Grayling
IN ASSOCIATION WITH Kvennan Camping: Tor Henrik Jordet Exclusive Fly Fishing: Peter van Ruitenbeek Ritt Mailing: Gilbert Ritter Kvennan Fly Fishing: Hein van Aar Yorkshire Dales Fly Fishing: Stuart Minnikin Springriver rods: Marc Kropman Dr. Henk Verhaar: editing
CONTENTS 4/5
A GRAYLING WELCOME
6/7
THE RIVERKEEPER
8/9
ON YOUTUBE
10/11 SHOP HOPPING 12/15 FLY TALK: promoting fly fishing 16/17 USE YOUR RUBBER 18/19 HARDA & SWEET 20/25 THE YORKSHIRE DALES 26/29 KVENNAN GRAYLING CAMP 30
SPLITCANE
31
RITT
32
SPECIAL THANKS TO
33
NEXT ISSUE
Photography : Peter Sikking www.isee.photos Peter Lind Cover: Hein van Aar Concept & design: Downey Young & Cooper downeyyoungcooper.com
A Grayling welcome The first time I encountered Grayling was on a slow-moving part of the river Kyll in the German Eifel. It immediately felt different from what I was used to (trout). Not only the take but also the way Grayling puts on a fight. In time I would come to recognize this behaviour as typical for Grayling. Over the years I got a little hooked on Grayling and I am not the only one. In this issue you meet several fly fishermen who have the same addiction. Some of them devoted a good deal of their life to preserve this beautiful fish and its habitat. In this issue, besides pictures of good sized Grayling: flies you can’t leave home without, we go shop hopping, some travel and accommodation insights and last but not least some tips from the guides. Enjoy! Peter Sikking
THE RIVERKEEPER Hein van Aar
Since the beginning of my fly fishing life I have been fascinated by grayling. I fished several small rivers in Belgium and Germany in search for Grayling. It didn’t take that long before I discovered one of Europe’s best grayling rivers: the river Glomma in Norway. Since 1993 I spent many of my holidays on the banks of this magnificent river, and in 2006 I was able to fulfil an old dream: to live and work - flyfishing related - in this part of Norway. Together with the river boards of Tolga and Tynset I instigated the Kvennan Fly Fishing (KFF) zone, with very strict regulations, on one of the most famous stretches of the river Glomma. As a river keeper it was, and still is, my job to look after our precious large grayling. Now, in 2018, the results of our efforts are very clear: the number of large Grayling, measuring 40+ cm, is very high. Scientific research shows that there is an abundant insect life in this 16 km long stretch of Glomma, and that the amount of prey fish such as sculpin and minnows is staggering. Another thing research indicates is that spawning grounds, summer feeding grounds, as well as the places in the river for overwintering are located in the same river stretch included in the KFF zone. All the research, together with the fly fishing reports over the past years, indicates that the Kvennan Fly Fishing stretch - in the famous river Glomma - has the highest grayling stock in Norway (perhaps even of Europe). Check out the website for (catch)reports, favourite flies and much more. to the website
Grayling videos on youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vJIZ563OJc www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VwFJlRLOAk www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpcUTFXg9iY www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_glZGSpw-U www.youtube.com/watch?v=38hhw3tJaE0 www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNLb-e0HIrw
Shop hopping
Exclusive Fly Fishing
About the shop owner: Some associate him with the perfect casting technique. Besides being a very good caster, he has an innate sense for water (once upon a time he caught one hundred and eight sea trout in six days), and is a gifted fly tier. Let’s have a short interview with shop owner and fly fishing enthusiast Peter van Ruitenbeek (Exclusive Fly Fishing).
