june 14
DESCRIPTION
The fly fishers magazine for fly fishers by fly fishersTRANSCRIPT
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Welcome to the June issue of “The Flyfisher Magazine” the free Emagazine by keen fly fishers for keen fly fishers throughout the UK and Abroad. If you wish to advertise within the magazine or the website www.flyfisher-magazine.com please email [email protected] for an advertising rates quote Parent website: www.flyfishingdirectory.co.uk Sister website: www.flyfisher-magazine.com If you would like to contribute a free story or a fishing report along with Photographs; please email them to [email protected] Please include a bio about yourself so that it can be added to your article. Cover Photo Courtesy of Shane Stewart
Editor: Robin “The Cormorant” Lambert: Email: [email protected]
Contents
Chasing Down the Prince of Tides in Northwest USA: Page 4
The Heat, The Dust, The Flies: Page 8
The Soul of Fly Fishing: Page 10 Thinking About Next Fishing Season in New Zealand: Page 11
Fly of the Month: Page 13 Recipe of the Month: Page 13 Review Time: Page 14 Fishing Reports: Page 15
The Lovely Reed: Page 22 Filleting a Fish: Page 23 Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation: Page 26 These great kits from Airflo are just what the beginner to fly fishing is crying out for – who says fly fishing can be expensive when you’re starting out?
The kits come with everything that anyone could need to go out and try fly fishing for the first time; it’s all balanced and setup ready to go, straight out of the box. The rod is a lovely four-piece; with an action that’s more middle to tip that will suit anyone new to the sport. This is teamed up with a balanced fly reel and Velocity floating line. With the bright green colour easy to track during the cast and on the water, it's a great outfit to get you started. If all that wasn’t enough you also get a tapered leader, a fly box with some killer patterns and there’s even a pair of glasses in there to keep your eyes safe from harm and the whole lot, including a rod tube, is under £60! There are three kits to choose from covering most trout disciplines,
8’6” ideal for rivers and streams - £59.99
9’ ideal for small still waters - £69.99
10’ ideal for large reservoirs, lakes and lochs - £69.99 http://www.flyfisher-magazine.com/for-sale
© The Flyfisher Magazine
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Chasing Down the Prince of Tides in Northwest USA.
By Burren Lodge
We had been cruising around in Bob Triggs’ pea-green
dory all morning, him at the oars, me at my rod. The
fish had been very cooperative. “Let’s drop in on that
beach while I make us some lunch,” said Bob, and we
pulled his lovingly restored boat up the pebbles, made it
secure and unloaded the cold box for a lunch of humus
and olives, pickles and cheese, flat bread, blue corn
Doritos, aged Italian salami and fresh strawberries. We
don’t stint on lunch. It shows. We look less like an owl
and a pussycat than overweight Hells Angels in waders
these days.
“You might like to go up the shore a bit and cast into
that rip,” said Bob, a guide whom I now count as a
friend and guru in all maters to do with flies and fishing
with them. He might have meant; “piss off up the bank a
bit. I’ve had you all morning,” but it was unlikely.
Bob knows these waters like the back up his pickup truck. He is as keen for you to catch fish as you are.
So I wandered up and found a spot where the incoming tide was pressing against slack water over a shallow, stony flat,
and put my fly into the water. It was a Clouser Minnow dressed with blue streaks. It hit the water and swung with the tide –
no retrieve needed - and then there was a sharp, no-nonsense “gimmee” grab, and a fish was on. Less than five minutes
later it was at my feet, unwittingly posing for this magazine. A sea-run cutthroat or cutt, or SRC if you like. Its official name
is Oncorhynchus clarki clarki. Whatever. It was about 12” long, and as wild as the wind, a golden marbled back, its side
covered in black pepper spots and its jaws bearing the red slash that gives the species its name.
We watched it swim away, fully recovered, until its shape merged with the gemstone shop bottom and we could see it no
longer. I looked down the beach towards our boat. A baby seal was watching us, an osprey was hovering high above, there
was not another soul for miles of tree-lined beachfront, and barely a cloud in the sky.
Where else in the world can you fish for wild trout year-round for the price of a £50.00 State permit, and stand a good
chance of taking a salmon too? Where else can you wander for miles and not see another angler? It’s a question I have
asked myself every year for the past four years, and the answer remains the same. Probably nowhere. Which is why I
return to Puget Sound in pursuit of cutts and coho and other salmon.
There’s 2,500 miles of shoreline around Puget
Sound and you can be fishing and catching a few
hours after touchdown in Seattle, especially if you
fire up with a little of the coffee for which the city
is famous.
And this is fishing from the shore, as opposed to
saltwater fly-fishing. You don’t need a skiff,
shorts, shirts in Day-Glo colours, and a headband
to anchor your wraparound mirrored Polaroids or
a rod with a fighting butt. A boat is fun, and Bob’s
is a treat, but there is nothing like playing a feisty
cutt from the shore or thigh-high in the ocean, and
then wandering down the beach to another spot.
There are endless spots in this network of fjords,
countless National and State parks where you
can leave your car and stroll down to the salt.
There is water everywhere you look in this part of
the world, and almost all of it is fishable.
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All you need is a good eight or nine foot trout rod twinned with a #5 or #6 floating line, tapered leaders down to about 3x,
waders and boots, a hat (preferably one that won’t blow off) and polaroid glasses.
You don’t actually need special flies because a Woolly Bugger will take the cutts and so will muddlers and conventional
flies, even dry ones. But it does help if you have a few of the local patterns in your box, and these are readily available at
any tackle shop around the Sound.
Bob’s rightly famous for his Chum Baby imitation, a sparse brownish fly that imitates the chum salmon fry on which cutts
and salmon gorge in the early part of the year. But it’s a good fly year-round too.
But before you go doing your bit to boost the Washington State economy, you’ll need a licence. I get mine from a hardware
store and they are easy to come by. You can get a three-day permit or a year-round one and they cost less than a new line.
You can’t get them online.
Then I’d advise a guide for a couple of days so you can get into the swing of things, swing being the operative word. You
can just go right down to the nearest stony beach, cast and maybe catch, but a little bit of expert wisdom goes a long way
and helps you avoid duff techniques and locations. If you’ve got time there are good books and I’ve listed a couple plus
some websites that are heavy on practical rather than lyrical.
You don’t need to cast a long way but you do need
to drop a fly in active water or a “rip” where the tide
is bruising against slow water or an uneven bottom,
obstruction or rock pile. Low slack water is
generally considered to be the least rewarding
water, although fish are caught that way, especially
over a sandy bottom when eels are in abundance.
Eelgrass is another good sign of a potential cutt lair.
Tides do matter and if you do find local anglers they
are probably out three hours before and three hours
after a good tide, probing the places like oyster
beds and clam beaches where crustaceans, sand
lances and other food are thrown up by the turmoil.
Cutts feed on this stuff, but so do baitfish, and there
are some great imitations of herring and salmon fry
available.
Cutts are born in the river systems around Puget
Sound. Some migrate to the sea for months at a time, generally between spring and autumn. Some live in the ocean year-
round but the truth is we don’t know an awful lot about them, except that they have recovered in numbers thanks to an
angler-led conservation effort started in the 1970s which has led to them being awarded official protected status in 1988.
It’s catch and release, and barbless hooks only.
What we do know is that they move, sometimes up to 20 miles a day. A beach that produced a bagful yesterday might be a
blank today. The fish move with the tides to scour out the food that makes them such tough specimens. They rarely grow
above 20” in the ocean, although bigger ones have been caught, but a fish of that size on a light rod in moving water is an
experience that stays with you.
