My Angling Life

Another Beautiful Day On My Local Trout Stream

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:39:00 +0000

Lovely Spring Day On River Rivelin - Sheffield

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:41:00 +0000

Win a FREE fly fishing course!

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:28:00 +0000

We are giving away the chance to win a free introduction to fly fishing course. To enter, click here and fill out your details.

Back to Ladybower

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:50:00 +0000

I am often asked by clients if working as a fly fishing instructor means I get bored of fishing, in fact the opposite is true. When you spend day after day watching others fly fishing it makes you even more hungry to get out there and do some fishing. Fishing time is in short supply these days and I tend try make it a social occasion and meet up with fishing friends and colleagues.

So when an opportunity came up I decided on going back to Ladybower to see how the new tenants are getting on. They are doing a fantastic job and have put a huge amount of effort in to getting things up and running. The welcome is warm and friendly and they have implemented a good stocking programme to try and bring the fish numbers back up. The boats have been revamped and some trees and bushes have been trimmed. The place has a welcome breath of fresh air about it.

So far as the fishing went it was a really tricky day with the wind hitting us from all directions and the fish not knowing what they were doing. I still managed to catch this nice 3 pound rainbow though!

Cracking start to river season

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:43:00 +0000

With the river season now underway, clients have had a cracking start learning to fly fish on our beat of river Derwent in Derbyshire. Wild brownies have fallen to pheasant tails and GRHE and some beautiful Grayling have come to the net. This recent spell of warm weather has encouraged a few decent hatches just after lunch time which seem to have stirred the fish from their hidey holes!

A client chuffed with his first ever Trout on the fly

Nice wild River Dewent Brown Trout

Beautiful Grayling comes to the net

Water craft for Fly Fishing (Stop Look & Listen!)

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:27:00 +0000

When I read people discussing watercraft on blogs and in books I often hear phrases like "reading the river" - what does this actually mean?
I like to think of watercraft as observation time. Time to use a variety of techniques to measure, record and observe to give the angler a sense of the likely behaviour of his quarry, much like the horse racing tipster hanging round the training school watching horses being schooled and walking the track in the morning to assess the exact nature of the turf - we need every last morsel of information to make a more informed decision.
What is the water temperature and air temperature?

Is the wind from the east or west?

What the PH of the water?

What colour is the water?

What's the water level?

Are fish rising?

If so what are they feeding on?

Many of these measurements are relative which is why I urge all of my clients to keep a fishing diary to make brief notes to help inform future decisions. There's an old saying which goes something like time spent in reconnaissance is seldom time wasted and this could not be more true in fishing.

Some of the most enjoyable time by the water is spent sitting completely still, hidden behind the reeds just watching, waiting and listening. Suddenly what you thought was a barren river bed has shapes and shadows sliding out of the weeds, a fin of a feeding trout creases through the water under the willow tree and you hear the plop of a beetle falling from the overhanging branch as it lands in the slack water.

It continually amazes me how many anglers turn up at the water side thumping a heavy bag down or chatting in full voice making no attempt to disguise their shadow against the skyline, they then put on their usual fly and cast out as far as they can thrashing the water as they go!
These are usually the anglers who then complain how hard the fishing is that day saying "its a bit slow!" - well no wonder! Every self respecting Trout in the vicinity has legged it!
Watercraft is essential to fishing but try not to think in simple terms of reading the river, think of it as intelligence gathering and reconnaissance - time spent blending in with the natural environment and letting nature carry on in front of you.

That's all for know. Have fun and hopefully see you soon.

Huge Double Figure Trout on Derwent at Matlock

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Another Massive 11lb fish has been landed on the Derwent at Matlock in Derbyshire - http://www.matlockanglingclub.co.uk/news_2_19.html

Must be all the trout pellets that go in from the Barbel anglers! -

Fly Fishing Tuition Gift Voucher - A Great Fishing Gift!

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:42:00 +0000

If you are looking for a great fishing gift this Christmas then how about buying your loved one a day of fly fishing tuition?

Our fly fishing gift vouchers start from just £25 and are valid for one year. Vouchers are valid for either our river or still water and make an unusual and interesting fishing present!

Click here for more information and to order online!

Nymph fishing for fussy trout on Still Waters

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:09:00 +0000

An article on: Nymph fishing for fussy trout on Still Waters

Salmon Catch & Release - A Bad Idea?

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:38:00 +0000

I was reading a letters page in on of the fishing magazines recently where a lady was being lamented for taking a salmon from a clubs water. Despite being allowed to take the fish, both readers and other club members were making their disapproval quite clear. I feel very uneasy about this attitude amongst some game anglers and clubs that catch and release occupies the moral high ground. If the salmon stocks in the river are so fragile that anglers cannot harvest a few fish for the pot it begs the question - should anyone be fishing in that river at all?