Age : 34 Source of inspiration: My father and Theo Bakelaar. Favourite website: Catchmagazine.net Biggest FU: Taking a leaking pair of waders on vacation. Favourite tools: High-quality tools. I rather save for something good than buying on a whim. Admiration for: People who remain themselves. People who are not afraid to say they do not know or understand something. Preference: Sea trout fishing in Denmark (Fyn). Why Sea trout: I like to work hard for a catch. I will happily walk twenty kilometres a day if necessary. Or take a bike. The satisfaction from catching a Sea trout….. I keep coming back for it. Besides Sea trout: Pool hopping for (brown) trout. Crawling and creeping through bushes and small rivers with a six-foot rod. Going where others don’t. This way of fishing is almost the opposite of fishing for Sea trout. But it gives me a lot of pleasure. Fishing trips: Alaska - Italy - Germany - Denmark – Luxembourg – Belgium and The Netherlands. The Netherlands: Holland is a beautiful fishing country. December, January and February for roach in the marina’s, March and April in the big rivers (IJssel, Waal) for orfe. In the summer dry fly-fishing for rudd and in autumn for pike, perch and zander. Are you a: Perfectionist! There are people who sometimes get annoyed with that. As an example: I always make twelve flies. Exactly the same size. If there is one that deviates, in the trash it goes. I never fish with an ugly looking fly. Always take my best fly. It gives me a good feeling and a dose of confidence. In my shop I sell: Nautilus, Simms, Sage, Vision, Airflo, Scientific Anglers, C & F Design, Partridge, Stroft, Whiting, Dyna-King, Regal, Tiemco, Metz, Swiss cdc
EXCLUSIVE FLY FISHING your fly fishing experience
www.exclusiveflyfishing.nl
FLY TALK:
PROMOTING FLY FISHING A few weeks ago I spoke a psychologist about my fly fishing addiction. In our first encounter I spoke freely about fly fishing when after a few seconds of silence she said:’ really, you fly and you fish at the same time?!’ She had never heard about fly fishing! So I think we (global fly fishermen) have some work cut out for us spreading the message: what is fly fishing. How does it work and where do you start!?
What we can do Aging: Aging is a worldwide problem. Younger people (25 -45) are not interested in picking up a fly rod. Contradictory The percentage of people who go outside is four times as big as ten years ago. We can only draw one conclusion: ‘fly fishing is not hot enough.
Help We, you and I, are spokesmen for our hobby. If we don’t share our stories, nobody will. No government or institute. We, fly fishermen of the world, are the storytellers. Share: So share your story with me. I ensure you that I communicate your input through as many channels as I can. And more important: the channels younger people “listen” to! Photos (high res) and text are more than welcome. Send it: to this email. Thank you!
CDC Aren’t we fly fishermen a creative bunch of people? I mean, the arse-feathers of a duck? How do I explain this to my new girlfriend? Or anybody for that matter. I picture myself in a bar. Afraid for the one question that’s sure to come: ’and you, do you have any hobbies? For us cdc (‘cul de canard’, duck’s rear end) is more than a name. It’s unconditionally connected with catching fish. If I had to give an indication based on percentages, I think 8 out of 10 grayling I caught were caught on a cdc fly.
Besides two good books about cdc flies - Leon links book: Tying flies with cdc. And Wondervliegen (I en II) by Leon Janssen - experience is our only guide when it comes to preparing flies for a ‘Grayling trip’. So we asked the experts about their favo Grayling flies. You find some (including youtube links) below.
YOUTUBE LINKS Red tag (22-12) - F-fly (24-14) - sedge pupa 10-14 (drunken sedge serie) - cdc sedge dry (12-16) - cdc emerger (1218) - hare’s ear (weighted) (10 -18) - sculpin (6-8) and streamers (7/8 cm :)
USE YOUR RUBBER The global campaign; ‘USE YOUR RUBBER’ started Friday 18 of may! Why this campaign: I am sure you have, just as we did, witnessed fishermen struggling with their catch. Hook(s) and fish stuck in their net. They practice catch and release but at the end there is little to release.
Why rubber: Rubber nets keep your catch in a better condition. Your hook doesn’t get stuck. This ensures a quicker release. A win-win situation. The concept: ‘use your rubber’ In collaboration with shop owners, both web and physical, and fish related organizations from all over the word, we promote the use of rubber nets. How to get this on the road: Retailers who participate receive a free window/door sticker or a digital sticker (webshop). It benefits all: 1. Rubber keeps your catch in a better condition! 2. Customers will immediately recognize your shop as an ‘use your rubber’ committed shop. A shop that helps to retain a healthy global fish stock! Not only shop owners can collaborated with us: If you already use a rubber net please send us your ‘catch pic’s’. We publish them on the Downey Young & Cooper website with your name.
thanks to: boomsfishing.com
Hardangervidda ADVENTURE IS JUST ONE CAST AWAY
Hardangervidda: The Norwegian nature reserve Hardangervidda is located between Oslo and Bergen, stretching from east to west. As large as the entire province of Utrecht, it extends to the north to about Geilo. Hardangervidda is incredibly rough and, to be honest, not for everyone. From the perspective of the adventurous fly fisherman it is a must. There is still unexplored fishing fun to be found. Unfortunately, often days walking from a (paved) road. And only accessible to the experienced hiker (carrying a full pack and belly boat).
