Upstream Dry Fly

Our exclusive fly fishing beats on the River Meon are part of habitat restoration project by WTT

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Upstreamdryfly's River Meon chalk stream fly fishing beats at Midlington, near Droxford, Hampshire.
The Wild Trout Trust environmental enhancements on a section of the River Meon at Midlington.
Following an advisory visit to the Midlington reach of the River Meon by the Wild Trout Trust in March 2009, my concerns were collaborated that the river had been over widened and therefore shallowed by cattle poaching the riverbanks in years gone by.
alongside the WTT, Dr Nigel Holmes on behalf of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust was also involved.
The aim was to restore 3 types of habitat.
1. Fast flowing riffles over clean gravel for trout spawning. This is accomplished by pinching (narrowing) the stream.
2. Deeper pools for adult trout holding habitat.
3. Enhance bank-side vegetation and in channel woody debris, creating habitat for juvenile trout.
It appears that much of the trout predation is from avian species such as herons and egrets. Juvenile trout hide in branches of dead and overhanging trees and the deeper pools provide water that is too deep for these species to effectively hunt in.
We used two methods.
Firstly, the Wild Trout Trust used hazel faggots to narrow the stream at a 'pinch point', thus creating faster water (a riffle). Just downstream of the riffle, the Trust staked in a tree trunk forcing the water to plunge and undercut the trunk. This created a nice pool.
The second method, used by Dr Nigel Holmes, was to get a small excavator into the channel to dig a pool and use the spoil, placed slightly upstream to create a narrow section - this a riffle.
Both methods have created some super wild trout habitat and I'm very much looking forward to the 2010 season to see what the trout think.
It was understood from the Hampshire Wildlife Trust that this section of the Meon is currently devoid of any water vole population. The currently degraded nature of the reach means that the work is unlikely to damage any protected species or habitats.
Lastly, the project area was fenced to allow it to establish keeping the cattle off. We also planted some sapling willows on the river bank.
All materials used in this project will be locally sourced. Any brought in woody material (chestnut posts, hazel faggots) were purchased from local suppliers harvesting sustainable sources in Sussex and East Hampshire.

Here are some feedback emails from the 2009 season:
Meon feedback

In the end I only managed to get just over an hour�s worth of fishing in � between 6.30pm and 7.45pm on Saturday evening. The first 5 miles of my journey down took over an hour due to an accident which led to the police closing Hyde Park and utter traffic chaos for those like me trying to make our way south through London. As I was part of a group I then had to be back at the Anchor for a 8.30pm dinner.

However, still managed to make the most of my fleeting visit. Mostly fishing downstream from the bridge, though I did walk some of the upstream beat. Caught 4 � 2 x 6oz, 1 x 8oz and 1 x 11oz would be my guesses. All on brown bodied klinkhammer emerger size 16. Lovely fishing and I�d love to spend more time getting to know the water.

David

Dear Howard,

An absolutely superb day by my (or anyone's) standards. Fish taking small upwinged flies (mostly at the emerger stage) all day, and very few mayfly to preoccupy them. All fish taken on a #14 emerger pattern unique to the flytier Mike Sugg of Dorset: parachute hackle and body alla Klinkhammer, but with a CDC thorax.

17 fish, best 14-15", with plenty of 12"+ fish. Best fish was in quite shallow water in the shady pool underneath the first big tree downstream of Cutts Arch.

Only fly-in-the-ointment (literaly) was the plague of horseflies in the top meadows. I was "got" twice in quick sucession and at one time had 3 of the little bastards on me at once (all killed, unlike the fish!). Perhaps worth warning other rods?

Many thanks,
Stuart Cox

Hello Howard! Just to advise we had a very enjoyable day last week on the Meon.Lovely varied beat and we just about got away with the weather! River a bit low due to lack of rain but there was a bit of fly around and the occasional mayfly as well. We caught and returned 23 with 10 of those being � pound and above - so really super fishing on light tackle. Most caught on yellow klinkhammer, a couple on black gnat and 2 on a grey wulff.Thanks again for the arrangements � much appreciated. Kind Regards, Brian.

Dear Mr Taylor,

I just wanted to thank you very much indeed for arranging a day's
flyfishing for my husband, Andrew, on the Meon yesterday. The poor man
has been plunged headfirst back into work again today, otherwise, he
would be writing himself to tell you what a wonderful day he had. The
wind was light and the weather pretty well perfect, which helps. He
described the valley as "paradisiacal" and tranquil despite a main road
close by. The water was absolutely clear, though shallow, and there
were lots of trout - still pretty small, of course, but there were some
sizeable specimens lurking in a pool under a bridge. He arrived home
looking quite himself, for once, and I don't think that I ever managed a
more successful birthday present!

all the best,

Caroline Brown

Dear Howard,

Whatd'y'mean difficult??

Olives hatching all day and though not many rising fish, plenty of fish could be "persuaded" by fishing the water with a #14 dark Cahill. Water quite coloured, and certainly not fish-stalking conditions.

The rising fish were sitting ducks if I could get the presentation right: that was the most dificult part of the process with the fishing today, because of the myriad streams created by the weed.

15 fish in total, all returned of course. 12 wild trout, best just short of a pound. Yes, honestly! 3 stockies, all around a pound and a half.

Lovely fishery! Can I come back please?

Best wishes,

TROUT AT THE TOP OF A SALMON RIVER....Iceland's Laxa I Adaldal

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Iceland, exploratory trip, August 2008........
TROUT AT THE TOP OF A SALMON RIVER....one of the world's finest dry fly waters.

Here is an extract from Howard�s recent article on the trip published in the January 2009 issue of Trout and Salmon magazine:

Story and images by Howard Taylor

If that well known brand of lager made a fly fishing trip then this would surely be it. A civilised and un-crowded country with stunning women, friendly people, superb cuisine, the most dramatic scenery and rich wildlife, a myriad rivers and lakes, all bathed in a soothing crisp artic light and only a short flight from London away�..

�.Sounds good?....It gets better�. Then there�s the fishing�..We know the country of Iceland is famous for the salmon who run the literally hundreds of rivers. I�m told salmon fishing is so important here that the top Icelandic salmon anglers are given a celebrity status. Just about every one of the near 300,000 population fishes for salmon, which explains why I was thrown a few quizzical looks when I announced I was in Iceland for the trout fishing. �Nobody fishes for trout here� I was told by my taxi driver in Reykjavik. I was to find out the Icelandic trout fishing remains relatively unexplored, which to a trout fan like myself sent shivers of anticipation from my reel seat to the tip ring!

From the capital, I took a short internal flight to the north of the island to fish one of the premier salmon rivers; the 61km long Laxa I Adaldal or Big Laxa, specifically for wild brown trout � not salmon. I had it on good authority that this was the best dry fly wild trout river in the world! Surely an exaggerated claim? I was so excited with the prospect, I�d been preparing for months. I packed my boxes of dry flies into my fly vest, my 4 and 5 weight outfits with my two favourite Hardy reels, waders, boots etc. � typical chalkstream kit. Worth remembering that all tackle taken into Iceland must be disinfected to protect against freshwater diseases. Either prior to you trip by your vet, or upon arrival in Keflavik (Reykjavik) airport.

Volcanic activity 2300 years ago and glacial action formed the upper reaches of this Laxa (literally �the salmon river�) in Iceland�s northern volcanic zone. It left three thunderous waterfalls at the river�s halfway point, impassable to running salmon. This natural energy is now harnessed by a hydro-electric power station, complete with a modern salmon ladder; the salmon still don�t choose to run upstream and leave the more fertile 374 hectares of upper beats solely to the native brown trout��.here they grow big, very big.

The unexplained phenomena that rivers flowing north into the Atlantic hold the largest salmon is substantiated by catches from the famous rivers of Russia and Norway and equally by Iceland�s south - north orientated Laxa I Adaldal. She is one of the rivers in Iceland to regularly boast rod caught salmon over the magical 20lbs � and a big fish river above the dam too. Several double figure wild browns are caught on the upper trout beats each season and the Laxa�s secret is that it is lake fed. Lake fed rivers do not spate, so, to the salmon angler they are more predictable. And for the trout, the lake generates massive volumes of organic matter, the food source for the exceptionally high densities of suspension-feeding blackfly (simuliid) lavae. The larvae emerge from early June through to early August and when a hatch is on the trout go wild and the dry fly fishing is superb - perhaps the best in the world. For the remainder of the short, 90 day season, nymph and spider fishing hit the mark whilst the trout feed voraciously subsurface.

Upon arrival at Akureyri airport, I walked through to baggage collection where I was confronted by a large red haired gentleman who asked �Are you Howard?� For a second, I wasn�t sure if I�d done something wrong. It was Bjarni my guide � who is not only a Viking of a man, he�s also the local policeman and THE trout guide of the upper Laxa. Bjarni grew up here and knows these beats intimately � he told me his first memory of fishing was with his grandfather and thirty years on he is still fishing the same pools.

