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ARCHIVED ARTICLES 2001
Its Been A Good Trout Fishing Season
Since the start of a new trout fishing season I have had some good sport on various rivers. The Lune, Ribble, Colne, Wenning, Aire and Kennet. Most of my fishing has been with a dry fly, though some days to catch fish I have had to tie on and fish size 24 black midge patterns on a 7X tippet. Apart from fishing for trout, I have also been doing a lot of habitat work on the river Aire. Planting water crowfoot, trimming back trees, clearing blocked up side streams and trapping mink. What I have found on the river Aire are lots of bullheads and brook lampreys.
I have visited Barnsfold Water near Chipping on several occasions where I have experienced some excellent fishing with buzzers. Using a Thomas and Thomas Helix five weight rod, floating line with a leader between 12 to 15 feet and a 6X tippet. If you like fishing buzzers then I can recommend Barnsfold water Telephone 01995 61583
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A Trout Water in the Cotswold's
The western sky was all shades of pink, the last rays of the setting sun reflected on the calm surface of the lake. My suspended buzzer in the surface film fifty feet from the bank disappeared, I was left with just a slight dimple and the rippling rings where my fly had been. I quickly tightened into a good trout.
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Watermark Fisheries
I first learnt about Watermark Fisheries some months ago when Chris Leibbrandt joined me on the River Kennet. As we sat trying to catch a pike Chris told me his son Philip had been made assistant fishery's manager in the South Cerney area of Gloucestershire, known as the Cotswold's. He said "Philip helps look after several gravel pits, containing very big carp and pike, also quality tench, roach, rudd, perch, bream and trout". I was familiar with the area as back in the 1970’s and 80’s I had fished several of the waters catching double figure bream, roach of 2-7-0, rudd 3-3-0 and tench of over 8lbs. In those days Bridge Pool was my favourite water.
All the Watermark Fisheries are mature gravel pits with lots of bird and insect life, various species of butterflies can often be seen in good numbers. There are plenty of trees and bushes which offer cover and make the waters more intimate. One of the major problems in these days of thieving and drug taking, is to find a fishery with secure car parking, during my visit to the fishery, I was more than happy with the parking arrangements. Of course we should never leave valuables on view, if you keep your rod in a tube make sure the potential thief can see there is nothing inside the tube if its displayed in the back of your vehicle.
For most anglers April 1st is looked upon as the start of a new trout fishing season, though in Lancashire the start is March 15th and Yorkshire the 25th. In late March Philip called me to see if I wanted to fish Watermarks new trout fishery. I quickly said "Yes please" I then made arrangements to travel down to the fishery. I said to Philip "Is there any accommodation in the area? He told me about the various houses Watermark had for rent, either for two days, two weeks or two months or whatever you the customer wanted. I asked Phillip to book me in for a couple of days.
It was a pleasant 4 hour drive south from Lancashire with no hold ups, on the M6 M5 junction. Checking in at the Watermarks office in South Cerney couldn’t have been easier. I was greeted by a very helpful assistant who gave me a set of keys and directions to my accommodation, pointing out the gym and restaurant. Even the security guard was a pleasant smiling gentleman. My self contained accommodation was certainly the best I have ever experienced, there was milk, tea or coffee that meant I could have a brew. Even towel's, soap and shampoo were provided. It was a perfect set up, which any family would be happy to live in. It was certainly top quality accommodation. After making a mug of tea, I sat down in a comfortable armchair to sort out my fly boxes then have some dinner.
It was just after 9 o’clock in the morning when I crawled from a comfortable bed, after showering, I pulled back the curtains to see it was a bright sunny morning. A light breeze ruffled the surface of the lake in front of my house. In the far corner I could see an angler who was no doubt fishing for tench. I had certainly chosen a beautiful day for my trout fishing in the Cotswolds. Having finished breakfast of porridge, toast and two big mugs of tea, I washed and tidied up, before collecting my fly fishing vest, cameras, tape recorder and rod tubes. Then it was off to Watermark Trout Fishery a five minute drive. On the way passing the famous and legendary Ashley Pool on my left. As I drove into the car park I could see Chris Leibbrandt sorting out some tackle. Getting out of the car I said "Good morning Chris and Philip" Good morning Martin would you like a cup of tea or coffee" said Philip I declined with thanks. Chris said "Good morning mate a few buzzers are coming off should be a good day" Overhead a B52 was gaining altitude I could hear some geese calling as they flew into a nearby field. On a hawthorn bush I could see a Peacock butterfly.
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Chironomids Are My Number One Imitative Patterns
Two thirds of the lake were ruffled by a light wind making it perfect for fishing Chironomids or buzzers as they are commonly called, the water sparkled in the bright sunshine. A couple of fish swirled on the surface, then a Great Crested Grebe surfaced from its underwater hunt for a small fish. I decided to make up two outfits, fishing imitative patterns such as buzzers I chose a 9 foot 4 weight Thomas and Thomas LPS model with a Joan Wulff signature floating line and 12 foot long tapered leader to which I added 3 feet of 3lb Frog Hair fluorocarbon tippet. Ignore those who say you don't need a tapered leader.
My other outfit was a 9 foot 7 weight Thomas and Thomas Helix model with a Wulff triangle taper sinking line with a 9 foot tapered leader with 3 feet of 6lb Frog Hair fluorocarbon tippet. This outfit was for fishing the deeper water with nymphs, either Pheasant tail, Gold Ribbed Hares Ear, Damsel or Richard Walker Mayfly. I chose to start fishing the shallows at the bottom end of the lake. As I made my way down to the shallow end, I had the gin clear sparkling River Churn on my right, peering intently into this beautiful crystal clear river I could two nice chub.
