FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH
NEW GEAR ON TEST
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STILLWATERS
ELLERDINE'S MONSTERS HORSEY'S 10 TIPS
WINTER
CATCH 'Must have' advice for success in the cold
RIVER TACTICS
Climate change & your sport Paul Procter's grayling flies
ISSUE 531 2 JAN - 28 JAN, 2020 | £3.70
39
FLOAT-TUBE TIPS
SMALL WATERS
WHERE TO FISH
FLY-TYING
Search water in a tube
Find winter trout in the flow
Winter waters to fish now
The stillwater nymphy lure
DIGITAL EDITIONS AVAILABLE
Contents I SS U E 531
Cover image by Peter Gathercole
BE INSPIRED
6 Your first
TF highlights fly-fishing ‘firsts’ sent in by readers of all ages
14
TACTICS
FLY-TYING
63 Red-ribbed ed-ribbed Cormy
COVER STORY Peter Gathercole’s step-by-step sequence to a fly that bridges the gap between nymph and lure
66 Flybox fillers
8 Down the sides
Russ Symons ties a GRHE Cruncher
Phil Dixon says you don’t have to cast far for success as he goes in search of Ellerdine’s specimen trout COVER STORY
70 Flymasters
Cased Caddis larva imitations come under scrutiny
14 Shallow focus
TACKLE
Even in winter fish can be high in the water, as Peter Cockwill discovers...
75 Gear on test
COVER STORY Robbie Winram reviews a high-end reel, comfortable waders and a powerful rod
20 Incoming!
COVER STORY Target the inlets, they are great fish-holding areas, says Russ Symons
79 Fly-tying products
Tying with flashy tinsel and synthetic jungle cock
25 New year problem solver
OPINION & NEWS
We all have problems to solve or skills we’d like to learn. Start the season as you mean to go on...
74 Tackle memories
28 Fin power
Dave Malpas remembers the tackle of yesteryear and his first-ever international
Matt Roberts and friends take to their float-tubes to catch big pike on fly
80 News
33 10 hot stillwater tips
England’s most consistent match angler, John Horsey, reveals his ‘catching’ secrets
Events to look forward to and what’s new on the trout scene
COVER STORY
WHERE TO FISH
70
39 UK waters
COVER STORY Five top stillwater trout fisheries you should visit this month
OFFER
42 Clearwater revival
62 Reader offer
How Sussex stalking water Chalk Springs plans to grow COVER STORY
Save up to £109.99 on the high-spec Greys GTS900 fly reel – yours from only £110...
48 Ebro gems
Jamie Sandford heads to Spain’s mighty River Ebro to flyfish for a variety of species
ADVICE
83 Taking the temperature
COVER STORY The winter climate may be changing but is it changing the way you fish?
86 Letters
TF readers have their say
88 Book reviews
Four more publications get the Jeff Prest treatment
90 Cockwill
On plans to see more of the UK fishing scene
91 Troutmasters
Are you among this month’s badge winners?
54 Advice squad
95 Iain Barr
58 How to...
98 Wading in
Iain sings the praises of the new World Champion and reveals what it takes to be the best
TF’s experts answer your questions on ‘all-round’ rods, keeping warm in winter and more... In part 3 of his series on grayling fishing, Paul Procter looks at which flies to select
Do you prefer new gear or making your old gear last longer?
COVER STORY
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THIS MONTH’S WINNER My 28lb salmon. Sent in by Paul Greenacre
HOW TO ENTER
Shot of the
MONTH
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TACTICS S M A L L W A T E R S Words Phil Dixon Pictures Peter Gathercole
Phil Dixon gets among the 'exotics' at Ellerdine.
TACTICS
Down the sides Phil Dixon says you don’t have to cast far for success on many small waters in winter
TACTICS S M A L L W A T E R S Words Peter Cockwill Pictures Peter Gathercoleo
Pete McLeod cradles a four-pounder from Haywards Farm.