All country pursuits when animals are taken for food require a natural or stocked surplus in order for a healthy population to be maintained. In grouse shooting the moorland is managed by the keeper and through a process of medicated grit, heather burning and predator control a large, healthy natural surplus of grouse can be produced year after year. Pheasant shoots introduce reared birds in to the wild to provide a large surplus and in our rivers we can manage effectively and stock if required to produce a good head of wild and stocked trout.

As game anglers we have a long tradition of taking a fish for the table but this must only be done where a natural surplus exists. The salmon (through no fault of game anglers) is encountering problems caused by netting, fish farms and river passes being blocked amongst many other issues. These issues must be dealt with and anglers must press the relevant bodies for these problems to be addressed. In rivers where the salmon run is very low, catching and releasing salmon is going to do them no favours and in these cases would it be better not to fish for the salmon at all until the wider issues with the salmon numbers are dealt with?

Fly Fishing Rods - A Complete Waste of Money!

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:59:00 +0000

First of all, if you have unlimited wealth then this article does not apply!

I am often asked about fly fishing rods, especially by beginners who are just starting fly fishing and have money burning a hole in their pocket. The questions often asked are - what make of rod should I buy? or is brand X better than brand Y? My answer to these type of questions is often not what is expected - Buy the cheapest rod that you are comfortable with because it doesn't matter.

If like most of us, you have limited resources to spend on your fishing each year, you need to prioritise where to invest your money to get the most return and enjoyment. Have a think about it - twenty or thirty years ago a rod today that costs £25 would have been beyond the wildest imaginations of the most advanced tackle makers of the time. The carbon fibre composites of what are now "cheap rods" would have been space age even in theory but people still caught lots of fish. Some of the most famous and respected voices in fly fishing came from an era where rods were made of wood, lines of silk and leaders of gut.

It's a cliche but it's true - the fish don't know how much your rod costs.

While a rod is essential (you can't fly fish without one!) a good caster can present a fly well on a cheap rod as well as an expensive one so invest some time in learning how to cast and present a fly well. The difference in how a £60 rod performs compared to a £600 rod is small and a lot of the time manufacturer's have to resort to numbers from Laboratory test on recovery time and other measures to show why their new expensive fly fishing rod is better than the competition. Why do you think they are having to resort to laboratory tests? Because the beginner or intermediate fly fishing man or women in the street can't notice any difference! Yes, the cheaper rod will not have fancy fittings, posh piece of wood on the handle and the finishing will not be as good but it will do the job.

A fishing rod, at the end of the day is just a tool to do a job.

I was speaking to the director of a large tackle shop the other day who was cursing a well known tackle manufacturer who's fly rods sell for around £25 to £30. He was complaining that because the price of these rods is so cheap there is little mark up on them and in his words "they are too bloody good".

So don't fall for the hype - spending more money on a rod will not make you a better fly angler, there are far more important areas to invest your limited resources in order to get the most from your fly fishing.

Here are my top 5.

1) Somewhere to fish!

Sounds obvious but invest all you can in to a club or syndicate that can offer some decent fly fishing. If you don't want to join a club then set aside a budget for day tickets. There are some fantastic waters available at very little cost but they tend to be in remote areas so you may need to budget for bed and breakfasts and petrol costs.

2) Books & DVD's

You need to read read read! There is so much to learn so buy as many decent fly fishing books and DVD's as you can. If you can dedicate a bit of time each day to reading about water craft, fly casting and fly fishing for beginners you will soon pick up some knots, fly casting techniques and basic water craft. If you fall in to bad habits or need help then think about getting some fly fishing tuition.

3) Practise - costs nothing!

Dedicate 15 minutes a day in your garden or local park to practising your fly casting. Like any sport you will only get better by practicing. You will be amazed how much better you will become at the different fly fishing casts with a small daily practise session. It can be frustrating when you are a beginner at fly fishing but stick with your practise, it will pay off.

4) Good fly line

This is one area not to skimp on. Buy a good quality fly line, it will help with your presentation and fly casting and limit any unnecessary tangles.

5) Clothing

Invest in some warm, breathable clothing for the Autumn and Winter months and some lightweight breathable waterproofs for milder wet days. You have invested all that money in buying some decent fishing - don't let the weather spoil it! Also purchase some good waders for getting into the tight spot on the river - you will be rewarded!

Enjoy your fishing...

Fly Fishing for Beginners – The Overhead Cast (where’s your rod really stopping!)

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:49:00 +0000

Article on the overhead cast:

Fly Fishing for Beginners – The Overhead Cast (where’s your rod really stopping!)

Grayling fishing - Top 5 Grayling Flies this Autumn

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:51:00 +0000

With the Grayling season now underway in earnest, here are my top five flies that I always have in my box.

Sawyers Killer Bug
Klinkhammer (matched to whatever colour the hatch is)
Gold Ribs Hares Ear
Red Tag
Snipe & Purple

If there is nothing rising there seems to be little point in trying to tempt one to the surface as they will be busy feeding elsewhere. If you are having no joy then try fishing a team of 2 or 3 wet flies to search out those pools and find the depth the fish are feeding. Remember, Grayling are shoal fish so if you get one then be prepared to catch some more!