On sweeping smooth roads that hill-climbers dream of, we wound our way through a wilderness of volcanic peaks and glacial valleys, with small farms clinging to the kinder gradients. Our destination was a small hamlet containing a church, a few houses and Nes Lodge; the very comfortable accommodation of the Laxa I Adaldal�s salmon anglers. We arrived late evening and Bjarni showed me the beautiful salmon beats. Pools to die for and there, I watched one angler return a fresh cock fish he weighted at 12 kilos! We were off to a very good start.

I just couldn�t wait to wet a line. Bjarni said, �If you think this is good wait �till you see the upper trout beat tomorrow morning.� I hardly slept with anticipation. After a hearty breakfast we set of up the river valley in Bjarni�s Land Rover. We rounded the penultimate corner and lake Myvatn unfolded before my eyes - a truly spectacular sight. This is designated a RAMSAR wetland bird site and is of global conservation importance � before me lay a vast expanse of glassy water framed by northern Iceland�s imposing topography. Below the lake, like nothing I have seen before, the river flows in many channels, braided in its shallow valley, thus providing the trout with diverse aquatic habitats and anglers with some very varied fishing.

I liked that the beats are booked by half days intervals, so we jumped out at our beat for our first morning �..and the black flies found us. I was worried they would take chunks out of me. Bjarni laughed, and pointed out that this was a very good sign indeed. �Trout food� he said. �Don�t eat them� as one flew down my throat! Still coughing I walked to the edge of the river and watched. Bjarni pointed with his large befreckled finger. The trout were rising very gently � supping the fly from the surface. �Small fish?� I asked pointing at a subtle rise. �May be� he said with a smurk. We watched the beautiful water for a few moments more as a merlin shot into view and chased a tern, not hunting just playing, throwing in a stoop or two showing us what he could do � just wonderful.

I pulled a black Klinkhammer from my box and Bjarni gave me the thumbs up. We passed three Icelandic trout fishermen on the river bank. I wondered why they were fishing sinking lines and coneheaded streamers in the middle of this major hatch. Bjarni shrugged his shoulders. Interestingly, streamers are successful but there are no other species of fish that inhabit this part of the river � no baitfish, just trout, so why do they take a streamer?

We crossed a small carrier and peered over a grassy volcanic lump into a mirror smooth pool. There were fish rising everywhere. I guessed they were trout parr. I gently cast upstream to the nearest ripple and as my fly was sucked sub-surface, I struck. Volcano theme in mind; the water literally erupted as this monster trout launched skyward in a bid for freedom. My reel sang and my backing knot disappeared through the tip ring. �Heeelp� I yelled! What an astounding fight � more like a bonefish than a trout � breakneck acceleration that really took me by surprise. Three screeching runs and just as I was easing the fish over the brim of Bjarni�s net it lunged to the current again shaking its head angrily sending thumps down to the cork of the rod. Fifteen minutes after the first cast with my 4 weight I had a wild 4lb brownie on a size 16 dry fly� it doesn�t get much better.

We fished the morning session from 8 until 2 on this beat and we claimed a dozen fish before visiting the �trout� lodge for lunch. The photos around the lodge walls showed anglers holding monster trout � like the ferox leviathians of our Scottish Lochs. One print showed stomach contents of three ducklings and another a rat! No wonder they take streamers I thought � proper Viking trout! For the afternoon session, 4 until 10pm we changed scenery to fish the beat just downstream.

Here the valley gets steeper and we sat on the ridge looking into the large river channel. From our vantage point we could see a couple of miles of river and pin point the rising fish from a distance � a tactic Bjarni often uses. His passion is hunting surface feeding fish with a dry fly. Impatient, I thought of grabbing the rod from the Landrover�s mounts and running, winding up a cast as I went. Bjarni�s approach far more relaxed as he picked a handful of wild blueberries from the slope as we walked down. At the bottom I realised the river was deep � with the same underwater profile as the valley above, it was too deep to wade and the bank behind me made a conventional cast impossible. I changed to a small CDC hopper, put �mud� on my tippet to sink it and rolled cast as far as I could keeping low and quiet. Following the fly with the rod tip, I threw in a little mend to prevent the fly dragging. As I did the fly moved an inch or two and bang! The fish hit me almost square and as I struck it zoomed down stream using the powerful current to its full advantage. My little chalkstream reel has no drag and my finger burnt as I thumbed the spool to slow the fish. I could do nothing and had to set off following downstream. �These trout are beserk� I said. Bjarni nodded, grinning as he watched me scrabbling over the basalt trying to fight the fish. Up close the water is crystal clear, but the fish are tricky to see because the river flows over the black laval rock and black sand. The sun made his flanks glint gold as we slid him towards the net a few minutes later. �He�s a big one� said Bjarni as he lifted his net out of the water, crystal droplets falling from the fish. He revealed a fin perfect, black spotted jewel of a trout that measured 48 cm. Way the biggest wild brown trout I had ever caught on a dry fly. I was in a zone�.the afternoon and evening continued in the same light. We took it in turns and hooked fish after fish with my little black dries. My tally was eighteen caught and released plus the ones that got away which were many.

And over the next two days many more! Expect to loose a greater percentage of fish hooked on the Laxa. Firstly, these trout have teeth that would make a pike jealous. I found to my detriment that they snip through a 4lb leader and make some nasty punctures in ones finger flesh! Also the Laxa contains sharp igneous rocks that the wise trout wrap you around and if that�s not enough the long filaments of green aquatic algae stack the odds heavily on the side of Salmo trutta. Often my line entered the water several feet from where the hooked trout leaped � a recipe for disaster, as the rod offers no shock absorption - I resorted to fishing with six and seven pound points!

Next morning Bjarni insisted I try his three weight. With my new found knowledge, perhaps a little unwise. We disembarked at a named pool fishing a new beat where the river flowed in one impressive channel. I waded upstream amid sand islands sheltering graylag geese and subsurface rocks confusing the current. I scanned the surface for the kiss of a feeding trout and flicked Bjarni�s dryfly onto the glassy water behind rocks. I had no response for several hours. The wind changed direction several times challenging me to cast the 3 weight upstream. Beaten, I tied on a dropper and a pair of spiders and turned downstream working a �V� pool behind a row of boulders. Second cast I felt a pull that caught me daydreaming as the fly swung in typical �spider� fasion.. The fish left the water and cart-wheeled downstream. The reel sang well into Bjarni�s backing and I yelled for assistance, which was making his way upstream towards me. I wound like mad as the fish shot towards me and again he jumped, this time directly between us. We could see it was big � at least 6lbs. As the fight progressed the line collected more blanket weed to the point where, with the fish at our feet, Bjarni reached slowly down to remove it, our eyes fixed of the fish as he lay in the current facing us. So close we could see my spider in his mouth. �Look how broad he is.� I said watching his gills working. As Bjarni stealthy bent to touch the leader the water exploded and he was gone. Bjarni slapped my shoulder and said �He was too big for you � now you�ll have to come back to Iceland.�

This piscatorial battle will stay with me forever � I still think about that fish in the clear water � so close but yet so far�..I waded to the sand bar in the middle of the river to reflect on my time in Iceland. Sitting and looking upstream at water level gave the valley an even more impressive perspective. I looked up to the �kek kek� call of a raptor to see an Icelandic gyr falcon slicing masterfully through the valley � the largest and fastest falcon in the world and the perfect ending to my Icelandic fishing. I absolutely vow to return next year..�wanna come?

Fact File:
Iceland is expensive I hear you say. With the Icelandic kr�na off against Stirling by over 50% and not looking like recovery � now is the time to fish Iceland. My trip was organised by Peter McLeod of the bespoke fly fishing travel company Aardvark McLeod (www.aardvarkmcleod.com), who have exclusivity in this area for both trout and salmon fishing. Trout fishing on the Laxa I Adaldal is a similar cost to fishing our southern chalkstreams and is approximately �390 a day per rod. But, based on double occupancy this includes accommodation, a shared guide and full board and lodging! Howard will personally be leading a trip there in July 2009, for full details contact peter@aardvarkmcleod.com Tel: 01980 847389

For further information please contact Peter McLeod on 01980 847 389 or email peter@aardvarkmcleod.com . Website: www.aardvarkmcleod.com

A Christmas Grayling - Rivercraft and techniques for festive sport

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

A Christmas Grayling

I�m astounded how few river anglers I meet are fully aware of the extra dimension that flowing water gives our flies when fishing for grayling and trout. Moving water can be our ally or our enemy. It takes some thought to truly understand what is going on in that aquatic domain, as movement of a liquid or �flow� is a very complex phenomena, in fact a science in itself. Pause for a moment and think like a grayling! A basic understanding of hydrology or having some �river-craft� will give the stream fisherman a far greater success rate.

