Table of contents for January 2022 in Trout & Salmon

FIRE AND WATER Not for the first time, whisky is playing an important role in salmon fishing. The Burn o’ Bennie Distillery on the Aberdeenshire Dee is raising funds to help plant native trees along the river’s tributaries, part of the River Dee Trust’s #milliontrees campaign. Numbered bottles of 30-year-old Aberfeldy whisky will be auctioned alongside limited-edition prints of the extraordinary artwork that adorns each bottle. Planting native trees beside upland rivers helps to cool water and reduce sedimentation, creating a more survivable habitat for salmon. Leading Scottish artist Peter Howson describes his painting, The World is on Fire, as, “Two children guiding humanity through the wasteland of devastation, suffocating smoke and heat, in an industrial nightmare. My vision is a hopeful one and pays tribute to the young people…

IT’S SAID THAT TRAVEL BROADENS the mind. If nothing else, it leaves you with a wealth of memories. After a globetrotting career in the oil business, working in Dubai, Brazil and Brunei, Nic Jepson eventually settled in Norway with his Norwegian wife to raise a family, chase salmon and play a little golf. Even so, the change in lifestyle didn’t extinguish his desire to visit distant places, notably those that offered a chance of exceptional fly-fishing. A Norfolk lad by birth, Nic began his angling career while living on the outskirts of Norwich, float-fishing for roach and bream on the rivers and broads. He started fishing for salmon and sea-trout in Norway in 1979, and has since fly-fished for numerous other species in many amazing locations, including saltwater venues in…

JIM How did your involvement in the tackle trade start? REID In 1988, I opened a specialist fly-fishing shop. It was in our basement, but Anette used to get so tired of people turning up at the house, so in 1990 I opened my first proper shop in Stavanger. There was no internet, of course, so things had to be discussed and ordered — it was a real shop and regular customers had a coffee cup hanging from the roof by the open fire. It was a great hang-out. JIM I would have loved that. I can just imagine you holding court. REID My shops sold Loop tackle and I became a wholesaler and more deeply involved with the sales side of things, becoming the sales manager for UK, Scandinavia…

ROB EDMUNDS Highly successful competition angler, reservoir bank and boat specialist. RONNIE GLASS Former Scottish champion on rivers and stillwaters and a curator of the Tweed Salmon Fishing Museum. STEVE CULLEN Guide, instructor and all-round game angler with a wealth of knowledge. ALASTAIR & WILLIAM PEAKE Brothers Al and Will (AKA TwinPeakes) have a casting school and tackle shop in Crathes on the Aberdeenshire Dee. PETER GATHERCOLE Photographer, expert tyer and chairman of the Fly Dressers' Guild. GARETH JONES Welsh international and stillwater expert. Has fished all over the world. PETER COCKWILL Small water expert with more than 60 years’ fly-fishing experience.…

OBSERVATION IS THE KEY TO MY approach on smaller waters. This includes watching other people fish. I guide individuals and groups who dearly want success but often have a narrow range of ability and when I’m not guiding I’m involved with fishery management and watch anglers making obvious mistakes that culminate in blank days. For someone who enjoys witnessing other people catch fish, I find it frustrating when anglers who’ve braved the elements just go through the motions. Most of us don’t have the luxury of fishing only when the weather is ideal and must make things work on a particular day, booked in advance. But while the weather is a lottery, I have a standard approach to my winter fishing that has served me well. It starts with comfort.…

Our test rod was the 9ft 6in, 6wt, which felt notably light in the hand. The micro full-wells handle was a comfortable fit without being bulky. Hand finishing at the Loomis factory has given the rod a high-quality look with premium cork, aluminium uplocking reel fittings and either hardwood or aluminium reel seats, depending on the model. The 6wt was accurate and responsive to cast with low-down power from the enhanced butt section when it was worked harder. An excellent rod for larger rivers or more delicate presentations on small and large stillwaters.…

