Both of my readers were in touch recently to see if there was any particular reason for the recent lack of content on my blog. I of course, explained that I don’t consider the blog to be a vehicle for sharing what I had for my tea and that it is primarily a Fishing blog….

Chomping at the bit to hook up with some late season Grayling, I finally arranged to meet up with CADAC vice Chairman Dylan Roberts to explore one of the clubs Grayling beats.   The Grayling season, along with my opportunities to fish this particular time-shared beat were ebbing away so we met on the bridge…

I’m often asked if I ever “Blank” when fishing. The answer is obviously yes … occasionally, BUT there is usually a really good reason!   If you have visited the blog before then you will be well aware of the catalogue of excuses that I have at my disposal.   Today, I didn’t catch a…

The New fishing Year has started slowly but it is now gathering pace. Christmas, poor weather, projects in the home and the ski season have all conspired to keep me off the rivers for the winter Grayling so I was really looking fwd to this years British Fly Fair.   The BFFI is THE UK…

As another strange fishing year draws to a close, there is a sense of immense irony. In life and nature it’s fair to say that everything balances out eventually so as we had drought conditions in the summer, its only natural that we should have floods in the winter!   This is extremely inconvenient for…

There are a few people who have really influenced the development of fly fishing in recent years and Jan Šiman is, in my opinion, one of them. Many would argue that Czech nymphing isn’t fly fishing but if it requires the use of a fly and correct presentation forms a big part of the technique,…

My friend thinks that fly fishing is “boring” but that’s because he’s never actually tried it. Every day, every encounter, every fish and every river is different so if that’s boring, then “boring be I”!   Two recent examples of fishings unpredictability revolve around Mr Ad Hoogenboezem. Ad was one of a group of four…

Re-reading my last post I concluded a couple of things. Firstly, I should have realised that the popular spots would be busy on the first decent fishing day in weeks. Secondly, everyone has a right to fish the way they prefer, even if it is barbaric and unsporting.   Today, I was reminded exactly why…

Trout and Grayling will eat just about everything that swims in a river at some time in their lives. Part of the fun of fly fishing is trying to work out ‘what’s on the menu’ on the days that you’re on the river. Not all fishermen it seems, are so keen to battle with this…

I’ve been very fortunate over the past few years to spend time with some of my personal fly fishing heroes. I can now add David Southall to that list. Whilst we’ve met several times at gatherings and workshops, we’d never got around to arranging any time on the water together.   At last years BFFI,…