Shallow focus
Even in winter fish can be high in the water, as Peter Cockwill & Pete McLeod discover...
TACTICS S M A L L W A T E R S Words & pictures Russ Symons
Inlets aren’t just summer hotspots. They attract winter fish too.
INCOMING! Inlets are great fish-holding areas, even in winter says Russ Symons
READER OFFER
SAVE UP TO £109.99
GTS900 FLY REEL
FR E E P&P
DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS GREAT OFFER
T
HIS month’s great offer from Glasgow Angling Centre is the high specification Greys GTS900 fly reel. Suitable for all forms of freshwater fly-fishing scenarios, the GTS900 is Greys' flagship fly reel and is made with full bar sstock construction. It's also lightweight, without compromising on strength, and features high-quality components and cosmetics. Features of the GTS900 reel include: ■ Centralised twin rulon disc drag ■ 6061 bar stock aluminium construction ■ Tool-less conversion conv from left to right hand wind ■ Large arbor design with captive spool release ■ Supplied with neoprene pouch. The Greys GTS900 reel is available to Trout Fisherman readers in two sizes (see panel below).
FROM ONLY £110 REEL SIZE (CODE)
RRP
NOW
YOU SAVE
2/3/4 (GR2356)
£219.99
£110
£109.99
4/5/6 (GR2357)
£229.00
£130
£99.00
How to order
When ordering quote “Trout Fisherman offer” & code “00153TF”. Please state reel size/code you require. Offer available while stocks last. Free P+P. Tel: 0141 212 8880 | Fax: 0141 331 6340 Email: sales@fishingmegastore.com | Order online: www.gac.fishing/00153TF Post: Glasgow Angling Centre, Unit 1, The Point, 29 Saracen Street, Glasgow G22 5HT
TACTICS F I N A L F R O N T I E R S
New Year resolute?
We thought it was just us. Shying away from that one fishing skill that seems forever beyond us. Then we asked our readers which ‘final frontier’ they’d love to cross in 2020. Seems we are not alone…
TACTICS F L O A T - T U B E F O R P I K E Words & pictures Matt Roberts
FIN POWER
Matt Roberts & friends float with flippers to catch big pike on fly
A large, strong fly-caught pike is returned to the water.
WHERE TO FISH C H A L K S P R I N G S Words & pictures Jeffrey Prest
Due to be refurbished, the lodge forms part of the backdrop to this photo of East Lake.
Clearwater REVIVAL
Chalk Springs is under new management but for anglers who like watching the action unfold before them, the show goes on‌
WHERE TO FISH S P A I N Words & pictures Jamie Sandford
Quality Ebro perch fall to the fly.
Ebro gems
Spain holiday-maker and flyfisher Jamie Sandford hunts a variety of species on fly on the River Ebro
NEWS & VIEWS
Taking the temperature The winter climate may be changing but is it changing the way you fish?
TACTICS S T I L L W A T E R S
S P I T R E T A W L L I T S T HO John Horsey, England’s most consistent match angler and guide, shares his angling lessons from a glittering career
D
URING my early 20s, I became obsessed with fly-fishing and made it my goal to qualify for England. Last autumn I came second in the English Loch-style National Final, making it five top five places in consecutive years and thus qualifying for my 48th international cap in Wales later this season.
I’ve captained England at loch-style, rivers, European and World Championship level, with my greatest achievement being part of the World Champion winning team in Scotland in 2009. I’ve also been fortunate to be National Rivers Champion and National Loch-style Champion. So, these are 10 of my top tips and, unless otherwise stated, apply primarily to stillwater fishing from boats.
A lifetime's flies in one beautifully illustrated book – from the publishers of Trout Fisherman and Trout & Salmon magazines
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WHIL STOC E LASTKS !
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Fly-Tying In association with Veniard
Red-ribbed Cormy
Peter Gathercole ties a y for winter that bridges the gap between nymph and lure www.troutfisherman.co.uk
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