Sitting at the waters edge I watched the surface of the lake for signs of moving or feeding fish, after a few minutes I watched a fish head and tail. A typical rise, so reminiscent of trout feeding on buzzers. Within five minutes I had seen several more rises, a few pupa shucks floated on the surface. Buzzers or to give them their right name of chironomids, are a non biting midge and one of the most important flies in both still and flowing water. In Ireland they are known as the duck fly. The pupa can be used with confidence all through the season, which come in various colours black, green, red, olive and cream. The life cycle is in three stages, first as the larva commonly known as blood worms which lives in the mud and silt at the bottom of the river, stream, pond or lake. As a bait its often used by coarse fishers on canals. In the second stage of its life it becomes a pupa which slowly makes its way to the surface. In a keen anglers fly box you will often see a dozen or more imitations of the pupa in various colours and materials including beaded pupa which I have used with great success. The pupa on reaching the surface film is known as the emerger, where it will stay suspended while it gains strength before bursting through the film and into an adult buzzer. Its at this last stage when its most vulnerable.
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Buzzers move slowly they don’t dash about
The secret in fishing chironomids in either the larva or pupa form is make sure you move them very slowly. These creatures do not dash around. Take a look in a water butt or garden pond and you should see the larva wriggle about on or just off the bottom, you will also notice the pupa will move extremely slowly as it makes its way to the surface, I am told they can take several hours to reach the surface when they are in deep water. Your imitative pattern needs to move just as slowly for the best success. When fishing a suspended buzzer I will often take 15 minutes or more between casts, I let the suspender drift naturally with the surface movement. Its a very relaxing style of fishing and extremely exciting when fish are taking emergers.
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Quality Brown Trout
Having seen enough activity from trout taking buzzers it was time to fish, I tied on a size 14 black suspender then made a long cast, as the buzzer settled on the water I gave a quick long foot pull on the line to straighten the line and leader, unlike many anglers I didn’t stand at the waters edge, but sat on the bank. I suppose I had been watching the buzzer for ten minutes, suddenly there was a boil. The line moved, I gave a strip strike and lifted the rod all in one smooth movement. The rod tip was pulled downwards the reel grudgingly giving line. I had my first hook-up of the day. For several minutes it was give and take as the fish powered away taking several few feet of line. Then I would get it back, at no time did I feel I would lose the fish. After a while I had the fish coming towards the bank where I was able to net a lovely brown trout about 3lbs.
Unhooking the fish I could see its mouth was full of black buzzers. I had certainly chosen the right colour. In the next five casts I missed one take, hooked and landed three fish two rainbows and a brown. I then lost a fish which broke me off on a dead branch in the water. Further up the bank Chris had been fishing a team of buzzers with a small dry fly as an indicator catching ten or more rainbows and browns. As Chris told me over lunch "Those fish are certainly in good nick". I had to agree I had never seen better quality fish in stillwater.
During the afternoon session, the fishing slowed down as the wind increased creating quite a chop. It was time to go down stair. Picking up my Thomas and Thomas Helix 7 weight with the Wulff sinking line. I started fishing a Pheasant Tail nymph, in the next hour I changed to three other different patterns of nymphs. On my second cast with a size 8 Mayfly I had a very aggressive hit connecting with a super fast fish which quickly had several yards of line off the reel. For several minutes I had some real excitement as man and fish fought it out. The well balanced tackle eventually proving the winner as I pulled a big rainbow over the flooded marginal reeds. Its was a fin perfect rainbow of about five pounds. After slipping out the barbless hook, the fish gave a swish of its tail then it moved off strongly to the deeper water. I had five more fish during the session all on Mayfly nymphs. At 5 o’clock it was time for a break and a mug of tea.
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The Perfect Evening
Finishing tea I made my way to the waterside to find the wind had dropped away, most of the lake surface was flat calm with lots of dimples and the occasional boil. It was a perfect evening to fish the buzzer. I suggested Philip should have a session while I shot some photographs. Using my Thomas and Thomas 4 weight LPS Philip cast a nice line and was quickly into his first fish a rainbow about three pounds. In the next hour he caught five fish including a very big brown estimated between seven and eight pounds. Meanwhile Dad Chris was in action taking a succession of good fish on nymphs and buzzers.
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One Last Cast
The western sky was all shades of pink, the last rays of the setting sun reflected on the calm surface of the lake. My suspended buzzer in the surface film fifty feet from the bank disappeared, I was left with just a slight dimple and the rippling rings where my fly had been. I quickly tightened into a good trout.
Several yards of line were immediately taken off the reel as a fast moving, hard fighting fish moved from right to left. It was some five minutes later when I was able to draw a beautiful brown trout of about three pounds over the submerged weed and rushes. Bending down I remove the size 14 buzzer, then giving the trout a gentle push I watched it swim off strongly untouched by hand. It had been a great day with nice company on a clear water gravel pit catching fish which were in perfect condition. I could make the long drive north in a peaceful frame of mind.
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Further Reading
There have been many books published that discuss fishing the chironomid, such as Charles Jardine Small Water Trout Fishing, Stillwater Trout Fishing Bob Church with Charles Jardine Trout From Small Stillwater's Peter Cockwill, John Goddard Reflections of a Game Fisher. One of the best books on the subject is Midge Magic Don Holbrook and Ed Koch published by Stackpole books. ISBN 0-8117-0996-5 What is impressive about this book is it covers all aspects of fishing Chironomids in rivers and streams. On page 74 there is a fascinating chapter on Elk River 32s. Its a book for all anglers who are interested in fishing the chironomid, especially the river and stream angler. The Watermark Fisheries Horseshoe Lake South Cerney Gloucestershire GL7 5UZ are a group of trout and coarse fishing waters including the river Churn which can be fished on a day or season ticket basis. E-MAIL [email protected] Telephone 07711513462
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A Simple Solution To Failing Eyesight.