Take a hatch pool on a Hampshire chalkstream for example. Deep oxygenated water and loved by fish, but the rules here are upstream fishing only. Which way is upstream? Looking into the clear water doesn�t really help as one sees fish facing all directions in the eddies and undercurrents of the pool � different directions at different depths too - a really tricky one to fathom. How then do we have any chance of presenting our nymph to look like the real thing in this cauldron of complexity? In other words present the perfect drag free drift?

Before making an upstream cast on any river, look at the water and try to �read� it. Where is the flotsam flowing? A good indication is bubbles or foam on the surface � �Foam is Home� they say in the States. Grayling often position themselves just on the edge on this main flow. For example, either in the �seam� between two slightly different speeds of water, or beneath it in a slight depression on the river bed, from which they rise slightly to eat. We often refer to the latter as a �scallop�. In the winter, a small scallop of 6 feet diameter can hold perhaps twenty grayling and an angler with good river-craft and stealth should winkle at least half a dozen from the shoal before they cotton on. First find your scallop!

Methodically search the river with carefully placed casts, always bearing in mind the two golden rules and it won�t be too long before you locate your shoal and see the glisten of mirror scales across the rim of your net become a more frequent occurrence.

A drag free drift is undoubtedly the first golden rule river fishing, particularly for grayling. What is drag? Drag is unnatural motion imparted to one�s fly by push or pull on the line and leader by the stream�s current. To present an artificial that is attached to tippet, leader and flyline without even micro drag takes thought and skill, but it can be done. There are many innovative techniques that can help one achieve this.

The foremost technique, and nothing to do with modern business hierarchy, is basic line management. Cast your fly into the current in a direction that allows it to sink and drift without the current pulling or pushing the line in any way. Just like the real thing � fish have evolved to intercept items travelling exactly at current speed � this speed is a trigger point for the fish to eat. Place an upstream mend in the flyline as the cast is made � the �reach mend� is a great river cast and one I could not do without � just move the tip of the rod upstream as the flyline is about to land on the water. This gives us some slack between rod tip and fly, thus allowing the nymph to sink down to the scallop and move through the fish �drag free�. Our floating flyline doesn�t help us at all as it has a poor drag co-efficient, especially if the current is faster under our rod tip than where we are fishing the fly. If this imparts even the slightest drag on our line and consequently our fly, it will look very unnatural to our quarry and will often spook the whole shoal � real olive nymphs can�t do 15 knots across the current! Think about your flyline, its position relative to flow and its effect on the fly. The Americans and the Czechs showed us how to �high stick� the rod to varying degrees, basically keeping as much of the flyline out of the water as possible � great for short range fishing and enhanced with a longer rod. Most accomplished grayling fishermen now use a 10 or even 11 foot rod, this gives longer reach and a greater �lever� for line control � as you salmon anglers have known for years, a longer rod puts a larger mend in a flyline and helps pick up slack more efficiently. Look at 10 footers for a 4 or even 3 weight � The new Hardy Marksman is a jewel. Follow the line with the rod tip to maintain some slack and reach out at end of drift for that extra yard without drag� a longer rod gives a longer reach and I have noticed often the longer the drag free drift, the better. In clear water, I�ve watched wary fish follow the nymph some distance before eating or rejecting it.

This brings us to golden rule number two � pin pointing the �take�. The Lady of the stream is a gentle fish often giving us a very subtle nibble. The nymph may be inhaled and ejected with the slightest of movement to the fly and leader. How then do we detect this in such complex flow, whilst fishing a small nymph in tinted water, squinting under the low winter sun�.totally drag free of course?

Most British fly fishermen have some distain for bite indicators � eavesdropping conversations, I�ve often heard mumbles about float fishing, maggots and roach! However, bite indicators have come a very long way from the American �bobber� or English �float� and there is a distinct marriage between these bite indication techniques and drag free drift.

Indicators:

The bung type indicator is attached to the leader at a depth that is suitable for the run one is fishing and the fly or usually flies hang below the indicator. Thus the indicator is a hinge point and below it the flies are held down with added weight. The larger the bung, the more weight can be used. I like a small lead free shot or putty added just above or between the two flies (usually one on a top dropper 15� or so from the point fly). Bung indicators are perhaps most frowned upon as there is maybe less skill involved fishing them � one of our unwritten rules. They are also not very sensitive to the more delicate takes and they can actually increase drag on the fly in stronger and complicated currents. However, in certain circumstances and fished properly, they can be deadly; they are very visible in flat winter light or at long distance and the bung is easily adjusted for fishing a river with varying depths without re-rigging. The bung indicator comes into its own fishing faster, deeper runs with heavy flies or shot, where one needs the flies to get down to the fish quickly.

Wool or yarn indicators have their advantages too. In the colder weather grayling are usually in the slower, deeper water in quite tight shoals. The poly yarn indicator is good for fishing moderately heavy nymphs under these conditions. Although there are many on the market, they are easy to make yourself. I find they are also easier to cast than the bung type, especially in wind. I use a poly yarn indicator when fishing long leaders � well a long section of tippet between the indicator and the flies to be precise. I usually fish tippet beneath the indicator about 1 � times deeper than the depth of water. With long leaders, there�s nothing worse that the indicator getting stuck in the tip ring when coaxing fish to net. These can be fitted to slide down the leader at this point � Tie them with poly yarn on the plastic tube used for salmon tube flies, thread onto your leader and �peg� the tube with a small cone shaped piece of plastic � toothpicks are perfect.

The dryfly�..In the same way one can fish �hopper / dropper� or New Zealand style using a dryfly as an indicator. This increases one�s odds above that of the plain indicator because the dryfly / indicator also has a chance of hooking a fish. Rather than use a dropper I usually adopt the NZ approach. A length of tippet is tied with a half blood knot to the bend of the hook of the dry fly and a nymph (or nymphs) are hung below this to match the depth of water � again I like to fish slightly over depth�.And experiment with which nymph has the weight � the point fly or the dropper � swap them around you�ll be amazed how much difference this makes in certain flow configurations. It is also surprising how smaller a dry fly one can get away with � I really like a small CDC olive pattern with a #18 or #20 tungsten bead head flashback PTN below. The dryfly in conjunction with these �micro� nymphs works wonderfully well in shallower and slower water, where little weight is needed. There are now several excellent patterns of specialist indicator dryflies that combine visibility with attractability and incorporate buoyant materials such as palmered hackles, deer hair and CDC.

Coloured florescent monofilament � Incorporate a few inches (5� to 10�) of coloured monofilament into your leader at the required depth. Coloured Stren, Raglon Soft or one of the competition beach casting lines are best. The more opaque the better. This can be greased and fished as a regular indicator or held up above the water by �high sticking� the rod at closer range. Add two coloured sections to allow fishing at different depths and to give contrast in varying light. This method detects the most delicate of takes but takes a little practice. The French International Rivers Team perfected this bite detection technique in conjunction with a fishing method that reduces drag dramatically. The French team use a very long leader made to a specific formula and �catapult� cast the flies using a long and relatively soft rod. No flyline is off of the reel at all. Therefore, the slim diameter and carefully tapered leader is used as one�s flyline and it�s surprising how far it can be cast with weighted, Czech style nymphs. In the water it produces remarkably little drag due to the smaller diameter and is truly a revelation in nymph fishing enabling the skilled angler to tempt the weariest fish in the most complex of flow situations. This really is the way to fish a hatch or weir pool in winter - I highly suggest you give this method a go. With a little practice it has amazing results. For French style leader formulas see the table in Karel Krivanec�s �Czech Nymph� book.

The coil or spiral of coloured monofilament- Coloured mono can be coiled as a bite indicator and greased with Red Mucilin. This floats a little higher than the straight mono and consequently will support heavier flies. It is also easier to see and therefore lends itself to fishing slightly deeper and faster water. To coil the mono, wrap it round a dowel or plastic tube and either steam with the kettle or soak in water and vinegar and bring to the boil. This will give the mono memory and it will stay coiled all day.

The �Zebra� stripped tip to fly line � Add a short section (12� or so) of orange or yellow fly line between the end of your fly line and the butt of the leader. Mark �zebra� stripes on this with a black permanent marker pen. These stripes give the human eye a reference and enable one to see the smallest of movement. Watch for the �jag� as a fish takes and strike.

With all these indication methods striking is essential for any suspected take. �False� takes are common as the fly has caught on weed or the bottom. On a good day perhaps one in six takes will be a fish � usually less. When a winning drift is located often it will account for several fish so take your time and perhaps let the drift rest between casts or fish.

In trying to lessen the frequency of false takes, I have experimented with tying weedless nymphs with loops of mono and mini weed guards. Especially on the heavier patterns incorporating tungsten beads and the excellent bidoz tungsten shrimp bodies. Some excellent grayling fishermen also tie their flies on mini American jig hooks that incorporate the weighted head on a kink in the hook. Both the jig hook and the Bidoz body present the fly to swim upside down like a bonefish fly, hook point uppermost. These jig nymphs and Bidoz shrimps make the perfect point fly to bounce along the bottom - they are far less likely to snag than the conventional weighted nymph. Food for thought this winter!

