Table of contents for August 2022 in Trout & Salmon

IT’S A MONTH OF CONGRATULATIONS. FIRSTLY, we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the UK’s most famous fly-fishing tackle-maker, Hardy’s of Alnwick (more of that on p45), and secondly, the OBE awarded to angling author and conservationist Charles Rangeley-Wilson in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Charles’ award for “Services to Chalk Stream Conservation” recognises the contribution he has made as chair of The Chalk Rivers Restoration Group, which includes the Environment Agency, Natural England, Ofwat, WWF and several angling organisations. The group aims to raise the profile of chalkstreams and influence policymakers to restore water quality, quantity and habitats using a catchment-based approach (CaBA). The UK is home to 85 per cent of the World’s rare chalkstreams, which are under severe threat from abstraction and pollution. A delighted Charles told T&S,…

Michael Martin, a healthcare assistant from Belfast, cradles a 7lb 2oz brown trout, the smaller of two fish he caught on a recent trip to Lough Sheelin. Michael was joined by his brother Phil and a group of friends for the trip, planned to coincide with the falls of spent gnat. Conditions hadn’t been good with only ten fish being caught in the previous four days due to high winds, but Michael and his party’s timing proved spot-on as the winds calmed and the mayfly turned up in their thousands. “Me and my boat partner had positioned ourselves off Merrypoint in only about 2½ft of water. The mayfly were out in clouds and we knew it was just a matter of time before the fish started to take the spent…

As an introduction to North Country soft-hackle flies, you can do no better than Brook and River Trouting by Edmonds and Lee. Self-published in 1916, the turmoil of the First World War prevented it from becoming an angling classic. Both anglers were intimately involved with ABBAC. Lee was club secretary and Edmonds lived at Embsay, two miles from the club water. They concisely explained the art of tying the slim delicate patterns, and how to employ them on the river. They illustrated the flies in colour alongside the materials needed to tie them. A photograph showed where the hackles were found on the bird and a colour plate showed the Pearsall’s silks required to tie the fly bodies. They fished teams of three flies mostly upstream, but occasionally downstream when…

SURFACE LURE Hook Size 9 Salar single Thread Black Butt Fluorescent yellow floss Body Silver tinsel Thorax Black Spectra dubbing Underwing Twisted silver flash and black deer hair Overwing 4mm foam strip (split) Some of the most exciting sea-trout fishing occurs when fishing surface lures at night. The swirls, boils and splashes heard in the darkness as the fly swings and skates across the surface can produce heart-stopping moments amid the anticipation of a firm pull from a taking fish. Soon after dark, sea-trout are often very active and will chase a large skated fly. They may imagine it’s a large stonefly, great red sedge or small fish; either way, any fly that leaves a suitable wake may be effective. My surface lures have varied from simple foam patterns to…

LOUGH CARRA lies nears the northern tip of Lough Mask in Co Mayo. It is about six miles long with a complex indented shoreline and numerous islands. The brown trout season is March 1-September 30. Inland Fisheries Ireland provides an excellent overview of the fishing on its website: fishinginireland.info/trout/west/carra/ Contact the local IFI office for up-to-date advice and information. Tel: +353 (0)91 563118. E-mail: galway@fisheriesireland.ie HIRING A GUIDE is highly recommended for safety reasons and to maximise your enjoyment of the lough. Web:fishinginireland.info/guides/mayo.htm Most guides can arrange boat hire, too. REGULATIONS. Four trout per day maximum. Minimum size 13in. Only one trout over 10lb can be taken. Catch-and-release is encouraged. TACKLE A standard set-up would be a 10ft or 10ft 6in rod for a six-weight line. Carra is known for…

AFTER 65 YEARS AS A FLY-FISHER I am still perplexed by the frequent lack of etiquette shown by some who profess to be aficionados of our sport. I see it from many perspectives — that of a fishery manager, an instructor, a guide, and as an angler. But then I began wondering about the dos and don’ts of fishing etiquette. Is the aim just to have the best day’s fishing you can, whatever the cost to others? Or do you follow certain rules of courtesy, even though it may mean you catch fewer fish? Take the “multiple catch” syndrome. I know fishing can be all about bragging rights — I’m as guilty as the next person because I really like to catch fish. But is it right that someone hogs…

