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The year 2000 was a good one for sea trout The sea trout runs on most of the rivers in Northern England, Wales and Southwest Scotland has been better than for the past few years. The river Ribble has produced lots of good sea trout with many five and six pound fish. It’s not been possible to write much about the sea trout fishing until now. Anglers and fishery owners didn’t want to alert the poachers to the fish stocks in the river. In one short evening session, an angler fishing the Ribble near Clitheroe caught seven fly-caught sea trout averaging 6lbs. The best fish of the season is probably the one caught by Brian Williams of Preston from Hodder Foot which was estimated to weigh nine or ten pounds. This excellent fish was caught on a size 6 Peter Ross to a six pound tippet. Peter, the great sportsman he is, returned the fish to make its way to the spawning reds. Bass anglers, like the sea trout anglers, have enjoyed some excellent sport from various marks around the United Kingdom. With more anglers switching from fresh to saltwater, a lot of bass have been caught mostly on spinners and plugs. Don’t let this stop you going out and chucking some big flies. With the growth of saltwater fly fishing many more of you are fly fishing for bass with success. Don’t worry if all your bass have been what we call schoolie bass which are fish under two or three pounds. They still fight better than stocky rainbows. The bigger ones will come with time and experience. Sadly, too many bass are being illegally gill netted then sold to local restaurants. What we need are some tough Government laws on the netting of bass. Let’s designate the bass as a ‘Sports fish’. Perhaps we sea anglers should have to buy a fishing permit for the ocean. The money raised could go to providing reefs, the recruitment of more fishery officers to police the coast and stop the illegal gill netting and the killing of undersize fish. Also, why not a bag limit? Given some warm settled weather conditions this month, the bass fishing could be excellent. Other fish you might connect with are mackerel, pollock and coalfish. The pollock is certainly a tough fighter. If you know these fish frequent your stretch of coastline make sure you’re using a nine or ten weight outfit with a minimum of fifteen pound breaking strain tippet. This month I will be chasing the striper bass in Chesapeake Bay off Maryland in the hope of connecting with a twenty pounder on a surface fished fly. Fly Fishing Tactics for Brown Trout Fly Fishing Tactics for Brown Trout written by Geoffrey Bucknall and published by Swan Hill Press is a new book covering both river and still water brown trout fishing. Geoffrey is an ideal candidate to write such a book having fished for the species over many years. As readers know, I have always been a fan of river brown trout from the six inch fish one catches from the tiny Scottish and Welsh streams to the bigger fish of southern rivers, especially the Kennet. Though this latter water is only a shadow of its former self I still enjoy every minute spent on this delightful water. This latest book from Geoffrey deals with everything we brown trout anglers need to know. There is on Page 13 a chapter titled A New Approach to Fly Casting followed by The Compulsion for Distance. Both chapters make very interesting reading. What comes across is the authors pleasure in using light tackle. I too have switched this season to three and four weight rods. When you think with an open mind about the subject of fly fishing for a fish which is averaging 14 inches, you can see it’s crazy using six or seven weight rods when you can quite comfortably fish with a three or four weight. Those two chapters are followed by Rivers and Streams which covers Upstream wet fly fishing, Down and across, The nymph of the stream, The vanishing beck and Dry fly tactics. Who cannot be excited by the rise of a trout to a well presented fly. On page 66 Geoffrey writes ‘I admit to a distaste of the prevailing mood of fish-greed. This greed, the desire for ‘instant success, has been fostered by changes in society itself. The stress of life is a factor and another is the competitive urge which has entered our sport. whilst a third is the increased stocking of fisheries to attract custom. My discourse is not to beat my companion, for as an instructor over too many years, I enjoy helping them (and being helped). My aim is very simple, it is to increase your fishing pleasures, for a good river should be like a golf course with hazards and bunkers to overcome. And fly fishing is surely a sport based on self-imposed limitations, to be overcome by the development of skill’. I understand Geoffrey’s feelings. These days I spend more time guiding other anglers in the hope they will enjoy catching fish, big and small, smelling the flowers, watching the birds and learning to be at peace with themselves. As I have said on many occasions, fishing is all about enjoying the countryside and wildlife while in pursuit of a fish. If we don’t catch, there’s always tomorrow. Recently I gave up a couple of days fishing and acted as a guide to two beginners. Both have been fishing for several years with little success. During those two days they improved their casting, were able to spot fish and started to understand what watercraft was all about and not worry to much about the latest bits of gear. On another occasion this summer I gave up a day fishing to guide a fellow angler in the pursuit of pike. He caught several fish, learnt a lot about the fish, the flies and when to use surface fished popper, floating flies or sunk flies. Three more anglers who enjoyed their time at the waterside. I enjoyed the experience and no doubt I learnt a thing or two. Sadly, these days many are asking to be paid for sharing their experiences. Fly Fishing Tactics for Brown Trout written by Geoffrey Bucknall published by Swan Hill press price £22-95 is a book aimed at tempting the modern fly fisher to the wilderness in search of the wild brown trout. The author’s message in this book is simple. ‘Once you begin to think about