them ,no shame in it and its better than slagging the place off and moaning.Its in our hands so do something to change things if you are not getting something,dont persist fishing the same way with no success.Make a break from following what others are doing and try something out of the normal as its those who do that in the end will stand out from the crowd.

January 20, 2008
Competitions seem to be on the lips of alot of anglers with the troutmaster fish offs looming,ready for the troutmaster final,which is held at Grafham water.I hear and read alot of for and against competitions and also the troutmaster event itself and to be honest it is down to the individual.Taking the troutmasters compy ,I think myself it is something that everyone should experience at least once in their fishing lifetime.Its not a thing to take serious as alot do and anyone can win this event and it is excellent .Well attended and well run and a great place to meet up with other anglers from all over the country.Yes there are the die hards but it is the taking part which should be enjoyed and treat as another days fishing on a new water,if it happens for you it will.I dont believe that it is luck which wins but many do put alot of practice time in and preparation to win these big events and there is skill involved so not all about luck,but there is some element there.On competitions itself take part and enjoy it,it is fun after all.With the last few weeks of hardened frosts,milder tempshave arrived ,for how long ,well who knows but should be taken advantage of as some of the fishing has been very good and fish always fight that bit harder in winter time.
being fortunate to spaek to alot of anglers,I do count myself lucky that in this day and age where the world and our country is so messed up that we have the sport of angling where when we go fishing we are all the same,no class distinction and there to do the same thing which is our sport of fly fishing and release the everyday stress that most face regular.Angling doesnt really change,only the anglers and long may it remain untouched by outside life and goverments who have their own agendas,but leave alone the one release for us anglers to enjoy where nothing else matters but a nice day on the water in the peace and tranquility and away from the outside world of troubles,if only for a few hours.What price would you pay for that in todays climate?Enjoy every minute of it while you can,till the next time.

January 11, 2008
With a frosty start to the new year,action is very much a hit and miss affair and more can be done building up new flies ready for the better weather and perfect new skills on the fly tying scene.A few minutes a day, when the weather is a bit more comfortable,with a rod and line,leader and some wool just to practice and fine tune our casting is always well worth it.Most are planning this years fishing trips which we all look forward to and competition scene dates are now starting to appear.Judging from some forums which I read there is plenty of things going on but these need to be taken lightly and often if easily offended these are not the place for you.They are a very good source of fishing tips and information and there is always plenty of help for the newcomer, but makes sure its right advice for you.They are enjoyable and good banter and pass away the dark nights if your not a tyer.But choose a forum wisely as some have very closed views outside of their own which does not help newcomers wanting a true and overall opinion of something in the fishing world,which is vast.Have a good fishing year and enjoy it and bear in mind its not all about getting a fish.

December 29, 2007
Only two days and we enter a new year and fishing season.Its been a while since I looked forward to a new season apart from when I was younger and didnt have any worries of life then and just wanted to get out and stood in all weathers and enjoyed every minute of it.Being a bit older now, the body wont take to the colder stuff as much, so it has to be decent weather for me, although this year i have had some bad fishing weather and couldnt believe i was actually out in a boat at grafham fishing in monsoons and hurricane winds, nuts to say the least.Having fished some new waters this year and enjoyed the company of fellow anglers and friends,this coming year new waters and rivers,lochs will beckon and hope to get about new parts of the country and revisit old haunts of years ago where i enjoyed many hours/days of fishing,not always catching ,but good to be on the water.Thoughts of friends gone from here to the fishing grounds as time marches on.Devon holds many memories for me,especially a night when fishing a pool on the plym when a baliff jumped out on me around 1pm in the morning,I can still see it now and probably smell the same aswell.Its a river which holds a warmth and the lyn,tavy and river dart are all worth revisiting.The river Otter near Budliegh salterton has many of my lifes hours and my biggest memory was when I caught 2 brown trout on Sir Richard Hulls stretch of the otter, who I first met cowering under the stairs at a country mansion in devon with a half pint, at a meeting of the Otter flyfishing association,he became a good friend and it goes to show in angling status means nothing among anglers and the memories over the years are many and are what this sport is all about.The many friends i have made within this sport are numerous and i wish I could thank them all for them.So as a new year resolution it will be to revisit those memories and friends who are left and enjoy some fishing with them and fish new waters for new experiences.In this day and age we spend most of our lives chasing around at 200mph and dont get time to enjoy it and that is why angling is a big part of life where we can relax and get some enjoyment and peace and build up memories to pass on.So if i were to give any advice to go into next year with,it would be this.Make a fishing trip memorable and enjoyable,share your time with other anglers and make new and lifelong friendships and get away from the rat race and relax.Its not all about catching fish,theres alot more to fishing than that,its a sport to be shared by all,so go out and share, the rewards are numerous.Happy new year to you all may it be a good one for you and all your families.