Ladies' Day - Presented by Upstreamdryfly, the Peat Spade Inn and Hardy Greys.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Hardy & Greys Ltd Game Academy Member and Game Product Consultant, Howard Taylor and The Peat Spade Inn, Longstock held their second ladies fly fishing day back in May.

Twenty ladies took part in the event held on Sunday May 18th on a private estate lake on the River Test. This year the weather was wonderful - thank you. The ladies learnt basic casts, some entomology and how to hook and land their first trout in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, from one of the professional AAPGAI instructors.

Supported by Hardy & Greys Ltd and using fishing tackle newly launched for 2008 including the Hardy Demon Rods and Greys G-Tec reels the ladies, aged between fourteen and sixty five were surprised at how easy fly fishing was to take up and enjoy.

Ladies day participant, Mandi Doyle said;
�The Ladies day was booked by my husband as a surprise for me and I had a fantastic time with visual demonstrations and one-to-one guidance. Everyone was proficient, really patient and very friendly. Bagging my first ever rainbow trout was a real thrill but just being there was more important. The day confirmed I am passionate about this sport.�

Howard Taylor said;
�It�s a real pleasure to teach ladies as they generally make far better students than men. Ladies listen and put words into practice very well, making excellent casters within a matter of minutes. They certainly show their husbands and boyfriends that they�re not �fishing widows� and show a great deal of finesse with a fly rod.�

A prize giving followed the fishing and prizes included a Ladies Fishpond Vest, won by Mandi Doyle for most improved angler and all ladies received a Hardy Demon cap.

Howard would especially like to thank Hardy & Greys Ltd Public Relations Coordinator, Lucy Bowden and Hardy Game Academy Member, Rebecca Thorpe for their help at the Ladies Event.

We will see you all next year! Details of next years Ladies' Day to be announced this winter.

Slovenia - trout and grayling fishing

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Slovenia - trout and grayling fishing on the beautiful rivers of Slovenia such as the mighty Soca. � Trip led by the esteemed fly fisher and writer Paul Procter and chalkstream guide Howard Taylor, in conjunction with Slovenia Fly Fishing.

Slovenia is quite a small country that lies at the foot of the Julian Alps, from which most of the rivers run through lush green valleys surrounded by heavily tree lined hills. All of the rivers are spectacular in both vista and fishing. They are calcium rich, similar to our chalkstreams and capable of producing very big fish. Nearly all run over golden pebbles or gravel, making for fairly easy wading.

Most of these rivers are home to a species unique to Slovenia called the marble trout, which grows to a large size � often in excess of 20lbs! � while double figure wild rainbows are also not uncommon! They also hold brown and hybrid brown trout � which again grow big. Whopper grayling and large brook trout can be found as well. The fishing on offer is truly world class��

Paul Procter has been fishing these Slovenian rivers for many years, and whilst a guide is not essential, Paul�s knowledge will be invaluable in putting us onto the best stretches. He is actually on his second visit there this season as we speak.

Please contact us for further details - howard@upstreamdryfly.com

Bombers on Test

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Bombers on Test

It�s not uncommon, on Hampshire�s sea trout beats, to see thirty or forty fat, fresh sea trout lying motionless in a hatch pool. Each indolently positioned to face all but upstream, as they point their noises into the complex eddies and vortices. With unfortunate regularity, I watch them slowly sink into the depths as I cast my artificial offering toward them in anticipation of a take. They are either up for it or they are not � more often they are not.

At one such pool on the lower Test this summer, I sat on the bank to calm down after spotting the fish and formulate my plan of attack. �The first cast counts�, I said to myself. I opened my fly box and ran my finger over the usual weighted nymphs and wet patterns preferred locally. I stopped on a dryfly I was given in Newfoundland this summer, called a bug. �What the hell, this might just work� I mumbled to myself. I tied it on, greased the fly and rubbed a little mud on the leader. I roll cast to my limit across the old hatches and my bug landed beautifully amongst several whoppers snoozing in the slack water opposite me. I looked at the fly, the fish and at the increasing bow in my fly line pulled by the main flow. I watched in disbelief as a monster fish awoke and slid unhurried toward my fly. The moment its mouth opened, my time was up, my slack line drew taught and the fly moved. But instead of skating un-naturally, the line un-twisted and the fly span through 360 degrees like a whirligig beetle. The sea trout actually left the water as it ate my offering a millisecond before it began to drag. The ensuing battle has to be in my lifetime top ten fish fights. After searing runs and aerial displays that took me to the backing twice, I eventually slid the net under a near 10lb sea liced hen fish. Taken on a five weight Hardy outfit in mid afternoon on a summer day � she was well and truly up for it and as I slipped her back into the current, she left me a quivering mess!

I continued upstream in Hampshire with my Newfoundland bug and took another two beauties that day. I also lost one of about 4lbs and actually rolled a grilse to the fly. As I filled in the book at the end of the day: 10lbs, 7lbs, 6lbs�.. I fantasised that I had discovered the new super fly, or was it the upstream, dead drift way I was fishing it?

Have you ever caught a sea trout on a dry fly? What about an Atlantic salmon? Both an ambition of most UK fly anglers I�m sure, but sadly the conditions and opportunities rarely arise for us to achieve this. Could this in part be down to our traditional techniques of fishing bombers and surface sea trout lures as �wake� flies? Maybe we disturb the pool with this un-natural surface movement more often than we induce a take? Salmon and sea trout par feed heartily on surface insects during the early stages of their life cycle in fresh water � I�m sure as adults they still have this deep set instinct � it is up to the skill of the angler to �flick the switch� and get them to rise to the dry fly.

River keeper Donny Dibden catches sea trout in spring on dry mayflies on his water at Nurstling on the Test and Geoffrey Dashwood, the sculptor induces a rise from sea trout on the Beaulieu River using similar techniques. Those rare, heart stopping moments when one fools a sea trout or salmon to take a dry, are to me, the absolute pinnacle of fly fishing. I seek to increase the frequency of these moments in my fly fishing career and, like many modern fly anglers, I�m prepared to travel to do so. The place to go is Canada�s Atlantic coast: The provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia � here the dry fly is actually the preferred and most successful method for catching sea run salmonids. I now know to just do as the locals do.

This July, I was told by a salmon fishing guide in Newfoundland that 80% of Newfoundland salmon landed are caught on the dry fly. Principally on the bomber and various �bugs� as all of these spun deer hair patterns are known locally. Bombers are so popular in Canada�s most easterly provinces that in Newfoundland and Labrador one sees them for sale in gas stations, corner shops and drug stores!

I was delighted to be invited to fish Newfoundland�s Atlantic salmon rivers this summer, but as a six footer, long-hall flights with knees on my ears are a mode of travel I dread. It was music to my ears to find Newfoundland is only a 5 hour flight from London�s Gatwick airport � Canada�s premier Atlantic salmon fishery is actually the same distance from London as Cypress! Newfoundland is home to 60% of North America�s active salmon rivers and it makes the perfect destination for a long weekend of salmon fishing at a price that won�t break the bank � I couldn�t wait.

With my nose pressed to the plane�s window, we flew in over mile after mile of beautiful wilderness. I saw little sign of human intervention, the odd remote forestry camp and perhaps a logging track. I was amazed by the myriad of lakes and rivers I saw � they all looked so �fishy�, fuelling my excitement and expectations. Armed with Spey rods and modern salmon flies, I arrived at Steady Brook airport on Newfoundland�s west coast, hoping I had discovered the new Kola. If not, I was sure I would show these Canadians the proper Scottish way to cast to and catch a salmon � how wrong I was! It was I about to ride on the steepest learning curve of my thirty years in fly fishing.

I was promised by my host and friend, Joe Dicks, that if conditions are not right for taking salmon in one Newfoundland river, there is another within an hour or so where the salmon will be taking. Joe, owner of one of the largest outfitters on the island, proved this first hand during the hottest summer for years and the most testing of conditions. � That�s not all; we took most of our fish that week on the dry fly!

Joe is based on the banks of the Lower Humber River, near Corner Brook. The Humber is a beast of a river. As I first set eyes on her, I realised how much I had underestimated sheer size and volume. Its no wonder this river produces fish to over 40lbs each season.

