INCORPORATING TROUT & SALMON NOVEMBER 2020
The secret stream In the heart of the North Country
6
MODERN SALMON FLIES Fresh from an Irish vice
Wet-f lies for rainbows Stan Headley’s fundamentals
TROUTANDSALMON.COM
Highland romance
Experience the grandeur of Loch Laidon
NOVEMBER 2020 £4.50 ON SALE OCT 15-NOV 11
WELSH DEE GRAYLING • WET-FLIES FOR RAINBOWS • LOCH LAIDON • TROUT IN NORTHUMBERLAND • MODERN IRISH SALMON FLIES
THE VOICE OF GAME-FISHING SINCE 1955
C OV E R I M AG E : R I V E R A L L E N . B Y R I C H A R D FA U L K S .
Contents
NOVEMBER 2020
30
78
60
12 INSPIRATION
ADVICE
COMMENT
12
44 Dean Armstrong’s modern Irish take on classic salmon flies
3
Editor’s letter
8
First Cast
Finlay Wilson fishes on remote Loch Laidon in the West Highlands
30 Meet the admirable Allen Valley Angling and Conservation club in Northumberland 42 Robin Scott’s treasured tackle 48 Every stuffed fish has a tale to tell. Sometimes more than one, explains Jon Beer
4
72 An osprey of the Borders, Iain Wilson, talks to Jim Coates about salmon-fishing techniques and watercraft 78 Don Stazicker shares his approach to fishing for grayling on the Welsh Dee
20 On the River with Marina Gibson 22 Letters to the editor 39 Simon Cooper’s chalkstream diary 41
Bob White is The Gillie
130 Giles Catchpole’s wilful friend
64
72
48
THE STILLWATER ANGLER
TACKLE & FLY-TYING
REGULARS
54 Thrunton Long Crag fishery, profiled by Peter Cockwill
26 Rob Denson recommends a fly for daphnia-feeders
10 & 102 Gallery
60 Stan Headley explains how to catch rainbow trout with traditional wet-flies
87 Inspired by his father, Ross Macdonald ties the Calvin’s Pig
64 The proven patterns of former Scottish national champion Jimmy McBride 66 Your problems solved in Trout-fishers’ Surgery
90 Nets, leader, fly-lines, pike gear and luggage reviewed 94 The latest fly-tying materials
95 Fishing reports and news 119 Fish of the Month 120 Troutmasters 123 Reader offer: Scierra jackets 124 Properties with fishing 127 Crossword competition 5
ADVENTURE ON RANNOCH MOOR Finlay Wilson fishes on Loch Laidon in the West Highlands, the remote home of a mysterious trout
CLUB FISHING
SMALL, BUT PERFECTLY FORMED
Meet the members of Allen Valley Angling and Conservation, a new club that is very much part of the local community 30
From left: club secretary Paul Frear, chairman Mark Charlton and members Cliff Jackson and Conor Frear.
31
INCORPORATING
THE STILLWATER ANGLER Your monthly guide to trout fishing on lakes and reservoirs
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER GATHERCOLE
P54
WELCOME TO OUR FISHERY Thrunton Long Crag is a north-east success story
P60
THE KNOWLEDGE
Stan Headley explains how to target rainbow trout with wet-flies
P64
WHAT’S IN YOUR BOX?
Three treasured flies from a former Scottish National Champion
P66
TROUT-FISHERS’ SURGERY Our experts are ready to help with fishing and fly-tying advice
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 120
www.troutandsalmon.com
AVAILABLE FROM
CONNECT WITH US