FIRST FOR OR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH
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35
Reader eader Of Offer fer SAVE
RED-HOT FLIES TO TIE NOW
£138
Full Greys rod outfit, £169.99
Full dressings & tying tips
CATCH & RELEASE
Should we use mats?
Be a winter
5 DEC, 2018 - 1 JAN, 2019 | £3.60
ISSUE 517
WINNER
Tips & flies to catch in the cool SMALL WATERS
WETS WORK
Have faith in old patterns
RIVERS
DEE GRAYLING Tips from an England ace
RESERVOIRS
FLY -TYING
RUTLAND MAP THE BEADY FLY Back-end hotspots & flies
Tie a favourite winter lure
Contents
BE INSPIRED
59 How to...
We share your fly-fishing ‘firsts’
FLY-TYING
6 Your first...
Cover image by: Peter Gathercole
TACTICS
8 Late season bank raid
COVER STORY Iain Barr gets up early to target Rutland’s big trout lying just yards from the shore
14 They still work!
COVER STORY Peter Cockwill fishes ‘old-fashioned’ wet flies at a rain-sodden Rib Valley lakes
20 The bare essentials
OFFERS 36 Subscription offer
Receive an Outlander mesh vest when you subscribe to Trout Fisherman magazine
TF meets one angler who uses only four flies throughout a season
26 Glorious grayling COVER STORY
Top tips for late season sport
36 Mat finish?
TF talks catch and release with coarse anglers and asks if fly fishermen should use mats COVER STORY
Greys GR50 rod, GTS500 cassette reel and lots more for only £169.99 – a saving of £138!
PRINT AND DIGITAL EDITIONS AVAILABLE www.greatmagazines.co.uk/ troutfisherman
COVER STORY Russ Symons ties a Winter Beady that will actually catch all year round
68 Fastmail flies
Phil Dixon picks six successful flies for winter sport
72 Flymasters
Peter Gathercole judges your mobile weighted lure patterns and sets a new tying challenge
TACKLE
77 Gear on test
COVER STORY Robbie Winram reviews rods, waders, clothing, luggage and more...
OPINION & NEWS
FOCUS ON...
Pike v trout feud rages on in Ireland and much more from the trout scene
Reviews of Extreme String, Slush Jelly and Easy Dub
84 News
COVER STORY How to stay warm and dry this winter plus some tips to help you catch more
86 Letters
WHERE TO FISH
88 Cockwill
Four top waters to visit this month
89 Troutmasters
47 UK waters
50 Spotlight on... COVER STORY
Winter tactics for Rutland Water
52 Big fish & bear country
Wild adventures on Alaska’s Kodiak Island
ADVICE
TF’s experts answer your questions on fry-feeding, wading boot soles and tying techniques
www.troutfisherman.co.uk
66 Flybox fillers
Jeff Prest gains insight into how our trout are farmed and how one farm has become very efficient
56 Advice squad
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Peter Gathercole ties a firm fry-feeding favourite for late season on stillwaters
82 Fly-tying products
42 Winter fishing
COVER STORY
63 The Humungus
INVESTIGATION 37 Fish farming
46 Reader offer
Catch a grayling with river specialist Paul Procter
troutfishermanmag TroutFishMag troutfisherman troutfishmag
Trout Fisherman readers have their say Taxidermy: is it an ethical way to preserve fish? Are you among this month’s badge winners?
93 Iain Barr
The 2019 World Bank Masters is launched
94 Match tips
England International John Horsey makes the case for competition fly-fishing
98 Wading in
Jeff Prest describes the end of his love affair with Boobies
troutfisherman troutfisherman troutfisherman-online @troutfisherman
THIS MONTH’S WINNER
Rod at the ready: Balmule Fishery in Fife. Sent in by Cameron McGrath
HOW TO ENTER
Shot of the
MONTH
If you have a fly-fishing 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: iain Barr Pictures: Peter Gathercole
Iain Barr prepares to net the fruits of a two-hour session at Rutland.
8 TROUT FISHERMAN | DECEMBER 5 - JANUARY 1
www.troutďŹ sherman.co.uk
TACTICS Winter
reser bank skills voir specimen t for rout
Now’s the time to get up early and hunt a huge Rutland trout from the bank. They’re closer in than you might think, says Iain Barr...
www.troutfisherman.co.uk
DECEMBER 5 - JANUARY 1 | TROUT FISHERMAN 9
TACTICS SMALL WATERS Words: Peter Cockwill Pictures: Peter Gathercole
Peter Cockwill fishes traditional wet flies at a rainy Rib Valley to prove they still have worth... 14 TROUT FISHERMAN | DECEMBER 5 - JANUARY 1
www.troutfisherman.co.uk
They may lack movement and be unfashionable, but they still catch trout!
www.troutďŹ sherman.co.uk
DECEMBER 5 - JANUARY 1 | TROUT FISHERMAN 15
TACTICS SMALL WATERS Words & pictures: Jeff Prest
Few flies; many fish. John Bicker prepares to land another Borland rainbow.