how the fish will see your fly, then you will catch it’ While on the subject of wilderness why not plan a pilgrimage to the limestone lochs of Durness and Cape Wrath. Old Etonian Sir Michael Wigan was the man I owe a debt of gratitude for showing me this delightful part of the world with its super wild brown trout fishing magnificent bird life and outstanding hospitality from the local people.New Line Over the past few months I have been testing a new line from Cortland distributed in the UK by Masterline International. It’s the 444 Clear SL Ghost Tip. The 35 yard floating line has a built in 15 foot intermediate clear sink tip. The floating 444 SL body aids line control which makes it so easy to lift off line for another long accurate cast. There are many occasions when I need to fish a fly a few feet down. Before the Ghost tip appeared in the shops, I used the mini sink tip from Jim Teeny but at only five feet there were many days when I couldn’t get the fly down deep enough, and should I need a quick retrieve the fly would soon be at the surface. I don’t tie the leader direct to the fly line but make a loop in the clear Ghost tip line with the use of two nail knots some half an inch apart, I do this by using some 12lb breaking strain nylon line. I cover the knots with Pacer Z-poxy which is quick setting, strong, non-brittle and non-shrinking. Another advantage in using this new clear tip line is you can shorten your leader down to some six feet which helps casting in windy conditions. It’s a line I can thoroughly recommend. Cortland also have a warm saltwater Ghost tip which I feel is going to be an excellent line for bone fishing especially when fishing the calm shallow flats. One of the great things about this wonderful sport of angling are the friendships made at the waterside. An excellent example of this is the Presidents Day which is organised each year by the fly fishing section of the Bradford City Angling Association. The clubs President’s Day takes place on the river Aire, where this year 23 guests were invited to enjoy a delightful days fly fishing in the lovely Yorkshire Dales with lunch and drinks being taken at the waterside on a day when the countryside looked magnificent in the summer sunshine. While the other guests targeted the brown trout, I went after the pike, taking a nice fish of 12lbs on a sink tip line and a size 2/0 Polar fly. A jolly good day was enjoyed by all. When the season ends members are not forgotten. The club committee organise a series of events on the first Monday of the month during the autumn and winter, for members and non members enjoyment. These evenings include talks, slide shows and fly dressing demonstrations. You can get further details from Arthur Padgett, 1 Westfield Grove, Idle, Bradford, BD10 8RT, West Yorkshire, please enclose a SAE. While on the subject of clubs, if you live in Bolton, Bury, Manchester or the surrounding area and you’re interested in fly dressing, a new branch of the Fly Dressers Guild has been formed by a group of enthusiasts. They are based at Little Lever near Bolton where they are known as the West Lancashire Branch. Further details from Edward Steel-Wilson 22 Kershaw Avenue, Little Lever, Bolton, Lancashire BL3 1QS as usual please enclose a SAE. Brian Clark – A Great Journalist Recently it was my pleasure to have The London Times journalist Brian Clark as my guest on the river Wye. We had got together not only as fellow anglers and naturalists but I also wanted to record an interview with Brian for my ‘At The Waters Edge’ program on BBC Radio Lancashire about his new book ‘The Stream’. As we chucked bits of bread in the river hoping to get the chub in a feeding mood, a big chub moved out from the far bank. In fact it was a very big chub, perhaps a six pounder. I catapulted a big bit of bread flake across the river. The chub spotted it immediately but took some minutes before getting close to nose the bread, whereupon it turned away coming back some thirty seconds later to suck it in without hesitation. We didn’t catch that fish, or any fish, but we had a great day with kingfishers, peregrine falcons and buzzards for company. Brian started his journalistic career with the Northern Echo. After some years he moved south to work for the Guardian then after some years he moved over to the Times. Writing in last months www.fishing.co.uk I reviewed Brian’s latest book, a novel titled ‘The Stream’ published by Swan Hill press but this wasn’t his first book. Many years ago I sat spell bound watching BBC 2 Television. I wasn’t watching some multi-million dollar thriller or war film but ‘The Trout and The Fly’ where the stars were the brown trout of the river Kennet with Brian Clark and John Goddard. It was certainly a stunning and informative program and Brian’s first book was equally stunning and informative. The Pursuit Of Stillwater Trout published by A&C Black published in 1975. Brian caught his first fish, a gudgeon, from the river Tees as a young boy in the 1940’s fishing with a Bakelite float. He then progressed to chub, dace and barbel from the rivers Swale, Tees and other northern rivers. In the mid 1960’s we witnessed an explosion of stillwater trout fishing at Grafham Water. It was during this period that Brian stopped off at Grafham fishery on one of his many journeys back home to Northumberland. Before long, he was regular fly fisher, along with thousands of other coarse anglers who had turned to catching brown and rainbow trout with a fly rod. Some ten years later Brian passed on his experiences of stillwater trout fishing with the publication of his book ‘The Pursuit of Stillwater Trout’ which proved an immediate winner going into several reprints. Today the book is still applicable for the stillwater fly fisher and one I can thoroughly recommend. In 1996 A&C Black published Brian’s next book ‘Trout Etcetera’. It’s a fascinating book, not only covering trout fishing but all aspects of angling from bonefishing to tiger fish. The chapters on Richard Stuart Walker (page 166) and Hugh Falkus (page 51) should not be missed, you will quickly realise that we have lost our two greatest