If you’d like to sign yourselves up for access, I’d recommend you visit the General Fly Fishing Discussion Forum for a quick welcome and introduction to the new system. Of course, and it goes without saying, if you have any feedback, good or bad, or if you have an idea on how to make it better (after all, it’s only there for you guys to use), just let me know and I’ll look into it.

For now, I hope you enjoy it, and I’ll see you in FFISW: The Forum.

All the best,

As most of you know, the forum area of this website can be a little clunky and quirky to use and, from my standpoint, it can also be an absolute nightmare to update in the background – my working life is filled with such IT technicalities and, as such, I try to make sure that my ‘off-time’ isn’t. Hey, instead of burying my head in PHP code attempting to de-bug an issue I could be out fishing or tying.

Anyway, I digress…because of the above clunky/quirkiness’, I’ll soon be separating the blog and forum areas into two separate entities. What will this mean to you, the loyal members of FFISW I hear you ask?

What this mean to you…

First off, the downside of installing a totally separate and stand-alone forum will mean you will all be required to register with the new forum, however, the new forum software is a world apart from the current PainInTheAss Version 3.0 which FFISW is currently running. It will offer much more functionality including better support for images, personal messaging, etc.

Also, and in order to makes things a little simpler for both you and I, I’ll be purging all users from the blog. Unfortunately this will mean that should you like to comment on a particular blog-post (which I really hope you continue to do) you’ll be required to enter a name and email address each time. In a positive light, however, it’ll mean you only have one account to manage instead of two.

New Updates Coming Soon

As well as the new forum, I’ll be tweaking the site a hell of a lot over the coming months and, if successful with a few personal development quests that I’m currently undertaking, I’ll be able to offer a range of professional game angling services next year. More on this to follow in due course.

Most Importantly, Thank You!

Lastly, I’d like to thank you all for your continued support and that you actually enjoy reading what I write here at FFISW. Whether you enjoy my rambling, the tying, or just drop in from time to time, my biggest thanks. Personally, I’ve met some fantastic people because of FFISW and have made a few life-long friends. Because of that, it’s been a pleasure to keep FFISW going for all these years.

More news will follow when all is ready with the new forum, but until then, my most sincerest thanks for visiting and I hope you keep reading and commenting.

All the best,

Testing of this pattern will be carried out this coming weekend with a few guests.

Hook: Partridge K14ST (Oliver Edwards Nymph Emerger), #18
Thread: Roman Moser Power Silk 10/0, olive
Tails: 6x Whiting Midge Saddle, medium dun fibres
Body (bottom half): A mix of SLF Masterclass #09 Ephemera Danica and #02 Baetis Green Olive
Body (top half): SLF Masterclass #02 Baetis Green Olive
Rib: Monofilament, 4lb
Thorax: A mix of SLF Masterclass #09 Ephemera Danica and #02 Baetis Green Olive
Wing: Whiting Midge Saddle, medium dun

]]> http://www.ffisw.com/?feed=rss2&p=5130 7 http://www.ffisw.com/?p=5008 http://www.ffisw.com/?p=5008#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:31:19 +0000 Gareth Lewis http://www.ffisw.com/?p=5008 With the end of the trout season fast approaching we anglers rush to the rivers, streams and lakes like crack-addicts rushing shuffling to the nearest drug-rehabilitation clinic for their weekly allowance of Methadone. As it was also the Boss’ birthday a week of annual leave was booked and the relaxation/party begun…with a few fishing trips squeezed in for good measure I might add.

For some time now I’ve been of the opinion that my fishing life is too rudely interrupted by that of my working life. Instead of sitting in front of damned computer monitors all day long I could be stood in a river casting to a rising fish all the while being gently cooled by a light breeze instead of a hell-spawned rickety old office fan.

Instead of hearing the sounds of gently chattering waters I’m assaulted greeted with the wonderful sound of multiple server fans, whirring loudly in their non-climate-controlled server cabinets at the height of summer; instead of hearing the bird’s summer song I’m kicked (quite literally) in the nuts by whining IT support calls querying as to why, for example, they’re unable to turn their monitors on. At the risk of sounding totally honest sarcastic, it could be something to do with the unauthorised convector heater you’ve plugged into the socket where your monitor’s power cable plug used to be; and yes, I said convector heater, and yes, I know it’s the height of summer; such are the levels of stupidity I am duty bound to endure.

Such levels of annoyance are reduced by said annual leave and it was a fine week away from work responsibilities with much fun, beer and the even saw the odd fish oblige; I was lucky enough to be able to fit in a little more exploration on the new stream (Stream ‘B’) and also a nice short trip away for my better half’s birthday.