ENGLAND ■ ALDIN GRANGE LAKES, Durham, 0191 384 6090 1 Harris Armstrong, Meadowfield, 3lb 9oz rainbow, Peach Blob. ■ DRAYCOTE TROUT FISHERY, Rugby, 01788 812018 1 Jack Blakey, Northallerton, 4lb 3oz rainbow, FAB. ■ NEW MILLS TROUT FISHING PARK, Brampton, 016977 41115 1 Kenzie Reynolds, Haltwhistle, 6lb 8oz rainbow, Cat’s Whisker. 2 Alicia Stubbs, Gretna, 5lb rainbow, Damsel. SCOTLAND ■ ALDERNEUK FISHERY, Dumfries, 07901 602020 1 Aiden Edgar, Dalbeattie, 4lb 2oz rainbow, Montana. WALES ■ GRAIGLWYD SPRINGS, Bangor, 01492 622338 1 Lucas Derbyshire, Liverpool, 2lb 4oz rainbow, Olive Damsel. FRANCE ■ MOULIN DE CHAISE DIEU DU THEIL, Le Theil, 0033 0687 099653 1 Noeric Rodriguez, France, 7lb rainbow, Montana.…

OTTER PROOF Congratulations to Don Jones who landed this 20lb-plus salmon from the Lancaster and District AA beat of the River Lune at Caton. The fish, Don’s biggest-ever salmon, took a Red Ally’s Shrimp fished on a floating shooting head and fast-sinking polyleader. Don said, “Only 45 minutes before the take I watched two otters fishing in the pool below. As I fished towards them they disappeared downstream. The fish took in exactly the spot where the otters had been active — proof that their presence need not necessarily signal the death knell for an afternoon’s sport”. The big fish was swiftly returned. Don, a retired TV producer, who lives only half a mile from the beat, was due in hospital on the day, but he said,“My op was cancelled,…

SEASON Brown trout, March 15 to September 30. The most popular month is June, but fishing can be good from early season onwards. As always, weather conditions are crucial. TACKLE Standard loch-style rods (9ft-11ft, 5wt-7wt) and tactics work well but make sure you have a powerful 6wt-7wt rod for dealing with bigger trout and strong winds. Machair lochs are shallow and a full floater should cover most situations. Traditional loch flies and variations will work well. Include the usual colours of black, claret (with red or green butts and hotspots), olive, orange and peach. Don’t be without muddled Kates or Invictas, Snatchers and Crunchers and lightly dressed Dabblers, and a selection of point lures — Alexandra, Peter Ross or your preferred small fry and stickleback imitations. In the right conditions,…

Dress naturally I have come to realise that we fishermen and women are not practising what we preach about protecting the environment. The plastic dubbings, threads, beads, shellbacks, foams and ribbing that we use in our flies and which I see in adverts in magazines may shed fine particles into the air and the waters around us. We still need plastic fly-lines and tippets, but there is a vast array of natural materials we can use to construct our flies. I have sent all my synthetic dubbings for recycling and will be sticking to natural materials from now on. There are a lot: hare, rabbit, mink, beaver (the only thing this animal is good for), mole, fox, squirrel and muskrat, to name a few. Ian Barrow, Cornwall Like minds I…

Burr the end of the black tube and insert it into the brass tube. Attach a length of chartreuse silicone tube to the end, then push it on a tube-fly mount and run on the thread. Add thread turns into the groove of the brass tube then prepare a bunch of blue bucktail. Ensuring that the tips are level, spin the hair evenly around the tube. Lock the hair in place with tight thread turns then trim off the excess. Catch in four fibres of Krystal Flash plus four stripped hackle stems evenly spaced around the wing. Catch in a long-fibred chartreuse cock hackle by its tip. Stroke the fibres so they all sit on the same side of the stem then wind on three or four turns at the…