December 15, 2007
With Christmas not far off,I would first of all like to wish all friends and anglers and their families a very HAPPY Christmas and New year.Thankyou for your support and friendship.
I hope that trough out the year you may have found some of the topics and ideas usefull to you and its now that I tend to reflect on the past year,ready for next.For me the maindownside this year has been the weather where we didnt have any real summer months and rain and wind has dominated.It did deter some from going out fishing but rather than look at the negatives its always good to look at the positives.We will all have learned something new and gained some experiences which will help us next year and given some decent weather will help us to enjoy our outings alot more.For me there has been many positives which at the start of the year I was just wishing it was over as so many things were going wrong,it started to make a turn around.Having seen many new anglers come into the sport ,women and alot more youngsters seemed to feature well showing the sport is very healthy and building on thisyear after year very secure and the momentum should be kept going.This is down to every individual angler to do their bit and take a friend with them.I have done a bit more fishing than previous years which I have enjoyed and fished more waters ,some new,enjoying the hospitality of likeminded people and seeing some quality fish from our waters.Next year I aim to fish even more and do some hill lochs and more rivers.Getting out and about will be the aim next year.My flytying being very important to me and a great pastime aswell will continue for me and I hope to arrange some flytying courses for next year so if you are interested in learning get in touch with me.Personal progression for me is important,not for bravado or elitisim but for myself and myself alone.By constant improvement it gives me an aim to acheive and also helps others in their angling when I teach and its something we should all do is aim to progress not just in the sport ,but all that we do,it gives us something target at.
If there was any advice to give at this time of year,it would be to look at what you want to acheive next year and set about acheiving it,seek help if need be and then go and do it.Climb over the knock backs and keep going.I dont say all this lightly and from the pages of a book,I only speak from experiences that I have had and only write in facts not fiction which I hope help others to better them selves.An anglers world is seperate from a real world and is a far better place to be and if transported into real life it would be a better world where we all enjoy it.Peace and tranquility ,stress free not worrying about things and enjoying it with friends and family.I wish you all the best wishes from one angler to another and look forward to wetting that fly again.

December 8, 2007
Well it was back to work this week for me,if you can call it that as I count myself forunate enough that work is my hobby also.The winter has set in with its coldness but rather wetter than the normal snow scenes expected around this time.The fishing in these conditions have been excellent and buzzers have been doing very well in reds,orange and whites.most of any bigger fish have been found in deeper waters and just not in the mood for chasing anything.With the festive season now underway all thoughts tend to go on that and its maybe time to look at your tackle and see which bits and bobs you need to replace or sought out for next year.check and clean your lines,have a good look at rod blanks for any damage and the old clothing side is very important at the minute if you fish through the winter.Take some advice if you go out to buy anything and dont fall into the trap of if its the dearest its the best as its not the case.I only recommend things if I know or have tried them myself.That way I know they do the job they were designed .Fly tying is a great way to spend the evenings replacing lost and damaged flies ,all ready for next outings and also relaxing and a pleasurable way to pass the time.for those who dont tie,there are plenty of good suppliers out there but make sure they are well tied and strong and dont fall to bits at the first fish,otheriwse you will soon find out a cheap fly works out to be far more expensive than a good one in the first place.Whatever you do at this time of year fishing or otherwise,I d like to wish all my fellow anglers and friends all the best for Christmas and new year and hope to see you all on the waters next year,its a pleasure to belong to a great band of people.

