INCORPORATING TROUT & SALMON DECEMBER 2020
TROUT GALORE
A sporting feast in historic Kilkenny
Winter wonderland Extend your season with our insightful grayling guide
THE SALMON’S BUBBLE Topher Browne’s irritation theory
TROUTANDSALMON.COM
The hunt is on
Strategies for big reservoir trout
DECEMBER 2020 £4.50 ON SALE NOV 12-DEC 9
RIVER DON SALMON • START GRAYLING FISHING • PIKE FLY TACTICS • TOPHER BROWNE • NYMPHING ON THE NORE
THE VOICE OF GAME-FISHING SINCE 1955
COVE R I MAG E : TH E R IVER D EE N E AR LL AN G O LLEN . B Y D AV I D N O T O N P H O T O G R A P H Y, A L A M Y
Contents
DECEMBER 2020
79
47
12 INSPIRATION
ADVICE
COMMENT
12
72 Jim Coates meets world-renowned salmon angler Topher Browne
3
Editor’s letter
8
First Cast
Rob Hardy meets two fine fishermen on Ireland’s River Nore
28 A guide to the River Don, its trout and promising salmon run, by Craig Fleming 44 The people and tackle that matter most to Wild Trout Trust founder Mike Weaver 47
4
Jon Beer’s history of the River Lea at Amwell Magna
79 Start grayling fishing this winter with Don Stazicker 86 Matt Harris shares his approach to catching big reservoir pike on the fly
22 On the river with Marina Gibson 24 Letters to the editor 41
Simon Cooper’s chalkstream diary
43 Bob White is The Gillie 130 Giles Catchpole’s Last Cast
26
28 66
22 THE STILLWATER ANGLER
TACKLE & FLY-TYING
REGULARS
54 Peter Cockwill gets to know Brick Farm Lakes in East Sussex
26 Rob Denson identifies a successful middle-dropper pattern
10
60 Find out how to weight flies and whether to use a double-taper line in Trout-Fishers’ Surgery
92 Our pick of the best fly-fishing gifts for Christmas
64 Martin Blakeston’s favourite flies 66 Ways to hunt huge reservoir trout with Rob Edmunds
124 Treat yourself to a Hardy Ultralite Titanium reel with our up-to-half-price offer
Gallery
99 The latest fishing reports from leading rivers and stillwaters in the UK & Ireland 122 Troutmasters news 125 Crossword competition 126 Properties with fishing for sale
5
Reader offer
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Another 258 Modern Flies is essential reading for all fly-tyers, whether you're an experienced fly-dresser or sitting in front of a vice for the first time. It follows the same easy-to-use format as last year's bestselling 248 Modern Flies and includes many of the most successful patterns fished by the UK and Ireland's finest game-anglers.
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■ Flies are divided into three colour-coded sections: stillwaters for rainbow and brown trout; river trout and grayling; and salmon and sea-trout. ■ Each fly is beautifully photographed alongside its recipe. ■ Step-by-step photographic sequences, with instructions, show you how to tie proven patterns. ■ A basic skills section reveals how to tie a tail, dub a body, add a rib, wind a hackle, palmer, form a wing, and tie a whip finish. ■ The ring-bound book can be folded or laid flat to help you follow sequences while tying.
HOW TO ORDER Visit the website greatmagazines.co.uk/258-modern-flies
ORDER BY POST ANOTHER 258 MODERN FLIES & HOW TO TIE THEM Complete the form and send it with your cheque/postal order (payable to Trout & Salmon) to: Trout & Salmon 258 Flies Book, c/o Samantha Toombs, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. (Please write in CAPITAL LETTERS.) Please send me (insert number) ___ copy/copies of ANOTHER 258 MODERN FLIES & HOW TO TIE THEM at £12.99 plus £2.99 p&p per book (a total of £15.98 per book). Name ........................................................................................................................................................................... Address ...................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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FROM
START GRAYLING FISHING Where and how to catch them this winter, by Don Stazicker
NYMPHING ON THE NORE
Rob Hardy meets two fine fishermen making the most of a bountiful trout river in south-east Ireland
INCORPORATING
THE STILLWATER ANGLER Your monthly guide to trout fishing on lakes and reservoirs
P54
WELCOME TO MY FISHERY
Peter Cockwill visits the thriving Brick Farm lakes in Sussex
P60
TROUT-FISHERS’ SURGERY Catch a few more fish and enjoy your sport with our experts’ advice
P64
WHAT’S IN YOUR BOX?
Martin Blakeston lifts the lid on his favourite stillwater flies
P66
THE KNOWLEDGE Rob Edmunds shares his methods for big reservoir trout
53
FISHING REPORTS
All the latest news from our local experts. The only monthly record of catches and news from the major fisheries of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
TROUT MASTERS
’s badge Plus this monthEurope’s winners from fishing largest fly- n competitio See page 122
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