IN MY EARLY FLY-TYING DAYS, BLUE was virtually ignored as a material colour for trout flies. Okay, the negativity that surrounded it didn’t apply to the blue jay addition to Kingsmill Moore’s Bumbles or the Silver Invicta, and many sea-trout fishermen in the wilderness regions had much faith in the Teal, Blue and Silver, but those exceptions made the rule — ignore blue. In the 1970s and ’80s, there was only one brown trout fly containing a blue component in which I had faith and that was the Blue Zulu, and then only in specific circumstances — bright conditions on peat-stained water. But it was in the field of loch sea-trout and salmon that blue made a serious impact and has become essential. And that realization, like so many others,…

Hook Size 8-12 Fulling Mill Competition Heavyweight Thread Black Tail Fluoro blue wool or Glo-brite no14 Rib Oval silver Body Black seal’s fur Palmer Paired black and blue cock hackles Head hackle Blue French partridge hackle (optional) Another fly from the acclaimed Kingsmill Moore, which he designed for migratory fish in freshwater. Many, if not most, blue patterns derive from Ireland and are also very popular on the Scottish West Coast. I suspect many old patterns would have used modern materials if they had been available.…

What do you do with old or leaky chest waders? Our Cumbrian correspondent Eric Hope has a solution that will prolong their use and keep them out of landfill. Although your waders may not keep you dry in a river, by cutting off the stocking feet or boots with scissors, you’ll be left with an effective pair of waterproof boating trousers. Make sure you cut below the foot join — it forms a seam and will stop the trousers becoming ragged. Some waders have a narrow ankle and may not fit easily over a wellington boot’s calf. If so, insert the top of your boot into the waders before you pull them on. The seam will grip the calf and stop the trousers riding up.…

■ The leader is too short. Winter water is often clear, so make sure your leader is at least 12ft long. ■ Never varying the retrieve. No two days are the same, fish react differently, so try different speeds. ■ Failing to change the fly. Change the colour and/or size at least every 15 minutes if there’s no response. ■ Fishing too deep. It’s a fallacy that trout are always deep in winter. Try different depths. ■ The fly is too big. Another winter fallacy is that only big, black flies work in cold water. Mix it up. ■ Failing to move. If you aren’t getting takes, it’s possible there are no fish in front of you. ■ Trying to cast too far. There’s little point in your line and…

Hook Size 10-16 Fasna F420 or Partridge SLJ strong jig, barbless Bead Tungsten slotted Thread Black UTC Ultra, size 70 Peeping caddis grub Chartreuse micro chenille (colour with marker pen) Legs Barred partridge hackle fibres Body FNF 3mm Chewing Gum Chenille in caddis brown (there are other colours) Thread the point of the hook through the smallest hole of a tungsten bead and slide the bead up to the eye. Secure the hook in the vice and run on thread. With a lighter flame, melt the end of a length of chenille. Touch it with a black marker pen to form the grub’s head. Tie in the chenille so it extends past the bend. Fix the chenille along the shank and trim the waste. Stroke back the fibres of the…

ENGLAND ALBURY ESTATE FISHERIES, Guildford, 07976 810737 AMPORT FISHERY, Andover, 01264 771233 BLITHFIELD ANGLERS, Abbots Bromley, 01283 840284 HIGHAM LAKE TROUT FISHERY, Ponteland, 07950 428159 KILNSEY PARK FLY FISHERY, Skipton, 07765 688780 LANGLEY DAM, Hexham, 01434 688846 LEIGHTON RESERVOIR, Ripon, 07815 114890 LENCHES LAKES, Evesham, 01386 871035 LOYNTON TROUT FISHERY, Stafford, 01785 284261 RIB VALLEY FISHING LAKES, Ware, 07812 464323 SIBLYBACK RESERVOIR, Nr Liskeard, 01579 346522 WASHBURN VALLEY FISHERIES, Harrogate, 01943 880658 SCOTLAND DUNLICHITY TROUT FISHERY, Inverness, 01808 521442 JERICHO LOCH, Torthorwold, 07955 060347 MILL OF KELLAS TROUT FISHERY, Elgin, 01343 890478 MOFFAT FISHERY, Moffat, 01683 221220 TARVIE LOCHS TROUT FISHERY, Contin, 01997 421250 WALES BIGWELL FLY FISHERY, Monmouth, 01600 772904 ELAN VALLEY, Rhayader, 01597 810383…