I set up my 15 footer and spent the best part of two days Spey casting from bank and boat. I found it difficult to get the fly to �fish� in this volume and speed of water. I worked my way through lines and tips of various densities as weighted flies are unfortunately not allowed. Try as I might, I just didn�t feel in control and my confidence started to wane. The locals all fish with a single handed 8 or 9 weight 9� rod, they cast a very short line and dead drift a bomber as we would fish an upstream dry fly on a chalk stream. Using a short line they are in constant control of the fly and as soon as it starts to drag in current, it is re-cast upstream and the process repeated over and over the same water. This intrigued me as I have to say it looked a little daft. �Surely one needs to work the pool?� I asked Joe. �Not if you are fishing for running fish�. �Running fish aren�t �takers� are they?� �Well it works for us�. Our conversations continued in the boat, over dinner and at the bar. We argued Scottish against Newfoundland techniques. When I explained the wake fly methods used in Britain and Russia for example, I was told in no uncertain terms that this is the fastest way to ruin a pool and put the fish down. Distance casting? Not a bit of it, �You�ll catch salmon ten feet off of the gunwales, why cast to the opposite shore?� I had watched as the locals took fish and I ate a large chunk of humble pie as I relented and assembled my 9� outfit the next morning � do as the locals do.

The following days were hot and bright � weather conditions rarely seen in Newfoundland, even in the heights of summer. Although on the same latitude as Paris, Newfoundland lays outside of the warming Gulf Stream. Newfoundlanders are used to a short summer season and long crisp winters with lots of snow, skidoos, skiing and ice fishing. The T-shirts and sun cream used during my stay are a rarity here. After consulting the internet and the guides� grapevine, Joe suggested we leave the Lower Humber for other catchments. We fished several rivers all within an hour or so of our base at the Marble Inn. I saw and photographed plenty of salmon on their lies in the beautiful clear waters and leaping waterfalls, but failed to tempt a fish as water temperatures soared to reach 19 degrees Celsius in the higher catchments. Joe�s promise ran through my mind.

The following day we headed for Main River, guided by John a close friend of Joe�s. John reminded me of Clint Eastwood, a large framed, softly spoken and sure footed mountain man, with whom I felt very comfortable, especially in the grips of wilderness. Both are professional guides and between them their knowledge of nature, salmon fishing and wilderness survival was very reassuring � I could not have been in better hands and I felt confident we would find taking fish. Rather than take a helicopter or floatplane, we opted to hike into this remote location. We left the highway and drove for an hour or so in Joe�s 4x4 along dirt logging roads. We parked, inspected our kit and bouldered our way upstream, staying below the high tide mark of this spate river, carefully traversing the rock lining in the sharp conifer lined valley of the Main. We stopped and dabbled in a couple of small pools enroute. After hiking for a couple of hours we turned a bend in the river to unveil the most beautiful of salmon pools. Headed by a wondrous waterfall and tailed with a bottle neck of water that flowed between two enormous boulders, I could just smell the salmon. I framed a shot with my camera and a silver fish leaped on cue to completely overdose me with anticipation.

We tackled up and put on our waders. John asked me to follow him into the bottle neck at the bottom of the pool. The wading was a little tricky. I was extra careful as we really were an awful long way from anywhere. He tied on a small bomber or bug as he called it and pointed to a seam in the dark peaty water. I cast upstream but the fly landed with a bit of a splat. He patiently explained to flick the wrist up at the end of the cast to parachute the fly onto the water. �The fly landing naturally stimulates the salmon to take�, he said. He was dead right, third cast rose a fish just like a brownie taking a sedge at home. That silver bar left the water as I struck and torpedoed downstream making my reel sing. Joe tailed this cracking silver grilse of about five pounds � my first salmon on a dry fly. It doesn�t get any better�..

Oh yes it does�..We moved to just below the falls and I flicked the bomber upstream into the pool�s eddies, a fish rose and I struck. It felt different, diving deep and giving those horrible thumping headshakes that often prelude a slack line and stream of expletives. As Joe landed the fish for me he yelled �sea trout�. It was a beautifully coloured sea run brook trout of about three pounds � another first for me. I didn�t even realise brook trout ran to the salt and again, taken on the dry. We took a total of nine salmon and three sea run brookies that day before we had to hike back down the valley with enough daylight to spare.

Not only had I made some super new friends in a stunning country, I had been taught a method of fishing that I took back to England with great success, enabling me to achieve fly fishing ambitions I thought were almost impossible � both salmon and sea trout on the dry fly. Roll on next summer, I can�t wait to return.

Although I�m fairly unpractised at dead drift �bombering� in the UK, or anywhere else for that matter, I plan to continue to pursue this most spectacular method of salmon and sea trout fishing well into the future. I would challenge anyone fishing a salmon or sea trout beat to give it a go. Once one has witnessed a big fish inhale your dry offering from the surface, wet fly fishing just isn�t the same again. An old Test river keeper said to me, �Nipper, one on the dry is worth five on the nymph�, and as far as I�m concerned he�s dead right although I�d probably up that ratio a little in relation to salmon and sea trout.

I have had most success in water where I can either see the fish or they have given away their presence by rolling on the surface and I can make a pretty accurate cast. The clear mill pools on the salmon beats of Hampshire�s chalk streams are a classic example. If approached stealthily, one can see the sea trout before they see you and a pin point cast can be made. On larger spate rivers like the Dee and the Upper Tay for example, a similar principle applies although the �bug� is best fished over salmon lies, perhaps where fish will hold nearer the surface or in shallower water. That said, I have seen salmon come shooting up to take a bomber in over fifteen feet of water. This attractor pattern sparks a deep set memory or instinct within the fish to feed from the surface. I�ve witnessed adult sea trout rise to take moths and mayflies twitching on the surface many times. Although we are told they do not feed in freshwater, they still retain that urge to do so. For sea trout, also try flies like a foam bodied blue damsel, a large G and H sedge or a big mayfly pattern � These work, but I find the Newfoundland �bug� the best and my favourite is one I tie with spun dark grey deer hair, a tail of white calf�s tail, and a palmered ginger cock hackle � the fly is about an inch long tied in a strong hook. The first cast is always your best chance � as the fly gently lands, it often sparks a take on or soon after �touch down�. If it drags, mend or re-cast upstream immediately, as a wake seems to put the fish down. I urge you to give it a try if you have not done so, you can then tick the box of having taken a salmon or sea trout on the dry fly � in my book the ultimate piscatorial challenge.

The Peat Spade Inn and Upstreamdryfly present: The Ladies' Day on Sunday May 13th 2007

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The Peat Spade Inn and Upstreamdryfly present:

The Fly Fishing Ladies Day on Sunday May 13th 2007

We all had a great day despite the aweful weather....The casting and fishing was going so well until the thunder clapped and the lightening flashed! The Peat Spade lunch afterwards was great and we're all looking forward to the next Ladies' Day with the sun shining!

Ladies make excellent fly fishermen! Many of the largest game fish captured in the British Isles have been caught by ladies. The most famous, the British record salmon of 64lbs taken by Miss Georgina Ballantine at Glendelvine on the River Tay 7th October 1922 still stands today. On that particular day, Miss Ballantine had already caught three fine salmon of 17, 21 and 25lbs! Within two years, Mrs Morrison took a 61lb salmon from the Deverton and Miss Doreen Dover took the famous 51 pounder from the River Wye at Lower Winforton!

In a sport often thought of as a male preserve, today there are over 300,000 women anglers! In fact, at the highest level over 150 ladies compete in the Ladies� National Championships and their results match those of their male counterparts. Famous fly fishing ladies have included, HRH The Queen Mother, The Queen, Diana Rigg, Faith Brown, Fiona Armstrong, and Jenny Hanley among others.

Fly fishing is male-dominated only by accident, not by design. The sport requires technique not physical strength � Moc Moragn of the Welsh Salmon and Trout Association acknowledges �When they are good, women anglers are very, very good � far better than most men for some reason.�

Come along to our private estate lake in the beautiful River Test valley and learn this most graceful and relaxing sport. Let one of our professional instructors take you through the basics of fly fishing in a relaxed and informal atmosphere well away from the crowds.

Use our top quality Hardy and Greys fishing tackle and surprise yourself at how easy fly fishing is to take up and enjoy.

9am � 9.30am. Morning coffee at The Peat Spade. Introductions to course instructors and fellow pupils � Drive to the lake (10 minutes away).

9.45am � 3.30pm
� With fly rod in hand - learn how to set up your tackle.
� Go through the basic casts with an instructor. (Roll cast and overhead cast).
� Learn how to �match the hatch� with some essential entomology.
� How to hook, play and land your first trout.
� Pack a trout or two to take home. Look at how to clean and prepare your catch for the pan!

4pm � Return to The Peat Spade for Sunday Lunch (optional � booking
advisable).

Book now, cost �145 per person. Including all instruction, tackle and EA rod licences. Sunday lunch not included.

To book please contact:
The Peat Spade Inn, Longstock, Hampshire SO20 6DR � 01264 810612

For further information:
Contact Howard Taylor
www.upstreamdryfly.com
01425 403209
howard@upstreamdryfly.com

A fly fishing workshop on the river Test and Dever in Hampshire for grayling (Febuary 24th and 25th)

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The �Lady of the Stream� Weekend.
A fly fishing workshop on the river Test and Dever in Hampshire for grayling (Febuary 24th and 25th 2007).

with Paul Procter, Howard Taylor and Brett O�Connor (aapgai)

At the Peat Spade Inn, Longstock, Hampshire.