We found a way to enjoy the adventure without the inconvenience. The trip that we offer has everything and than some more. Small lakes rarely fished before. Rivers and lakes that, in addition to having otters and beavers, nice trout call home. And all this easily accessible from Camp Harda.
Including: Accommodation - breakfast - lunch dinner - use of belly boat and flippers - rowboat - Canadian canoe - fishing licences- all transport in Norway.
8 dg V.A.
899,castawayflyfishing.nl - 0031(0)35 6240016 - info@castawayflyfishing.nl
Salt & Sweet ADVENTURE IS JUST ONE CAST AWAY
Salt & Sweet If you like to catch trout, grayling, pollack, mackerel, and cod in a single trip, do not hesitate! We made it possible! Salt & Sweet is a unique trip! One moment you are fighting a Grayling on a 4 weight rod, while the next day you find yourself in a saltwater paradise somewhere in the Norwegian archipelago, hoisting a pollack. Camp Grayling: Camp Grayling is located directly on the mighty Glomma. Camp Salt: Camp Salt is located in the Norwegian archipelago. A unique location where the best that Norway has to offer comes together.
Including: Guides - lake trip - breakfast - lunch - dinner -use of belly boat and flippers - all necessary fishing licenses - different accommodations and all transport in Norway
8 dg V.A.
999,castawayflyfishing.nl - 0031(0)35 6240016 - info@castawayflyfishing.nl
Stuart Minnikin The Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales Grayling The Yorkshire Dales are renowned throughout England for the Grayling fishing available on the River Wharfe, River Ure, River Nidd, River Ribble and River Swale. All the above rivers hold grayling but in varying amounts and sizes. Almost all year round The Yorkshire Dales rivers provide the perfect habitat for grayling and grayling fly fishing and they extend the flyfisher’s year right through the autumn and winter. In effect this only gives us 10 days, from March 15th to March 24th (in North Yorkshire - as seasons vary throughout England) when we are unable to fish the rivers for brown trout or grayling.
Best time The best time of year for grayling fly fishing is from September to December when they are at their most active and feeding hard throughout the day. The dry fly fishing during early autumn when grayling are rising to aphids and pale wateries can be simply superb, though not easy for the newcomer to grayling fishing because of the speed of the rise, but very exciting and often frustrating.
From dry to nimf The dry fly fishing tapers off into December when we need to employ other methods to catch grayling on the bottom of the river. There is always the occasional day during winter when the grayling will defy all odds and still rise to a fly, but these days are few and far between. With the onset of the colder winter weather we turn to Czech Nymphing, or ‘bugging’ as it is also known, French Nymphing and the ‘duo’ or ‘trio’ to get our flies down to ‘the zone’. We search every pool thoroughly to find the winter grayling, using rivercraft and experience to determine where they will be lying, but in all honesty they are not usually too far away from their summer lies.
River Swale
Fly fishing course for Grayling If you don’t catch as many grayling as you think you should, or you want to learn some of the more ‘advanced techniques’ to catch grayling why not have a day’s grayling tuition and guiding with me on a Yorkshire Dales river. This might just open up your own river and make you look at it in a completely different light on future trips.
