I love the River Wye, it was where I first went fishing for salmon, in the days when worming was allowed. I love the size of this majestic river from deep pools to sparkling glides all within short stretches of each other. As I matured so did my techniques and fishing the Wye with the fly is one of lifes great pleasures. It is home to that 'little miracle herring' the Twaite Shad which still can occasionally be caught by accident, when salmon fishing, during late Spring and early Summer as they migrate upstream to breed.
Unfortunately the Wye is a shadow of its former self when it comes to salmon and without the very hard work of the Wye and Usk Foundation (http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/) it is very possible that the salmon could have become extinct in once what was England's premier salmon river.
However the news isn't all bleak - mainly because of the work by the W&U Foundation and that the Wye has just won the 2010 award of best river in Engalnd and Wales from the Our Rivers organisation.
Have a look at this video on why the Wye and it also explains better than I can on why I love the Wye.
Wednesday 22 December 2010
Saturday 4 December 2010
Biosecurity - Your future sport depends on it!
What troubled times we fish in! There are invaders on the march that threaten our sport. From the constant threat of the introduction of Gyrodactylus salaris which could destroy our salmon (and other salmonoid) populations now we have the killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus that threatens our freshwater ecosystems. It appears that Dikerogammarus was first recorded at Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire in September this year and already it has spread rapidly and has now been found at two sites in Wales (Cardiff Bay and Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir in Port Talbot).
This is a call to arms - we must be aware of what these invaders can do - quite simply decimate our sport either by widespread destruction of the species we target or by destruction of the ecosystem that they depend on.
There is a simple thing we can do - make sure that we, as anglers do not spread them. This means that we must disinfect our tackle immediately after we return from a fishing trip abroad. By tackle we mean everything from rods, reels, lines & nets down to our waders, wellies, nylon, leaders and even our flies. A bottle of bleach and a your bath filled with hot water is all you need. Then you should make sure that the tackle is bone-dry before using it again. This should prevent any further introduction of nasty alien species by fishermen returning from abroad.
What can we do when fishing at home - well if you have the time you should disinfect every time you have been fishing. Yes, I admit this is unlikely but what we should do at the very least is properly dry out all of our tackle before using it again, and certainly before using it at a different venue to the one you got it wet at!
Fishery owners, well the good ones, often provide a disinfectant dip tank to be used for nets etc before fishing commences - USE THEM before starting and when you have finished, and not just for your nets - dip your boots/waders and also dip your rod and reel.
If you care about the future of your sport then please think of biosecurity - it may be the difference between a bright future and unused tackle with only memories of what it was like in the 'good old days'.
Gyrodactylus salaris
This is a call to arms - we must be aware of what these invaders can do - quite simply decimate our sport either by widespread destruction of the species we target or by destruction of the ecosystem that they depend on.
There is a simple thing we can do - make sure that we, as anglers do not spread them. This means that we must disinfect our tackle immediately after we return from a fishing trip abroad. By tackle we mean everything from rods, reels, lines & nets down to our waders, wellies, nylon, leaders and even our flies. A bottle of bleach and a your bath filled with hot water is all you need. Then you should make sure that the tackle is bone-dry before using it again. This should prevent any further introduction of nasty alien species by fishermen returning from abroad.
What can we do when fishing at home - well if you have the time you should disinfect every time you have been fishing. Yes, I admit this is unlikely but what we should do at the very least is properly dry out all of our tackle before using it again, and certainly before using it at a different venue to the one you got it wet at!
Fishery owners, well the good ones, often provide a disinfectant dip tank to be used for nets etc before fishing commences - USE THEM before starting and when you have finished, and not just for your nets - dip your boots/waders and also dip your rod and reel.
If you care about the future of your sport then please think of biosecurity - it may be the difference between a bright future and unused tackle with only memories of what it was like in the 'good old days'.
Thursday 2 December 2010
New Page Added
A whole new page on articles has been added. This page is an archive of the all articles that I have written for forums, newsletters and magazines. I will eventually get all of the articles onto the page but there are a few on there to get started with.
Wednesday 1 December 2010
New Patterns Added
A couple more flies added to the patterns page of the site.
I'll be adding lots more over the next few days.
Please let me know if there are any flies that you would like to see.
I'll be adding lots more over the next few days.
Please let me know if there are any flies that you would like to see.
Bloke Fly Rods - River Dee Salmon Fishing Trips
Just received these details of some salmon fishing holidays from Mick Bell owner of Bloke Fly Rods. If you are interested please contact Mick directly on 07764 359473 or blokerods@yahoo.co.uk for further details.
Please let Mick know it was this blog that you got the details from.
Bloke Fly Rods - River Dee Spring Salmon Fishing - Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo Beats
14th - 26th February 2011
I have managed to secure two weeks on the River Dee between 14th and 26th February 2011.
The Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo beats are two of the best spring fly water beats on the Dee and this year 32 fish were caught in February.
There are two excellent Ghillies, three fishing huts and the superb Little Blackhall lodge which has four twin rooms and is only 200 yards from the river.
If you are a complete novice or want to brush up on your casting, I am pleased to offer tuition at no extra cost.
Wading is only necessary on one part of the beat with most of the fishing from the bank or from stone croys.
Aberdeen airport is only 45 minutes drive for those who prefer to fly up and we can arrange transportation to and from the beat if required.