UPDATE:
The weekend was a resounding success and a big thank you to Paul and Brett for their first class tuition and presentations on grayling, entomology and chalkstream casting techniques.

We kicked off with some introductions at the bar over a quick pint and filed upstairs to the wonderful private dining room �the Mayfly Mess�. The conversation over a superb dinner resounded �fishy� themes as stories were swapped and recounted. As coffee was served Paul started his excellent presentation with some first class slides taking us through the habits of grayling throughout the year and how to catch them under various conditions.

We reconvened the next morning after breakfast and made our way to the river full of expectation. With a rare opportunity to fish some very private water at the confluence of the rivers Dever and Test, eyes lit up as our guests first saw this very beautiful water. After two nights of heavy rain the water was holding some colour and the wind certainly wasn�t helpful. However, with the help of Paul, Brett and myself, everyone took fish and the resulting feedback of the weekend was very encouraging.

Paul kicked off with a talk through tackle comparing the merits of a long rod for Czech nymphing techniques for example. He then took some �kick samples� from the river bed and talked through some basic entomology. As we looked at the natural insects he showed us the artificial and talked about how to tye it and present it to the fish to mimic the natural. He also spoke about making your fly stand out to the grayling and how brightly coloured flies can help to do this. Brett was up next giving a first class casting demonstration and workshop showing various upstream casts, how to mend line and keep the fly from dragging. He also spoke about detecting a �take�.

The demonstrations were followed by what most had really come for�the fishing! We divided ourselves among the six, two rod beats and went fishing. Paul, Brett and I made our way round everyone several times giving some one-to-one tuition and getting a few grayling on the line!

The Peat Spade chefs prepared a wonderful hamper lunch which we ate in the old thatched fishing hut on the estate and afterwards we all fished on until late afternoon. Some returned to the Peat Spade for a well earned pint afterwards. A big thank you to all at the Peat Spade Inn for a first class job!

The star of the weekend was Mr Clive Collier, who as an experienced fly fisher took over fifty grayling to over 2 � lbs on one of the upstream beats. Well done Clive!

Coming soon:
The Peat Spade Inn Lady�s Day,
Chalkstream trout workshop,
Fly fishing in Slovenia for marble trout with Paul Procter and Howard Taylor (September 2007).

Hardy / Greys Ltd collaborate with Casa Batida Fishing Club, Cayo Largo, Cuba.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

Febuary 2007

Following over a year of emails and telephone calls around the world, Upstreamdryfly successfully instigated a collaboration of the oldest fishing tackle company in the world � Hardy and Greys Ltd with one of the best saltwater fly fishing destinations in the world � The Casa Batida Fishing Club, Cayo Largo, Cuba.

The Club is now outfitted with the latest Hardy and Greys saltwater outfits including the superb Hardy Zane rods and reels, the Greys Platinum XD saltwater range and the awesome Greys G-Tec rods that are being launched in saltwater sizes very soon.

Howard Croston and John Wolstenholme from Hardy / Greys joined Howard Taylor on an Upstreamdryfly trip to Cayo Largo in late February this year as part of a party of nine. Even with the weather being somewhat changeable and a couple of days fishing being less productive due to rain and cloud cover, we still managed to boat some specimen fish, prove the Hardy / Greys tackle in the saltwater yet again and shoot some great photographs.

I got some super shots (with the fly....but not the camera, alas) at my most prized fish the permit. This year they managed to evade me - but only just! We were poling a beautiful flat looking for permit riding the backs of stingrays. The first thing to look for are the small clouds of mud puffed into the water as the stingray noses for crabs and shrimps in the soft sea bed. Permit will often find a ray and stay with her for over an hour at a time. Just riding in her wake and picking off food items that are disturbed by her grubbing about as she feeds.

We saw only a few rays that afternoon. I was holding position on the bow poised for action and scanning the water in front of me. After an hour, my mind was starting to wander when Alexi my guide yelled �Ray mud at 12 o�clock � 100 meters. Prepare�. I checked my shooting line in the bottom of the boat. He said �Yes, there is a permit at home � prepare!� As I looked, I saw the scimitar black tail of the permit stick out of the surface of the water and slice a sharp wake in the glassy surface. I started to wind up a cast and placed the large Merkin right over the ray's back � "Perfect, strip slow� said Alexi in his calming Cuban accent. As I stripped the permit spotted my fly and turned to follow. My heart pounded! As it was broadside to us we could see this was a monster fish of near 30lbs. Alexi said �This is a very big fish� in his best Spanglish. �She follows your crab, get ready�. My knees were jelly...."Concentrate Howard", I thought. The slab of a permit tilted its face towards my fly and again its tail tip cut the water's surface. What a moment! Alexi yelled �STRIKE� and I gave a very healthy strip strike expecting to feel first contact with this monster. Instead, as so often happens with the permit, I felt nothing and the fish turned and swam away. We looked at each other and shook our heads in disbelief. Alexi said "I watch him eat your crab - his mouth wide open - what happened?" We stuck the pole in the mud - stopped fishing and opened a well earned cerveza to calm the nerves! That's just permit fishing. Every evening since, as my head has hit the pillow, I have gone through a step by step account of this in my mind. Those superb moments most certainly made the whole trip worthwhile for me and I am counting the days until I can return. That fish has my name on it...

Please enjoy the photographs I have posted here and you'll find some more in the gallery section.

For any further information or interest in saltwater fishing or for info' on our next trip to the salt please email of telephone.

Don't forget to strip strike!
Howard Taylor

Fly fishing for grayling on the River Test and River Dever with the experts.

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

It was recently my pleasure to set up fly fishing on the river Test and Dever for several members of the Spanish International Fly Fishing Team and one member of the English squad.

We were fishing for grayling and rather than fish as well, I took along my camera and guided for the visitors on some of my local beats of the rivers Test and Dever.

They were all expert fly fishermen and I learned an awful lot. To me traditional upstream fly fishing on these chalkstreams is my usual technique. However, these gentlemen took this a step further and introduced me to technical fly fishing.

With over fifty grayling in a four hour session to his name, I could not help but listen, ask questions and soak up all the information I could.

For example, they all used automatic reels with 10� 4 weight rods, rather than my 8 �� foot 4 weight. They also fished small nymphs beneath a small dry. One angler coiled a 3 inch piece of florescent orange monofilament around a pencil held it in stream. This created a spiral of mono that was tied into the leader and greased as a bite indicator. It worked superbly showing the most delicate of grayling bite.

I will shortly be submitting a complete article about this day to the Fish and Fly website.

The 2006 Cheeca Lodge Redbone Tournament - Islamorada, Florida. USA

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

�To Catch the Cure for cystic fibrosis� The Redbone Tournament.

I have fly fished for as long as I can remember - one could call me a fanatic. Many moons ago I worked as a river keeper in the beautiful Test valley. From there, I eventually started my company that specialises in letting guided chalkstream fly fishing. Seven or eight seasons ago I was introduced to a wonderful American couple who sought a local �guide� whilst they were fly fishing here on the river Test and that was the beginning of a beautiful fly fishing friendship as they say!

For the past two winters, my friends have kindly invited my family and I, to their beautiful Florida Keys home in Islamorada to fish the Cheeca Lodge Redbone Tournament. My long suffering wife has heard the expression, �It�s the chance of a lifetime darling� one too many times, so to have a ten day family holiday in the Keys with a few days fishing carefully woven into the agenda works very well for us (well me!).

Redbone was founded by Gary Ellis, a famous Keys guide who�s beautiful daughter Nicole was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. The family were told that with special care she would survive into her early teens. In 1988, Gary and his wife Susan set out to find a way to fight the disease their way. With the help of some friends they founded the Redbone Celebrity Tournament Series to help the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fund the research to cure CF. Guides, anglers, and celebrities teamed up to fish for two species � redfish and bonefish � the Redbone was born. From raising $16 000 in that first year, that small acorn has grown into a staggering 27 fishing tournaments spanning the whole of the US, Bahamas, Mexico and this year even Wales! Over the last nineteen years the Redbone has raised a staggering $10 million dollars for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation due to Susan�s and Gary�s amazing efforts to �Catch the Cure�. Nicole is now studying hard at university.

This December, things did not go so well. In fact, I failed to get on the scoreboard completely. However, my fishing partner in the Redbone was the legendary Sandy Moret, owner of the Florida Keys Outfitters. He was a joy to fish with and a true master of the salt. He managed to boat a nice snook, but neither of us unfortunately took bone nor red. We watched several rays with redfish on their backs � I had one take the fly and in a moment of panic I made the fatal error of a trout fisher � I raised the rod on the strike and pulled the fly clean out of the redfish�s mouth! I did account for some nice speckled trout and a super jack cravelle from the back of a large stingray, but none scored Redbone points. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, fishing with and learning from Sandy was an absolute highlight � thank you Sandy.