One of the big problems we get in our old age, I am 67, Is failing eyesight. For sometime I had trouble threading a size 24 black midge on a 7 X tippet. In fact during a trout fishing trip to the United States I had to ask my friend to tie on my midge patterns. Over dinner that night I was discussing the problem with another fly fisher who said "Martin you need the dry fly threader box". Next day I visited the local fly shop to look at the suggested box. It was perfect for all us anglers with failing eye sight, I purchased one there and then. This year I have purchased a second box. Its been one of my best buys in the past couple of years. It works perfectly.
You can thread the smallest flies, with ease, You get six threaders on which you can hold several small flies on each threader giving you a selection of six patterns and its easy to use. Pass the tippet line through the large diamond eye at the top of the threader, then pull the fly off the threader and you will find it attached to your tippet All you need to do then is finish tying the knot. There are three boxes available. Standard size flies, dry flies and small size flies, you can also purchase extra sets of threaders. These days the boxes are stocked by most dealers. The average price in the UK is £27-00
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Wading Boots for the 21st Century
I have always considered stocking foot waders are a better buy than waders with a fitted boot. As one who travels the world, I need wading boots to cover several eventualities. When fishing rocky weedy coastlines for bass and other saltwater fish or salmon and trout fishing on rocky rivers and streams. I need a studded felt sole for safety. On gravel runs I like felt soles, while fishing from a boat its a standard boot sole that doesn't mark the decking, a sole that wouldn't cause me to slip and slide on a wet decking.
For years I travelled with two pairs of wading boots. Studded felt soles and felt soles. Not the best solution. But one that couldn't be bettered unless I carried a third pair of boots which of course was out of the question. At the recent Somerset New Jersey fly fishing show in January I was shown a pair of Korkers wading boots. The new Korkers are a conventional hiking boot of cordura with leather uppers and a moulded rubber foot. What makes these boots so different, is they come with interchangeable soles. Its such a clever system I am surprised that no one had thought of it years ago. Taking the sole of your choice, You simple push it into the slot on the front of the boot then push the sole down into the bottom of the boot pull up the Velcro retaining strip and your in business. All done in less than a minute. You can purchase various types of soles. Felts , studded felts, carbide tipped rubber spikes, rubber lug hiking and boat deck soles. For the future its just one pair of Korkers and several sets of soles. Each pair of Korkers comes with two different sets of soles. I have worn my boots on many occasions since January they are lightweight, comfortable and most importantly they protect my ankles. I cannot fault them.
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A New Season of Coarse Fishing
For many of you the coarse fishing season never ended, as you moved from the rivers to the still waters and canals. Some of us still recognize the old close season of March 15th until June 15th both days inclusive. On June 16th I had a traditional dawn start for tench, on one of the Wasing Estate fishery syndicate lakes in Berkshire. My companions on the trip were John Bodsworth of Sussex and Graeme Cook of Lancaster.
It was a beautiful dawn, a ribbon of mist drifted over the lake, carp swirled in the weeds. A Great crested grebe were hunting small fish to feed its hungry youngsters, while a pair of swans with five cygnets were feeding on the soft weed around the margins of the lake. A Cuckoo called from the trees on the eastern bank and coots were being quarrelsome as usual. In the wood behind me I picked up the scent of a fox, some minutes later it joined the dawn chorus with its barking. As the sun climbed slowly over the trees on the far bank the sky was forever changing from various shades of pinks gold's and silver.
Legering or float fishing with lobworms, sweetcorn, pellets, breadflake and crust over the three day session didn’t produce one tench, but we all caught suicidal perch. On my last day, I had the perfect bite. The dough bobbin moved slowly to the butt ring, the answering strike connected with a good fish but only for a few seconds then the hook pulled free. I watched a bow wave moving fast across the lake which turned out to be a carp. Graeme spent a couple of days on the river Kennet catching dace, barbel and chub.
The Kennet wasn’t flowing gin clear as it did in previous years. Today we have highly coloured water flowing in the summer when no rain has fallen, this stops the water crowfoot (Ranunculus) growing. The problem is caused by the boat traffic on the Kennet and Avon canal. The British Waterways Board operate the canal and I feel its beholding on the BWB to install filters so the rivers aquatic environment isn’t destroyed. Lets not forget the BWB is funded by the Government. I.E. you and I the tax payers.
I have a busy few months coming up with trips to Swedish Lapland, where I will be the MC for the European fly fishing championships and the Lapland World Cup, where I have been the MC of the latter event for several years. They have always been very enjoyable events with some excellent fishing. Then its St. Lawrence County in upstate New York for a big carp fishing tournament and some muskie, pike and smallmouth bass fishing on the Grass river. After a break of three years I will be back Oregon and Washington State for a couple of speaking engagements also some steelhead and trout fishing. I then visit Denver Colorado for the Fly fishing tackle dealers show where I will be on the Thomas and Thomas stand. Its home for a couple of days, then its back across the pond to Boston where I will fish for striped bass, false albacore and bluefish.
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A GREAT CATCH AT THE FISHING VILLAGE
Royal Lancashire Show Tuesday 27th-Thursday 29th July 2004 Salesbury Hall Farm, Ribchester
The Fishing Village, located along the banks of the picturesque River Ribble, promises visitors an impressive school of demonstrations and advice by some the top angling authorities. During the packed three-day schedule visitors can find out everything they need to know about almost any kind of fishing!