Goodbye Trout, Hello Grayling.

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:08:00 +0000

As the Trout season on the rivers draws to a close and our spotted friends start to spawn, it's time to reflect on this years fishing. My highlight this year was fishing some of the small streams in North Yorkshire spending the day wandering beneath the trees and stalking the wild trout in the pools and eddys. We have see many of you come for tuition over the summer and it's been a pleasure meeting each and every one of you. It's always lovely to bump in to people you have taught on the bank and we have seen many familiar faces this year. So as the Autumn starts to cool and the first frosts appear it time to start thinking about Grayling fishing! More about this in the next edition of out tips and tricks newsletter. Sign up here.

Win a FREE day of fly fishing tuition on the Derbyshire Derwent!

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:00:00 +0000

We are giving away a free day of fly fishing tuition on an exclusive private beat of the Derbyshire Derwent!
Click here to find out more.

The tiniest Trout in the smallest stream.

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:54:00 +0000

I was walking the dog recently round one of the local reservoirs and I hopped over one of the tiny feeder streams that run off the surrounding hills in to the water. This stream is literally only about a foot wide and about 8 inches deep. Out of the corner of my eye noticed a small dark shape dart for cover.

I waited and watched and waited a bit longer and was assuming that I would get to see the quarry of my childhood - the Bullhead. To my amazement, what emerged was a tiny Brown Trout a few inches long. It is truly amazing and encouraging where given half the chance these fish live.

Autumn fly fishing and what flies to use in Autumn.

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:49:00 +0000

As far as we are concerned we are now entering one of the best times of year for fly fishing. Okay, the Mayfly season can be dramatic and exciting but these few weeks in early Autumn where the colour of the trees are changing and the temperature is starting to fall are just wonderful.

Fly life is still abundant and the temperature has dropped enough from the dizzy days of summer so the fish are active and willing to feed. More over the bigger fish on the still waters may start to patrol the margins chasing this years shoals of fry. This presents the fly fishing bank angler an ideal opportunity to stalk the banks pulling back small fry imitations.

If you are wondering what flies to use in Autumn, as I mentioned in my previous post Daddy Long Legs can prove effective if left to drift in the ripple especially in the margins. Stalking nymphs also provide good sport in Autumn but you will need Polaroids and to approach the fish very slowly. Try getting in to some of the spots on the water where nobody normally fishes and where casting a fly is awkward - this is where the big fish will be hiding!

Who's the Daddy?

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:25:00 +0000

It's Daddy long legs time! This is one of my favourite times of year for fishing still waters. Crisp Autumn days provide a great opportunity for the fly angler. Whilst mother nature is offering trout a feast of small flies (the curse of the fly angler) a big fat Daddy-Long-Legs left to drift in the ripple can prove irresistible. When fly fishing, a good way to fish the Daddy is to avoid fly casting too often. Try in stead to let your fly drift amongst the ripples waiting for a cruising trout pop up and take it.

I am currently reading Fish, Fishing and the Meaning of Life.

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:14:00 +0000

The wonderful "Fish, fishing and the meaning of life" by Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman. It is a real gem of an anthology and I have have already discovered some excellent passages from angling texts I had no idea existed - just what a good anthology should do. Can't recommend it highly enough.

I am currently reading...

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:36:00 +0000

Falling in again by Chris Yates. Lovely book of short angling tales, thoroughly enjoyable...

'Tis the season to be on the rivers

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:48:00 +0000

It happens every year, about this time that I get a desire more than ever to be fishing on the rivers. From tiny dribbles to large weedy ones - that's where I want to be fishing. Maybe it's the smell of the wild garlic or the fact that all tunneled under the overhanging trees I am in my own little world. The hot sun penetrates the stilll water and the fish become lethargic but the rivers remain cool and the fish continue to rise!

Great day!

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 06:04:00 +0000

Had a top day yesterday providing tuition for three beginners at Barlow. They managed an unbelievable nine fish between them! Was so impressed by the way they picked up their casting skills. All three were false casting and shooting line like pro's by the end of the day. Yet again diwal bach proved the most effective method, fished deep and slow.

Fly Fishing Beginners Day

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:44:00 +0000

Looking forward to the fly fishing for beginners day tomorrow. Weather looks good! Hopefully we will catch some fish...

Fly Fishing Barlow

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:08:00 +0000

Had a lovely day on Saturday at Barlow. My client did too managing to catch 3 cracking Rainbows. Nothing moving at all on the surface but slow fishing nymphs were very effective.

Ladybower today

noreply@blogger.com (David Johnson) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Fished Ladybower today. Water temperature very cold with sheets of ice drifting. Took a lot of work to find the fish which were shoaled in shallow water near the fishery office. We lost 2 but landed one. Looking forward to doing tuition on Saturday.