December 2, 2007
Having had a very busy last couple of weeks doing courses and also moving home,there hasnt been much time fo any fishing ,but hopefully that will all change once everything has settled down.winter weather has come and temperatures have now dropped making fish more conservative with their energy and not as active to chase flies,but they still have not gone down as deep and floating lines are still taking as well as intermediete lines.many ask me what lines do I recommend.The ones I find best are Floating either the SNowbee XS or Cortland 333 pro and intermediete lines I cannot see past the Cortland Blue as it is to me a true intermediete line.Anyone will not go wrong with either of these and they are not expensive and will serve you well.many anglers hang up their wellies and rods during winter and miss some of the best fishing you can get and especially with buzzers and bloodworm patterns ,really good sport can be had some days it will depend on temperatures and fish will be on and off just as fast so patience is the name of the game.Its always a good getaway from the Xmas shopping for a day to relax from the hordes running about like crazy grabbing all the last minute bits.For any angler xmas can be the time for new rods,reels,flies to top up on,new lines etc a priest,spools of flurocarbon, waders,new all weather gear plenty for santa to bring the angler and dont be keen to rush out and spend a fortune on it all as there is plenty of good quality equipment at a good price and does the job just as good as expensive gear with brand names on them.one of the worlds top Instructors recently bought a rod from me and says it is a dream to cast with and has a perfect casting action and could not believe the price and a lifetime warranty also.

November 5, 2007
Winter keeps popping in and out at the minute which will make fishing a little up and down and there leads the answer, some days intermediate lines ,somedays floaters will be needed and it will be down to the day.very noticeable of late has been colours of fly which has been working and red,white and lime have been the favoured colours and have taken some good fish from around.As a bit of learning for some ,this time of year some of the best fish to get are the triploid fish.with rainbows you have diploids which are females and go through the normal spawning cyle of life and these are the ones which spew eggs all over you and a dark in colour and the ones which you see flapping about on the surface shedding eggs.(thats why pink , orange and red are good)and the triploid fish are sexless fish and keep thier condition and dont go through the spawning cycle and fight hard because of this.it Maybe a bit of sucking eggs for some but for new anglers we all have to learn and hopefully this will help some next time they hear it.Thats what our sport is all about ,learning and everyone has their opinions and ideas to pass on but my advice is to make sure when taking advice, to make sure it is from a reliable source as some that I have seen about can both totally confuse a newcomer and is not accurate to the point it is absolute rubbish.Enjoy the rest of the season as some good sport can be had even though it is an on/ off affair with fish feeding not so regular as through the summer months.Like it or loaht it,the indicator is a deadly method this time of year.

October 28, 2007
Just back from the annual competition at a local water which was a really enjoyable day out for all.As any angling day some did very well some had not so good( me included) but I still enjoyed an excellent day with likeminded anglers in a friendly atmosphere and good weather which you couldnt ask for more.Some forums say that compys should be banned ,but for me it is a major part of fishing and to see youngsters enjoying a day with adults and competiing, with no mass slaughter I may add of fish,is good for the sport overall and says it is heading in the right direction and healthy.The social aspect of the sport is very important for many anglers and even though you may not be catching alot its the taking part and enjoying the day out that is important.For all those who are against barbless hooks over 706 fish were caught and that says it all.sooner or later all hooks will be barbless and its not a bad thing in my book as you dont lose anymore fish than you would with barbed in my opinion and it hones in your fishing skills alot more also.So try it and get used to fishing barbless as it is in the pipeline so be ready for it when it comes and be ahead of the field and land more than those unprepared for it.if you have never fished a compy try it you will either enjoy it or dislike it but treat it as just another day out and see and become part of the social side and make it fun not pressure to win, if its to be it will happen,just enjoy it.