“Even my first salmon on the Esk was on a Hardy” IN MY TEENS, DURING MY SCHOOL holidays, I’d stay with my grandparents in Canonbie on the Border Esk. I’d fish for sea-trout, sleeping and setting up my tackle in the lean-to conservatory on the back of their bungalow so as not to wake them in the early hours. It was nearly always light again by the time I returned, bleary-eyed and often fishless. I remember trying to get to sleep on the damp settee as the parliament of rooks above the Dead Neuk pool woke up. It was in those formative years that I first heard local fishermen mention the House of Hardy. Even my father, who didn’t fish, knew the name. “Must be special,” I thought. Things like…

To celebrate Hardy’s 150th anniversary, Trout & Salmon is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a reel of their choice from Hardy’s highly collectable Brothers 150 Anniversary LW series. These stunning reels are based upon the Hardy 1970s edition Lightweight and include sizes to cover trout or salmon fishing. The series features a classic two-screw, nickel-silver line guard engraved with the dates 1872-2022. The reels have a raised spindle casing, brass pins, and the reel’s name and Made by Hardy Bros Ltd, England engraved on the back plate. The series consists of the 2/3wt Flyweight, the 3/4wt Featherweight, 4/5wt LRH, 5/6wt Princess, 7/8wt St Aidan and 8/9wt St Andrew. Each is supplied in a soft leather reel case and available only throughout this 150th Anniversary year. For your…

“You had coffee and biscuits from a silver pot and browsed the fishing returns in the estate fishing ledger” AS I DROVE UP THE FINAL stretch of road and passed the dam, there it was, Lake Vyrnwy, bathed in late-afternoon sunshine, calm with the iconic Gothic draw-off tower and surrounding hillside reflected as a mirror image on the water’s surface. Few fisheries fill me with the same excitement and anticipation at the thought of a return visit like Vyrnwy. A place where I have fond memories of great fishing days and friendships. A beautiful place, where I can relax and respect all that nature throws at me. Not much has changed since my first visits more than 40 years ago, a time when you booked in at reception, had coffee…

JUMPERS AND ANGLES When a trout jumps, the momentary loss of connection and the prospect it may throw the hook can make your heart skip a beat. Most fish are lost because of a vertical rod angle, which pulls the fish towards you when it leaps (due to less resistance in the air than below water). This creates slack line that allows the trout to thrash and lever the hook. However, a low rod angle, where the rod is horizontal, sometimes with the tip beneath the surface, creates side strain on trout, and rather than leap, they tend to swim sideways against your direction of pull. Eventually, they'll turn, when sweeping your rod 180 degrees in the opposite direction will make them continue to work hard. This tires them quicker…

MANY ANGLERS ARE PUT OFF fishing for sea-trout because they think it needs to be done under the cover of darkness. Yet sea-trout can be and are caught regularly in daylight. Early mornings and evenings are productive, but the fish can be caught at any time. The right conditions — such as a breeze or a little stain in the water — will help the daytime fly-angler. Decent cloud cover, in particular, can tip the chances in our favour. Stealth is always required as sea-trout are easily spooked. A smaller fly is often the way to go. Size 10 or 12 is about right, even a 14 when water levels are very low. Strong hooks are needed as the sea-trout, in my estimation, is the hardest fighting game-fish in our…

THE BEST THING about Hunting Trout is that The Message is in the Medium. And the trout’s Medium being water, it can’t move without moving water — so its every Movement sends a message, if you know how to read it. Of course, Bankside Scholars bicker over what these messages are, and whether there are 30 categories or just three. But for the Duffer’s benefit, at least it’s good to know what to look for, to help you Narrow Down What to Do. So here’s the gist of it: The Sipper “One of the many proverbs you’ll never hear from a Gillie” A sight to make a fly-fisherman skip to the water’s edge, twirling his rod like a Majorette. This is one of your best chances of Catching on a…

CALL TO ACTION Following the release of the 2021 Scottish salmon and sea-trout rod catch figures (see p9), the lowest since records began in 1952, Dr Alan Wells, chief executive of Fisheries Management Scotland, which represents District Fishery Boards and Fishery Trusts, said, “The latest figures underline just how grave the situation has become. We are urging the Government to deliver its existing commitments without delay, and to go much further in all the areas where they have the power to make a difference. And we are asking all members of the public to join that call to action. “An iconic national species is at stake, along with the ecosystems which rely on healthy runs of returning salmon. And fragile rural economies which are already struggling because of Covid restrictions…