Sunday 22nd August: Further Exploration of Stream ‘B’

The stream of skulls…

Mark’s first fish of the day, a stonking 12″ wild brown trout

Finally, levels are up after a decent amount of rain and everything is refreshed at long last

Beauty with spots

Mark fishing ‘The Tunnel Pool’…

…and our slightly nervous journey through it…

…five minutes later (and after a lengthly discussion on how to get above the rapids) we’re safely out the other side

Nature abounds

Another ‘never been hooked before’ beauty for Mark

High waters

Yours truly beginning a cast

Hidden beauty

Sunday 24th August: Exploration Done, It’s Time for Relaxation With Stream ‘B’

The hike down to the stream and, this time, via one of the valley’s gentler slopes

White-tipped perfection

Spooky fish hold in the smooth, gentle glides…

…and only the most delicate of patterns will do, a Blue Winged Olive Reverse Parachute Emerger…

…the result: six wild brown trout.

Sparkling riffles and glorious glides abound…

…and hold similarly glorious trout.

Klinkhamers and greedy trout

Sunday 25th/26th August: Tenby

What British summer on the beach looks like…

The rain lifts…time for the pub…

Restaurants, shops and pubs hide well down the narrow alleys of Tenby harbor…

Couldn’t help it…FFISW.COM

Cliff-top vantage point

A windy morning but the gulls seem unaffected

Sunday 27th August: Return To The Home Stream

My glorious glorious home stream and where my thoughts are constantly fixed…

Autumn Dun (Ecdyonurus dispar)

One of the many obliging fish of the day, this one violently rose to a Klinkhamer

Riffley perfection

BWO RPE…

…and a trout that wanted to eat it

I’ve been tweaking this pattern in order to replicate the emerging small blue winged olives we are still enjoying on the small streams here in South Wales. Let me put you under no illusion, after 20 fish brought to hand in near enough as many minutes (which resulted in a very messed up looking RPE) I can only deduce that the trouty inhabitants of our beautiful tributaries give this pattern the thumbs up.

Hook: Partridge K14ST (Oliver Edwards Nymph Emerger), #18
Thread: Roman Moser Power Silk 10/0, olive
Tails: 3x dyed olive pheasant tail fibres
Body: SLF Masterclass, #02 Baetis Green Olive
Rib: Monofilament, 4lb
Thorax: SLF Masterclass, #01 Baetis Brown Olive
Wing: Whiting Midge Saddle, medium dun

The venues…

…the results…

Inspired by the mighty Roy Christie last weekend at the North Wales Country Fair, and after our over-a-beer chat regarding all things fly tying (there were others present, it wasn’t a date), it is time I pushed myself to tie his revolutionary pattern, the Reverse Parachute Emerger.

Fly tiers come and go, but true pioneers live forever. Like messrs Sawyer (for his legendary Pheasant Tail Nymph) and Van Klinken (for the world altering Klinkhåmer) before him, I believe Mr Christie’s patterns will live long after we are gone and that this fantastic pattern is a true eye opener in fly tying innovation.

Incorporating a monofilament paraloop to neatly hold the hackle, the pattern (as its name suggests) is tied in reverse with the tail at the hook’s eye and the head at the curve of the hook. Of course, this style of tying dictates that the hook’s eye is pushed through the surface-film and, as a consequence, a small amount of tippet is also buried…fantastic, I think you’ll agree, for overly spooky trout.

This is a pattern that just needs to be seen to be believed and which is also buoyant enough in all but the most turbulent of waters. Cast it into a gentle glide where fish can be just that little bit too cautious, it simply excels. Best of all, the RPE pattern can be tied to suit any style of emerger, simply match the colour of your artificial to that of your local water’s inhabiting invertebrates and you can’t go wrong. For example, I’ve tied the below pattern to match the emerging Blue Winged Olives of our streams here in South Wales.

A true classic and inspired tying.

Hook: Partridge K14ST (Oliver Edwards Nymph Emerger), #18
Thread: Roman Moser Power Silk 10/0, olive
Tails: 3x dyed olive pheasant tail fibres
Body: 3x dyed olive pheasant tail fibres
Rib: Monofilament, 4lb
Thorax: Superfine, Blue Winged Olive
Wing: Whiting Midge Saddle, medium dun

Another weekend, another game fair and, this time, the game fair world saw the Game Angling Instructors Association at the North Wales Country Fair in Bala, North Wales where we ran a casting workshop for both experienced anglers and for those new to the sport. As always, the kids took to it like professionals, blank canvases easily picking up both overhead and roll casts within the 20 minute sessions, and with some even becoming quite proficient in roll cast pickups.

After a three and a half hour/130 mile drive, the weekend started rather wet and miserable but saw instructors from throughout the UK attending in order to provide professional game angling and fly casting instruction to those either new to/experienced in fly fishing. Needless to say, it was a busy weekend and, thankfully, the weather improved meaning Saturday’s waterproofs were happily replaced with rolled-up shirt sleeves on Sunday with very warm conditions.

Of course, having such a bunch of anglers/instructors get together for a whole weekend guarantees a healthy amount of sarcasm and, as such, the evening conversations at the hotel over a few beers were firmly routed in either fishing, casting or tying. The biggest personal highlight was in meeting legendary fly tier, Roy Christie, and chatting to him about his inspiring and pioneering fly pattern, the Reversed Parachute Emerger (see below image). Simply wonderful, and a joy to watch Roy tie.

