| Monday: | Paul Arden |
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| Tuesday: | Gary Meyer |
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| Wednesday: | Bernd Ziesche |
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| Thursday: | Tracy&James |
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| Friday: | Mika Lappalainen |
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| Saturday: | Martyn White |
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| Sunday: | Andy Dear |
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The Belum FF Experience
Monday, 25 March 2019
I had an extremely enjoyable four days fishing with Martyn White last week. So very close to a few fish. We didn’t get many babies shots - which is unusual for this time of year, maybe four sets in total - but we did find some big free-risers (Martyn put a shot in at a BIG Snakehead that could have been good enough) and a few fleeting-window shots at Giant Gourami; a number of wind-laners and a few shots around the stumps. Martyn had a chase from one Snakehead, a possible Gourami eat and some long inspections. Pretty tough, but that’s normal. Just to get close on his first trip was an outstanding effort - four days is on the short side. A small tightening up with the casting accuracy with both sets of tackle, putting the fly down first, before the line for the Gourami and speeding up the reaction time to make the cast, will see eats and of course a whole ‘nuther set of problems then begin... it’s not over until the fat lady sings!
Fever dreams
Tuesday, 19 March 2019
No fishing for me this last weekend: I spent both days in bed fighting my way back from an attack of the influenza bug. It hit me on Wednesday and felt like a wall fell on top of me. I managed to limp into work on Friday but needed Saturday and Sunday to complete my recovery. Getting out and lawn casting on Sunday afternoon felt like a celebration.
I have an unusually busy schedule for casting lessons coming up. While this is possibly my busiest period each year, for some reason I’ve gotten a lot more requests than in the past. On the one hand, it is nice to see some repeat students: it makes me feel like they thought the previous lessons were worthwhile. But, on the other hand, I have this nagging suspicion that I am not getting the job done. In the preliminary discussions I’ve been having, where I ask what the students want to focus on, I keep hearing the same concern. Tailing loops always are at the top of the student’s lists.
Swiss Fly Casting Weekend
Wednesday, 20 March 2019
During the past weekend I was teaching fly casting in Switzerland. Fantastic weekend for sure!
Down to the wire
Thursday, 21 March 2019
My fishing season should be well underway by now, however my elbow injury has completely scuppered any thoughts of fly-casting. I did have a couple of days last week were I woke up and the ache was gone but this turned out to be a false dawn, with the pain returning for no apparent reason. Dr. Internet doesn’t imbue me with a lot of confidence for a quick return to action either – most sites tend to suggest that tennis elbow is going to take 6 to 12 months to improve. This is not good news for me when I have a flats trip coming up in less than two week.
Splashing water
Friday, 22 March 2019
Everybody knows that splashing water will spook the fish or it might cut your tippet or even break your fly. But does splashing really disturb fish, yes and no. In some cases it doesn’t matter and you can even active fish with that but….. I mean really big BUT. Let’s go to back to Varzina trout camp, where I splashed water but….
The Über Chicken?
Saturday, 23 March 2019
Is chicken eugenics the enemy of good fishing flies? I think it is, and the fly tying fashion that is going hand in glove with "improved" genetics is creating a, possibly, vicious cycle.
Out with the old, in with the old
Sunday, 24 March 2019
I've been fishing the Upper Guadalupe River with a fly rod since 1996. If ever a body of water could be considered an old friend, the Guadalupe would be one of my best.