England ■ ALBURY ESTATE FISHERIES, Guildford, 07976 810 737 1 John White, Crawley, 10lb 2oz brownie, Damsel Nymph. 2 Michael Duckett, Crowborough, 3lb 2oz rainbow, Blob. ■ ALDIN GRANGE LAKES, Durham, 0191 384 6090 1 David Soulsby, Stanley, 8lb 4oz brownie, Buzzer. 2 Matt Lumley, Stanley, 4lb 6oz brownie, Montana nymph. ■ BRICK FARM LAKES, Herstmonceux, 01323 832615 1 Douglas Ainsley, Brighton, 10lb 8oz rainbow, black Booby. 2 Stephanie Ball, Eastbourne, 8lb 8oz rainbow, Montana nymph. ■ DRAYCOTE TROUT FISHERY, Rugby, 01788 812018 1 Les Lerigo, Bedworth, 6lb 8oz brownie, olive Snake. ■ MARSTON WYSE TROUT FARM, York, 01904 738383 1 Paul Snaith, Chopwell, 3lb 10oz rainbow, on fly. ■ MEON SPRINGS FLY FISHERY, Petersfield, 01730 823134 1 Rob Tame, Havant, 6lb rainbow, pink Booby. 2 S Marriott, Little Hampton,…

This month’s winner is Stephanie Ball, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, who caught this 8lb 8oz rainbow from Brick Farm Lakes on a Montana nymph. The fish was the heaviest caught during a local club competition and is a new personal best for Stephanie. Each month Guide Flyfishing will award a Stillmaniac fly-line to one lucky Troutmasters angler. Simply upload and caption your catch pictures on Troutmasters Facebook and/or Instagram (include #Troutmasters 2022 and #Stillmaniac) and we will put the top 10 each month to a public Facebook vote.…

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 Ajax 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…

APPLETREEWICK, BARDEN AND BURNSALL ANGLING CLUB has fishing on 6½ miles of the River Wharfe as well as Lower Barden Reservoir, a 57-acre stillwater containing wild brownies and stocked rainbows. SEASON TICKETS are £595 with a £50 joining fee. Contact: honorary secretary Bryan Ayton via the club website: abbac.co.uk STEPHEN WILSON guides non-members on the ABBAC club waters, both river and reservoir. Web: tocastafly.co.uk BOLTON ABBEY ESTATE has five miles of fishing on the Wharfe below ABBAC. Wild and stocked brownies and grayling. Season tickets, with day-tickets available after June 1. Email: estateoffice@boltonabbey.com WHARFEDALE has excellent accommodation with everything from self-catering cottages to high-end hotels. The spa town of Harrogate and market town of Skipton are a short drive away. Web: yorkshiredales.net/wharfedale/…

TO WORK FOR HARDY WOULD BE A dream job for many fly-fishers. Design engineer Steven Harper joined the famous tacklemakers in 1979 after studying engineering at Cleveland University. But like many before him, he began his career on the shop floor, polishing parts — hard work because the machines were not as good then as they are today. Eventually, he was offered an engineering apprenticeship as a toolmaker. Then, Hardy had a foundry, injection-moulding shop, carbon plant producing blanks, and a big machine shop, so he was able to acquire varied and broad skills. He became toolroom foreman, scheduling and designing tools, and then moved into rod development, doing the layups, tapers and fittings, and deciding the materials for rod ranges. Later, he moved into reel design, learning to programme…

“Rods strut skywards from bespoke walnut-and-leather stands” ALNWICK HIGH STREET. NOT unlike those found in most English market towns. A butchers, a bakers, a country store. Unique attractions, too. Alnwick Castle and the famous Barter Books are a short stroll away. But now at the heart of this bustling town there’s a smart new attraction. Hardy of Alnwick’s flagship store and museum at 30 Bondgate Within, with its elegant Georgian façade, celebrates the latest era in the company’s long and accomplished history. It’s the brainchild of Hardy’s forward-thinking management and committed owners Pure Fishing and is not dissimilar to the firm’s former flagship store in Pall Mall, London. Previously a bank, the store’s hefty doors promise grandeur. Enter to wood panelling and high ceilings; towering walls are punctuated with historic…

LAKE VYRNWY Sporting Hotel and Spa is angler-friendly. It provides superb accommodation and a wide choice of menus to suit all. The manager, Anthony Rosser, an experienced fisherman, is always on hand to advise on flies, lines and where best to fish. TICKETS AND BOAT HIRE are from the hotel only. There is no fishing from the shore. Guides and boatmen can be booked in advance through the hotel. Tel: 01691 870 692. Email: info@lakevyrnwyhotel.co.uk Web: classicbritishhotels.com Address: Llanwddyn, Powys SY10 0LY.…