October 14, 2007
A very busy couple of weeks meant reports were a bit light,but having just put the final peice of my jigsaw of life in place,time has been concentrated on that.Weather of late has been perfect and has seen fish taking well and still on the top so hopefully all will be taking advantage of it after a rather bad fishing season(weather wise)I find that the bigger fish always tend to hold back in deeper water and while most fish on the top with floaters they miss them due to thisand its those who fish intermediates and sinkers who tend to connect with them.Not to say the floater wont take big fish, as they do many a time.Alot of my time has been spent on fly fishing forums,which I find interesting,some of the comments and questionsalthough there is a couple and thankfully only a couple which are very cliquey and offer a slightly biased view to anglers,which I dont like and even though I have my own myself it is an overall view and advice to all which I try to give and let the angler do the choosing.I will always give straight and honest views and advice and no fantasy league things that you often read.Although not perfect,I may be wrong but thats human nature and we cant all be right all the time and I will admit and hold my hands up if I am wrong.I found a good forum with a wide account of views and found it an excellent forum for all it is www.flyfishingforums.co.uk and also for the young anglers a website for them which they can join and have fun with www.thecastaways.org.uk these are both good for all and worth looking at and no cliques!!its important to me that all anglers are given the whole picture and not just a portion of it.recently I did a report on a fishery for a magazine and am proud to say it was a fair and honest one,which is the aim of doing it and its also fair to you the angler as its your money you are spending,no use reading fantasy stuff about loads of big fish being caught when they are,nt,facts always speak for themselves and if ever you see a report by me I can assure you it is a true and honest one for your benefit as an angler.Im lucky that I get to talk to so many anglers in my work so get a good picture of the angling world and not a single view which is why i try to pass it on through my articles to give a bigger picture .So open you mind a little a look wider and you may surprise yourself and have some good fishing and better fishing out and about.

September 30, 2007
Already we are at the end of september and a week of decent and steady weather had fish settled and taking well.Top of the water tactics with wets aswell as buzzers have been taking alot of fish.Some good bags of fish have been taken out and about and I have seen many anglers enjoying some good fishing at last with what has been a hard year with wind and rain.many have had to change tactics more often than previous years to accomadate this which will only enhance experience and teach us to adjust more and broaden our knowledge of different methods of fly fishing,so it can only be looked on as a positive year where we have learned more than had it been just a normal year where we would have fished as "Normal",but instead increased our knowledge for future years to come.
I enjoyed the hospitality of a fishery where you are always welcomed with friendliness and a good days fishing when we took part in a pairs competition for a charity called" Sparks ".this is for research for childrens medical conditions and is totally funded by donations with no grants from goverment sources at all.Most are sportsmen and women who give to the charity which shows how much we as anglers do for the benefit of others and yet there are people out there who ridicule us as anglers and cant open their eyes to the amount of good that we do while we enjoy our sport.Walking about with closed eyes springs to mind.Anglers should be proud to fish as they do alot for others which was proved yesterday raising £2200 for the charity and it is things like this that any who are anti the sport want to look and see how much we do for all charitys l including animals for the benefit of a better life for all.Apart from this it was an enjoyable event and a good day fishing in perfect weather(for me anyway as I hate the rain) with a good friendly atmosphere which would welcome any angler and showed the true spirit of angling and even though it was a competition it was enjoyed by all.