There are no “hot spots” as such but a guide or fly shop will put you on a stretch of beach somewhere around the Sound
with a chance of taking. The telltale signs of a good spot are pebbles, stones, barnacles, nearby trees and submerged
obstructions. Eelgrass is a good sign too, Anywhere near where a creek or river runs out or where big pools drain back into
the sea is also a likely cutt restaurant.
I’ve found the occasional angler I meet on the beach truly helpful. There is a Band of Brothers feel about cutt fishing and
many people I have met have given me flies and advice. I tend to stay in one place on the Olympic Peninsula for a base
and there is lots of fishing on the beaches there, but I have a large map that is slowly deteriorating with salt water fingering,
and I am happy to try a new place any day. You can fish in National Parks near Seattle – Lincoln, Golden Gardens,
Carkeek, and on the South Sound there are Parks like Fort Flagler, an epic stretch of sand and stone, and along the Hood
Canal.
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One of the Band of Brothers and an inspiration is Leland Miyawaki, who turned his back on the advertising industry to
manage the Orvis store in Seattle and is now their Fishing Manager. He gives tuition to would-be cutt and coho anglers and
is a regular
sight around the beaches. His enthusiasm for cutt fishing would be tribute enough but he has also invented a fly that has
devotees up and down the Pacific seaboard. His “Popper” dressed in a variety of colours (pink for coho) brings fish up for a
look. “I love dry fly fishing, it’s so visual, and I came up with the Popper for the beaches. Fish might mistake it for an injured
baitfish or something, but whatever the reason they see the wake and come up for a look. Using a Popper will usually
determine whether there are fish there or not, and it’s visually exciting. You don’t need a manic retrieve, just let it swing and
bring it in slowly and keep your eyes open. You blink, you miss.”
Between August and the end of September there is a run of coho and humpback (Pink) salmon along the beaches; you can
see them doing aerial ballet and also watch the ironmongers throwing their buzz-bomb lures and sunk herrings at them.
But there is generally space nearby for the fly angler and I took one coho and one humpback on Clousers this year, both
very close to the shore of a sandy, windy beach where fish were moving. If salmon are your main target then you need a
guide to help you locate where they are. Leland fishes his usual nine-foot six-weight for them, but this year I tried out an 11-
ft #8 Orvis Access Switch rod that shot out line like a harpoon and calmed my nerves when the salmon started running in
the general direction of Alaska. Rules about when you can fish for salmon, and which variety, vary from year to year so
check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
The permit allows you to take fish for the pan and regulations change every year and need checking, but with so much
good salmon in so many good supermarkets, why would you? Mine recovered quickly in the wash and disappeared into the
ocean in a flash. It was one of those moments when fishing again immediately would have been disrespectful to the
species and the sport.
Leland has the answer to such moments. He naps. He is famous for napping on just about every beach he fishes and it is
customary to find him with trademark cigar a few moments before he dozes off. I didn’t get it, at first. How can you sleep
with all that water and those fish in front of you? But I am starting to get it. There’s a moment after taking a good fish when
all seems right in the world.
Moments like this are perfect for lunch too.
The tide was pushing the dory up the shore as we
rounded out our feast with freshly brewed coffee,
watched an eagle, saw porpoises gambol and seals
bob in the current.
The snow-capped peak of Mount Rainer stood out on
the skyline. We just sat back and looked. “I wonder
what the poor people are doing,” said Bob.
Useful Addresses:
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: www.wdfw.wa.gov
Excellent source of information on licences, limits and fishing.
Olympic National Park: www.nps.gov/olympic
Washington State Parks: www.parks.wa.gov
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Tackle shops, guides, tuition and conversation:
Bob Triggs Email: [email protected] Blog: http://olympicpeninsulaflyfishing.blogspot.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/LittleStoneFlyfisher Orvis Seattle
102223 NE 10th Street
Bellevue, WA 98004
01-425452-9138
https://www.facebook.com/Orvis.Bellevue
Peninsula Outfitters
19740 7th Ave NE Ste 110
Poulsbo WA 98379
01-360-394-1599
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peninsula-Outfitters
Gig Harbor Fly shop 3115 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor WA 98335 01-253-851-3474 www.Gigharborflyshopblogspot.com
Emerald Water Anglers Owner and Head Guide Dave McCoy [email protected] 01-206601-0132 www.emeraldwaterangles.com Reading and researching
I like to stay in Port Townsend, a pleasant, small Victorian town that was once a hub of the lumber industry. Look at
www.ptguide.com
Another good site for the Olympic Peninsula is: http://www.olympicpeninsula.org/places-to-stay
But for the North Sound you can stay around Seattle. Look at www.homeaway.co.uk and www.vacationrentals.com/seattle
Fly Fishing the Olympic Peninsula by Doug Rose (Revised 2008, Frank Amato publishing) A great paperback for season-round advice from a legendary and, alas, deceased authority Fly Fishing for Sea-Run Cutthroat by Chester Allen (Stackpole/Headwater) Flyfishing Coastal Cutthroat Trout, by Les Johnson, (Amato) Both technical and descriptive, worthwhile reads Seattle & the Olympic Peninsula for Dummies by Jim Gulio Exploring Washington’s Wild Olympic Coast by David Hooper
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The Heat, The Dust, The Flies
By Andy Hill
Andy Hill was a Reuter’s correspondent for 30 years and packed his rod while working in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Ireland, Morocco and elsewhere. He is editor of the East African Wild Life Society’s conservation magazine SWARA and works in Africa, Asia and the Middle East as a Media consultant. He has recently returned from a sea trout odyssey in the Falklands and has Canada, Iran and the shoreline of Somalia on his fishing calendar for 2014.
What do a 15th century English noblewoman, animal feathers, a rugby accident
and a runaway modern leisure industry have to do with Kenya?
The answer is flies. No, not the irritating black buzzing variety, but the sort used in the noble sport of fly-fishing.
They are tied, in their hundreds of thousands, in Kenya, which is now estimated to export around 25 % of the flies produced in the world.
Why? Because way back in 1930s colonial Kenya an avid fly fisherman called Denis Whetham broke his back whilst playing rugby at school . His parents were advised that Denis would never walk again, and the best they could do was take him to live in a warm country. Kenya was chosen and he tied flies for friends in convalescence. He did eventually walk again, hunted through the Congo, marched to Eritrea, married, built a farm and as a sideline he taught people to tie flies which he sold – eventually to European markets.
Trout were imported by the colonials to Kenya at the turn of the century for their leisure and their dining tables and still thrive in some areas of Kenya today – and are caught, mostly, by fly-fishermen.
Denis eventually sold his enterprise to tea giant Brooke Bond. A British settler, Andy Unwin, decided to start a fly tying factory (he was living on Savani Estate in Nandi Hills and was offered an old aircraft hangar to operate in by the estate). He discussed it with Denis, who became a partner, mentor and advisor. The company grew to about 60 tyers and had sales through the world.
In 1980, Barry Unwin, the middle son, started a small company in Britain selling some of his father’s flies. It was called Fulling Mill and was a part-time job. It grew and by 1990 absorbed his entire father’s production and became Barry’s full-time job. In addition to flies, it designed and made or had made all sorts of other fly fishing tackle and managed to sell throughout the world to “the trade” and in bulk. Fulling bought out Unwin & Sons in 1995.
From those cottage industry beginnings, Kenyans learned, and taught each other, how to tie the knots and bind hooks with confections of fur, feather and tinsel that are collectively known as flies.
They are used to imitate the insects that trout feed on and salmon attack, but can also lure a huge variety of fish including those that live in the ocean. Saltwater fly-fishing is a huge growth area of a huge growth sport.
Tying a fly is a fiddly, painstaking art: exact lengths of materials have to be wrapped and bound around special hooks and then “dressed” with all kinds of finishes – wings, glitter, beads and the like.