Experts include Pat O’Reilly MBE, a qualified fly-fishing instructor who has written many books on fly fishing and fly tying during his 55-year career will demonstrate trout fly casting with the new Thomas and Thomas Helix rod as well as river dipping where you the visitor can learn about the aquatic life in our rivers.
Sue Parker, a qualified instructor in both trout and salmon casting will be demonstrating with the Thomas and Thomas 15 ft ten weight Spey casting rod, Sue has travelled far afield to Iceland and Russia to pursue her sport. Sue will also be running a casting clinic and give all you ladies the chance to compete on equal terms with the men.
Offering advice and expertise on Wallis casting will be Blackpool angler Alan Roe who fishes for everything in fresh and salt water. Alan is recognized as one of the of the top Wallis Casters in the country.
Sea anglers are not forgotten with top shore and boat anglers available to answer questions including Lancashire top international angler John Amery. From the Fylde coast John Cross of JTD QUALITY BAIT AND RIGS who will demonstrate making the various rigs used in saltwater angling
Visitors can also meet the teams who work hard to improve the aquatic and bankside habitat for future generations. Where you can also try out the range of Thomas and Thomas rods at this show.
The Fishing Village is organized by broadcaster Martin James He said: "If you want to catch a bonefish, tench, barbel pike, cod, tope, bass or learn the art of fly tying. If so, then we have the people at the Fishing Village to help you.
This year’s Royal Lancashire Show includes top female Spey caster, Sue Parker. There’s something for everyone in 2004." Martin will also be devoting lots of time to encouraging women to take up the sport because of their potential to become great anglers. He added: "The beauty of teaching ladies to fish is that they listen, take notice, practice and have a caring attitude. They look great, smell good and catch lots of big fish!"
Other representatives at the Fishing Village include the Sea Anglers Match Federation, Pendle Fly Dressers Guild, Prince Albert Angling Society, Hyndburn and Blackburn Angling Association, Fleetwood Marina Boat Angling Club and the Hodder Conservation and Ribble Catchment and Conservation Trust and The Friends of the River Yarrow
A special bus service by Lancashire County Council will operate from several large Lancashire towns including Preston Blackburn and Clitheroe tickets are pre-show adults £10 Show day £12Senior Citizens £6 and £5 Children under 16 £5 and £6 Family 2 adults - 3 children £25 and £30 Tickets are available from Tourist Information and County Information Centre’s or Telephone 01254 813769
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Cotswolds Baits - Tock Special
This successful recipe has proven to be an instant success for anglers here and abroad. It has produced 2 UK 40lb fish, "Cut Tail" from Manor Farm Lake Linear Fisheries + 1 from a non publicity water, also the Tocks have taken fish of 32lb Bradley's, 37lb-8oz Common from Horseshoe lake, 28lb Common White Friars lake (South Cerney), 49lb - 13oz from Maurepaire in France, 3 X Lake records from Tockenham Reservoir, as well as catching exceptionally large bags of fish from places such as Carp Lake Diawa and Whelford Pools.
A unique blend of totally natural ingredients mean the bait will last unfrozen for over 14 days without going mouldy. The bait itself is a fishmeal/bird food blend with concentrated Oyster extract, robin red, black pepper oil and other secret enhancers. It is a very high quality food bait made from very high quality ingredients although is proving to be an instant success everywhere . For further details telephone Cotswold baits will shortly have a new bait for chub and barbel anglers 01285 861896 E-mail [email protected]
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Catskills - Is It The Home of American Fly Fishing
Recently American Airlines started a new schedule from Manchester to Boston for the cost of £301-00 return. You leave Manchester around noon arriving in Boston about 2-0pm, with an excellent exchange rate of the US dollar against the pound sterling. There isn’t a better opportunity to fly the Atlantic. It was time I visited and fished the Catskills area of New York with its history of fly fishing in America. It was an ambition I had held since the 1950’s
Most people when they hear the words New York immediately think of Central Park, theatre’s, shopping malls, museums and the Statue of Liberty. But there is much more to New York, its a State with an area of 40,108 square miles roughly the size of England, but its not all concrete glass and chrome. A huge area of the State is covered by forest, lakes rivers, streams with an exciting coastline, offering some magnificent fishing in both fresh and saltwater. The two major areas of freshwater fishing are the Adirondacks in the north of the State and the Catskill Mountains north of New York city and west of the Hudson river.
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Was the historic home of fly fishing The Brodhead's?
Many anglers recognize the Catskills as the historic home of dry fly fishing in America, as the place where it all started. From my research dry fly fishing really got started in Long Island and Pennsylvania, with much of the fishing taking place on the Brodhead's and its sister rivers of Pennsylvania. A magnet for fly fishers visiting the area in those early days 1835 and onwards was Henryville House, though it was just one of the many places hosting fly fishers. Many inns, boarding houses and hotels prospered in the latter years of the nineteenth century. With many fly fishing celebrities visiting the area which included such personalities as John Sullivan, Lily Langtry and Jake Kilrain who added the glamour of the music hall and prize fighting to the area..
In 1895 fifteen well known anglers who were bankers and brewers formed The Flyfishers Club of Brooklyn. In 1897 The Brooklyn Flyfishers after a poor season of brook trout fishing, then moved north from the Brodhead's into the Catskills and a log cabin at Hardenburgh farm on the Little Beaverkill. No doubt they would have known that Theodore Gordon was already fishing the area and so perhaps this prompted their move. But the move north by the Brooklyn Flyfishers could have been a bit premature, as the fishing on the Brodhead's greatly improved the following year.