A fantastic weekend and one which saw many smiling and happy punters, as well as a constantly laughing bunch of instructors thanks to the hysterical comedian skills provided by Dai Jones, Chris Aldred, etc. Chris, thanks for the photos mate!

My thanks to the tips and advise provided by all the instructors throughout the weekend, these sort of weekends are treasure troves of information for those undergoing training, and it’s fantastic to see how the pros do it. A big thanks must also go to Chris Price for taking the helm on the long drive there and back. Top man!

I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Yours truly under the watchful eye of Chris Price

Chris Aldred in Extreme Instructor mode

Snowdonia National Park during our approach to Bala, North Wales

Louis Noble hard at work

The casting pool…is 2′ considered deep?

Chris Price and a sweet roll cast

Chris Price and Alun Rees hard at work with two competitive friends

A gift from Roy Christie: an RPE, tied by the man himself

Saturday and the rain clouds move in

Chris Aldred and Alun Rees at the end of Day #1

Break time and the guys get together (L-R: Chris Price, Mark Roberts, Me, Louis Noble, Alun Rees and Paul Ainsworth)

End of Day#1: After the punters have left for the day, Chris Price shows us how a distance cast is done

…8.5 hours later I was standing in a very low River Usk and casting a #24 biot paradun on 7X tippet at a ridiculously spooky brown trout, the trials of the day easily pushed to the back of my mind.

A special evening.

Fly fishing isn’t a hobby and it definitely isn’t a sport. Fly fishing is a lifestyle, a way of thinking and, as such, it can take us to the most jaw-dropping and inspiring of environments.

The mind of a small-stream fly fisherman is a strange thing; content with the prospect of catching 8″ fish all day long and easily able to shrug off such passing comments as “there’s no fish in there mate” or “they’re bloody tiny” without so much of a thought or reaction. The fish we search for and the waters we seek are, more often than not, found in the most remote/secluded areas, far from people and those who would be content to abuse/degrade them (intentionally or not).

The fish, granted, are highly opportunistic but the skill in catching these small wily fish comes with stealth and a gentle presentation. A heavy foot fall, a little water disturbance or just standing up at the wrong moment is all these fish need as an excuse to dart away; the feeding in a pool/run/riffle put on hold for the immediate future.

More exploration of Stream: B was called for yesterday evening and, after a short journey from work (the commuting traffic thinning as I made my way ever north), Chris, Mark and I were preparing ourselves for the 100′+ decent down a steep valley and a hike down into the gorge below. Although we’re still in dire need of some rain here in South Wales – and, as such, the water levels are depressingly low – the evening’s weather was pleasant and us three anglers progressed happily up this small waterway.

An evening spent exploring a newly discovered small stream is something rather special and, like the boys of our youth, the excitement slapped across each of our faces at the site of every new pool or riffley run found around every corner of the stream was displayed shamelessly. It was only the encroaching darkness which forced us to begin the steep hike back to the top of the valley.

Round #2 of The Exploration of Stream: B is complete and another 2K or so covered, but there is still much, much more to see…

The small stream’s protective steep valley sides and, 100′+ below, is the jewel herself

A wild jewel, and one which has never seen a hook before

Under deep cover, Chris makes a cast…

…a bent rod: the result of a careful approach…

…the gentle landing…

…and the fish itself

Mark keeping a low profile

Darkness approaches…

…and a last cast as darkness settles in

My extra-curricular life of late is either spent attending casting workshops/clinics, GAIA mentoring groups or GAIA events at various Country fairs (CLA Game Fair, Herefordshire Country Fair and this weekend’s North Wales Country Fair), but the majority of my time has seen me stood in various fields waving a rod about, attempting to cast a piece of wool within 18″ of cones placed at 20′, 20′ and 45′; implementing in-the-air mends at pre-specified sections of the line; single and double speys, rolls, jump-rolls, and on and on we go.

As some of the kind and knowledgeable inhabitants living in the immediate locality of the aforementioned fields have very helpfully and kindly pointed out, there are indeed no fish in the field, and yes, they’ve also pointed out that the water levels are very low at the moment. Still, they wish me the very best in my endeavors all the same. Looks of amusement and joy beaming from ear to ear as they convey this knowledge from across the field. I laugh heartily.

Tomorrow evening, however, I’ll be putting my practice to the test with a little exploration of a new ‘never-ever-ever-to-be-named’ small stream which I’ve just recently been granted the right to fish as per membership to a new club.

The stream lies at the bottom of a steep gorge, and a fairly good hike is needed to access the water…much of the hike is spent sliding down the valley sides. Still, such places are known for their seclusion and lack of others, which is fine by me.

A full report will follow, however, a few images taken at the bottom of a darkened valley during our first reconnaissance mission are shown below…