As some of you know, and along with Mark Roberts, Alun Rees, and Chris Price, I assist in running the Gwent Angling Society’s winter fly tying classes. Although each class focuses around a number of patterns, the classes (more importantly) are put together in a way so that they emphasise the importance of ‘substance over style’. Like any skill (whether this be fly dressing or fly casting), good form and substance is the cornerstone of steady progression.

One of the last winter classes focussed on dry fly winging techniques, most of which I’ve not used myself in quite a while so, last night I took a quick five minute break from my current line of fly orders to play around with one particular technique which I like to use a lot small emergers, duns, and micro patterns such as Caenis.

The Wallywing winging technique is one of the more beautiful methods for forming a lightweight wing, and we have Canadian fly tier, Wally Lutz, to thank for this rather wonderful winging technique.

Micro Midge Emerger

• Hook: Varivas 2200BL-B, #24
• Thread: Uni Trico, 17/0
• Wings: Yellow mallard
• Abdomen: Thread, coloured with pantone pen to match
• Shuck: CDC fibres, khaki
• Thorax: Superfine dubbing, golden olive

I’m a huge believer in ‘the client comes first’, so much so that the very idea is the focus of every fly order, casting lesson, and guided trip. As a consequence, I’m proud to say I’ve made a few people happy.

One such client is Justin who runs the fantastic blog The River Beat. As well as ordering a set of my standard flies, Justin also  requested a number of bespoke Hi-Viz CDC Midge patterns. A full report on the bespoke order can be seen on Justin’s blog by visiting theriverbeat.blogspot.com. Thanks Justin!

The January 2012 edition of the awesome Catch Magazine is now out for your viewing pleasure. Kick back, grab a cuppa/beer, and enjoy! Click the below image to load or visit Catch Magazine at www.catchmagazine.net.

Today was a strange one; it was the first day in weeks where temperatures had broken above freezing, even jumping as high as 8°C here in South Wales…tropical temps considering the last few weeks have been absolutely freezing! Still though, the morning saw minus temperatures again and, after yesterday’s ‘thawing’ and last night’s freezing, Liam and I’s trip to to fish a Mid-Wales tributary of the River Wye was cancelled, the roads leading to our destination were literally ice. The fact that the last few miles of the journey would see us having to drive over back-country ‘tracks’, we’d need either horses or a tank to get there. Damn it, the trip was cancelled.

Undeterred, we opted to fish our respective home waters on the River Taff (my home river) for a few hours, home to some some very underrated brown trout and grayling. Thanks to the now fast-thawing snow and last night’s ice, road salt was making it’s steady way into the river…not a good sign. Best crack on before the fishing turns to s&£t!

It wasn’t exactly a strange morning; I knew the grayling were shoalled up, and so I’d need to do the legwork to find them. That said, and with the main trip cancelled, I was just happy to be out…that and Wales were to be playing Ireland at 3pm. So from 10:30 until 14:45, I was happy to fish a familiar stretch of water I know well.

The grayling didn’t show for the entirety of the day, but I worked the stretch of water hard, and with a number of techniques, enabling me to search every square-foot of water, and at every depth. Whether the grayling were there and weren’t feeding, or whether they weren’t there at all, I didn’t mind. I just love being out in the snow.

At the end of the session, two beautiful winter browns were landed, the second of which saw a tense five minute fight, with multiple aerialised leaps before the fish was safely cradled in the net. Unhooking the barbless hook kind of opened my eyes – her teeth were amazingly sharp! I’m not normally one to take pictures of out-of-season trout either, but I couldn’t resist a quick lift and snap of this trout before she was safely returned.

A quick stop further upstream to see how Liam was doing and it was home for the rugby, and another result for the day – Ireland 21, Wales 23. What a Sunday.

Winter Gold…19 inches of pure, wild, and pi$$ed off brown trout…

…and the bugs that did the fooling…

The river always looks beautiful in the snow…

Cold enough?

Magical!

Boy oh boy, and I thought 2011 was busy!

It’s only January 26th and the year has started with a fantastic bang! With a host of guided fishing trips, casting lessons and, surprisingly, quite a lot of personal fishing being undertaken throughout this last month. Fly orders have been very popular also, with orders flying throughout the UK as well as over to mainland Europe and beyond. It’s been a fantastic and busy month, and things are shaping up to be a rather exciting year, with bookings already extending well into March. 2012 is looking to be a busy but fantastic year folks!