September 25, 2007
For those of you who read this page I hope you find it usefull and pick up the odd thing which has helped you with your fishing.its always good for me to speak to others as i pick up alot from them and hear others views on angling of today as it does change over the years.This year has certainly been one of the worst for fishing,high winds ,rain and unusual and lack of any seasons,has not helped the fishing at all.Many have just not even bothered fishing as planning a trip has been hit with bad weather.Stock size has been hit due to a number of reasons and other things have come into the equation.On the positive side there has been alot of new anglers taking up the sport,including many younger and women included,most of which is down to the work of enthusiastic anglers giving up their spare time to help them get into the sport and they should all be applauded for this.The fish quality this year has been excellent and most I have seen have been full tailed and fought hard which makes for a very good season next year.it is maybe a good thing that this year has been a hard one as it brings us all down to earth as we have had it very good over the last few years and have been spoilt.now its time to become realistic and see what true fly fishing is all about,not this 30 and 40 fish in a day routine which is just in my mind chuck in and pull out,no thought or match the hatch, depth ,retrieve just hit and pull.Me I like to have the challenge of thinking and fishing for my fish and knowing I have had to wok for them.As i have said before those who just want loads of fish its easy to provide that with fish of 1lb1/2ozs fill a hole and away you go no problem catching them.but if you want a challenge a good mix of fish is what you need and take into account every water is different and fishes differently.The chance of a biggie should be an ambition and not the norm.With major supermarkets taking more and more fish it is putting a strain on supply for fisheries,which means higher cost to fisheries to get fish in.add to that costs in transport many fisheries do tend to soak up alot of this but can only do it for so long.to maintain quality fish and fishings does cost alot and if you look around the country you will see the variation in pricing and what is on offer to the angler and then look and see what you are paying and weigh up if you are overpaying or not.i would say we are on the very lucky side.a good point was talked about this week was about luck.To catch a fish "its all luck" was the statement made.My reply to this is ,if its all luck to catch a fish,then why is it that some catch more fish regular than others and some blank or catch the odd one?if it was all luck we would all catch alot of fish regular despite any skill.yes i agree there is an element of luck but there is alot of skill involved aswell and as you progress in knowledge and skill you catch more fish as you can adjust to suit the conditions required on the day.as said previously it is totally a false economy if you fish in a pond full to the gunnells of 1lb 1/2oz fish and haul in 30 and 40 for your day as if you go to a well managed fishery where its true fishing and you dont catch its because you have had it too easy and not had to think about what your fishing with as they will take anything and when you need to think the skills are not there and then you rely on luck,or you learn the skills and put luck and skill together you become the better angler who can catch everywhere and not in the pond where you cannot fail.Challenge is what its about.

September 16, 2007
Nothing is more pleasurable for me than showing a newcomer into the art of flyfishing.Taking someone who has never flyfished before and then to see them a few hours later casting some really nice loops,not all the time,but enough that will catch a fish and improve as time goes on.New faces appear all the time showing the sport is creating interest and its down to all anglers to keep the sport alive by inviting a friend along.Anglers are good for the economy and put alot of money into tourism,often travelling many miles to fish but what does tourism and other organisations give back to the angler?All other sports get huge funding like the arts,golf,football but you never see any coming the angling way.Yet it is a big industry and puts alot towards taxation for this country.Even the international teams in Scotland have to help to find funds them selves to represent their country ladies and youths aswell.this I think is diabolical when so much money is wasted elsewhere and these people have gone out of their way to progress in the sport, which is not cheap to become an international and represent their country and its a case of fund your own way.It is a top sport and should have the funds available for our internationals especially the youths otherwise we will lose it and alot of good young anglers who should be representing their country are unable to due to the lack of funds and I find that a big disgrace.As you have probably guessed its soapbox week but a very pertinant point that is not brought up very much but one which we as anglers should be aware of and should ask the questions of why it doesnt happen.I take my hat off to all those people who give alot of their spare time to help our sport by organising days fishing taking youngsters out fishing and also even helping financially where they can,but the sport needs many more of it and even only in the smallest of ways possible it does help in a big way to promote and help the sport progress.It doesnt take much to help out and it doesnt take alot of time but if every person who fishes did just one little thing the impact for the sport would be huge.Just a few thoughts for us anglers,I know its a hobby, but without those behind the scenes working hard for the sport there would be No sport.