They are put together following “patterns” that have grown over the centuries since Dame Juliana Berners, a nun, is reputed to have put together prototypes and wrote about them in THE TREATISE OF FISHING WITH AN ANGLE, written sometime between 1421 and 1425 – that’s before Christopher Columbus was born.
They have wonderfully arcane names: Royal Coachman, Mrs. Simpson (a favourite fishing for trout in Kenya), Greenwell’s Glory, Tups Indispensable and the like.
Fulling Mill employs about 300 people at its factory Western Kenya. Johnny Onslow’s Gone Fishing factory in Rongai, near Nakuru, has 64 tyers and his production has gone from zero ten years ago to 8,000 dozen a year eight years ago and 8,000 dozen a month today.
There are innumerable other smaller factories too and it is not uncommon for a fisherman in Kenya to be approached by someone offering “to tie some flies for you, if you give me the hooks.”
Leonard Cheshire’s Cheshire Homes, a British charity, had a fly factory in Dagoretti on the outskirts of Nairobi, which employed handicapped, single mothers and those with HIV-Aids. It is sadly no more and has become a church.
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Elements of social responsibility run through the industry still. “Part of my motivation is because I do some work with handicapped schools (www.vanessagranttrust.org) and the Cheshire Homes project inspired me,” says Onslow. “In a practical way it helped many ore handicapped people as a fly tying business than it does as yet another church. We employ quite a number of handicapped people and run ongoing training programmes.”
Barry Unwin, is equally adamant about weaving social responsibility into the production process.
“We’ve gone out of our way to ensure a fair deal for our staff over the past 35 years. We have one of the most comfortable working environments of any fly-tying factory in the world. Our employees are entitled to belong to a union, and many do. We don’t employ children and the minimum age that we recruit is 18,” he says.
“Our employees earn around five times the average wage in Kenya and, on top of a properly structured and pain initial training scheme, we provide basic medical care, housing allowance, generous maternity and annual leave along with many other benefits and retirement plans. Our average employee has been with us for over 10 years and we still have some who started with my father back in 1972.”
The industry has blossomed on the back of the leisure boom in the developing world since the 1980s: hundreds, if not thousands, of firms offer fly-fishing holidays in places as far afield as Patagonia and Russia, South Africa and Spain.
In America, which gave the world “The River Runs Through It,” on the screen and in Norman Mclean’s novella, fly-fishing has
developed the same upwardly mobile cachet that golf garnered in the 1950s and that skiing did in the 1970s.
The flies are pretty things, and it is no surprise that they have been turned into jewellery for export too, by Onslow’s Gone Fishing company and many others.
In the past year there has even been some grumbling in the industry about vanishing stocks of exotic feathers from India, China and elsewhere because the fashion industry has woken up to their allure and started using them for hair-pieces and jewellery. Almost all the material needed to tie the flies in Kenya has to be imported and to vault the bureaucratic hurdles of customs and paperwork.
You can fish for trout in Kenya, although most of the available fishing is now controlled by small private clubs, which stock the rivers with trout born in hatcheries at high altitudes, where they thrive in the clean cool air and water.
Probably the best place to fish is in the Aberdare Mountains outside Nairobi. There are lots of small rivers and streams that criss-cross the moorland and forest and a first class self-catering lodge where you can base yourself, dry your socks in front of a blazing fire at night and see lots of wildlife, elephants included, by day. You can buy a permit at the park entrance and pick up a ranger to accompany you. See www.kws.org
http://www.kenyaeguide.com/fishing.php gives some details of fly fishing destinations at the coast. Check with your hotel or lodge too. If you are in Watamu, go to Captain Andy’s tackle store. Its Nairobi branch in Lenana Forest centre off the Ngong road has a large selection of flies and tackle and Anthony is a very helpful salesman. www.captainandyskenya.com
Many Kenyan gift shops carry small numbers of flies and earrings but the best place to buy them is probably on line. See www.fullingmill.com and www.fishingfliesandlures.com
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The Soul of Fly Fishing
By Shane Stewart
I am a native North Westerner, born in Washington. Retired in 2002 I pursue cutthroat and rainbow trout along Oregon’s coastal rivers and Central Oregon’s Deschutes, Metolius and Crooked Rivers. I also pursue steelhead with my Spey rod. I am a strong supporter of catch and release and wild salmonid conservation. I was thinking of calling this entry "The Zen of Fly Fishing" but after looking up Zen in the dictionary it did not convey exactly what I really wanted to say. I was trying to find the exact words that would adequately describe the soul of fly fishing and I think this says it best, "THE QUALITY THAT AROUSES EMOTION AND SENTIMENT"
Dan Washburn, a Georgia fly fishing guide says, "Fly fishing is the metronome for the soul" What does he mean by that? I think when Norman Maclean was describing his father he may have had something like this in mind when he said, "I never knew whether he believed God was a mathematician but he certainly believed God could count and that only by picking up God's rhythms were we able to regain power and beauty"
Rogue River Fly Fishing Guide Dave Roberts Executing a Perfect Cast
I think the soul of fly fishing is the concept of simplicity surrounded by the complications of our own humanness. Too many times we cannot just let our time on the river be what it is but make it into something that is frustrating and confusing and so the soul of fly fishing must be simplicity. I also think it is oneness with the moment. To lay out a perfect cast is truly artistic and to have a trout rise to that perfectly placed fly is a joy in knowing that you and that trout have made a connection would compare it to the joy a parent feels when seeing a child walk for the first time or graduate from high school. For that one moment you have put it all together and achieved perfection in this pursuit. I'm not sure if other types of angling can accomplish this but I know, at least for myself, I have never felt the shiver of emotions that I feel when fly fishing. The soul of fly fishing could also be in the ghosts of those that came before us. I am reminded of fly fishing legends like Lee Wulff, Mike Kennedy and Roderick Haig-Browns when I am in the cathedral of the Deschutes river canyon or the holy water of the Metolius River because I know they all must have felt the same emotion. I know I risk of sounding overly sentimental but at my age it just makes sense when little else does. The days of youthful exuberance are past and so all I have now is the contentment of what I do. Tell me if you've never been stirred by the beauty of a river so clear and a trout so beautiful that your emotions well up into your throat and I'll tell you you've never really fly fished. Oh maybe you've fished with a fly but it's never gone beyond the cold mechanics of that. If this sounds like some sort of religion then perhaps it is. To me it is the grandest church of all. It is not some man made doctrine of guilt and shame but instead a pilgrimage to a higher ground in the outdoors. Yes the soul of fly fishing is in each of us in that we check out of the reality of our day to day worries in life and do the simple thing of casting a fly to a rising trout thereby gaining back some semblance of sanity and restoring our own soul.
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Thinking About Next Fishing Season in New Zealand
By Sue Farley
The fly fishing season in New Zealand has drawn to a golden autumnal close with the season on many rivers ended on April 30.
That’s not to say there’s no fishing over winter as some of the North Island rivers have an open season. There’s always
somewhere to fish.
But looking ahead to next season, which kicks into gear again on October 1, we are already getting good interest from near and
far. What questions are people asking about their trip – especially if they haven’t travelled to New Zealand before, or not fished
here if they have visited?
Here’s a few, with some answers – they might answer some of your queries as well which island is the best to fish in (there are
two main islands, the North and the South Island)? Well, there’s no right or wrong answer to this. Both are great places to fish.
But if you’re only planning to visit one island then consider what else you want to do while you’re in the country. If you want to
spend time in the Auckland and Northland areas, check out a bit of Maori cultural tourism and visit Rotorua, then the awesome
fishing in the central North Island will keep you very happy. If, on the other hand, you want to see the beautiful southern lakes,
catch some hiking in the Nelson area or spend time in the wilds of the Southern Alps or Fiordland then the South Island will be a
better choice. Or you can plan to visit both if you have the time – a week in each island is the minimum depending on how you
plan to travel.