Over The Moon…

I’m also over the moon and chuffed to bits to be able to announce my addition as a guest international tyer at two of the UK’s premier annual fly tying shows. With the third annual Welsh Fly Fair kicking off the trout season in March and, followed by the biggest national fly fair in the UK, the mighty British Fly Fair International (BFFI) in June, these are two fantastic events not to be missed!

At both events I will be tying, demoing, and discussing a wide range of standard and micro-sized patterns for targeting both wild trout and grayling on the rivers here in Wales, and I’ll also be available to discuss the tactics and techniques required in order to fish them most effectively. Stay tuned to the blog over the coming weeks and months, as I’ll be featuring a number of patterns which I’ll be tying at the shows.

If you’re planning on attending either of these events, grab yourself a cuppa/pint and pop by for a chat. It’ll be great to see you.

Also appearing at the shows will be my colleagues in the Game Angling Instructors’ Association, so if you’re looking to develop your casting at the Welsh Fly Fair, or would like to glean a few tips and tricks from our APGAI qualified fly dressing instructors at the BFFI, you’ll be in a safe and professional hands.

Event Details

See you at a show around the UK soon!

I’m a big fan of playing around with new tackle and gear, more so when I know that my clients and students will benefit from this ‘research’.

I’ve been playing around with Jan Siman’s Fluorescent Indicators for quite a while now, and I’ve found them to be the best braided indicators for short-line nymphing techniques. In a nut-shell, the indicators are made from a hi-viz fluorescent orange braid and, as the indicators are both highly visible and have little/no stretch, takes are easily identified. This type of indicator can be used in both Czech (short-line) and French (long-line) nymph rigs, however, due to the connection loops on either end of the indicator, it’s better suited to Czech/short-line methods best.

For more information on the indicators, check out Phil Holding’s Fly Tying Boutique.

…watch that indicator and ‘lead’ the flies downstream when Czech Nymphing.

The Results…

A fantastic day on a tributary of the River Wye this past Sunday, and this time saw me guiding Nigel from Worcester. Temperatures weren’t as low as I was expecting, especially after the -5C temps experienced in the area the day before, but there was a sprinkling of frost as I arrived at the day’s venue at a rather chilled 07:45.

Nigel has grown up in angling, but as he has focused more on fly fishing over the last three or so years, he felt the inclination to develop his fishing and casting skills further. Preparations and greetings now done, we got straight into a fresh and (more importantly) hot coffee while discussing all things fishing, as well as the tactics we’d likely employ throughout the day. One specific request Nigel had was to attempt to catch a fish on the dry fly…not the easiest things to do at this time of year but, Nigel was boss, so off we set.

Beginning the day with a little casting practice, attention quickly turned to hauls, their uses, and their advantages. With Nigel beginning to get to grips with hauling, and beginning to warm up, we decided to hit the river. Two rods were set up – one rod being an 8’6″ 5wt loaded with a Klinkhamer and bead head GRHE in Duo/New Zealand set-up; the second rod a 10′ 4wt loaded with a French Leader, two jig nymphs, each of which was weighted with a single 4mm tungsten bead.

The first stretch of water was searched with our Duo outfit but, unfortunately, the method accounted for no fish. Still, it was early, so we opted to quickly fish the same stretch lower in the water-column by employing the French Leader outfit. Rarely does this happen so perfectly (or is that ‘annoyingly’?), but while demoing the French Nymphing technique to Nigel, the second cast saw the braided indicator slowly jerk upstream, all thanks to the hungry appetite of one lovely 1.5lb winter grayling. With the grayling safely released, the rod was quickly given to Nigel, now sold on the effectiveness of the French Nymphing technique, but after a quick fish through the stretch, Nigel was still sadly fishless…always a ‘sweaty palm’ moment for any guide.

So, onwards and upwards we travelled and, thankfully, we located a decent sized shoal sitting in a deeper pool. Back with the Duo rig, Nigel searched the pool like a pro, and managed to pick up fish after fish after fish on the trailed tungsten bead-head GRHE. Oh, and do you remember that earlier request to catch fish on a dry? Well, Nigel succeeded…TWICE!

The rest of the day – a lovely laid back and wintry affair of grayling and winter scenery – saw additional fishing techniques explored and casts tweaked; and to finish the day, more hot coffee…a Godsend at this time of year!

Well done Nigel! Now then, I’m sure I know a place where there’s a summer trout with your name on it…

A glorious winters day on a tributary of the River Wye…

Nigel into one of his first fish of the day…job done!