September 9, 2007
When I teach someone fly casting,it always takes me back to when I first started myself with the questions asked they were the same ones I used to ask myself at the start.What flys to use,names of flys,what line to use,how to retrieve loads and loads of questions and answers to which have taken many years to answer.Answering them though is what fly fishing is all about its the learning and it takes a lifetime and you will never stop learning the answers.Thats what makes it enjoyable and keeps us striving to find those answers.If we found the answer straight away its not much fun after that as there is no challenge and we would soon get bored.We need the challenge and thats what makes it interesting to keep us going.Fishing can be a big circle and the things we do in that circle when we look back at it and I speak for myself here can be shameful and make you think did I really do that .Like the chasing and catching numbers of fish of 40 and 50 in a day,chasing that bigger fish all the time,putting pressure on yourself to catch a fish,not telling what fly you are catching with when people ask,like the old various fly,competitions the pressure of the must win and changing flys like there was no tomorrow every other cast,some ways not a nice person but following the circle and learning from it hopefully made me a better person and i now find more pleasure from helping someone to learn from my early mistakes and help them to catch fish and to see the genuine pleasure when they do gives me more satisfaction than any personal gain and the rewards of friendship and seeing new anglers joining the sport is what its all about.I do enjoy competitions now alot more and the bigger ones where years ago the pressure would have been terrible for me,but now it is only another days fishing to me,win or lose,I enjoy the meeting and chat and and the days fishing on new venues I have ,nt fished before its more satisfying and relaxing.i often watch and think I used to do that.I will admit i never resorted to total desperation and would never go as far as to cheat which does happen unfortunatly and that is down to the individual in the end and they can take no pride in a win that way as it always comes back to bite you.i remember the times I would just fish ace of spades,lures and never dreamed of using a wet or a dry,but as in the circle progressed and enjoyed it then onto buzzers giving me the learning curve and as in a circle can now fish all flies.so look at where you are in the circle of fly fishing and look at your next step in it as its always good to look back but take this away from it its only fishing and not a desperate struggle of life and death its a pleasure thing to share with others and enjoy it.

September 1, 2007
Well this year has flown in and the nights are coming in fast cutting down precious fishing time for us all.it has been a bad year for fishing with the unusual weather but the fish which have been caught from what I have seen are very good hard fighting fish in top quality which can only get better as time goes on after all the past couple of years problems which farmers have encountered and have had it hard themselves and they have done well to still get supplies of fish out to fisheries which is a credit to them.Anglers have to understand that the whole of the fish industry from farms to fisheries have suffered and have done a good job and should not be basphemed if and angler happens on some smaller fish after the past couple of years the biguns will come back its just a matter of time, at least we can still enjoy the sport as a fish is a fish.Last week an angler had a pleasing surprise when he hit into a nice 18lb 8ozs carp which was a beauty of a fish and all on the fly which made it even better.Still there is still much more sport to enjoy in this year as september and october are excellent months for the fly and many of the larger fish will be looking for food for the winter so sport should be high.Even the winter months are good and many anglers do prefer it and find the fishing really good and some very good bags are often taken during this period.So advice is to get out there and get stuck into them and dont go hanging up the rods for the season as you will miss much of the excellent fishing which the following months provide.

August 26, 2007
Most of the week has been getting ready for the main competition today which saw 60 anglers compete in the team event ,bringing together gents and ladies from all over the country and enjoy a good days fishing and hats off to each and everyone as it was enjoyed in the true spirit of fly fishing where all shared a joke and a good laugh which is what fly fishing even competitions are all about.Some were pure novices and they caught fish which to see the smiles on their faces was to give pure satisfaction.Although at times it was hard which has been the scenario for nearly all fishings this year due to unusual weather conditions it did not deter morale and all rallied to each other and to the winners of the event.Most all anglers caught and the excellent quality of fish averaged over 3lb 8ozs right into double figures with full tails and full fins and hard fighting which put a strain on arms and surprised some using too light a tippet and underestamating the strength that fish can have when hooked.An end to a busy but satisfying week and seeing smiling anglers after a good day is what makes it for us as fishery managers.

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