Trout & Salmon, December 2020 (Issue Preview)

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

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT

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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.

9 P&P PLUS £2.9

LE AVAILAB

■ 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).

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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

www.troutandsalmon.com

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