Why come to New Zealand to fish? There are as many answers to this as there are fishermen – but basically, New Zealand has some of the best trout fishing in the world. Brown and rainbow trout are the predominant species, with salmon fishing in parts of the South Island as well. Catch and release fishing is encouraged, although not mandatory, and sight and stalk fishing is prevalent because of the extreme clarity of the rivers. Most fishing rivers have public access, with only a few places in the country tied up in private reserve.
An annual fishing licence is only $NZ100, or you can get a daily licence for around $20 (this varies). And you can bring your own fishing gear (with the exception of felt-soled boots) into the country as long as it is clean and dry. It will be confiscated for cleaning by Customs if it is not. Most northern hemisphere flies work well in New Zealand.
Which airlines fly to New Zealand – most of the world’s major airlines or their codeshare partners fly to New Zealand. Air New Zealand is the local expert and they fly in from Europe, Asia and America every day. They do a great job, provide excellent service and shamelessly promote the beauty and splendour of New Zealand at every opportunity. They also have great safety briefing videos
What are the gateway cities – international airlines all fly in to Auckland, on the North Island. But if you’re arriving from Australia there are also flights in to Wellington on the southern end of the North Island, and Christchurch in the South Island. There are also a limited number of direct flights into Queenstown, in the deep south, from Australia, giving you access to the deep south without a big drive.
How best to travel between the islands? If you’re planning to travel through both the North and South Islands you have several choices to make. Air New Zealand covers the country with a really good domestic air service to all the major towns and cities. So you could fly in to Auckland and drive to Taupo to fish the central North Island rivers, then fly from Taupo through to Nelson, in the South Island, and indulge in some of the excellent fishing in that area.
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If you’ve decided to hire a car and drive through the country you can leave your rental car in Wellington, take the Interisland ferry to the South Island, and pick up another rental in Picton. All the major car rental companies encourage this. You can do the same with a camper van.
How do we organise fishing guides and transport? All the lodges we work with have their own preferred guides and we will arrange your fishing and guides when you book. That way you can be assured that a guide will be ready and waiting on your chosen fishing days, with all the right gear, a sturdy vehicle or boat and a good hearty lunch
Is heli-fishing a good idea? although heli-fishing can be prohibitively expensive it’s a great idea if you can afford it. How else will you get into those wildly remote places that would take days to walk to, even presuming you had the time? New Zealand is a beautiful place with high mountains, steep ravines, wild rivers and large areas of untrod country. A helicopter will get you into memorable spots and provide you with unprecedented opportunities to fish. But heli-fishing is also very weather-dependent due to the unpredictable weather and rough terrain of the mountainous areas. It’s best to wait until you arrive at the lodge before finalising your heli-fishing trip. That way you can talk it through with the staff once you know the weather and river conditions.
We can help you with all the information, bookings and recommendations you will need to confidently come to New Zealand to
fish.
Email us here to find out more – www.newzealandfishinglodges.co.nz
Are you looking for a refreshing two week break fishing for trout in New Zealand? Is your preferred style of accommodation in
very comfortable fishing lodges sitting in idyllic river and lakeside settings, surrounded by verdant native forest or overlooking
the lofty vistas of a national park?
This 14 Day North South Fishing Trio will get you all of that, visiting both main islands of New Zealand. Start in Auckland,
where most of the international flights to New Zealand arrive. You can choose to relax in Auckland for a day and unwind after
a long flight – we recommend this option, especially if you are planning to drive yourself around the North Island. You can also
elect to use lodge transfers, but either way there’s a minimum 4 hour drive to the first lodge, so a night in Auckland will set you
up well for the coming weeks.
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Fly of the Month
Cormorant - Olive Grizzle
This is one of those all round lures, fish it on a floating, intermediate or sinking line at various rates of retrieve and it will still catch. It can be fished using many methods, on a sinking line, using the washing line method. It can be used as a lure or nymph, from a retrieve that is static to one that is very fast.
STEP 1: Run the thread down the hook shank catching in some red holographic
tinsel
STEP 2: Wind the tinsel down around the hook bend and back up again to form
a tag. Tie off and trim the waste tinsel. Varnish the tinsel and leave to dry.
STEP 3: Now catch in some fine silver wire
STEP 4: Take 3 peacock herl's and catch them in tip first, wind the thread down
to the start of the tag covering the herl as you go, then return the thread towards
the eye
STEP 5: Wind the 3 peacock herls towards the eye, trying to keep them together
as you wind. Secure them with thread at the eye
STEP 6: Trim the waste herl and any other herls that are overlapping the eye.
Now with some scissors, trim the herl so that a tapered body shape is achieved
STEP 7: Now catch in two short lengths of red holographic tinsel, one either side
of the hook
STEP 8: Wind the wire up the hook shank to create a rib, continue to the eye,
trapping the red holographic tinsel cheeks as you go. Secure the wire with
thread and trim the waste wire (The best way to do this is to "rock" the wire back
and forth until it snaps, this is a cleaner method than cutting with scissors and it
also saves the blades from going blunt)
STEP 9: Take a bunch of marabou tips and strip any bulk from the base of the
feathers. (TIP: Do this by placing the marabou tips in your left hand between
index finger and thumb and with the right hand move your thumb and index
finger nails down the marabou stripping the webby marabou bulk off the stems).
Now catch the marabou in at the eye. (TIP : To make a neater head, wet the
marabou ends and push them down with your finger, then cover with thread)
STEP 10: Finally catch in two lengths of red holographic tinsel, one each side of
the wing, trim waste, build a neat head, whip finish and varnish the head a
couple of times
Sea Trout with Samphire, Potted Shrimp & Lemon
350g Jersey Royal potatoes or small Charlotte potatoes - larger ones halved lengthways
2 sea trout or salmon fillets, skin on but scales removed pinch of cayenne pepper tsp sunflower or vegetable oil 85g Samphire, well washed 25g unsalted butter 1 tbsp finely chopped shallot 4 tbsp white wine (I used white Burgundy) 57g tub potted shrimps (see tip, below) 1 tarragon sprig, chopped juice 1 lemon
1. Steam the potatoes for 15-20 mins, either using a steamer basket or a simple metal colander over a pan of boiling water, with a lid on top. Put 3 plates in a low oven to warm.
2. Slash the fish skin a few times, then season generously and sprinkle with the cayenne. Put a heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat, adding the oil once the pan is hot. Cook the fish, skin-side down, for 6 mins, until the skin is golden and crisp. Avoid the urge to move it about.
3. Season the fish on the upper side, then carefully turn the
fillets using a fish slice or spatula. Cook for 2 mins more until the fish has changed from dark to pale pink all over, with a little blush remaining in the thickest part. Transfer to a warm plate. Wipe out the pan with kitchen paper.
4. Scatter the samphire over the cooked potatoes, return
the lid and steam for 2-3 mins until just tender.