IDON’T LIKE CARRYING A MOBILE PHONE when I’m fishing. Call me superstitious but I think they bring bad luck. At least, I think that it would bring me bad luck. I fall in quite often enough as it is and, in all candour, I don’t enjoy it. And if I have my phone in the pocket of my waders, am I more or less likely to take a dip? Exactly! The sheer burden of all the data carried on the damn thing would render me sufficiently top heavy to have me toppling into every pot between here and the estuary. So, I leave my phone in the car. This does, however, present an issue when some Leviathan takes hold of one’s lure and the gillie is engaged elsewhere. This was…

Caught a memorable fish? Send a picture and brief story to troutandsalmon@bauermedia.co.uk Each picture published (p10-11) will receive a Sharpe’s of Aberdeen cap. The captor of the Fish of the Month will receive a Sharpe’s rod of their choice. Our winner may have recently landed a big fish, first fish or unusual fish. They may simply have told a wonderful tale. The editor’s decision is final.For terms and conditions, visit: bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html For our Privacy Policy: bauerdatapromise.co.uk…

ONE OF THE MOST MAGICAL sights at this time of year is the aurora (northern lights) and the display in recent weeks has been exceptional. The night skies have been glowing with iridescence, a sight that never fails to give me goosebumps whenever I witness it. The low winter sun has offered some welcome warmth streaming through the trees and I’ve managed to glimpse several woodcock chinking fleetingly between them. The riverbanks have been bleached brown by cold winds and frosts, and the only flash of colour from the hedgerows comes from rosehips clinging to wild rosebushes. Old man’s beard lichen hangs heavy on the bare branches of birch trees and going in search of holly berries to decorate the mantlepiece was a task that made me think the anticipated…

Tube 14mm Signature tube, fine black plastic tube and chartreuse silicone tubing Thread Black Feelers Chartreuse stripped cock hackles Tail Dyed blue bucktail and pearl Krystal Flash Rib Silver wire Rear hackle Chartreuse cock hackle Body UV Ice Blue dubbing Head hackle Black cock hackle Head Chartreuse cone Feeler flies such as the Frank N Snaelda are finding great success not only for Atlantic salmon but also Pacific salmon and steelhead. Nic ties his King Salmon FNS in chartreuse and blue, a combination he finds deadly for fresh-run king or Chinook salmon.…

RIEVAULX ABBEY CAR PARK, 9.00am. It’s late October. Trucks with big tread and muddy bonnets gather. Expectant eyes stare from the blackness of the dog cages. A day of challenging birds is in store for the assembled guns. A man approaches me, sensing an outsider. “Are you the fishers?” he says with a welcoming curiousness. Richard and I nodded and accept his offer of a flat white in the abbey’s plush café. Justin Birkett runs Rievaulx, a sporting estate, with wife Nik and sons Henry and Charlie. Although its high birds are legendary, the estate’s Spring Lakes fishery, a chain of four trout lakes excavated by Justin’s father Melvin in the early ’70s, has until recently kept a low profile, fished by a small band of syndicate rods. After three…

1. BLUE-COLLAR FLY ROD I have zillions of fly rods from all decades, 1980s to 2020s. In that collection are some classics: a Sage 389 Light Line, a Winston IM6. It’s tricky to pick a favourite, but if I had to it’s probably my doughty Sage VT2 four-weight, with its vivid blue blank and blue-collar reel seat. I have caught so many trout with that rod, bush-whacked so many streams. It’s smooth as butter to cast, and just great to play fish on. 2. LAMSON LP1.5 CLICK-AND-PAWL FLY REEL In the early 1990s, I took an American fishing on the River Wylye at Longleat. He had a stupidly good day catching many trout on mayfly and to thank me when he got back home he sent over the pond a…