Stuart Minnikin - Yorkshire Dales Fishing Stuart is a renowned nationally as the premier flyfishing guide in the Yorkshire Dales. He has access to some of the very best fly fishing in the area, including many private or little known stretches of rivers and smaller streams. • • • • • • • • •
Member of Hardy ProTeam APGAI Qualified L2CCA Qualified Former England International Born and Brought-up in the Yorkshire Dales Worldwide Fly Fishing Experience Member of GAIA Licensed Fly Fishing Instructor Fully Insured and first Aid Trained
Contact Stuart Minnikin (+44) 0776 176 2660 click here for: web mail not only for Grayling :) Tight lines Stuart Minnikin
A TRIP BACK IN TIME with Tor Henrik Jordet
Kvennan Camping was established in 1965 My grandfather, grandmother and grandaunt, Håvard, Karen, and Kirsti, bought the campsite in 1984. I started working here in 2013, and have been its managing director since 2016. Since 1685 my family and those living on the neighbour farms milled timber on a water-powered head saw upstream from the campsite. Also, each farm had their own mill for grinding flour. As we speak, I am milling some timber these days on an electrical sawmill. Historically, this is the fourth sawmill at Kvennan! The campsite area, in the swing of the river downstream, was the regular crossing point (ford) for most people on foot and with horses. When people from the village of Vingelen went to the Hodalen Lakes they always crossed the river at this place. My great-grandmother always told us that the hay that was harvested at Kvennan was very recognizable for the horses. They sneezed when they sensed the smell from the people (tramps) that had been sleeping in the outfield hay barns.
The campsite has always been a social hub for diverse activities. The small stream that runs behind the campsite is named “Kvennbekken”. On it, many farms had their mills for grinding flour and milling lumber. Since there were clusters of mills beside the creek, the term “Kvennan” is understood as “an area with many mills”. My grandparents and aunt had all been teachers through their careers, and had good languages skills. I believe that is one of the keys to why Kvennan is such an international hub today, next to all the work that has been done to preserve the fish population together with Kvennan Fly Fishing.
A FISHERMEN’S PARADISE * Kvennan camping is situated directly at the 15 km (fly only) stretch. * We have 21 cabins for rent.
* A large and beautiful camping area. * Several outstanding lakes with Grayling, Trout and Pike! TRULY A FISHERMEN’S PARADISE
KVENNANCAMPING.NO - KVENNANCAMPING@GMAIL.COM - 0047 48217014
NEW GOOD FISHING - GOOD FOOD Packing groceries from home or driving up and down to the local supermarket .....besides cooking every day….. let’s face it: it takes a lot of quality fishing time!
NEW: 5 days a week from Monday to Friday we offer you good food! Breakfast and diner! Example DINER menu: - - - - - -
Rich Minestrone with home made bread Original Mexican chicken tortilla’s and salad Swedish meatballs and rödbetssallad med brød Chinchingu sua: kebab African way Pølse with German potato salad Example BREAKFAST menu:
- - -
English breakfast: eggs – beans – pølse – bacon Healthy morning: muffin– yoghurt – muesli - fruit – coffee Good morning: Dutch pancakes – fruit Reservation for a week directly at your booking or per day
Price for a week (Monday till Friday) € 100,- pp Price per day see the menu on the menu board at the Kvennan kiosk.
we cook with regional products
thanks to marschallgordon.com
Marc Kropman Splitcane
The last couple of years I became an amateur, in the proper sense of the word, at making my own split cane rods. I learned the trade from one of the renowned bamboo rod ma-kers in the Netherlands: Joost Stolk, who sadly passed away last year. After purchasing the necessary tools and materials: forms, planes and cane poles; I started making my own rods, including the guides and grip, but not the reel seats or ferrules (no metal lathe). My aim is to make two or three rods a year, for myself, my friends and anybody who likes to try something different when fly - fishing. If you would want to purchase one of my rods, reckon on a delivery time of ca. a year (you can send me a private message via the editor of this magazine). It is certainly not my goal to become a professional rod maker; rather, making a split cane rod is the ultimate challenge in making a rod that suits all my wishes when flyfishing. Tight lines
If you are interested in a Spring river rod please contact us here
GUIDING
For bigger Grayling
up close
reading the water
UP CLOSE: when used to (spooky) trout, you could be in for a surprise. Start fishing one meter from the bank! READING THE WATER: sure we always do. But there is a difference between looking and seeing. Watch the lines in the stream. PRESENTATION: Grayling is fickle. If they are difficult to catch, they are really difficult to catch. Small flies up to size 28 sometimes help. Bad drift or flies on their side are going to be rejected.
presentation
photo Jaap van de Kamp
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Kvennan Camping: Tor Henrik Jordet Exclusive Fly Fishing; Peter van Ruitenbeek Ritt Mailing: Gilbert Ritter Kvennan Fly Fishing: Hein van Aar Yorkshire Dales Fly Fishing: Stuart Minnikin Spring River Rods: Marc Kropman Dr Henk Verhaar: Editing
ADVENTURE IS JUST ONE CAST AWAY