5. Melt the butter in the frying pan and sizzle the shallot for 1 min. Splash in the wine, boil to reduce by half, and then add the shrimps, tarragon and lemon juice to taste. Swirl the pan off the heat to melt the potted shrimp butter and make a buttery sauce, then season to taste. Spoon the veg onto warm plates, drizzle with a little sauce, then top with the fish, the rest of the sauce and the shrimps
14
Review Time
This month’s review is on the Prolite LED Fly Tying Pro Lite with Magnifier
All reviews are impartial and honest reviews undertaken by the editor. If you want an honest and
frank review of your fly fishing tackle please email me at [email protected]
At last a great item for the keen fly tier. An LED fly tying lamp that is extremely bright and has a wide enough illumination angle for comfortable vision at the tying bench. You can maneuver both the lamp and magnifier to the best position so that it does not impede you when tying the flies. Comes complete with magnifier, base, and C-Clamp. Features: High intensity lamp with magnifier 60 degree light cone; 140 lumens for plenty of illumination Heave vice base with built in storage tray Mounts to stand 3/8” vice stem C-Clamp for a bench mount. The pure daylight illumination is great for tying your flies without getting any colour distortion when working. You can obtain this great piece of work from most fly tying shops and websites around the world. UK Price £99.99 US Price $105.99
15
UK & Irish Fishing Reports
Scotland
Burnhouse Fishery, Burnhouse Farm,
Bonnybridge Stirlingshire FK4 2HH Tel: 01324
840404 Mob : 07742 755737 Website:
http://www.burnhouse-fishery.co.uk
Another busy week despite the changeable weather and cold easterly wind! Loads of natural feeding, so anglers need to read the water before choosing their favourite fly.
Alex Britton (Bellshill) kicked off the week returning 10 fish on a c/r permit using Humpy and Black Buzzers, Laurie Burns (East Kilbride) had a nice Rainbow for 2lb 9oz caught on a Black Buzzer, Scott Brise (Bonnybridge) had two fish for 5ls caught on a Kate McLaren and a Yellow Dancer, Mike Molhulec (Crossgates) had two fish for 5lb 11oz on an Ace of Spades and Gold Headed Damsel, James Graham (Caronshore) had two fish for 4lb 9oz on a Black Gnat and a Bibio, Craig Gibbons (Falkirk) had two fish for 4lb 5oz on a Black Klinkhammer, Alan Downie (Grangemouth) released 6 fish on a c/r permit using a Black Pennal and a Green Well Spider, Jamie Wilson (Baloch) had a lovely fish for 3lb 2oz on a Yellow Blood Worm. Biggest fish for the week goes to Gordon MacGregor (Bonnybridge) who released a cracking 7lb 2oz Rainbow on a Yellow Owl and Eddie Cannon who released a Rainbow at 8lb 2oz on a barbless Black Spider and last but not least David Ford (Haggs) who caught an 8lb Rainbow on an Orange Bug. A big thank you to the Fire Brigade Club who booked Wednesday for their spring fish off, they had 23 fish for 44lbs and enjoyed the visit. Some excellent evening rises so enjoy the warmer evenings, we are open to dark O’clock…….
Come give us a try the weather is improving better hatches are happening and the fish are starting to switch on to the
buzzers and small flies.
Swanswater Fishery
Sauchieburn, Stirling
FK7 9QB
Tel : 01786 814805
http://www.swanswater-fishery.co.uk/index.html
There was some excellent fishing this week with the weekend being particularly productive. From Monday onwards there were big hatches of Black Gnats in the early afternoons and the fish were gorging themselves on them. There were fish rising all day for a few days particularly round the back of the islands and on the small ponds with things erupting at certain times with fish looking for the hatching gnats.
Mornings and afternoons were the best times for fishing with anything black catching, although the fish were a bit fussier later in the day due to the fact they were full of gnats. On the main pond the area at the back of the islands was where most of the hatches were, even with the west wind on Friday, and consequently was where a good number of the fish were landed. Other areas doing well were the channel between the island and the roadside, and the dam where the fish were a bit deeper down.
Some anglers were having success fishing Fritz patterns despite fish rising all round them. Anglers were reporting lots of follows and again the Tigers were taking close into the bank. Browns were being taken under the big tree.
16
http://www.menteith-fisheries.co.uk/index.htm Menteith Fisheries Ltd, Ryeyards, Port of Menteith, FK8 3RA Contact Information For boat booking please call the fishery at 01877 385664. To book by email use [email protected].
Amazing rises and catches continuing at the Lake with yesterday’s hotpots being Kates Brae/Tod Hole, Heronry and Sam’s Point. In the main wee stuff (buzzers and snatchers) on a floating line have been producing the goods. Had a few complaints about the blog being diverted to facebook (Lake of Menteith Fisheries or follow facebook link on the reports page) and I think perhaps one or two are justified. Plan to compromise with a reduced blog detailing general lake info and posting the competition results and photographs directly on facebook for those that want more info. From my point of view I think it is better to let those that run the comps tell the story direct and it saves me time in transposing it on to a web site. We’ll see how it goes. Other news from the fishery is that the Hotel have now ceased operating with regards to the café and we are looking after the café ourselves. Don’t expect too much but we hope to provide you with good value hot rolls and some snacks and build it a little as we bed in. Jamie Fraser (Douglas’s son) will be the main stay of this over the summer with a little help from his Mum Fran whilst he learns the ropes and finishes his first year at college where he is doing an HND in software development and “stuff like that”, according to Douglas. Douglas and I are also trained up in food hygiene to cover any gaps. If there is no one about in the café – give us a shout.
Keith Anderson with a thought provoking marigold and an even more attractive trout in the Tod Hole Area. The Lake has jumped into a boat with Glen Garioch Whisky. This will be the sole Malt promoted by the fishery in return for help with the angling prizes. From what I have read it sounds like an interesting small distillery producing a unique single malt. I’m looking forward to receiving more “info” from Morrison Bowmore. Think we may be on the cusp for the best fly piking of the year…..if anyone fancies a cast we have pike rods/gear for hire… Cheers for now Quint
17
England
Bellbrook Fishing Report week ending 16th May 2014
The fishing has been excellent the last few weeks with more fish being caught than I can remember for a long time. There
has been some surface action too with several anglers trying their luck with more traditional dry patterns – when was the last
time you fished with a Mallard and Claret! The hatch has been prolific and there have been rumours of the first Mayfly seen
on the top lake.
David May of Exeter spends some of his year in
Cyprus but comes back regularly for his fly
fishing. He took 3 specimens for 18-13 using an
Appetizer fished at about 4’. His best fish was a
beautifully marked 9-8 Rainbow – picture on our
gallery for those interested
Dr Ian Pinwill is a relative newcomer to the
fishery but he was back for the second visit in
two weeks and managed another healthy bag of
2 normals averaging just over 3lb! Fishing the
Rover Lite ticket he also banked a specimen for
5-9 but as far as Ian was concerned it’s the best
quality Rainbow he’d seen at a small water – so
we were pretty chuffed with that. He used a
PTN and Damsel.
Robin Trusler and his mate Shaun Henley from
Nr Bridgewater also visited for the second time
in May and had 5 fish each from the normal
lakes – Robin just piping Shaun with 13-8 v 11-
8. Montana’s seemed to be their fish of choice.
Andy Williams of Exeter joined us for half a day catching his three normal’s for 6-12 in an hour. This just proving that timing
can be critical with fishing – when they are feeding is a good time
Visiting the same day Colin Barnett from the Midlands had a nice day with two from the Specimens and two from the normals
for a total bag of 14lb. Fishing with a floating line and a gold headed daddy Colin had many more follows and more takes
than he was willing to admit. “Bit rusty” was his summary.
Any questions about the fishery please call Chris on 01398 351292.
