FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH
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Experts reveal flies & tips RESERVOIRS
How to catch pressured fish
MAR 29 - APR 25, 2017 | £3.50
ISSUE 495
RIVERS
WILD BROWNS The season starts now
FLY PATTERNS
26 flies with dressings
TACTICS
FORCE A TAKE
Catch in tough conditions
SPECIES
ARCTIC CHAR
Hook a rare, beautiful fish
WHERE TO FISH
CHEW VALLEY Full early-season guide
Contents
BE INSPIRED
FLY-TYING
Fred Bainbridge finds solitude and quality wild browns on Yorkshire’s River Ure
Peter Gathercole ties a nymphy lure
6 Roam alone
67 How to tie a Cormorant
COVER STORY
70 Flybox fillers Cover image by: Richard Chapman
TACTICS
12 When fish have been battered
COVER STORY The tactics to employ when a water has slowed due to heavy angling pressure
Russ Symons ties a version of Dick Walker’s classic Mayfly Nymph
74 Flymasters 18 Travel light to catch Nick Hart on why he prefers to carry just the bare essentials when targeting a small stillwater
25 Flies to force a take COVER STORY The pressure is on when Craig Barr is faced with a difficult session at a Norfolk stillwater
OFFERS
Your suggestive nymph patterns are judged by Peter Gathercole, who also sets a new challenge
TACKLE 79 New gear
42 Subscription offer
29 Doris day
COVER STORY The latest tackle reviews including Vision’s Onki rod and Hart Pro 5 waders
Subscribe to Trout rout Fisherman magazine this month and receive a competition fly case
COVER STORY Peter Cockwill takes on Rockbourne’s Arctic char when Storm Doris is in town!
86 Fly-tying gear Robbie Winram looks at a new bobbin holder, dubbing brushes and realistic eyes
FOCUS ON... 36 Buzzers
COVER STORY Steve Cullen reveals his winning set-ups for fishing this most important stillwater fly
WHERE TO FISH
OPINION & NEWS 90 News
A young man’s charity marathon fishing session, flyfishing courses and what’s new on the trout scene
45 UK waters
93 Cockwill
Latest information on Kingfisher Lake, Loch Fad, Pitsford Water and Ringstead Grange
Peter Cockwill comments on the importance of having balanced tackle
48 Escape to the wilderness
94 Investigation
Take a walk on the wild side in search of salmon and dolly varden in Alaska
Jeff Prest discusses the latest news regarding cormorants, mink and otters
54 Spotlight on...
96 Letters
COVER STORY
The west country’s Chew Valley reservoir with local guide John Horsey
Trout Fishermann readers have their say on women flyfishers and prolonging a fishing career
ADVICE
98 Troutmasters
TF’s panel of experts answer your questions on fly-line choice, backdrifting and fishing Buzzers on the reservoirs
102 Match news
62 How to...
106 Wading in
Paul Procter’s indepth guide to fishing Buzzers successfully
Jeff Prest travels to New Mills, Cumbria and discovers a positive, forward-thinking water
84 Reader offer COVER STORY Leeda Volare chest waders and wading boots for only £129.99
JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN Bankside
an-up Our Bankside Cle Campaign Clean-up campaign continues to gain momentum with more fisheries asking for the poster and creating their own bins for discarded leaders. Spread the message…we can do this.
WHERE TO FIND US...
Are you among this month’s badge winners?
58 Advice Squad
COVER STORY
ONLINE www.troutfisherman.co.uk TroutFishMag troutfishermanmag Trout Fisherman
Iain Barr discusses the role match-fishing plays in providing enjoyment and friendship
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THIS MONTH’S WINNER A brown trout caught and returned to the River Laune in Co Kerry. Sent in by David Dunkley
HOW TO ENTER
Shot of the
MONTH
If you have a flyfishing image that you would like to see here, please send it to us. Images must be: original size • high resolution. Email them to leigh.johnson@bauermedia.co.uk If the image is too large to go over email, send via the free service wetransfer.com (for help see wetransfer.com/howitworks). Published photographers will receive a landing net from Sharpes of Aberdeen. Browse their products at www.sharpes.net or call 01466 794415.
Enter our competition now for your chance to win a Sharpe’s landing net
Words: Russell Hill Pictures: Peter Gathercole
Roam ALONE
Early season on the River Ure in the Yorkshire Dales promises solitude and the chance of some of the best brownies you’ll catch all year. Fred Bainbridge explains...
6 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25
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BE INSPIRE D
Celebrate t h of the wild e start bro trout seaso wn n
Bolton Castle Estate on the Ure is home to some super browns.
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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 7
Words: Gareth Jones Pictures: Peter Gathercole
When fish have been BATTERED Your pals have clobbered fish all morning but you can’t fish till after work. Gareth Jones has the answers…
12 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25
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TACTICS Catch m
ore w early sprin ith stillwater t g ips
Gareth Jones prepares to bring another Draycote fish to hand.
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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 13
TACTICS SMALL WATERS Words: Nick Hart Pictures: Henry Gilbey
Simple flies and set-ups accounted for cracking browns at Bratton.
18 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25
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Travel light TO CATCH Nick Hart carries the bare essentials to battle incredible Devon browns ...
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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 19
TACTICS SMALL WATERS Words : Russell Hill Pictures : Peter Gathercole
Flies to force A TAKE Imagine wise trout in a lightly-stocked lake and a sudden weather change. It couldn’t get any tougher. Craig Barr relishes the challenge...
There are fishing days when desperation sets in and you just have to work extra hard.
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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 25
Fly-Tying In association with Veniard
trout FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH
How to tie a CORMORANT Peter Gathercole ties a fly crossing the gap between nymph and lure
Visit our website www.veniard.com
Words: Steve Cullen
Feel the pull on BUZZERS All-rounder Steve Cullen’s approach to fishing this most important stillwater fly...
36 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25
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FOCUS ON M astering th art of fishi e ng Buzzers
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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 37
WHERE TO FISH ALASKA Words: John Horsey Pictures: Martin Founds
48 TROUT FISHERMAN | MARCH 29 - APRIL 25
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Escape to the WILDERNESS John Horsey embarks on a scary walk on the wild side for salmon and dolly varden in Alaska...
John plays a lively dolly varden under stunning Alaskan scenery.
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MARCH 29 - APRIL 25 | TROUT FISHERMAN 49
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