Fish&Fly Journal

Where did all the fishes go?

Got up at 1.15am yesterday to make the drive down to Wiltshire for a dawn rendezvous to go pike fishing with David Woolsoncroft-Dodds. David has a new pike rod being marketed by Fishing Matters that we were going to try out hopefully on some of his local pike in what has always been his go-to local water (the review will appear later on www.fishandfly.com).

Worryingly we only saw one potential pike attack in the shallows where experience told David they would be in numbers and he also reported many less pike being caught than normal by now and of 8 captured by him and other anglers this season, 6 were showing signs of lesions and ill health. The EA have been called in to check on the water and I hope to hear the result later.

The rod test however went well in terms of casting some pike sized flies. David made it look easy while even with my mad flailing I managed to put a decent line out once I slowed down my cast to take advantage of the slower action in the rod. The main point here is that it is great to see a niche product being launched to target a species that is growing in popularity as a fly fishing target species. I am now looking forward to having a go on some of my local Sussex waters this year and we'll see how we get on. Pictures hopefully to follow here on the Fish&Fly blog later this year - watch this space......................

Bassing the harbour

Paid my first fishing visit to Chichester Harbour yesterday - always wanted to go but never quite knew where to start. Thanks to Google Earth though I spotted a likely looking sand flat and headed there for a couple of hours wading. Only took a small spinning rod and a small plastic lure to be light and mobile not knowing the area - this lets me move around without a lot of extra boxes and kit as not much else is needed apart from one or two extra lures just in case of a breakage.

Arrived on a falling tide, not ideal but that was the time slot I had. The first hour was uneventful save for one hit but not much movement spotted apart from one lone finning bass passing by. As more of the sand banks started to be exposed I did see an obvious edge forming into deeper water, a likely highway for bass cruising out with the tide but also looking for anything edible being swept out the same way. It did not take long for my first three bass ever to be caught as my thought on location turned out to be correct. Only small 1/2 lb'rs but bright and silver they brought a satisfied smile to my face anyway.

Judging by the number of tail pulls on the plastic there were plenty of them around and next time a smaller fly will probably catch a few more I expect. Pretty much had the entire area to myself apart from a couple of other spin fishers and they stayed on the beach rather than wading out as I had. I'll report back on the next attempt and time it for a rising tide also to increase the odds of finding some foraging fish.

Norway's Orkla: Aunan beat report

Our great start to the season continues with three beautiful salmon  caught on fly and released at Aunan lodge today. The fish at 20lb, 20lb and 16lb were in fantastic condition and very fresh.

Excellent sport was enjoyed by Jonatan Sundberg and Krister Hoel each caught a 20 pounder in Korshølen and Igdhølen, respectively. Late tonight Stein Havdal caught a silvery 16 pounder at Langhølen. An even bigger fish was lost, and many MSW salmon rose to the surface to provide some real excitement for the rods.

We still have a few available rods in week 28. Contact Vegard via www.aunan.no

The picture shows Krister's magnificent fish from the tail of Igdhølen.

Carp on the Fly

Frontiers prepare for the 2008 season at the Ryabaga camp on the Ponoi

Evenings at the Ednam and days at the fair

Fresh back from a weekend up in the beautiful town of Kelso on the banks of the Tweed attending the 2008 Tweed Angling Fair. Was lucky enough to stay in the hub of the action which was the Ednam House Hotel right above the famous Junction Pool on the Tweed, which was to be the location for the 2008 International Speycasting competition on the Sunday.

It's hard to imagine from the outside looking in that those who spend their lives in the fly fishing industry have to work pretty darn hard most of the time. There are perks of course but late nights spent having a drink or two with friends and sharing war stories from around the globe are often followed by early morning setups at the site with booths to be built and stock to set out ready for the eager public.

We certainly had a good couple of evenings entertainment once the show was closed for the day with friends old and new both in the hotel bar and across the road in the Queens Head too. Not just the show staff either - the local ghillies too know how to relax and unwind into the small hours too over a dram or two!

As usual the show was a interesting mix of everything and everyone concerned with fly fishing but centred on the salmon of course. This show is held in high regard by the salmon industry as shown by well-known names such as Way Yin from the USA and Glenda Powell from Ireland among others making the journey and very welcome appearances at the casting pool. Tweed Fair host Eoin Fairgrieve was very pleased to introduce the keynote speaker on both days as being Orri Vigfusson of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund. Orri gave a very interesting powerpoint presentation on the current state of their efforts to buy out salmon nets which of course we should all support and applaud their efforts and successes so far.

I have posted a few photos over at Fish and Fly from the weekend. Click on the link to have a look!

Show season continues.......

We'll be up at the Tweed Fair in Kelso this coming weekend, watching the Junction Pool enviously for signs of fish. Plenty of business to be done and we hope to bump into friends old and new there or around the Ednam House Hotel in the evenings.

The following weekend (10th/11th) will see Fish and Fly at the Sportfish Fair in Reading. We will have a booth there so stop on by if you are passing. Hope the weather is better than last year which had too many showers but still a good turnout on the Saturday especially.

I'm back now from a few days away visiting firstly Jeremy Lucas up in the Pennines where we shared some nice wild trout and grayling fishing on his favourite River Eden, and then in Portugal which later this year will host the World Youth Championships in the next town to where I was staying. A beautiful destination for sure and one that as yet barely sees any fly fishing visitors. If you are looking for some sunshine, beautiful surroundings and excellent fishing then please visit our friends at Portela Promotions (www.portelapromotions.com) who organise fly and coarse fishing breaks in the region. Their guide, Joao, knows the wild waters and smooth glides of all the local streams and rivers and will get you on some beautiful fish.

More from Portugal

Just a quick report from Portugal again via phone email. Yesterday fished two rivers. The first right near the hotel in Gois. Plenty of small brown trout and a couple of barbel came to the duo of an olive klink and a flashback PT nymph in gin clear water. In the pm higher up the mountains we caught several true wild browns in stunning rural scenery too. Tomorrow we will fish a lake where the bigger fish live i am told! More news coming soon.....

Trout in portugal

Trout in portugal was a chance too good to miss so when portela promotions invited me over to come see for myself i quickly made plans. I arrived today and have been out looking around ready to start fishing tomorrow. The local rivers look great and we saw trout and barbel. We are based in gois and the surrounding area is stunning. More news tomorrow! Apologies for any format quirks but i am submitting via mobile phone so bear with me.

The sun shines in the garden of Eden!

Despite driving through a thick sleet storm followed by a snow storm driving up the M6 as it started its climb into the mountains yesterday, today was beautiful in the Eden Valley. Cold - a little, but we were well wrapped up and with the sun on our backs it was a wonderful spring day.

The trout were a little sluggish but there was a window (which we just caught the end of) on the upper Eden where some march browns and large olives were making an appearance. This got the fish looking upwards where Jeremy was able to pick a couple of grayling and a trout up in quick succesion before a large dark cloud and some sleet put them down.

More excitement planned for tomorrow - should have some pictures to share in a few days on the Fish and Fly website.