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Just a very quick note to tell you about some of the things we have coming up in May. May Day Competition - Monday 5
th May - Prizes - 1
st Greys Rod, 2
nd £50 Shop Voucher, 3
rd £30 Shop Voucher +
Bacon Rolls for lunch and Coffee and Tea all day Our annual Mayday competition is on Monday 5
th May. If you want to take part please book soon as places are limited and
tend to go quickly. The prizes listed above are for the combined weight of bag. The £50 entrance fee includes your four fish ticket and lunch. Please don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have any questions. Ladies Day with Brian Smart – Saturday 31
st May 2014 – 09.30-16.30
As a Lady fishery manager/owner I’m very keen to encourage other Ladies to the Fishery. For this reason I’m having a Ladies only day on Saturday 31
st May. A team of helpers will be on hand headed by Brian Smart – a lifelong angler and fly
fisher has kindly agreed to provide his services. Brian will be at the fishery all day offering free advice and tuition to any Ladies fishing or visiting. Brian, is a qualified angling coach who works all over the south of England. He also works as an Angling Development Officer for the Environment Agency and with the Angling Trust. Bacon rolls will be provided throughout the day and Mark will also be hot smoking our own trout for lunch. He’s also agreed to provide the wine to make that little more enjoyable. There is no charge for the above but we would like you to purchase normal tickets in the normal way. Our normal credit system will be in operation if you don’t catch your limit. The day is focused on Ladies of any level from the novice to most experienced. Again, just give me a call if you’re not sure of anything.
Wendy Wendy & Mark; Moorhen Trout Fishery; South Downs National Park; Warnford; Hampshire SO32 3LB Tel: 01730 829460 Web: www.moorhentroutfishery.co.uk Facebook: Moorhen Trout Fishery Twitter: Moorhen Trout Fisher @Moorhentrout
19
Wales
Cwm Hedd Lakes Bassaleg
Fly-Fishing report week ending May 11th 2014
Open Wed/Thurs/Sun 7am-5pm: last admission 2pm
Fri/Sat, plus bank holiday Monday 26th May 7am -
8.15pm: last admission 5pm
Please remember that if early anglers have left by the
last admission times then the gates will be closed and I
will have left, so don't be late!
The honesty box is no more - no Linda, no fishing!
www.cwmhedd.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/cwmheddlakes
Tel 07813 143 034 or lodge during fly fishing opening
hours: 01633 896854
Hi everyone! The high temperature over the bank holiday made for difficult fishing, but a number of anglers bucked the trend to take and release fish. Martin Bussell followed advice to arrive early, first in at opening time on Monday morning and taking four rainbows on the far bank on green and orange shipman's buzzers on a floating line. Wales international anglers Anthony Cartwright and Kieron Jenkins each took one and released four also on shipmans buzzers Anthony on a floating line and Kieron on a fast intermediate. Kieron's first fish was also the biggest fish so far for May: only two days after Ian Humphries landed a four and a half pounder Kieron took an equally cracking four and three quarter pound rainbow in beautiful condition. It's been great to see so many new faces alongside the regulars at Cwm Hedd in the last few weeks. On their first visit Matthew and Simon Passmore each took one and released two and three rainbows respectively on buzzers and dries. The very high winds and rain have kept anglers hunkered down at home since the bank holiday, but most who ventured out in the appalling conditions have been rewarded for their perseverance, such as regulars Roger Michael and Alan Davies who each chose a white fritz and sink tip lines to take fish on the far bank while Paul Wilson had success with a claret and white hopper on a floating line on one of the platforms nearest the lodge. In ferocious wind on Saturday where the lake was reminiscent of the opening scenes of 'Hawaii 5-O', Richard Ward took one and released two on a black and purple nymph on a floating line, while Ivor Jones took one and released three on a black minky, also on a floating line. Jack Webb, Owain Morgan, Stuart Rees, Alan Glen and Andrew Gough battled against Sunday's continued high winds to each take fish on a mixture of flies: a mini-cat, damsel, black and green montana, goldhead daddy and an orange blob - anglers decidely 'windswept and interesting' on their return to the lodge! Once again, the far bank opposite the lodge and the platforms behind the island have been the most successful areas for those who took on the wind and returned exhausted but triumphant. Exmoor’s delivery of fish this week keeps the rolling stock at over a hundred to the acre and with the weather set to change again anglers can look forward to some good fishing in sensible conditions. Tag fish: £200 up for grabs! One lucky angler will surely land the tag fish in the next week the pot stands at £200 for the winner, with a further £73 collected on top so far that will be en route to Velindre once the elusive fish is caught. £1 entry. Poppy fish British Legion Competition 16th November 2014. £30 entry fee plus sponsorship. Cwm Hedd is proud to be hosting this event on behalf of the British Legion. Early entry is advisable as places are limited and entries are already coming in. Cash prizes totalling £215.00. Entry forms available at Cwm Hedd lodge and https://www.facebook.com/cwmheddlakes http://counties.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/wales/events
20
WINSTON PREFERRED LODGE PROGRAM
Two Additional International Specialty Fly Fishing Lodges Selected as WINSTON PREFERRED LODGES®
Today, the R.L. Winston Rod Company in Twin Bridges, Montana, leading manufacturer of the world's top handcrafted fly
rods utilizing its Boron III technology, announced the names of two exceptional fly fishing operations which have been
selected as WINSTON PREFERRED LODGES® .
The two additional lodges added to the select group of top fly fishing lodges are both specialty fly fishing operations offering
their clients a unique and exceptional experience.
Holbox Fly Fishing Lodge, managed by the entertaining Luciano Govi, is a specialty tarpon fly fishing lodge in the northern
Yucatan in Mexico which offers a unique tarpon fishing experience on Isla Holbox just off the north coast of the Yucatan
Peninsula.
Nomads of the seas, under the excellent management of Uri Wuriman, is a one-of-a-kind touring fly fishing adventure
aboard adventure a luxury boat designed specifically to access fly fishing in the remote regions along the Chilean Patagonia
coast.
Laurence John, of Great Alaska Adventures, upon hearing that Holbox FlyFishing Lodge had been selected
said, "We tromped the Yucatan for 20 years looking for the perfect balance of sun, sand and big and small Tarpon. Imagine
our amazement to step off the ferry onto Isla Holbox, an incredible, under-the-radar island with all the uncrowded magic that
we had sought. And our further joy to see that juveniles in the winter and monsters in the summer completed the picture of
our new favorite warm water fly fishing destination. It is with great appreciation and pride that we join the elite collection of
properties bearing the brand "Winston Preferred Lodge."
When notified of their selection, Andres Ergas of Nomads of the Seas remarked, "We are honored to be the first
Chilean operation to be selected as a "Winston Preferred Lodge." Sharing a passion with Winston Rods for the outdoors, the
protection of the environment, fly fishing, nature, efficient and pleasurable casting, along with a craftsmanship that exceeds
perfection makes a great match for us to be ambassadors of the green brand here in Chilean Patagonia through Nomads of
the Seas. Nomads of the Seas, is based on a state-of-the-art operation expedition vessel; The Atmosphere, and its crew. It
offers its guests the unique opportunity of exploring Patagonia by air, land and water. Nomad's equipment, flexibility and
mobility allow us to reach and access the most secluded rivers, creeks, lakes, lagoons, fiords and mountains, many of them
untouched and unseen, waiting to be discovered."
Criteria for selection as a WINSTON PREFERRED LODGE® is not simply based on a level of luxury accommodation or high
price, but rather an overall exceptional fly fishing experience, complete with outstanding guides, excellent accommodations,
beautiful locations and, of course, exceptional fly fishing.
The WINSTON PREFERRED LODGE® program is a limited program designed to help our customers benefit from our
travels and those of our Dealers, Pro Advisors and Pro Staff in testing Winston rods around the world. There are obviously a
great many outstanding fly fishing lodges around the world, many of whom have extremely talented Winston guides on their
staff. After receiving recommendations from our Pro Advisory team, Winston dealers and others, we are in the process of
considering additional candidates and expect to announce the names of a select number of other exceptional fly fishing
lodges who will be invited to become a WINSTON PREFERRED LODGE® over the next several months and years, as
merited.
You can learn more about the WINSTON PREFERRED LODGE® program on the Winston website at
www.winstonrods.com or contact Leslie Clark at [email protected].