I would thoroughly recommend the Redbone experience to any UK fly fishers who feel they are fairly handy in the salt. If freshwater is your bag and you don�t like the idea of flying to the US, this year sees for the first time, the Redbone coming to the UK. The ACA Red Dragon Redbone comes to Wales on the 13th and 14th June 2007. This is an excellent opportunity to do your bit for a very worthy charity and experience some first class fishing. Not forgetting the wonderful �apr�s fish� atmosphere of the Redbone. The Anglers� Conservation Association (ACA) is inviting competitors to come and fish the river Wye in Wales. Competing Anglers� lodging will be in the historic and beautiful Llangoed Hall and 25% of the money raised will support the ACA fighting pollution and other threats to UK aquatic environments. The remainder will support the Redbone charity as usual.

Vinnie Jones fishing with 'Upstream Dry Fly'

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

A weekend fly fishing on the river Test with Mr Vinnie Jones and Mr Christopher Ellard. Excellent sport on the dry daddylonglegs. So good Vinnie and Chris returned to fish with us again two weeks later!

McMillan Cancer Relief Charity Fly Fishing Day

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

A day's guided fly fishing on the River Test with a 3 course a la carte champagne lunch was kindly jointly donated by Mr and Mrs John Govett, Mr David Reed of the White Buck Hotel, Burley, Hampshire and Upstream Dry Fly. The chalk stream fly fishing day was auctioned at The George Gale Brewery Charity Fly Fishing Day in aid of the McMillan Trust and fetched over �500!. The lucky winners thoroughly enjoyed the day and caught plenty of buttery brownies on dry sedges and spent mayfly. The complete event raised over �5600 for the Charity.

A History of the rivers: Test, Itchen and Hampshire Avon

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

The Test, Itchen and Hampshire Avon are the world's most famous flyfishing rivers. Their crystal clear waters flow through the bands of subsurface chalk that run across southern England producing the internationally rare and unique phenomena � the CHALKSTREAM.
As the rainwater soaks down slowly through the porous chalk geology under gravity, it is filtered and stored in these aquifers. The water eventually emerges from the aquifers as a spring at the source, feeding the river system with very high quality water of a consistent temperature in both summer and winter. The alkaline water that flows in these chalkstream ecosystems is extremely fertile giving rise to an abundance of weed, invertebrates and of course salmon, trout and grayling. These calcium rich waters allow freshwater shrimps, snails and other creatures to build external skeletons. With over half a dozen species of stonefly, twenty two species of mayfly, and nearly forty species of caddis, it is no wonder that these diverse rivers are justifiably famous to the dryfly fisherman.
Chalkstreams only occur in our British Isles, France and New Zealand. Here in southern England these rivers reflect major human intervention over the years. The Romans used the rivers to great effect, particularly to power their mills. In later years an intricate system of carriers and millstreams were dug out criss-crossing the floodplain. These redirected water to drive mills and flood farmland and meadows, thus enriching the land and giving early season grazing - the relatively warm water allowed meadow growth even in the coldest winters. Most of these backwaters can be seen today away from the main river channels. They actually provide some of the most testing and exciting fishing.
The rivers today are privately owned by various �riparian� estates and carefully managed by the estate�s riverkeepers. The riverkeepers maintain the river in optimum condition for flyfishing; cutting weed, mowing banks and boosting the natural fish stocks with stocking programs. We are proud to offer flyfishing on some of the most exclusive estate beats these beautiful chalkstreams have to offer.

THE TEST
The majestic river Test has four main tributaries; the Bourne Rivulet, the Dever, the Anton and the Dun. The large Test floodplain drains an area of 1260 square kilometres. She flows in length for just under 40 miles (64km) from her source in the upper chalk at the village of Ashe, through Whitchurch, Longparish, Chilbolton, then past the Peat Spade at Longstock, down to Stockbridge, Kings Somborne, Romsey, Testwood and through tidal marsh into the estuary at Southampton Water. Her water is so pure it is used to wash the paper that makes the Sterling bank notes for the Bank of England at Portals Mill near Overton.
If one adds all the backwaters and carriers, often running parallel to the main river giving the Test her braided appearance, her total length adds to over 86 miles (139km), giving plenty of water on which to practice this most noble of sports � flyfishing.
The river Test is the birthplace of this sport in the modern sense; the famous Houghton Club in Stockbridge can date back its records to 1822 and every year thereafter. Great fishers and entomologists such as Halford and Lunn started their work on this great river, particularly in this area. This was the precursor to today�s flyfishing techniques � in particular the tying of dry flies and the upstream method of fishing.
The Test is also known for its prolific mayfly hatches - as the name suggests in May (and early June). The mayflies hatch, following two years in their aquatic nymphal stage. The nymphs swim upwards and struggle out of their skins, through the surface film, to emerge as a flying adult - the dun (or sub-imago). If they have been lucky enough to avoid the teeth of hungry trout, they fly to the trees, shed their skin again and the final adult stage of their life cycle is born, the spinner or imago. They hatch, mate, lay their eggs and die � all within a day � hence their name � Ephemera danica �the ephemeral dancer� Anyone who has witnessed clouds of �dancing� male spinners in the trees attracting their mates, knows what a sight it is to see the fall of spent mayfly once they have finished their reproductive duties. The trout go into a feeding frenzy, taking full advantage of this nutritious bounty and packing on their body weight after a more frugal winter. These two weeks are sometimes known as �duffers� fortnight� because the fishing can be so easy. However, it is also the time when the very large trout can be tempted to the surface from deeper lies to be taken on a traditional upstream dryfly.

THE ITCHEN
With Winchester at its heart, this chalkstream is the Test�s smaller sister. She flows through some of the most beautiful countryside England has to offer. The Itchen stretches for 28 miles (45km) and includes its three tributaries that unite from three separate points of the compass - the Cheriton Stream, the Candover Stream and the River Alre (or Arle). The Itchen�s total catchment is about 400 square kilometres.
Her source is at New Cheriton, she flows near Alresford, on to Itchen Abbas and Kings Worthy. The Romans built a route around the city walls of Winchester, on through Twyford, Eastleigh and out into Southampton Water via Swaythling. Her route is also �braided� with many feeder and carrier streams, weirs and sluices. At her estuary she flows through the ancient city of Southampton and the original docks, home to ocean liners from the Titanic to the Queen Mary II.
As with the Test, the Itchen is regarded as one of the finest chalkstreams in the world. Her pristine waters are still used today to grow watercress. She is home to many rare and beautiful animals such as the otter and the tiny brook lamprey. The Itchen has equally diverse insect life and her impressive mayfly hatches tend to start slightly earlier that the Test. Mayfly can be seen as early as late April, although the fish do not tend to rise to them until there are significant numbers over the water.
This river has also seen its share of famous flyfishing pioneers. Skues spent many hours on the well known Abbots Barton beat perfecting his nymph fishing - fishers still use his books as a reference today. Isaac Walton was another famous fisherman. He wrote one of the most published English books of all time � �The Complete Angler�, and is buried at Winchester Cathedral where a stained glass window pays tribute to the most famous �brother of the angle�.

THE AVON
The westerly cousin of the aforementioned rivers is also longer and has a greater watershed. It is one of the country�s most varied rivers. Salisbury is almost a halfway marker and above here features some of our finest wild brown trout and grayling fishing, consisting of gin clear water and again some beautiful and challenging side streams and carriers.
Below the city of Salisbury, the Avon changes considerably; her four tributary chalkstreams being a big factor here. They are the Wylye, the Nadder, the Bourne and the Ebble. The piscatorial quarry changes somewhat as well, coarse fish and salmon are in greater numbers downstream of the city, and the trout that do exist here seem not to rise so freely to the fly.
The Upper Avon starts with two streams, one flowing southwest from Milton Lilbourne, Pewsey and the other southeast from Bishops Canning. These meet just near Upavon, close to the A342. From here this most majestic river winds her way south reaching Netheravon. She passes near to Stone Henge and into the ancient city of Salisbury. Below Salisbury the Nadder, Wylyle and the Bourne converge. Here she changes appearance and with the increased flow becomes wider and deeper, hence the coarse and salmon fishing takes over here. Still flowing very much south she passes Downton, Fordingbridge, Ringwood and through the famous Royalty fishery, along the grounds of Christchurch Priory to flow out into her estuary in Christchurch Bay.
Her upper reaches are of particular interest to the dryfly fisherman. The upper Avon in particular enjoys good hatches of upwing flies, olives and iron blues in early season, alongside hatches of terrestrials such as hawthorn flies which hatch out of the trees to be haphazardly blown onto the water. Trout love Hawthorns and the fishing can often equal that of mayfly time. The upper Avon mayfly occur generally in Mid May, and can last up to 3-4 weeks. Sedges will work well June onwards, normally in the evening, as will olives, which you will hopefully see for the remainder of the season. Many of the beats here provide testing fishing for wild browns and some super grayling to over 3lbs! Chest waders and a wading stick are essential as much of the fishing is from within the river.
It was on these famous upper waters that Frank Sawyer developed his famous style of nymph fishing specifically for grayling. He was the first to tie up artificials with fine copper wire, perfect for light subsurface fishing - this breakthrough gave way to the Grey Goose, the Sawyer�s Pheasant Tail nymph and his Killer Bug, three of our most famous patterns. Oliver Kite was another famous fishing name who spent a lot of time on these waters. A pupil of Sawyer�s, Kite wrote �Nymph Fishing in Practice�, a book famous for its study of upstream nymph fishing - this is the style that all of us use today on the English chalkstreams.