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Catskills Legends
Some of the great anglers, legends and fly dressers who lived or fished the Catskills were Thaddeus Norris 1811 - 1877 his book The American Anglers Book (1864) is of great interest and Thaddeus when writing about chub fishing writes. The best season of the year is September; a grasshopper or grub-worm, or a small cube of cheese, is a good bait. Later in the chapter he writes about Bologna sausage as bait. There is nothing new in fishing. Thaddeus was also one of the great bamboo rod builders in the 1800’s. Probably the greatest legend of the past was Theodore Gordon his dry fly The Quill Gordon is still in use today. Rod Steenrod the inventor of The Hendrickson was a Gordon disciple who was also in residence in the Catskills. So great was the friendship between Steenrod and Gordon that in 1890 Gordon willed his famous collections of flies sent to him from Hampshire by Frederick Halford to Steenrod. The great Lee Wulff who in 1929 while fishing the Ausable River in the Adirondacks developed the Gray Wulff one of the most popular dry flies of all time was also a resident in the Catskills. It must have been a wonderful sight to see Lee and wife Joan fishing these historic waters. Today the lady who is in her seventies, can still cast a fly as good as any male angler. She is without doubt a great ambassador for this magnificent and wonderful sport.
Fly dresser Harry Darbee known as the Dean of the Willowemoc lived in a farmhouse above the river not far from the Covered Bridge Pool that John Atherton used in his exquisite pencil drawings of the river. Writer Art Flick author of the best selling classic Streamside Guide to Naturals and Their Imitations, lived in The West Kill Tavern which sadly has gone. George M, L, La Branche Dry Fly and Fast Water (1914) Though published in 1914 its a book I recommend to all fly fishers. Ed Zern who was at one time the fishing editor of Field and Stream fished and lived in the area . Another great Catskills fly fisher was Leonard M Wright, Jr author of Fishing The Dry Fly. Other great names from the past who fished the Catskills were Lew Beach, Reuben Cross, Ray Bergman author of several books including Just Fishing, John Alden Knight, Preston Jennings and Sparse Grey Hackle who once said "Livingstone Manor, Hearthstone and the Ward’s DeBruce hotels in the Catskills were our Mecca"
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Today's Catskills
Having arrived in Boston airport after a seven hour flight Kate and I were soon clear of immigration and customs, as we came out the airport I noticed a guy holding up a sign with my name. After introducing myself he grabbed our bags and we headed off to a large van parked nearby. Two hours later we were in Greenfield Western Massachusetts at the home of John Carpenter and his daughter Ellie. Also waiting for us were Trevor Bross, his wife Christine and their baby daughter Autumn. For the next two hours John, Trevor and myself gossiped about the weather, fishing and the prospects for our coming trip to the world famous Catskills where we would be joined by New Jersey tackle shop owner Harry Huff and his son John. I had met Harry a larger than life character at many of the fly fishing shows I attend as an advisor for Thomas and Thomas fine fly fishing rods of America. From my many conversations with Harry I realized he was a very experienced and knowledgeable fly fisher.
Our journey for the Catskills started on the third day of our trip, it was some four hours from John’s house from John’s home to the town of Hancock close to the East branch of the Delaware in the Catskills. A drive through clean, green and pristine countryside with no litter. After driving south to Springfield, we travelled west across Berkshire mountains, crossing the Appalachian Trail ( which crosses the highway via a footbridge ) and route 90’s highest point of elevation in the east, and to the Taconic Parkway. We then drove south along the eastern border of New York State, also the eastern edge of the Hudson Valley. Looking west across the valley to the Catskills you realized how green and lovely this part of the world was in the afternoon sunshine. We then crossed the Hudson River on the Tappen Zee Bridge continuing south to Harry Huff’s tackle shop in New Jersey. Harry I suppose could be best described as a modern day legend who stands tall alongside the great Catskill legends from the past. After some time with Harry in his shop, we left following him northwest back to the Catskills on route 17 and as we drove we crossed over the historic Willowemoc and Beaverkill rivers before arriving in the town of Hancock.
The Catskill mountains were green and magnificent. A huge forest of hardwoods hemlocks, maple, pines and oaks covered the mountains between the Hudson and the Delaware. When first seen, one is reminded of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. In one area near the town of Hancock, I could see where a tornado had torn through the riverside trees scattering them like matchsticks. Amazingly three house were untouched. Along the riverside were rhododendrons and dogwood. At dawn there is the chance of seeing Wild turkeys, black bears, grouse and a dozen of birds species, including red and yellow winged blackbirds. If you are extremely lucky you might even hear the pileated woodpecker in a hemlock thicket. At dusk or during the darkness if your on the river you might hear the very rare horned owl.
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Make Sure You Have A Licence
In the town our first stop was the local tackle and gun store to purchase our fishing licences. Never ever attempt to fish in the United States without a fishing licence. You could end up in jail, then it was into the grocery store to pick up food and drink for a few days. Back in the vehicles we drove over the East branch of the Delaware river into Pennsylvania where our recently purchased New York licences were legal and fifteen minutes after leaving Hancock we arrived at Harry Huff’s fishing camp on the banks of the west branch of the Delaware to witness fish sipping down Mayflies as the Americans called them but these were olives not Mayflies as we know them with three tails known as Ephemera danica.