You are welcome to come up and fish an entire week, but normally I split the weeks into two 3 day shifts, so the dates are as follows:
14-16th February 2011 - £495
17-19th February 2011 - £495
21-23th February 2011 - £535
24-26th February 2011 - £535
This includes the three days fishing and full board (dinner, bed and breakfast excluding booze).
For further details on this fabulous piece of water, please visit the following websites:
LittleBlackhall & Inchmarlo - Fish Pal
Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo Fishings Homepage
Please let Mick know it was this blog that you got the details from.
Bloke Fly Rods - River Dee Spring Salmon Fishing - Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo Beats
14th - 26th February 2011
I have managed to secure two weeks on the River Dee between 14th and 26th February 2011.
The Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo beats are two of the best spring fly water beats on the Dee and this year 32 fish were caught in February.
There are two excellent Ghillies, three fishing huts and the superb Little Blackhall lodge which has four twin rooms and is only 200 yards from the river.
If you are a complete novice or want to brush up on your casting, I am pleased to offer tuition at no extra cost.
Wading is only necessary on one part of the beat with most of the fishing from the bank or from stone croys.
Aberdeen airport is only 45 minutes drive for those who prefer to fly up and we can arrange transportation to and from the beat if required.
You are welcome to come up and fish an entire week, but normally I split the weeks into two 3 day shifts, so the dates are as follows:
14-16th February 2011 - £495
17-19th February 2011 - £495
21-23th February 2011 - £535
24-26th February 2011 - £535
This includes the three days fishing and full board (dinner, bed and breakfast excluding booze).
For further details on this fabulous piece of water, please visit the following websites:
LittleBlackhall & Inchmarlo - Fish Pal
Little Blackhall & Inchmarlo Fishings Homepage
Tuesday 30 November 2010
Spring Fly Fishing Show
I feel really honoured as I've just been invited as a guest tyer to the Spring Fly Fishing Show see:
http://www.thespringflyfishingshow.com/
For the latest info but in brief it is at the Newark Showground, UK on Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th February 2011.
I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to tie yet but it will definitely be my own patterns and is likely to include tube flies for salmon and trout as well as other modern salmon fly patterns on double hooks. I might even tie some of my semi-realistic and highly effective wild brown trout and grayling flies for rivers.
Please do come along and find me on the tyers row and say hi.
http://www.thespringflyfishingshow.com/
For the latest info but in brief it is at the Newark Showground, UK on Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th February 2011.
I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to tie yet but it will definitely be my own patterns and is likely to include tube flies for salmon and trout as well as other modern salmon fly patterns on double hooks. I might even tie some of my semi-realistic and highly effective wild brown trout and grayling flies for rivers.
Please do come along and find me on the tyers row and say hi.
Saturday 27 November 2010
FDG AGM pt 3
Just been elected to the new committee post of Accreditation Manager under the new chairmanship of Charles Jardine, which will be excellent but taking on this new post what have I left myself in for?
I proposed that the outgoing Chairman and all round guild stalwart Alan Middleton for life Vice President which everyone agreed. He was presented with a beautiful fully built salmon fly and book by Mike Humphries (as President).
I proposed that the outgoing Chairman and all round guild stalwart Alan Middleton for life Vice President which everyone agreed. He was presented with a beautiful fully built salmon fly and book by Mike Humphries (as President).
FDG AGM pt2
Finally found the meeting room - directly opposite the BBC Broadcasting House.
The BBC motto 'Nation shall speak, Peace unto nation' could apply to our meeting in that 'Guild shall speak - peace unto branches'.
Why is it that groups such as this so poorly attended when so many people then complain about what they then receive. If people don't come and air their views at the AGM, as they have the right as a member to do, then how can they complain?
With this in mind 20 members are at the meeting.
So the rest of the membership will just have to accept what they decide!
The BBC motto 'Nation shall speak, Peace unto nation' could apply to our meeting in that 'Guild shall speak - peace unto branches'.
Why is it that groups such as this so poorly attended when so many people then complain about what they then receive. If people don't come and air their views at the AGM, as they have the right as a member to do, then how can they complain?
With this in mind 20 members are at the meeting.
So the rest of the membership will just have to accept what they decide!
FDG AGM
The Fly Dressers Guild AGM at 11am in London this morning. I'm currently on a chilly train - hopefully I'll be on time.
Friday 26 November 2010
Bad Dog for Char
I went to an excellent lecture at Sussex FDG by Steve Cooper (the owner of Cookshill Fly Tying and the organiser of the British Fly Fair International) and he spoke about fishing for Arctic Char in Iceland. Iceland
Here’s the fly and the dressing instructions – enjoy.
The Dyrbytyr
Hook: Any wet fly 2X long shank hook – size 10 or 12
Thread: Pink
Head: Brass Bead
Tail: Tips of pink marabou and a few slivers of silver tinsel.
Rear Body: Silver Fritz
Front Body: Pink Suede Chenille
Hackle: Pink Cock Hackle.
No photo
OK so I changed my mind! I have redesigned the blog without the background picture as it was hard to read the text - I hope you like the new design. Just so you don't feel left out here is the picture that was the original background
Background picture
Finally got the design of my blog sorted. For those of you who were wondering where the background picture was taken. It is of me spey casting at 'The Graveyard' on Beat 2 of the River Lochy in Scotland. The snow covered mountain in the background is Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak.
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