anglers writers and defenders of this great sport, they will never be replaced. For many years Brian has contributed to Trout and Salmon magazine with many excellent thought provoking articles. In the August issue of the magazine Brian has contributed yet another thought provoking article titled The Beatrix Potter syndrome where he looks at the problems related to waterside conservation etc. I recommend you get a copy of the August issue of the Trout and Salmon magazine then thoroughly read this feature which contains a lot of truths. Let’s remember that otters, seals, rabbits, fish, squirrels, foxes, deer and all the other wildlife are truly wild and not furry cuddly things. Also, despite what some people say cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, and even donkeys (the latter I have eaten in South America) are on this planet to feed people or as working animals. They too are not furry cuddly things. Many more anglers are now going out fly fishing for the coarse and sea fish species. Martin Porter, a retired Metropolitan police officer has been enjoying some good chub fishing on the river Colne fishing imitation mice patterns. As Martin told me recently “As the mouse hits the water, so the chub grabs hold – its very exciting”. Well done Martin, wait until you hook your first barbel you will think you have hooked the proverbial steam train! With the brown trout season on our rivers over until next spring, why don’t all you trout fishers try casting flies for chub, perch and pike they offer excellent sport to the fly fisher. Anglers have said for years that the countryside was being damaged by pollution of our waterways. In a recent Gallop Poll in the Daily Telegraph it was interesting to note that 91% considered the biggest threat to the countryside was the pollution of rivers, lakes and waterways, 80% also felt farmers were using too many pesticides and herbicides. I have been saying this for many years. In fact, I sent a protest letter to Prime Minister Churchill back in the 1950’s over the damage being done to our rivers by farmers and industry. Today it’s modern farming that’s destroying our countryside and waterways, not industry. Is it not time we stopped all these handouts to the farmers? They should be competing in the market place without grants from the tax payer! RIPAmerican fly fisher Joan Stoliar has recently passed away from ovarian cancer, for which she had been receiving treatments since 1993, also from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, diagnosed in 1963. Joan was a member of Federation of Fly Fishers and a board member of Theodore Gordon Fly fishers. Joan introduced many anglers young and old to her conservation endeavours “Project Access” and “Trout in the Classroom” During her years of treatments, Joan pursued her successful graphic design career, also running her business of fly fishing products and directing two conservation projects. Joan viewed the world with passion and care. She was talented, devoted, creative and concerned person and her contribution for trout, elderly and disabled fly fishers, children and trout fishing is so immense. In this year, she received Theodore Gordon Fly fishers “Ed Zern Salmo Award”, TGF highest award. Joan kept working up until her death. Joan was a very talented book designer. She designed for Richard Bach – “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”, “Illusions” (which was the first book design to have a copyright in its entirety) James Clavell, Johnny Carson and other fly fishing authors, among them was Eric Leiser – “Deddes” . She was also one of the publishers. Joan created the wonderful program, “Project Access” which was founded and directed by her since 1985. This is a voluntary program dedicated to making prime fishing streams in the Catskills available to anglers who are elderly or disabled. About three years ago, she read an article in a fishing magazine about a program in which children raised fish eggs in the small aquariums and realised this would be a project which could be applied in New York. Joan then formed a group “Trout in the Classroom” making it an environmental educational project. The project was started in four schools, one in the Manhattan area and three in the Catskills where the New York State reservoirs are. Now there are twenty-one schools including the Hudson Valley region with about 4,000 eggs. Joan extended the area to give hundreds of students hands-on knowledge of the New York watershed, encouraging the exchange of information and connecting city and country children through raising trout eggs. She introduced them to the sport of fly fishing and tying and made them aware of cold water ecosystems and their conservation. Joan directed and led the Trout in the Classroom project so successfully, with her amazing and intense devotion and creativity, there were no drop outs in the schools in three years. The country children stopped throwing trash away in their rivers and became proud of their area, where city water supplies come from. The TIC participation encouraged some of the students to continue their education in environmental study in college. The city children got a chance to be in the country and become aware of the watershed system, acid rain and pollution. The children, who are not particularly active in the regular classes, become positively involved with helping each other. The communication between urban and country children is very productive. Regardless of her doctor’s orders, Joan joined with the students in releasing their beloved trout fry into the streams at the end of May 2000. She wanted to make sure that everything went OK. She enjoyed watching it and talking with the project children as if they were her own children. —-Have a good months fly fishing, I’m off to the States for some speaking engagements and radio shows, also visiting Maryland fly fishing for striper bass and Florida for redfish and seatrout. Then it’s out to the Middle East, chucking flies in the Persian and Arabian Gulf for anything that wants to grab hold – especially the big jack crevale and kingfish!

Any questions? Please E-mail me