Fly fishers in the making

Posted on by Howie

Feedback from yesterdays beginners session with Sylvie and son George. Photo was taken casting on the river Adur at Shoreham by Sea

Good morning Howie,

Thank you for a very enjoyable afternoon yesterday. George and I had a great time learning the basis of fly fishing. Thanks for your passion, as well as your patience and explanations.
If you have any Sundays available over the next 2 or 3 months, we would love to book a half day at your trout likes as discussed. We have a few things on, but hopefully we can find a time that works for both of us. Let me know!
Thank you also for the photos, we really appreciate it.
All the best,
Sylvie
Sylvie

Mullet go mad for a red bead Diawl Bach

Posted on by Howie

Last night I took advantage of the warm evening and rising tide last on the Adur and landed 2 lovely Thin Lip Mullet Mullet on a Red Bead Diawl Bach fly. Unfortunately when landing the second fish the rod tip snapped so I had to go home otherwise it could have been a bonanza night as the fish were taking the fly quite confidently. Hopefully I can buy a new rod tip? Anyway check out the the fish and magic fly pics. Tight lines Howie

Mullet in June 2014 004Mullet in June 2014 007Red Bead Diawl Bach

Nice bag from Arlington Reservoir

Posted on by Howie

Had a free day yesterday so decided to visit Arlington reservoir. I splashed out on a 8 fish ticket and a boat with a motor which turned out to be well worthwhile. It was a fine and mostly sunny day with a fresh southerly blowing across the lake. It took me about 2 hours drifting and cruising around to locate my first trout. The battery was then starting to lose power so decided, best to get back to the fishing hut for lunch and a fresh battery. These electric engines are nice and quiet and better for stealth but don’t last long when exploring a reservoir like Arlington in search of fish. After a lunch I set off Again and with no takes or fish rising I put on a fast sinking line and a weighted Minky. I cast out and let the whole fly line sink and started to row around the the middle section of the lake close to where I took my first fish. With the reel resting behind the boat seat and the drag set I was able to control the speed and depth of the fly by slowing and speeding up my rowing. This also saves the life of the battery, keeps you warm and is good for ones health (so they say). It wasn’t too long before the rod jerked forward and line started tearing off the reel and I was into my 2nd rainbow. Bingo I’d found a shoal of fish and by rowing around the same area I was lucky to get my limit. It wasn’t  that easy though. It took 8 hours to catch 8 trout when many anglers blanked that day so I was ecstatic.

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Thank you Goa

Posted on by Howie

Just got back from India,well Goa actually. This trip I discovered a lovely estuary at the mouth of the river Talapona to the south of the state. After trying with a fly for some time with out a nip or a follow I noticed some action on the opposite bank. Bait fish were busting the surface all over the place. The action was out of reach with my fly and was all going on under the overhanging trees. Luckily I had my spinning rod and a few shad lures and asked a nearby boat man to take me across for a few ruppees. I scrambled over the rocks until I reached the the spot where I saw the action. The first cast I was hit when just as I was lifted the lure to the surface. After a heck of a scrap I landed a black 2lb snapper. After a few more casts I was hit again. This time it was a red snapper same size. Then a smaller fish but none the less feisty. A few more cast and I was fighting again with a good fish which alas I never saw which ran my line around a rock got away. 

This was one didn’t and went down nicely just plain pan fried with cold Kingfisher beer.

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Seasons greetings from India.

Posted on by Howie

Shafi at the dam 002

Although I had to cancel my Mahseer trip again I’ve decieded to explore my local dam in Goa. There are some big fish surface feeding at dusk. Don’t know what these fish are or feeding on yet but will post if and when I make contact.
Tight lines and happy new year. Howie

(photo) Myself and fellow angler Shafi sharing a suset at the dam

Greyling fishing at Wherwell fishery

Posted on by Howie

This week me and a couple of old fly fishing buddies had a day on the upper Test and carriers on the Wherwell estate. This is a lovely trout and greyling fishery with gin clear water and stuffed with fish. This is now greyling season and costs £40 per rod per day. In spite of the windy conditions we all had a great day and caught fish. I took (and lost) all my fish on an own tied and weighted shrimp pattern with a pink collar (see photo). Here is the link for browsing or booking.http://www.roxtons.com/fishing/venue/Test_Wherwell_Estate/ Tight lines Howie 

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September Bass

Posted on by Howie

This 4lb plus fish I took from the Adur Saturday morning an hour after low water which leads me to think maybe not all bass go back to the sea in between tides. I know there are resident mullet in the river. Wouldn’t it be great if bass took up residence too? Fishing buddy Adam also had a nice 5 pounder earlier in the morning plus 2 schoolies. 

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Carp On the fly Jenny’s Lake

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Another day out with the Fly Dressers Guild (Sussex Branch) This time at Jenny’s lake, Newdigate. It was a fine day and most anglers seemed to kick off the day with a fish almost straight away. Then the carp seemed to wise up to our biscuit flies and things went quiet until after lunch when they came on the feed again. I had to leave at 4.30 but managed 5 fish for the day and glad to say the 2 biggest a 9 and a 10 pounder fell to my own tied black beetle flies. Again, the afternoon into the evening seemed to be the most productive.