Jumping down from the truck we were introduced to Harry’s son John and another couple of fly fishers. It was warm handshakes and hugs all round. After dumping our bags in the riverside cabin, Harry fired up the BBQ and we all enjoyed the steaks. While the rest of the gang washed their food down with cold beer Kate and I had big mugs of Yorkshire Gold tea. Within an hour, The Huff’s, Kate, Trevor, John and myself were getting ready for an evening session in conditions which could only be described as perfect. Across the river I watched an angler strike, a few minutes later he bent down and released a fish. Overhead two buzzards worked the thermals. Lots of bugs hovered over the water making it look as if someone had emptied a huge box of confetti
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The Evening Session Was Full Of Promise
I made up two outfits, for Kate I chose a nine foot five weight Thomas and Thomas Helix with a Joan Wulff Signature floating line and a ten foot leader tapered down to a five X point.. While I chose to fish an identical make of rod and line in a four weight with a 12 foot leader tapered down to a six X tippet. I have been using the Joan Wulff Signature fly lines for several months for my grayling and trout fishing and find they shoot smoothly, pick up quickly and have no memory. In my book they are an excellent line for dry fly fishing. Having made up the tackle I checked my vest making sure I had fly floatant, tippet material, Polaroid glasses, fly boxes and digital camera. It was time to change the soles of our wading boots from a hiking sole to a felt sole. The new Korker wading boots with there five different soles have certainly taken wading boots into the 21st century. No longer do I have to carry two pairs of wading boots when I go abroad on a fishing trip. Pulling on our chest waders we quickly laced up our boots and were ready for an evening on the river.
From our camp a few yards from the waters edge of the Delaware it was a ten minute drive on a tarmac road before turning off and driving several hundred yards alongside a railway line before parking under some trees. Pushing our way through the bushes shrubs and long grass we were soon at the waters edge It was the perfect evening, warm with a light breeze, bugs were coming off the water in profusion. But I couldn’t see any rising fish. Kate and myself went off upstream, John and Trevor downstream while Harry chose to fish at our point of arrival. Sadly within thirty minutes of arriving the temperature dropped and the bugs were gone. In the two hours before dark we didn’t see any rising fish, it gave Kate the chance to practise her casting. As we met up in the darkness we were pleased to hear that Trevor had caught a nice fish on a size 10 March Brown. Harry and John had also caught fish leaving John Kate and myself fish less but it was great being there. With no bugs and a dropping air temperature we all headed off to camp where Harry cooked more steaks, burgers and sausages.
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Drifting the Delaware
It was about eight in the morning when Kate and I climbed from our sleeping bags, after a shower and a mug of tea we were ready to face the day. I spent some time recording material for my programme ‘At The Waters Edge on BBC Radio Lancashire’ while Trevor and John fished the river in front of the camp. John Huff tied flies and Harry cooked himself more food. About 11-0 am we left Harry at camp while the rest of us went off to Hancock for breakfast. Even though I have visited the United States for many years I am always surprised at the excellent service we get in American Diner’s and Cafe’s also the good quality food and low prices. It always amazes me the amount of food my friends put away and non of them are out of shape. Trevor even plays a high standard of tennis two or three times a week. After breakfast its back to camp to get ready for the afternoon and evening fishing. Kate and I were to join Harry Huff in his drift boat for a drift from Shehawkin which is the lower part of the West Branch down to Buckingham a trip of about ten miles, while John Carpenter Trevor Bross and Mark Kondak would drift the river in pontoon boats. While John Huff rowed and guided a client on the river for the day.
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Icy Cold Wind
About 12 noon the wind increased until by mid afternoon it was gusting at 25 to 30 miles an hour, I shivered then pulled a sweater from my bag. It had turned icy cold, the wind lashed the water which had small white caps in the more exposed areas. I was gutted. My first full day in the Catskils and it felt like being on an English river in January. If I was to see a fish rise, I would be well tested to reach it with my four weight outfit in these condition. As we rounded a bend Harry noticed a fish rise under the near bank where the water was sheltered by some riverside trees. Harry held the boat in position for some ten to fifteen minutes, twice the fish showed on the surface. Five minutes later two fish showed with two feet of each other. Harry said "Go for it Martin" I made a side cast then watched the March Brown land some six feet upstream of the first fish. It was a perfect drift, as the fly reached the spot where the first of the two fish had shown, a small dimple appeared the March Brown was gone. The answering strike connected with a fish, sadly not a trout but a dace of about 12 inches. This American dace had the head of a chub the body of a dace and the anal fin of the dace. On the Grass river in St Lawrence County NY Its known as a chub.
At sixty seven years of age the body doesn’t always work as it should, I was getting colder and more sluggish by the minute. Some three miles further down stream I clambered from the boat and started to wade ashore to stretch my legs, the cold from the water gripped my legs causing me to have problems with wading, cramp was taking hold. I turned back towards the boat. I was feeling lousy as I pulled on my SST jacket and mittens, hypothermia was setting in I couldn’t focus my eyes, my coordination was lost. I felt terrible. Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and being diabetic does have its problems. I let Harry fish his way downstream to the take out point. All I wanted was a mug of tea and a hot shower. I think Harry realized I was having problems, but I put on a brave face. Half an hour later Harry was hooked into a good fish on a Sulphur Spinner which had taken him well into the backing. I switched on the tape recorder and recorded the action. It was a brown trout of about twenty five inches. We covered the last couple of miles in the darkness hearing good fish crash or swirl on the surface. Why did the weather turn so rough I thought to myself. Still that's fishing. Fifteen minutes later Trevor, John, Mark, and John Huff arrived they had all caught fish. Having said our good byes to Harry, John and Mark we climbed into John’s truck and headed for home arriving about three thirty in the morning. I had slept most of the way.