22
The Lovely Reed
By Shane Stewart
I've never really been asked why I enjoy fly fishing with a bamboo fly rod and it's probably a good thing because I'm afraid I could not answer that in a way that would be logical. Fishing with a bamboo fly rod, especially one of high quality, does not make a lot of sense. After all can't a suitable graphite rod of superior quality be found at half the price? Yes they can and there are many high quality graphite rods available. Isn't bamboo extremely fragile and could be easily broke? Well it's not as fragile as one would think and would probably withstand as much if not more abuse than graphite.
In a review of George Black's excellent book "Casting a Spell: The Bamboo Fly Rod and the American Pursuit of Perfection" Publishers Weekly writes this review " Black wraps his own personal journey through the contemporary world of bamboo fly rod making in a sweeping, meticulous telling of the history of American fly-fishing. With admirable dexterity, he manages to make the story a metaphor for a great deal of how American social and commercial culture has evolved over the past 150 years. The author indelibly etches a story of peerless craftsmen laboring toward perfection, sparring all the while with corporate interest, fickle customers and the inevitable diminishing of their own inspiration"
Why do you suppose that is? Do you think master bamboo fly rod craftsmen such as Glenn Brackett, formerly of Winston Rod Company fame, can fully explain it...not fully I would think. Maybe that is the biggest reason why Brackett left Winston after the company's new ownership decided that craftsmanship and tradition didn't mean that much anymore. So therefore I cannot explain why other than the exquisite pleasure of casting and fishing a fine piece of genuinely American craftsmanship. Or maybe it's just my way of being a part of that tradition that cannot be duplicated by machines and production lines or to feel a part of the fly fishing tradition of many years past. Bamboo is not practical in the truest sense of the word but then again neither is fly fishing! Certainly there are more efficient ways to catch trout and at a lot less expense. So if I had to answer why I love fishing the "Lovely Reed" so much I would simply have to answer in the only way that makes sense, at least to me. I fish bamboo.....just because. I think every bamboo fisherman knows exactly why
23
Filleting a Fish
Learning how to fillet trout is an easy pursuit if you employ the proper technique. There are a handful of procedures that are effective and we will talk about a couple that are the most popular. The first method is a technique to simply get the trout ready for baking. Some call it "gutting the fish". The other means is the Butterfly Filleting Method. We will visit that one in a moment. The first step learning how to fillet trout is evisceration (or again what many call “gutting the fish”). This can be done in a handful of ways, but the following is the easiest and most effective. No matter which technique you use, make sure you have a sharp knife! Hold the fish in one hand with its head pointed toward the ceiling (or simply lay the fish on its side). Take your knife at the anus and gently cut the fish along the belly. Continue the cut all the way to the throat. Insert your knife into the soft tissue between the gills and the collarbone. Cutting perpendicular to the belly, cut outward (or up toward the head). Continue this cut until you can remove the head. Next, grasp the entrails and pull them so they come out. Take the fish and wash it in cold water. This is the best time to remove the blood line running down the backbone. You can use a spoon to “rub or “scratch” away the blood line with the fish in the water. Many anglers simply use their finger or thumb as an effective means to do the same task. Now wash the fish, inside and out in a mixture of lightly salted water. This will allow you to remove any of the residues that may have been present during the cleaning of the fish. Make sure you check out the delicious trout recipes on the trout recipes page. You can now bake or grill your fish in a variety of different ways once you have mastered this step. We also talked about learning how to fillet trout butterfly style. This is the best way hands down, to fillet trout. One of the key advantages of this method is it allows you to salvage anywhere from 60 to 75% of the weight of the fish, and end up with some beautiful fillets. If you have never done the butterfly method, take your time. Learning how to fillet trout with this method is an extension of the above example (on how to gut and clean trout). The only step you need to skip during the butterfly method is the removal of the blood line along the spine. Make sure you use a knife that is relative to the size of the fish. It will make your job a lot easier. Place the gutted trout on its back. Take your knife and insert it behind the ribs along the base of the backbone. Gently work the knife toward the other end of the ribs (toward the outside). Make sure you cut as close to the ribs as possible so you salvage as much meat as you can. You should be able to see the blade of your knife at all times as you go through this process. Work your way all the way down as far as the ribs go. Upon reaching the anal fin, make sure you keep your knife as close to it as possible. Continue this careful nature as you cut all the way back to the tail. Repeat the removal of the ribs on the other side of the trout. Again, when you get to the tail at the bottom, keep your knife as tight to it as you can. Take your knife and cut down and in toward the backbone. You need to do this the entire length of both sides of the fish. You will know you are doing it right if you the sound of the small pin bones being cut can be heard. If you hear this, you are on the right track! Next, you must remove that “whole centre piece” or the frame of the trout. Right now you should have 2 fillets lying on the table on either side of the middle column. If you have cutters available to remove the centre from the rest of the fish, that works great. Often you can just break the centre piece off with your hands. You will notice there are still some small pin bones which connected the muscle to the frame of the fish. Gently run the tip of your knife along the fillet to locate them. You can get rid of these bones by cutting out the part of the fillet where they are present. Another trick is to use some pliers to grab and pull them out.
24
Glencorse Fishery www.glencorsersv.co.uk
http://www.inverawe-fisheries.co.uk Inverawe has something for everyone, be it fishing, finding out how salmon is smoked, exploring the many trails and tracks, feeding the fish, trying our new play area, browsing through the shop, or enjoying our delicious food in the smokery café.
http://www.deversprings.co.uk/homepage/
The fishery comprises two spring fed lakes totaling six acres and a half mile stretch of the River Dever (a tributary of the legendary River Test), a big fish water where 20lbs+ rainbows and large browns are taken each season.
http://www.newhayliefishingloch.com Fishing on a 3.6 Acre hill side loch with aspects over the Cumbrae isles, Isles of Bute and Arran. One of the most picturesque trout fisheries in Scotland. Stocked with an abundance of hard fighting Browns, Rainbows,Blues,and Tiger Trout along with our natural head of wild Brown Trout.
Classifieds To advertise please email [email protected]
Fisheries Below is some great websites dedicated to the disabled angler
Angling days to help disabled people experience the benefits of fishing We love fishing! - our aim is to encourage people with disabilities to fish. This includes those who used to fish and those who want to try it for the first time. Whether you're experienced or someone who has never cast a fly, we'll help you satisfy your fly fishing needs. We teach you all the basics of fly and bait fishing. All the necessary fly fishing gear is provided (unless you prefer to use your own) fishing permits, boats if needed. Our guides and instructors are exceptional; they are very experienced, patient, have a passion for fishing, and an appreciation for the area and the people they guide. Enjoy an all-you-can eat delicious picnic buffet. Carers accompanying disabled anglers are entitled to join the buffet free of charge.
http://www.funfishingscotland.co.uk/disabled_fishing.htm
We believe that anyone with a handicap should be able to continue fishing if they want to. Whether it's loss of limb function or mobility any handicap can be offset by adaptive fishing equipment and adapted fishing techniques. We are continuing to evaluate adaptive fishing equipment in order to provide you with the largest selection of products. So far we’ve added electric fishing reels, a tool to tie better Fishing Knots and fishing equipment to attach to a wheelchair. Our goal is to be the single source for all your adaptive outdoor equipment needs.
http://www.adaptiveoutdoorsman.com/handicapfishing.html
Does anyone out there have a disability? Would adaptive fishing equipment help you? Are you letting your disability disrupt your life unnecessarily? Please, don't. I started this web site with the sole idea of giving advice and recommendations on adaptive fishing equipment to assist the handicapped/disabled angler to enjoy the sport of fishing. I did this from a unique perspective. I have am adaptive disability. There, I've said it. Now I feel better. I am a diabetic. As a consequence of this disease, I have retinopathy, which means a loss of vision to the point where seeing the bobber or strike indicator at any sort of distance is really difficult. I also have a heck of a time tying on tippets and flies http://www.fly-fishing-discounters.com/adaptivefishingequipment.html
25
http://kenyasportfishing.net
Thanks and memorial....