AWHILE AGO I WAS ASKED WHAT I wanted for my birthday. As I suspect many of you know, with every passing year this question becomes a little more ticklish until, at some point, you finally run out of ideas altogether. Don’t get me wrong: I haven’t got everything I want. I lack my own salmon river, for example. Or a watermill on a chalkstream to call my own. Just as I make do without the latest Aston Martin SUV. I don’t even have the last word in tackle. But these are mere fantasies and if by some Lottery-fuelled lightning strike of luck, any or all of them were to appear in my life what would there be left to dream of, or to talk about? But I do have everything…

“I live in the bus all summer to watch the fish, staring out of the big windows at the sea, mesmerised by the shoals” LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY summer home. It’s a quaint little two bed right on the beach on the west coast of Lewis. Isolated, yet within reach of local amenities, it sits in a protected area of local beauty with panoramic views of the sea. It has absolutely no mod cons, water or electricity, the door opens during a good southerly blow and needs to be propped shut with a broom handle at night as the sheep are likely to come in and wake you. Oh, it’s also not a house. It’s a big green bus… The watchers’ hut at Barvas is a bit of…

Peak fishing occurs in three distinct periods. Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Kevin Crowley recommends these patterns: For duckfly in spring: Black Pennell, Connemara Black, Blae & Black, Watson’s Fancy, Bibio, Mallard & Claret, Duckfly, Sooty Olive (above), Cock Olive, Peter Ross, Fiery Brown, Claret Dabbler, Golden Dabbler, Hog lice Patterns, Coch-y-Bondhu, Duckfly Pupa and Emergers Red Arrow, Sooty and Blae Olive and Greenwell’s Glory. Sizes 10-14. For the Mayfly hatch: Green Peter, Green Drake, French Partridge Mayfly (above), Fan Winged Mayfly, Golden Olive Bumble, Cock Robin, Green Dabbler, Olive Dabbler, Claret Dabbler, Invicta, Golden Olive, Spent Gnat and Buzzer patterns. Sizes 8-12. For late season: Green Peter, Murrough, Brown Sedge, Invicta, Silver Invicta, Kate McLaren, Blue Bottle, Daddy Longlegs, Bibio, Claret Dabbler, Golden Olive Bumble (above), Claret Bumble, Connemara Black, Raymond.…

1. BEGINNINGS Doon Lough, west Donegal, with its fifth-century ring fort, where some of my first trout were caught. Fishing began earlier at Portnoo pier — buckets filled with tiny fish caught on bamboo sticks and tiny hooks. Then my first fly-rod on my eighth birthday, with three flies: Alexandra, Bloody Butcher and Teal, Blue and Silver. This picture was taken three years ago when I revisited Doon to fish with that rod and similar flies. Those early years instilled my love of Ireland’s mountains, bogs, heathered hills and fishing within sight, sound or smell of the salt. 2. TACKLE Do we all have too much? I seem to have all I ever bought or was given. My late friend Wynn Heap explained it as having to reach Critical Mass.…

1872 William Hardy started his business in Paikes Street, Alnwick, Northumberland. The following year he took his brother, John James (known as JJ) into partnership. 1890 The brothers open the Bondgate factory. For the next three quarters of a century, the complex would produce quality tackle that was sold worldwide. 1897 Hardy opened premises at 61 Pall Mall and Forster Hardy moved to London to become manager. At the start of every year, Forster was invited to Buckingham Palace so that King George V could review the latest range of tackle. 1910 At a casting tournament in Paris, Mr John James Hardy, British champion salmon and trout fly caster, used what was probably the lightest fishing rod in the world. Made of Palakona bamboo, the 7ft rod weighs only 2.75oz.…

T&S When did you join Hardy? HOWARD I started in Alnwick around 2003 as the shop manager, after working at John Norris tackle-shop in Penrith. I wanted to work with a manufacturer rather than a retailer as I could see a bigger opportunity to get involved with tackle development. After managing the shop for a year, I moved into the role of assistant product developer, followed by fly product development manager a few years later. Although my job title has changed many times over the years I have always either had responsibility for — or have been heavily involved in — product development for the fly-fishing side of the business. T&S What did you do before joining Hardy? HOWARD After college I had a short stint in a cake factory.…

CDC MAGIC Never dismiss cul de canard (CDC) patterns again on the basis they take too much maintenance. This little trick, shared with us by former world champion Howard Croston (not the inventor), will instantly dry sodden CDC plumes. Permanently attach a doubled loop of stretchy Spanflex (a fly-tying body material) to your vest or pack. Then, when your CDC fly gets wet, simply catch the fly in the loop and add tension to stretch the Spanflex by pulling on the leader. With a finger of your other hand, pluck the stretched Spanflex half-a-dozen times. The vibration will eject any moisture and the CDC will fluff up as if by magic. Re-treat the CDC with a suitable floatant and you are ready to cover another fish.…