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Great Coarse Fishing In The Kennet Valley
Over the past few weeks I have had several E-mail’s from you the reader me asking for information on the Wasing Coarse Fishery Syndicate. The Wasing Fisheries with its extensive lakes and rivers on the Wasing Estate has been in the same family since 1760. The various waters are set in the delightful River Kennet Valley one of England's nicest rivers. Within the estate boundaries there is an abundance of bird and wildlife. A very comprehensive friendly and knowledgeable bailiffing system is operated, which supervises, protects, and maintains the fishery and its delightful rural charm. Many waters are of special scientific interest some are sited within the listed park of Wasing Place, others in unspoilt countryside. As a naturalist and an angler I don’t just want to catch fish, the whole ambience is very important to me and that's the reason I don’t fish the commercial hole in the ground fisheries. I do not have anything against these fisheries they serve a purpose but they are not for me. Recently on a fishing trip to the Wasing fishery I often had three or more robins around me seeking morsels of food. Pheasants, rabbits, the blue, great, coal and long tailed tit’s were around in profusion blackbirds, thrushes, woodpeckers, kingfishers, coots, moor hens and tree creepers were spotted. Not only do you get to see lots of bird and wildlife you have the chance of catching some big fish in delightful surroundings. When you join the syndicate you will receive a key for all the estate gates which are locked so keeping your care safe and the keys are replaced annually.
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River Kennet Beats
The River Kennet fishery comprises four very attractive beats of mixed single and double bank fishing amounting too nearly 4 miles. The bottom end beat of Aldermaston has been known for many years as a top stretch of the Kennet that often produces the big roach, chub, pike and barbel. It’s the stretch of river where I caught my first Kennet two pound roach when fishing with the late Len Head. This fishery also has two excellent car parks. Brimpton is the top beat on the fishery you will find a very attractive weir pool. Between the weir pool and the car park three disabled fishing platforms have been built in top swims. Its certainly nice to see the wheelchair bound the angler is given every help and encouragement where they can fish the top swims. Fishing the Kennet will offer various fishing spots to choose from in slow and fast water there will be shallow gravel runs so beloved of the dace. Undercut banks with over hanging trees. The roots often plunging deep into the water creating fishing spots that will harbour chub, barbel and perch. If you're lucky you might catch a 4lb perch. Other swims will have trees in the water creating those perfect creases and slacks. It's best described as the Crabtree River. Mr Crabtree who was Bernard Venables spent a lot of time fishing the Kennet that shows through in his writings and paintings.
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Beautiful Still Water Fisheries
Big carp, perch, tench, bream and pike are all available in the estate's lakes, Want a double figure bream or tench? Fishing the Oxlease or Cranwell Lakes will give you the chance of catching such a fish. Last summer despite the very hot weather I was able to catch tench of 6lbs plus using the float tackle and bread flake bait. Although I didn’t catch any double figure bream of tench I did feel given god conditions and a large slice of luck I might have hooked one of the big tench I spotted rolling at dawn. During the middle of the day during that oppressive heat in August last year when I was fishing with Tony Farqharson a big bream slowly cruised through the swim. Having caught double figure bream I do know what they look like. That bream was a double digit fish. There are two lakes in Wasing Wood that were created in the 17th Century with tench carp and perch. If you want the chance of catching a twenty pound pike I suggest you fish the Rowney Lake which was featured in a recent Anglers Mail feature with Andy Little.
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Cost of Fisheries
You can purchase a variety of tickets for fishing the various waters. River Kennet will cost you £250-00 that is far cheaper than the season permits for a shooting syndicate, golf club or Premiership soccer club. Carp and tench lakes only £150-00 Predator Lake £150-00. You can of course purchase a permit for the rivers and lakes permit varying in cost from £314-00 - £469-50 they beauty of fishing this syndicate water is having peace of mind and not having to worry about your vehicle. Which is a problem at many fisheries these days with break ins and damage being done by the slobs of this world? At Wasing syndicate you will be fishing with a very nice group of anglers. For further details write Wasing Estate Office Wasing Park Berkshire RG7 4NG Telephone Kevin Rolls Fisheries Manager 01189 714281 there is a website www.wasingfisheries.co.uk
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Big Carp Fishing Event
Aug. 19-20-21 will be the three day St Lawrence Carp Fishing tournament. Day one will be a full day clinic guiding kids and parent in the art of carp fishing. It will be held on the waterfront, unlike the indoor school last year. The main carp fishing event will be fished on the 20th-21st and will have four categories: 11-14 year olds
15-18 year olds men and women However, both the men and women can only compete if they come with a kid under 18. Each category will have a $2,500 first prize and $1,250 second prize. The will be lots of $100 prizes for categories like the one who came from the farthest to the one who caught the largest to the one who caught the smallest etc.
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World Carp Championship Official Announcement
Waddington NY - Representatives of the American Carp Society will be visiting the region early next month to make an official announcement that St. Lawrence County (N.Y.) has been chosen as the site for the 2005 World Carp Championship in June 2005.
The American Carp Society will announce that they are extending an invitation to world class carp anglers from around the globe to compete in the first-ever North American hosted World Carp Championship. Over 400 competitors are expected to converge on the St. Lawrence River for several days. The tournament will be head quartered in Waddington and is expected to encompass areas within St. Lawrence, Lisbon, Ogdensburg, Louisville and Massena. Prior venues for the tournament have included Romania, Yugoslavia and France (regional) and the event will be fished in South Africa during 2006. Local officials will gather in Waddington to meet the American Carp Society coordinators, from California and Oklahoma, to discuss logistics and the requirements for hosting this big event.
