FIRST FOR TACTICS, TACKLE & WHERE TO FISH
www.troutfisherman.co.uk
18
29 JAN - 25 FEB, 2020 | £3.70
ISSUE 532
TROUTMASTERS TROU MASTERS FUN FACTS FACTS ABOUT UK'S BIGGEST FLY-FISHING FLYLLYY-FISHING COMP
HOOK A BIG
RAINBOW Winter tactics that'll bag you a beauty!
RIVER SKILLS
STILLWATERS
DESTINATIONS
FLY-TYING
Fred Bainbridge's tips
How to hit deep-lying fish
Dream trip with Matt Harris
Tie a Krystal Cat Tadpole
DIGITAL EDITIONS AVAILABLE
Contents I SS U E 532
Cover image by Peter Gathercole
BE INSPIRED
20
6 Your first
Readers share stories of their fly-fishing firsts
TF MEMORIES
Russ Symons ties a Glister Minkie
We pick eight of our favourite front covers
64 Flymasters
10 Who took the helm?
Your subsurface CDC patterns come under the scrutiny of judge Peter Gathercole
A look at Trout Fisherman’s editors over the years
11 Thrown in at the deep end...
TACKLE
The lengths an editor is asked to go to
71 Gear on test
12 Fishing – isn’t that a bit dull?
COVER STORY Robbie Winram reviews wading boots, rods, clothing and accessories...
Jeff Prest remembers some stand-out features
18 Tight lines
Contributor quotes about the final issue of TF
60
19 Signs of the times
TACTICS
Dave Malpas gets to cross a Scottish salmon and sea-trout loch off his wish-list
Peter Cockwill and pals fish Dever
78 News
26 Convenience fishing
World Champs report and Scottish news
Grayling sport from Ilkley town
80 Letters
31 New Year resolute - part 2
TF readers have their say
More problem-solving tips from our experts
FOCUS ON... Floating versus sinking line
ADVICE
38 Advice squad
TF’s experts answer your questions
42 How to...
Fish a river. Top tips from expert Paul Procter
WHERE TO FISH
47 UK waters
Five top trout fisheries to visit this month COVER STORY
82 Book reviews
OFFER
34 Up or down?
50 Divine Providence
Tying with Stretch Worm Chenille, Disco Zonker strips and 3D Fritz
56 Catch memories
20 Final mission
COVER STORY
76 Fly-tying products
OPINION & NEWS
How the TF logo changed over the years
COVER STORY
COVER STORY Peter Gathercole’s step-by-step tying sequence to a highly mobile winter lure
60 Flybox fillers
8 Uncovered!
COVER STORY
FLY-TYING
57 The Krystal Cat
Fly-fishing in the Seychelles
70 Reader offer The Daiwa wading waistcoat is packed with storage options and is yours for only £24!
Three more offerings get the Prest treatment
84 Cockwill
A new era beckons for one of Trout Fisherman’s longest serving contributors
85 Troutmasters
Are you among this month’s badge winners?
90 Troutmasters 40th
Join in the celebrations as we look back at 40 years of the competition’s milestones
96 Iain Barr
Remembering when Blobs first hit the scene and tips on finding the right depth
98 Wading in
Jeff Prest’s final farewell deals with the highs and lows of his career.
LOOK OUT FOR US IN...
I N CO R P O R AT I N G
This is the last stand-alone issue of Trout Fisherman before it is incorporated into Trout & Salmon magazine. The all-new April issue of Trout and Salmon will be re-launched with more pages and a fresh design, along with trusted trout fishing advice and techniques from your favourite contributors. Take advantage of this great subscription offer to make sure you don’t miss an issue.
Choose an Airflo Superflo trout fly line when you subscribe to Trout & Salmon magazine - see p63
THIS MONTH’S WINNER
Shot of the
MONTH
“Fingask Loch at the end of the day”. Sent in by Tom Taylor. The fishery is run by Blairgowrie Rattray & District AC and Tom said they always get some super sunsets from the boathouse during the autumn. Published photographers receive a landing net from Sharpes of Aberdeen. Browse their products at
www.sharpes.net or call 01466 794415
TACTICS G R A Y L I N G Words & pictures Jeffrey Prest
Convenience FISHING Grayling at your feet; food and shelter just behind you, and opportunity even when the water's lively. Welcome to the civilised face of urban fishing...
Fred Bainbridge and a Wharfe grayling.
TACTICS
TACTICS S M A L L W A T E R S Words Peter Cockwill Pictures Peter Gathercole
Our final mission Peter Cockwill and friends try for a trophy fish at Dever Springs
Tom Baker nets a 17lb Dever rainbow that took a Blue-flash Damsel.
TACTICS F I N A L F R O N T I E R S
New Year resolute: Part 2 Which fishing skill frontier would you finally like to cross in 2020, we asked readers. The replies kept coming‌
ADVICE F I R S T T I M E O N R I V E R S Learning to read the water leads to success on rivers.
Paul Procter Expert angler at home on rivers or lakes in the UK & abroad
HOW TO...
Fish a river Paul Procter offers top advice for those fishing a river for the first time
G
ENERALLY speaking, most flyfishers begin their fishing journey on stillwaters rather than rivers. Not because reservoirs or lakes are any easier to work out than rivers, it’s more to do with them being accessible, which makes perfect sense.
42 Trout Fisherman January 29 - February 25
However, at some stage those who religiously frequent stillwaters have a yearning for something different in the form of moving water. Here, a general overview allows us to see what is involved and any pitfalls to avoid. www.troutfisherman.co.uk
WHERE TO FISH S E Y C H E L L E S Words & pictures Matt Harris
Great mates Dom Quinlan and Matt Harris (right) show off a bohar snapper and bluefin trevally caught from the flats of Providence.
DIVINE
There are so many species to catch on fly,
PROVIDENCE you’ll struggle to know where to start, says Matt Harris
SUBSCRIPTION OFFER
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Fly-Tying In association with Veniard
It's Krystal Cat time
Peter Gathercole ties a highly-mobile winter small water lure www.troutfisherman.co.uk
Visit our website www.veniard.com
TROUTMASTERS 4 0 T H C E L E B R A T I O N
When anglers unite! Troutmasters has brought anglers together for 40 years, whether they be newcomers or world champions!
The Troutmasters Final. A great advert for our sport.
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EEP all your essential gear close to hand with the Daiwa wading waistcoat which is packed with storage options for everything from floatant to fly boxes. There are five external zipped pockets and four Velcro pockets on top of zipped pockets, all providing quick and easy access to a variety of accessories. On the inside are two zipped pockets, ideal for keeping valuable items safe and secure. The waistcoat has 3D foam mesh shoulders and is lined with an internal mesh backing for comfort and also features a retractable rear panel for increased ventilation on those hot summer days. THE DAIWA WADING WAIS W TCOAT IS AVAILABLE A TO TROUT FISHERMAN READERS IN TWO SIZES: L (DW7785) and XL (DW7786). Please state size and code when placing your order.
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248 MODERN FLIES A lifetime's flies in one beautifully illustrated book – from the publishers of Trout Fisherman and Trout & Salmon magazines
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