Updates from the fisheries, competitions and out and about with the fly rods.
21/06/2024
What a spring season we had this year ! Due to the averagely cooler weather the fish have been settled and have fed well on the prolific buzzer hatches on both Chigboro and Grafham . Fish have remained high with dry fly tactics taking the bulk of the catches . Check out the latest YouTube vid for a few helpful hints and tips !
With the weather finally settling the fish have turned their attention to larger food item’s such as Damsel fly nymphs and snails . The water is still relatively cool and fishing is steady . Still time to get a trip in before the summer heat hits .
Check out a few of the fish from the last couple of months .
08/03/2024
BUZZERS ARE ON ! As expected the buzzers have started early this year . We are seeing big catches across the lakes on a variety of nymphing tactics and on the right days some awesome dry fly sport already . I still have a few dates in spring available so get in touch and reserve your spot for some of the hottest fishing of the year !
02/02/2024
GRAND SLAM MEXICO ! I host a saltwater flyfishing trip to Ascension Bay , Mexico each spring . This year 10 of us headed to the ever brilliant Ascension Bay Lodge in Punta Allen . The weather was Ideal with a westerly wind , clear skies and bright sun making perfect fish spotting conditions . The group managed and incredible 7 permit between us . Countless big bonefish , plenty of Tarpon , Jacks and snook all to the fly . I also managed my first grand slam . Keep an eye out for 2025 dates as I have two weeks reserved . If you are interested then please get in contact .
12/12/2023
Winter season is on us now . Water levels are right back up and the temperature has dropped to a very comfortable 6 degrees . Fishing has been excellent when we have been able to get out with these fierce winds . We are still getting good fish on Grafham along the North shore line on snake and shrimp patterns . Chigboro is now fully restocked and open . We usually get early buzzer hatches here so I am expecting a bumper winter season .
08/08/2023
What an incredible summer we have had ! The early spring buzzer season was one of the best I can remember both on Chigboro and Grafham . The cool spring and start to summer has kept the water levels high and the fish feeding with an early turn to the shrimps on the midlands lakes .
Chigboro has been on top form with dry fly being the most reliable method of the season so far . I find a small hares ear CDC or top hat to be the best pattern on both the lakes .
I have again had the pleasure of coaching the England youth team this year , travelling with them to the ever brilliant Llyn Clywedog fishery in Wales for the 2023 youth international where we took bronze .
With the summer being so cool this year I predict the autumn season will be one of the best in years . Water levels are high , weed beds abundant and clarity is superb . This will be the time to really target the fish of a life time on the midlands reservoirs . Book your date in early to avoid disappointment !
As always enjoy a few pics from the last few months .
20/03/2023
Spring is here and so are the buzzers ! There has been an explosion of life on Chigboro with the first of the good Chironomid hatches . The lakes are very well stocked and double figure catches are a common theme at the moment . The big reservoirs are slowly opening their doors and wont be far behind with the crazy buzzer sport . Washing line methods and the indicator are accounting for the very big bags with patterns such as quill buzzers , crisp packets and FABs doing the damage . For those of you that like a lure then you wont go wrong with the blue flash damsel ! Check out the latest fishing vid on the YouTube channel for more on that !
27/01/2023
Just returned from a weeks guided saltwater fly fishing in Ascension Bay , Mexico . I hosted a group of 8 anglers to the world famous Punta Allen, Ascension Bay . We spent an awesome week chasing turbo charged Bonefish and Permit on the flats , big Tarpon and Snook in the mangroves and of course aggressive Barracuda and sharks in the open water . I intend to host two trips in 2024 so get in touch for dates and prices .
22/11/2022
The cooler, wetter weather has finally arrived and the last 6 weeks has been epic ! We have been experiencing some of the most explosive fishing of the year with multiple personnel bests for clients from Grafham Water and big bags of fighting fit rainbows from Chigboro . This really is the start of the new season at long last . Book now to experience the best of UK fly fishing . Check out the latest YouTube vid for a taster of what the last month has been like .
19/10/2022
England take bronze ! This years small water international final was held on Garnffrwd fisheries in Wales . This ws my first small water international cap. Conditions were good all week with a variety of methods working . Mostly small dries and nymphs in the gin clear water . Ireland were victorious on match day opting to fish little size 18 buzzers under an Indicator , Wales were a close second using small egg patterns , we pipped third with Scotland taking the wooden spoon . A superb week away with the guys and great hospitality at the lake and hotel.
13/08/2022
Heat stops play ! With the continued hot dry spell the fishing has been very dour . Trout just don’t want to feed in these temperatures . We have had more blank days then good days in the last two weeks now . I have decided to suspend my Chigboro days until the water cools . Grafham is still very fishable so we will carry on as usual on the big lakes . Lets hope we get some rain soon !
27/07/2022
ENGLAND YOUTH TAKE SILVER IN IRELAND !
This week saw myself and Craig Barr travel to Lough Lene in Ireland with the England youth fly fishing team . I was honoured to have been asked to join as the team coach by Manager Craig back in the spring and was just as excited for this trip as the lads ! The 14 man team and travelling reserve had all qualified back in 2019 but due to the Covid disruption had not been able to fish their International match until now .