REID HAGELIN HAS BASICALLY BEEN there and got the T-shirt when it comes to fly-fishing. He’s run his own tackle-shop, developed a travel business, established and built fishing camps and was a driving force in tackle brands Loop and LTS. Reid turns 60 this year and I find him in reflective mood, savouring a glass of wine. It’s a contrast to his physical appearance. The archetypal Viking, tall with broad shoulders and bright wild eyes, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine him trudging through the surf from a long boat, raiding an unsuspecting village. But it was a different type of Viking attack that Reid led to our shores, bent on plundering our salmon and whisky. Reid’s Norsemen made a lasting impression on the Scottish salmon scene. JIM…

Try to avoid cutting squirrel with scissors. The best way to harvest body hair is to pinch between thumbnail and index finger or forefinger tips. Grip hard and tug quickly. The process will harvest mostly guard hairs but also just the right amount of underfur to help the hairs knit and make dubbing easier. The harvest: (left to right) yellow-olive, fiery-brown and natural grey, with a yellow-olive skinny nymph. The sky’s the limit with dyed patches and tails. As you can see, fox, pine and grey all take dye beautifully: (clockwise) grey squirrel dyed yellow-olive, fox squirrel dyed WOIGO, grey squirrel tail dyed scarlet, pine squirrel dyed fiery-brown.…

■ Heavily coloured water caused by run-off from rainfall. Never the easiest: try an all-black fly retrieved slowly. ■ An influx of cold or maybe tainted water, again after rainfall. Even more testing. Fish are probably feeling out of sorts and not inclined to feed. A bung with a couple of nymphs may produce an occasional take. ■ Gale-force wind. Good news: the fish don’t mind. Can you find a sheltered spot? ■ Heavy rain. Same. Not a problem for the fish. It’s only poor clothing that makes it hard for us. ■ Freezing rod rings. The water surface will be cold, too. Fish deep, clear the ice frequently, or wait for the daytime temperature to pick up. ■ Partial ice cover. Not a problem. It’s possible to catch right…

TROUT MASTERS Plus this month’s badge winners from Europe’s largest fly-fishing competition England & Wales BORDER ESK THE Burnfoot Beat below Longtown was again by far the top Border Esk beat, finishing the season with a total of 227 salmon and 120 sea-trout. The beat had a halcyon day on October 11 with 32 salmon and grilse caught. The beat faced many days when flows were pitiful, and fish were coming in and out on the tides. The late autumn fishing was blighted by regular high flows, some reaching over 7ft on the lower river with many fishing days lost. The last fortnight of the season produced some sport on the Buccleuch waters. Fishing the Willow Pool, Alan Herd caught a 5lb salmon on worm plus further fish of 6lb…

England ■ ALDIN GRANGE LAKES, Durham, 0191 384 6090 1 Keith Sutherland, Meadowfield, 8lb 6oz brown, on fly. 2 Duncan Elliott, Durham, 7lb rainbow, on fly. 3 Steve Maughan, Tudhoe, 4lb 9oz rainbow, Claret Buzzer. ■ BESSY BECK TROUT FISHERY, Cumbria, 01539 623303 1 Brian Conway, Crook, 12lb rainbow, Zonker. ■ BRANSFORD GAME FISHERIES, Bransford, 01905 830548 1 Hadrian Kibblewhite, Evesham, 7lb 11oz rainbow, Hothead Damsel. 2 Roy Fisher, Tewkesbury, 7lb 9oz rainbow, on fly. 3 Matthew Williams, Birmingham, 7lb 8oz rainbow, Damsel Nymph. ■ BRICK FARM LAKES, Herstmonceux, 01323 832615 1 Simon Price, Hastings, 4lb 12oz rainbow, on fly. ■ MARSTON WYSE TROUT FARM, York, 01904 738383 1 Patrick Benn, Wetherby, 12lb 6oz rainbow, Olive Zonker. 2 John Young, Leeds, 4lb 3oz rainbow, Bloodworm. ■ MEON SPRINGS, Petersfield, 01730…