20 TROUT FISHERMAN | DECEMBER 5 - JANUARY 1
www.troutďŹ sherman.co.uk
In a world of anglers surrounded by more flies than a dead horse, the guy making do with a handful of patterns can seem an almost mythical figure. But we found him...
www.troutfisherman.co.uk
december 5 - january 1 | TrouT fisherman 21
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The ultimate lightweight fly vest. Ideal for deep wading or travelling light the Airflo Outlander mesh vest has it all and does the lot! Features include: n A pocket for every situation n Vertical zip-down fly trays n Mesh pockets n Double front D-rings and back D-ring n Straps and leashes to attach your gadgets n Adjustable one size fits all
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QUOTE offer code MEAA TERMS & CONDITIONS: Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. The minimum term is 13 issues. OFFER IS LIMITED TO 250 UNITS. We reserve the right to replace the gift with one of equal or higher value or offer a 3 issue extension if the offer is exhausted. Payments by Direct Debit will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise and you will not receive a renewal reminder. This offer closes on January 3rd, 2018. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Cost from landlines for 01 numbers per minute are (approximate) 2p to 10p. Cost from mobiles per minute (approximate) 10p to 40p. Costs vary depending on the geographical location in the UK. You may get free calls to some numbers as part of your call package – please check with your phone provider. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). UK orders only. Overseas? Please phone +44 1858 438828 for further details. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes. For full terms and conditions please visit: http://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/offer-terms-and-conditions
Fly-Tying In association with Veniard
trout FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH
Peter Gathercole ties one of the best stillwater lures Visit our website www.veniard.com
GREYS ROD OUTFIT FOR £169.99 GR50 rod, reel & lots more...
SPECIAL READER OFFER
SAVE £138
THIS month’s great offer from Glasgow Angling Centre is a complete fly-fishing fl outfit based around the Greys GR50 fly rod. This four-piece rod is a light, fast recovering model featuring a non-flash ice grey gre paint finish with section ID and line up markers. It has a burl hardwood spacer with aluminium hardware, hardw a hybrid handle design with hard-wearing rubber-cork tippings and high grade gr full cork main grip, and light single leg guides in black nickel finish. Choose from a 9ft 5wt or 9ft 6wt model when you y place your order. The offer also includes a Greys GTS500 cassette reel, a full die-cast die-cas construction, large arbor design with a dual rulon disc drag system. It features a unique line ID system, sy with coloured pegs supplied, and also comes with two additional polycarbonate spools and a neoprene reel case. Plus you also get a Greys Platinum Stealth floating fly line, a pocket pock fly box and 50 popular stillwater flies, a pack of three braided loops and a 50 metre spool of braided backing. The normal RRP of this outfit is £308.94, but it is available to Trout rout Fisherman readers for £169.99 – a saving of £138! The Greys GR50 fly rod (right) and Greys GTS500 cassette reel.
(* Plus £6.99 p&p, offer available while stocks last).
Greys Platinum Stealth floating fly line.
Light but strong foam-lined pocket fly box (10x8cm).
HOW TO ORDER
Quote ‘Trout Fisherman offer’ and code 00139TF. Please also state size of rod you require when placing your order.
Fifty popular stillwater fly patterns.
Pack of three Airflo floating braided loops.
50 metre spool of abrasionresistant backing.
Tel: 0141 212 8880 Fax: 0141 331 6340 Email: sales@fishingmegastore.com Website: http://gac.fishing/00139TF/ Or by Post: Glasgow Angling Centre Ltd, Unit 1, The Point, 29 Saracen St, Glasgow G22 5HT
THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT A lifetime's flies in one beautifully illustrated book – from the publishers of Trout Fisherman and Trout & Salmon magazines
Catching a fish on a fly you’ve tied is one of the most rewarding aspects of our sport. The satisfaction is everlasting. If you've not tied a fly before, this quality 200-page book PLUS £2 will help you to achieve that goal. .99 P&P Discover the basics of hook AVAILAB LE FROM and fly anatomy, and the tools and materials to get you started. There are explanations of basic T techniques, including applying thread to a hook, the whip finish and everything inbetween: hackling, dubbing and ribbing. But this book is not only for beginners: the fly collection will satisfy the experienced modern game-fisher's every need. Modern patterns feature alongside traditional stalwarts that continue to be effective. Dressings and easy-to-follow sequences are clearly written and beautifully photographed. The flies are presented in colour-coded categories for stillwater trout, river trout and grayling, and salmon and sea-trout. The book is ringbound for easy viewing when you tie. All the flies have appeared in Trout Fisherman and Trout & Salmon over the past two decades and are the most successful patterns from game-fishing’s finest anglers.
ONLY £12.99
HOW TO ORDER
Online at www.greatmagazines.co.uk/248f lies From ebay | By post (see form below)
ORDER FORM | 248 MODERN FLIES & HOW TO TIE THEM To order your book by post complete the form and send it with your cheque/postal order (payable to Trout Fisherman) to Mary-Ann Payne, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynchwood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Please write in CAPITAL LETTERS.
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