This is my main float for trotting medium to fast paced rivers. I use them in sizes ranging from 5BB to 1 OBB which in some parts of the country would be classed as very heavy but I am fishing flowing rivers like the Tidal Thames, Kennet, Test, Itchen, Dorset Stour and the Hampshire Avon….
We tend to proceed conservatively, bound by norms, and received wisdoms. Progress sometimes requires that those received wisdoms be set aside for a while, to allow in the ravings of the lateral thinker, the loose cannon, or the seeming lunatic. It may be that Iím all of the above, but I ask you to read…
I thought that I would spend the next few weeks looking at the flies that we use on the Bristol Reservoirs through the first few weeks of the season. I will go into the details of tying techniques while I am at it. Of course I will not claim that this is in any way…
Seven years have passed since my family and I moved out of suburban Manchester into the wilds of rural Cheshire. At the time it seemed like a good idea – but I hadn’t bargained on the cost, and we are still recovering. However, it was a good move fishing wise; only ten miles from the…
I thought that I would spend the next few weeks looking at the flies that we use on the Bristol Reservoirs through the first few weeks of the season. I will go into the details of tying techniques while I am at it. Of course I will not claim that this is in any way…
As most of you will know, carp generally move around a lot less in winter than they do in summer. So the usual advice is to fish as close to them as possible, and keep your groundbaiting patterns, if any, very tight.
The first session down the Colne Valley pit started quite mild and I was well confident with the PVA bags of trout pellets and crushed boilies landing in perfect spots. However at around 7pm the sky cleared to reveal the stars and by 10pm a film of ice was on the car. I settled in…
In cold water, grayling appear to feed right on the bottom which presents problems for the fly fisherman. Traditionally they have solved the problem by using leaded nymphs but I have found them too slow sinking. I wanted a fly to sink faster than a stone and discussed my problem with fly tier Lee Kitchen….
Each has its own strengths and adherents. I have tried to restrict myself to only three versions of this famous nymph. These are the Frank Sawyer, Cove and Gold-bead. The gold bead variant is the one that I use when fishing with a floating line, a long leader and a nymph down deep. This appears…
Freddie produced all his own easy-to-follow illustrations which are published in the book. Its reference is ISBN 0 7153 6952 0 – I expect it is now out of publication but you might be lucky and get one at a second hand book shop.The Epsom Salt is really a cross between a lure and a…