THANK YOU...
On behalf of the Paul, Brumby and de-Mare families I would like to thank you all for the incredibly touching e-mails, texts and kind words that we received following Mum’s passing. I wish we could thank you all individually but there are just so many of you. I am sure that over time we will meet up and share all our happy memories.
We have been overwhelmed by the number of hearts Mum touched and it is very apparent that not only her family will miss her, but also her very large extended family from Kenya, UK, Holland, Belgium, Germany, South Africa and many other countries around the world. Her nearly fifty years spent seeing fishermen off in the early mornings and welcoming them back in the afternoons with a big happy smile has brushed off on so many people. Never once did she complain about getting up at five in the morning day after day, and in fact we battled with her to slow down and take a few days off now and then! She loved meeting new people and getting to know them in the bus on the way to the boats and many of our dearest friends today started off as clients and the relationship has grown from there.
It is still hard to imagine that Mum will not be around anymore and we all feel that a big part of our lives has disappeared. However, we must think of all the good and happy times we had together and that is what we would like to happen on the 16
th August 2014 when we hold a memorial for her at the Malindi Sea Fishing Club, where she spent so much of her time.
We will let you know the finer details once it has been confirmed. We realize that so many of you live too far away to be able to make it, but we hope as many friends as possible will be able to join us in remembering a very special lady.
Once again thank you all so much for your support and kindness over this difficult time. Adrian
26
GRANTS ANNOUNCEMENT | ANNOUNCE DE SUBVENTIONS
I am pleased to announce the ASCF is awarding 53 grants this spring totalling $756,657:
5 inter-provincial projects will receive $85,400
17 New Brunswick projects will receive $226,300 (which includes $136,000 from ANBL)
7 Newfoundland projects will receive $158,650 (which includes $20,000 from NLC)
7 projects in NS will receive $78,000
6 projects in PEI will receive $85,107 (which includes $21,000 from PEILCC)
11 projects in Quebec will receive $123,200
All recipient groups have been notified and we are currently in the midst of drafting funding agreements. Similarly, all unsuccessful proponents have been given clear reasons why they were not successful. Our trust fund has performed very well in 2013/14 and we anticipate a substantial increase in grants for next year. Congratulations to all of the grant recipients. Stephen Chase Executive Director J’ai l’honneur d’annoncer que la FCSA accorde ce printemps 53 subventions qui représentent un total de 756 657 $ :
5 projets interprovinciaux recevront 85 400 $
17 projets au Nouveau-Brunswick recevront 226 300 $ (ce qui comprend 136 000 $ d’ANBL)
7 projets à Terre-Neuve recevront 158 650 $ (ce qui comprend 20 000 $ de la Commission des alcools de Terre-Neuve)
7 projets à Nouvelle-Écosse recevront 78 000 $
6 projets à l’Î.-P.-É. recevront 85 107 $ (ce qui comprend 21 000 $ de la Commission des alcools de l’Î.-P.-É.)
11 projets au Québec recevront 123 200 $
Tous les groupes bénéficiaires ont été avisés et nous rédigeons actuellement les accords de financement. De même, tous les promoteurs qui n’ont pas été choisis ont reçu les raisons pour lesquelles leur proposition n’a pas été retenue. Notre fonds de fiducie a enregistré un très bon rendement en 2013-2014 et nous prévoyons une augmentation substantielle des subventions pour la prochaine année. Félicitations à tous les bénéficiaires des subventions. Le directeur général, Stephen Chase
27
SALMON OF THE FAR NORTH
Above the Arctic Circle the salmon are like a different breed – older, bigger and stronger but fortunately not wiser! The rivers
are magnificent too and offer some of the world’s best Atlantic salmon fly fishing all in the most majestic of scenery. With the
season opening soon we have been advised of rare vacancies on two classic rivers – the world famous Russian Kharlovka
river and little-known rising star – the Norwegian Reisa!
Kharlovka River, Kola Peninsula Russia
The Atlantic Salmon Reserve in Kola manages four legendary salmon rivers
served by two first class lodge-camps with single rooms and en-suite facilities.
Fully catered with fine wining and dining, helicopters and first class guiding.
This is adventure fishing at its best. This river is booked up for year after year -
such is the quality of its salmon fishing and facilities. Only very occasionally do
opportunities arise but we have heard that there are some late cancellations to
be grabbed. If you want to experience the best of the best – then please ring
Justin McCarthy, Director of Fishing on +44 (0)746 029 2170 or email
[email protected]. Or visit: www.kharlovka.com. Free DVDs of the
magnificent fishing are available from farlowstravel.com.
Reisa River, Norway
The gorgeous river Reisa is a gem almost hidden in the
shadow of its famous neighbor the Alta. Now carefully
controlled through excellent river management the salmon
are returning in numbers to the Reisa - and they are huge!
The Reisa flows down a spectacular gorge through a
national park and its remarkable upper river is only
accessible only by sleek river boats. The similarities to the
Alta are remarkable with both boasting salmon of enormous
stature befitting the primeval landscape. This is where you
catch your personal (often life-time) best.
Unlike the Alta however you can easily buy a day ticket to
fish the Reisa and this year for the first time they have a
special arrangement for fishing private water. Reisastua
Lodge is one of the few dedicated sporting lodges on the
river and offers perfect packages for small parties of 4 to 6
which include single rooms, superb wining and dining,
guides and boats where necessary. Last year Scott
Mackenzie stayed at Reisastua Lodge and did not regret it
– what fish! See here.
Our Members have been offered a week’s stay and fishing for 4 in late June or early July (peak time) for £1,000 less than
normal at 36,490 NOK (around £3,500). This is a tremendous reduction and we urge you to grab this opportunity via
our ibookfishing.co.uk website.
28
TROUT OF THE SOUTH!
May has arrived and with it the dream-like expectations of mayfly
time on the legendary river Test. We have several days available
for members on the exclusive Timsbury beat which comprises four
individual beats providing fishing for two rods per beat on over 1.5
miles of both the River Test and two carrier streams.
The fishing lodge is equipped with power, water, a kitchen area,
WC, washing facilities and large patio area with seating, which
overlooks the main river. There are three other huts around the
fishery each with picnic tables. Prices start from £80.
To see availability and book click here.
FISHING & TUITION COURSES HOSTED BY SPORTFISH
3 Day Spring Salmon Course, Glenmore Estate, River Finn.
May 22nd - 24th - hosted by Tom Festing, Tuition Manager, Sportfish. A.A.P.G.A.I
June 12th - 14th - hosted by Sean Clarke, Salmon Instructor, Sportfish. G.A.I.A
More details & availability
3 Day Salmon, Sea Bass & Sea Trout West Country Experience at the Arundell Arms Hotel, Devon.
Course 1: arrive midday 26th August, depart 29th August after breakfast
Course 2: arrive midday 30th August, depart 2nd September after breakfast.
More details & availability
3 Night Sea Trout Fishing Course on the Famous Abercothi Beats of the River Towy
August 21st-23rd 2014 – hosted by Sean Clarke, Senior Casting Instructor, Farlows, G.A.I.A
September 4th- 6th 2014 – hosted by Tom Festing, Sportfish Tuition Manager, A.A.P.G.A.I.
More details & availability
29
ARGENTINA
SPECTACULAR VACATIONS BOOK NOW THE VACATION OF A LIFETIME!!
Families, Couples, Groups, Sportsmen & Special Occasions
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SAMPLE ITINERARIES.
Chip Drozenski [email protected] 704 582 1036
30
www.scientificanglers.com
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