Llangollen Maelor Angling club member Tim is renewing his love affair with fly fishing as he slowly eases his way into retirement.

CADAC and Llangollen Maelor have an exchange ticket agreement whereby members can visit their neighbouring club (by prior arrangement) up to 3 times per season. However today, I’d invited Tim to come and explore one of CADACs day ticket waters as my guest.

Autumn has been welcomed with open arms, especially by me and my fly fishing buddies. Those low, clear, seemingly fish-less summer waters are slowly coming back to life thanks to the cooler temperatures and the reappearance of some of the larger and more plentiful food items.

That said, we still had to work hard for fish by combing the riffles with nymphs and more pleasingly, working the slow, glassy glides with small dries for fussy Grayling.

It was challenging, precise and frustrating at times but it was proper fly fishing…and it HAS to be better than work, eh Tim?