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WALES TO GET ITS OWN ANGLING SHOW
No longer will anglers in Wales have to travel to England to prepare for the new fishing season. From next year, Wales will have its own spring angling showcase. The first show will be held at the United Counties Showground in Carmarthen over the weekend of 19th and 20th March 2005.
Wales, a mecca for game, sea and coarse angling, has recently received major investments in its fisheries, notably through EU Objective One funding and the Welsh Assembly Government backed Fishing Wales Project. Those closely involved with these projects see the new Wales Angling Exhibition as an opportunity to highlight the superb fishing opportunities available throughout Wales as well as recognition of the importance of angling tourism to rural economies.
Andy Schofield of Environment Agency Wales, Programme Manager for Fishing Wales, said: ‘I welcome and applaud this initiative. It will help us to publicise what Wales has to offer anglers from within Wales and from all over the world.’
Tackle shops, accommodation providers, fishing instructors and guides as well as celebrities from all angling disciplines will also be at the show and keen to help local and visiting anglers to get the most out of their sport.
The news that Wales is to get its own angling show has been received with great enthusiasm by fishing organisations throughout Wales. Robin Darker, general secretary of the Welsh Federation of Coarse Anglers said: ‘This has been a missing piece of the jigsaw. It has always been a source of irritation to local tackle dealers that Wales has such wonderful fishing but local anglers have had to travel to shows outside Wales to buy their tackle.’
Sea anglers are equally enthusiastic. Hefin Jones, president of the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers said: ‘This will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase sea angling in Wales. We have been waiting for a long time for somebody to take the initiative and launch a Welsh show.’
In the land of the silver sewin, truly wild brown trout and grayling beyond the dreams of most anglers, game fishing stands, events and demonstrations will be a major attraction. Moc Morgan, doyen of Welsh Game Angling and very much in favour of the show, said: ‘A show of our own will be good for anglers and for the tackle trade, and a chance for coarse, sea and game fishing interests to demonstrate the benefits of our close cooperation at national level.’
Tony Cox, Managing Director of Nelton Exhibitions, the company responsible for the highly successful Ireland Angling Show held in Dublin each year, has established an office in Wales to market and promote the show and handle the sale of stands. Running the office is Sue Parker, who has many years of experience in managing an advertising and marketing business. ‘Experience in Ireland shows that anglers actually prefer to spend their money in their own country where it will support the local economy,’ says Sue. ‘The Dublin show attendance almost doubled each year from its start in 2000 to more than 13,000 in 2004. I have no reason to doubt that with the support of interested parties here we can achieve the same excellent result for Wales.’
For further details contact Sue Parker on 01559 371911 or by emailing [email protected]
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Prize Monies and Trip to England
to Lure Junior Carp Tournament Anglers
Grand Prize Winner Could Take Home $14,500
Organizers for the 2nd Annual St. Lawrence International Junior Carp Tournament™ and Mort Backus Carp School have upped the cash for the young carp anglers taking part in the mid-August event. A bonus of $10,000 and two trips to Great Britain have been added to the first place prize pool.
A junior winner in any age bracket will have the opportunity to take home a windfall of $10,000 in addition to the $2,000 for winning their age category and an extra $2,500 for first prize. The first place winning angler will be eligible to enter his or her four best carp to tip the scales at over one hundred pounds in total combined weight to win the bonus prize.
Just to make the competition even keener, the internationally circulated magazine Carp World has once again stepped in as a partner and sponsor for the junior tournament. Carp World has started their own junior competition in Great Britain following on from the very successful 2003 tournament on the shores of the St. Lawrence River at Waddington St Lawrence County NY. Promotions staff from Carp World and the local organizers met up in the United Kingdom last spring at the big carp show in Essex.
Both parties agreed to enter kids reciprocally in the complementing tournaments. Therefore, the winners from the British contest will come to the United States competition, and two American winners from the St. Lawrence competition will travel to England.
American entrants in the 15-18 year category will be eligible for the expense paid trip to England.
"With the Carp championships just a few weeks away, we couldn’t be more pleased with the number of corporate and individual sponsorships", notes Karen St. Hilaire, executive director of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. "I believe these sponsors realized the potential for global recognition after they saw the far reaching appeal of this event last year. We are truly grateful for their support."
"The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce has been able to sweeten the pool of prizes and cash awards due to the increased number of sponsorships we’ve seen this year," said Terry Fishlock, project coordinator for the tournament. "This tournament is not only about fishing, but it encompasses education, ecology and responsibility or preservation of the river environment. It’s a great experience for kids and $14,500 is a great down payment for college."
The tournament begins on Thursday, August 19th with the Mort Backus Carp School. A legion of carp experts will teach classes about the basics of carp angling techniques and skills. Mort Backus will sponsor the day long event which features the lectures by internationally known British carp fishermen Tony Davis-Patrick, Richard "Cash" Farnan and Steve Broad. Broad is also a features editor for Angling Times which is one of Britain’s premier carp angling publications.
Teenage heart throb Tom Felton, of the Harry Potter movies, and myself are co-hosts for the three day. Both Tom and myself were full of praise for last years event. We will be lending our support, expertise and enthusiasm for all the competitors.
Competition is expected to be extraordinary with kids who participated last year already registered. Organizers are hearing that the kids have honed their skills and plan to bring a higher level of skill to the shores of the St. Lawrence this year. Contestants from Illinois, North Carolina and Connecticut have already told the coordinators to anticipate some intense competition.
For more information about the tournament, phone the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce at 001 315-386-4000 or check the website www.northcountryguide.com for on-line registration and more details.
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