I stopped using lead to weight flies years ago and now use wire exclusively. Wire isn’t manipulated as easily as lead, but it doesn’t take long to master. I start by running thread down the length of the area to be covered by wire. This makes the base for your wire more secure. I then tie in the wire under the shank (or on top) to maintain symmetry and balance. On the side is fine, if you wish, with thinner wires. Bind the wire to the shank and thread base tightly or the wire will spin when you wind touching turns. A simple forward-weighted base for tapered nymphs formed with turns of appropriately sized wire. Tie the wire in under the shank and behind the eye, run down 1/4 to…

These rivers are renowned for their sea-trout runs. The list is far from exhaustive but the fisheries are accessible via tickets, memberships or hotel stays. ■ England: Border Esk, Camel, Coquet, Dart, Fowey, Hodder, Lune, Ribble, Tamar, Tavy, Taw, Teign, Tyne, Wear, Yorkshire Esk. ■ Scotland: Annan, Border Esk, Findhorn, Cree, Dee, Deveron, Don, Nairn, Nith, South Esk, Spey, Tweed, Ugie, Ythan. ■ Wales: Conwy, East and West Cleddau, Dovey, Glaslyn, Mawddach, Nevern, Ogmore, Rheidol, Taf, Teifi, Towy. ■ Ireland: Bandon, Currane, Owenmore, Costello & Fermoyle, Ballynahinch, Lough Inagh, Moy, Carrowmore, Erne estuary, Gweebarra, Lackagh. ■ Find further advice at: sea-trout.co.uk OR seatrout-fishing.com OR seatroutforum.com OR fishinginireland.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Eng-Sea-Trout-Web.pdf…

England & Wales BORDER ESK TO date (May 31), the Burnfoot beat below Longtown has produced nine spring salmon and some sea-trout. The Esk got a lift around May 10 when the Liddle came away, which will have brought some fish in from the Solway. A few salmon have been caught on the Buccleuch beats but sea-trout have been very scarce. Peter Kinstrey told me that he’d only seen one sea-trout so far this season. Sitting beside the Esk at the Willow Pool, Peter told me he watched a white egret scouring the tail end of the pool to no avail. These birds have been seen here over the last few years. Yet another predator to add to the list. On Willow Pool, David Cairns caught a 10lb salmon while…

HOW TO ENTER Visit a Troutmasters water and catch a fish. Fill in the form (Senior, Youth or Junior) available at each fishery and post it to T&S. Captors of the three biggest fish from each fishery each month will win a Troutmasters badge. NEW for 2022: All 2022 badge winners will be entered on to a Fishery League Table for the chance to win a place in the Troutmasters Grand Final(s). We will also award a Gold badge to anglers who win Troutmasters badges from five different venues. Find out more at: www.troutandsalmon.com/troutmasters 130 | DECEMBER 2019…

Junior ENGLAND ■ ALDIN GRANGE LAKES, Durham, 0191 384 6090 1 Harris Armstrong, Meadowfield, 7lb 2oz rainbow, on fly. ■ HIGHAM LAKE TROUT FISHERY, Ponteland, 07950 428159 1 Joseph Camsell, Blyth, 9lb 2oz rainbow, black Buzzer. ■ THRUNTON LONG CRAG TROUT FISHERY, Alnwick, 01665 574400 1 Joseph Camsell, Blyth, 4lb 8oz rainbow, Hawthorn. SCOTLAND ■ BORLAND TROUT FISHERY (bait), Cumnock, 07935 809756 1 Lilly Kettle, Cumnock, 7lb tiger, Powerbait. WALES ■ BIGWELL FLY FISHERY, Monmouth, 01600 772904 1 Ceinwen-Jade Phillips, Pontypool, 3lb 2oz rainbow, Silver Sparkler Youth SCOTLAND ■ BORLAND TROUT FISHERY (fly & bait), Cumnock, 07935 809756 1 Ethan Clark, Cumnock, 15lb 7oz brownie, black Spider. 2 Duncan Kettle Cumnock 3lb 5oz rainbow, Powerbait. ■ KINROSS TROUT FISHERY, Kinross, 07376 762057 1 Cameron Craik, Perth, 2lb rainbow, Sedgehog.…