Nigel’s first attempt at Czech Nymphing, and things are looking good…

…watch that indicator and ‘lead’ the flies downstream Czech Nymphing.

And finally, Nigel’s first attempt at the now-infamous French Nymphing technique…

I’ve decided, I’ve taken things way too seriously this year…time to start 2012 with a more ‘unhinged’ take on things…

…How to please the Mayfly God…

…punk rock, bamboo, and fly fishing…

The mighty, and seriously jaw dropping Catch Magazine. Go grab yourselves a coffee and read this beauty of a release…NOW!

Lastly, check out the latest edition of the awesome Blood Knot Magazine, the ‘Off The Grid’ edition. There’s even a short article from yours truly on page #105. Check it out. Back country to the max!

Happy New Year yo!

It’s been a busy but fantastic year here at GL Fly Fishing. The interest in the Fly Shop since it’s inception just a short few months ago has been spectacular; with a continuous flow of orders coming in and flowing back out within their intended turnaround times. The feedback I’ve received has been hugely positive, and I’m so excited about growing the facility even more through 2012. Orders have been sent far and wide, and not just internally – a number of international fly boxes now house my patterns, including the US, South Africa, Portugal, Austria, and France.

Stay tuned guys, there will be a number of new patterns coming soon, and the same ‘stamp of approval’ will apply to all. I only advertise the flies which I’ve used and abused on a number of waters, and for a number of years. I may have tweaked the patterns a little over time, but this has only been met with increased success. My fly patterns aren’t just hooks, with some of the patterns being the product of years of tweaking and playing.

The Pheasant Tail Nymph – Deadly simple, and can be used year-round!

A happy chappy! Henry Young with a beautiful River Test grayling who just couldn’t resist one of my Hot-Spot Gammarus Czech Nymphs!

Likewise, over the last 12 months my guided trips and casting lessons have boomed, with bookings for both services during 2012 already flying in fast! 2011 hasn’t been the best year regarding water levels here in South Wales, but we’ve caught some true beauties! By focusing on low, clear-water techniques, clients have been rewarded handsomely thanks to such techniques as dry fly fishing using long leaders, fishing micro flies and, of course, never forgetting the French Nymphing technique. The back country streams have continued to produce season-round despite the conditions, with healthy looking wild brown trout happily continuing to attack any dry fly presented correctly.

Guiding on the River Usk, with a wonderful client trying out a number of different nymphing techniques for the first time…and with great success!

Simon McHattie into a wild, small stream fish, despite the low levels and far from perfect conditions…

Lastly, my group events, as well as the GAIA Public Mentoring Days/Weekends which I help out with, have proven hugely successful. My beginner groups have allowed a number of ‘never-fished-before’ guys to enter the wonderful world of fly fishing; a couple of which (unbeknownst to them) even caught what was likely to be the biggest fish of their lives! The smiles and enjoyment that come from such sessions is hugely rewarding, and a pleasure to experience.

Regarding such events, stay tuned to both the news section of GarethLewisFlyFishing.com or over on my blog, Fly Fishing in South Wales, at FFISW.com for announcements.

One of my fantastic Beginner Events at Garnffrwd Fishery, nr Carmarthen, West Wales…

…and helping out fellow GAIA Instructor, Justin Connolly, at one of his beginner evenings at Big Well Fishery, nr Monmouth back in August 2011.

If you are interested in any of my events or services, I’d like to suggest you get in fast! I’m now taking bookings for guided trips up to as far as March, although there are still openings available for winter grayling days. Likewise, and if you aren’t too big a fan of fishing in the cold and prefer the warmth of the trout fishing season, why not start the season in style by blowing off the cobwebs with a casting lesson or two before March? Hit the ground water running with an improved and even expanded armoury of casts!

Guys, I’d like to thank you ALL for your wonderful support during 2011, and I’d like to wish you ALL a happy, healthy, and productive 2012! A happy New Year to you all!!!

Gareth

Just a quick update for you all to notify that the FFISW Forum is now back up and running. The problem was due to a host of spam user registrations that kept pounding my web servers, all of which have now been cleaned up and the security breach plugged. All is safe, fixed, and good in the world once more!

I’ve had a number of emails asking when the forum will be back up, etc, so it’s nice to know it’s being missed!

On a more fishing-orientated note, there are a few nice articles coming your way very soon, and for those of you who aren’t too excited at the prospect of fishing in sub-zero winter temperatures (not that we’ve had much of those this winter in S.Wales yet), you’ll get the chance to join me on the river from the comfort and warmth of your sofa. The articles will be coming your way soon.