SEASON
The trout fishing season for these rivers is from April until October, although riparian owners set specific seasons for their stretch of water. The grayling season follows the trout season in the winter.

The 2005 Cheeca Lodge Redbone Tournament

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

"To catch a cure for cystic fibrosis".

The 2005 Cheeca Lodge Redbone Tournament Islamorada, Florida. USA

As a keen fly fisher and guide on Hampshire�s chalk streams, fly fishing in a tropical saltwater tournament requires a whole new approach. Forget the 3 and 4 weight outfits, forget whispering to a client suggesting a gentle upstream cast and forget the raise of the rod tip to set the hook as the trout sips under a size 16 Greenwell�s � These environs require double hauls on a 10 weight straight into the trade winds, with a fly that feels more like you�re casting a coat hanger. A �suffer no fools� backcountry guide breathing down you neck, yelling �strip strike�! .........The hook is set � I�m told to �play the fish hard�. The rod down for maximum power - it smokes 150 yards of backing through the tip ring. I now know that time is of the essence when fishing a tournament in Islamorada!

The Super Fly Tournament starts the three day event. This �fly only� one day competition requires angler and guide teams to select one pattern of fly � The Super Fly. It is photographed with the team�s disposable camera and submitted to the officials. The fly must be used throughout the day to catch as many �slams� of redfish and bonefish as possible. A tricky task as reds live in the backcountry Everglades National Park and bones live on the ocean side of the Florida Keys, nearly an hour�s skiff ride between the two. The team tactics are worked out the evening before over a cold beer or two. The event is started at 8am sharp the following morning � complete mayhem as a hundred powerful fly fishers� skiffs zoom in all directions � some opting for the ocean side first and others going for the backcountry.

For Captain Pier Milito, my guide and I, things started well. Under his expert direction we caught two reasonable redfish �out back� in the first two hours and photographed them both with our team camera against the official measure. Pier opted to head out of the back country for the more difficult bonefish on the ocean side. He poled me around all his best flats and for the rest of the day we only spotted two or three bones. None gave us a decent shot. It was heartbreaking as Pier thought we were on track to win the event with our two redfish if we could �slam� and get a bonefish as well.

The hooter for the last cast is sounded at 3pm. My legs and eyes were tired from standing on the bow all day squinting into the shallow sea searching for signs of bonefish. At precisely 2.45pm Pier yelled �Tailing bones 200 yards at 2 o�clock. How the hell could he see them that far away I thought? Then the sun mirrored of off a tail and glinted at me � got them. I daren�t take my eyes off that spot. As we edged closer I stared at the mark like a �man over board� drill on a sailing boat, determined not to loose them. I could see two and then three big bonefish tails and my heart was going treble time. Pier said �That�s a tournament winning bone right there buddy � make that cast count.� �No pressure then!� I replied sarcastically.

As he manoeuvred the skiff into range, I wound up my best double haul shooting the Borski Bonefish Slider towards our target. Twenty feet short. Pier tried to get the boat a little closer as I was casting in 5 knots of cross wind. The shallow draft boat grounded as they were feeding in such shallow water about two feet from the beech. Those three tails wagged at me again and a big cloud of silt puffed from their dinner table. This time I hit the button perfectly. I let the fly sink into the soft sand and gave a sharp pull to make an enticing puff as it jigged towards me. The biggest bonefish shot towards the fly and I nearly lost all control with the apprehension and excitement. Pier whispered �strip slow and get ready, he�s gonna eat it.� I twitched again and that double figure bone followed. I could just feel that �tug� when the other two bones were suddenly spooked by something and fired out to sea alarming their team mate. He left my fly to join them. I was gutted. As I sat down on the bow, I could have wept. I looked at my watch - It was bang on 3pm - end of day.

We headed back to the dock heads hung low. With all teams back we looked at the scoreboard � we finished in a respectable third place with our two redfish. With a slam we would have been in the prizes and with that monstrous bonefish we would have won! A �limey� winning the Islamorada Redbone, now there�s a thought! That�s fishing eh!

We have been invited back to fish in the 2006 Redbone this December - look out for the forthcoming journal entry. Come on England!

The Cheeca Lodge REDBONE is one in a series of REDBONE charity tournaments raising funds for cystic fibrosis. What an experience, I absolutely loved it and I�m very proud to take part. A very big thank you to Bob and Mindy Rich � please see www.redbone.org.

Terms and Conditions

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0100

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
These terms and conditions form part of the contract between Dryflyfishing Limited and the client upon confirmation of the booking and to all members of the client party and should be read carefully.

BOOKING
Bookings should be made direct to Dryflyfishing Limited, or via an agent, by email, internet, in writing or by telephone.

PAYMENT
Terms of payment 30 days. We reserve the right to charge interest at a rate of 8% above base per annum on all overdue accounts.

We go to every length to ensure that all details shown in all our advertising are correct. We cannot, however, accept liability is due to circumstances beyond our control, the facilities pictured or described are altered or withdrawn.

PRICES
We reserve the right to amend our prices at any time before you book. Once you have booked, the price of your trip is fully guaranteed and will not change.

CANCELLATION BY YOU
In the event of cancellation by you, for whatever reason, the following scales of charges is payable:
Prior to 90 working days 50% of total cost.
89-0 working days 100% of total cost. We will however make every to re-let and in such an event 50% of the payment will be refunded.

GIFT VOUCHERS
These are non refundable and non transferable.

CANCELLATION OF GIFT VOUCHERS
The original purchaser may cancel a voucher for a full refund within 14 days of purchase.

ALTERATIONS TO CONFIRMED BOOKINGS
If you decide to change any part of your booking after these have been confirmed up to 90 days prior to arrival, we will try to assist at an administration charge of �30 per alteration plus any additional costs incurred. Changes or alterations within 90 days of arrival will be treated as a cancellation and cancellation charges will apply.

CANCELLATION BY DRYFLYFISHING LIMITED
We reserve the right to cancel any booking. In such a case we will offer an alternative booking of similar value or a full refund of any monies received by us.

CURTAILMENTS AND LIABILITY
Neither Dryflyfishing Limited nor any person assisting it shall be liable for the consequences of delays or restrictions from adverse weather, obstructions, repairs or damage to navigational works, flooding, shortage of water, industrial action, fuel rationing, shortages of or non-availability of fuel or any other cause and reserve the right to restrict the activity if unusual or hazardous conditions prevail. Neither Dryflyfishing Limited nor any person or company assisting or collaborating with it shall be held liable for the death, personal injury or illness of a client.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
We urge all who fish to wear protective eyewear to prevent accidents. Our experience is that insurance companies will not cover anyone who has not worn protective eyewear and medical advice cautions that eyewear should not be shared. Guests of Dryflyfishing Ltd should make provision for their own medical needs.

Each fishery has its own rules and regulations governing the handling, taking and returning of fish, the conduct expected both on the river bank and in huts provided for guests� use, the removal of refuse, parking, safety, hours of fishing and other provisions. Clients of Dryflyfishing Limited should read these conditions and abide by them. Most of our fishing is up-stream dry fly and up-stream nymph only. Dryflyfishing Limited Guides/Instructors work from 10am until 6pm. If you require their services outside these hours then that is by negotiation and we would ask that you reward the Guide for additional hours in addition to any gratuity that you would normally offer. Our guide price does not include flies, leaders and statutory national rod licence.

EQUIPMENT OR GOODS SOLD BY DRYFLYFISHING LTD
Risk in the goods will pass to you on delivery. Ownerships of goods supplied shall remain vested in Dryflyfishing Limited and shall not pass to you until payment in full for all such items has been made. Equipment supplied during the day at the client�s request will be billed to the same billing address and to the same person as the invoice for the fishing.

HIRED EQUIPMENT
All equipment hired by our clients is covered by insurance for malfunction or accidental breakage. Any equipment not returned at the end of the day will be billed at retail price.

Your contract with Dryflyfishing Limited is governed by English Law and any dispute is to be settled in the English Courts.