We had 2 days practice to sort a method and game plan . Fishing turned out to be very tricky on the back of the previous weeks record breaking heat wave . The fish just didn’t want to play . However with a lot of hard work from the team and a couple of great individual practice performances we formulated a plan of attack . Match day came and again the fishing proved just as tricky as the previous days . The lads stuck to their guns and under the leader ship of their captain Jake Leake and vice captain Corey Russel they managed a very credible 11 fish . This was only 3 fish behind team Ireland ! A very well earned Silver medal and a great captains performance taking top England individual and biggest fish .
Had a blast coaching the lads and I cant wait for the next international in Wales 2023 !
15/07/2022
Sport on all the lakes continues to be steady . Chigboro has settled into its usual summer rhythm of dry fly fishing on overcast windy days and deep buzzers under the indicator during the brighter , hotter times .
My six man team The Reservoir Dogs have just returned from 4 days competing on the ever consistent Llyn Clewedog reservoir in mid Wales . Methods were again varied in practice with dry fly tactics taking the bulk of the fish . This however changed dramatically on the match weekend with a dramatic change in weather conditions bright, hot and still winds pushed the fish deep and fast sinking Di8 lines were needed to get down to the cooler water . Congratulations to the Welsh hawks on a super performance on their home lake , pleased to say we ended in a respectable joint 4th position after the two days . Already looking forward to next years visit !
02/06/2022
Buzzer sport continues to dominate the catches. Chigboro has remained cool and clear and the fish are feeding hard on or near the top . This has meant that the dry fly approach has been the most productive , small Hares ear emerger patterns being particular favourites in amongst the predominantly olive buzzer hatches .
Grafham continues its great run of form . The high clear water levels have seen fish moving into the margins seeking the early shrimp bonanza with areas such as Savages creek and Gaynes cove holding some very big overwintered specimens . Standard washing line techniques with shrimp patterns or small dries are the way forward when targeting these residents .
02/05/2022
We are now into the full swing of the buzzer season which heralds some of the best sport of the year . Chigboro has been excellent to washing line nymphs and more recently the first of the dry fly sport has really kicked into gear with lots of beginners catching decent bags right off the top on day one !
Grafham water sport has also been excellent and we have been finding large numbers of big over wintered trout willing to come to a nymph approach . Biggest for us so far was a 6.6lb Rainbow for Andrew Moss which was the best of a 20 fish catch for himself and pal Kelvin. Not a single fish under 3lb for the day !!
The new Flyfisher Magazine has seen its first issue this month , a great little read and I am pleased to say I will be again contributing regular features for the publication . More details can be found online .
As always enjoy the pics from the last few weeks , if you are thinking of a day then please contact me ASAP as the diary for the next couple of months is filling fast !
01/03/2022
Wow , the winter has just flown by ! With relatively mild, settled weather the fishing on the lakes has been nothing short of sublime !
Due to the settled conditions fish have turned their eyes to the early buzzer hatches that have been a month early this year . We are catching large bags of Rainbows on nymph and dry fly tactics . This really is the time to be out to sample UK fly-fishing at its best .
A Few new videos have dropped on the YouTube site so check those out . March and April are looking super busy so get your booking in the diary early to avoid disappointment .
As always enjoy the pics from the last couple of months and I look forward to seeing you all by the water this year !
22/11/2021
The last month has seen water temperatures dropping nicely . This has spurred the fish out of their late summer torpor and put them on the feed . Grafham has seen some explosive sport with the big resident rainbows moving into the margins to feast on the abundant shrimp. This has meant we are able to target individual fish just feet from the shore .
Chigboro has remained ever steady bolstered by and additional stock of 600 rainbows including some very big specimen’s . For those of you that love to fish the indicator this is the time of year to be on the lakes . Small lures and flexi worms have proven deadly in bright colours such as pink and other fluros . Home water is steady with snakes in various colours fished at range doing the business. .
24/10/2021
Today saw the final of the small waters national eliminator. After many months of qualification and covid related delays 27 angler from around the country competed for the 6 places that will make up the 2022 England national small water team . The venue was the ever challenging Elinor fisheries . We new it was going to be a very tough match as the water temperature was still high for the year , the weed was also still high and the fish for the most part were holding way out from the banks . This was reflected in the results with this years national Champion James Stephenson , winning with just 4 fish ! I am pleased to say that I qualified in 6th place to win my first Small waters cap . We will be representing England at Garnffrwd fisheries in Wales Oct 2022 .
22/09/2021
Summer this year may not have been great for the sunbathers but has been perfect for the fishing . With the lakes remaining cool and water levels high throughout the sport has been steady with a few very special days in the mix . As you would expect dry flies have scored highly on all the lakes , in particular emergers and snail patterns .
Chigboros Rook hall has been gin clear through out the summer and the fish have stayed high in the water making the most of the late summer buzzer hatches . Grafham water has been steady with open water drifting being key to success . Again fish have been high mostly on dries and smaller nymphs .
Now the autumn is upon us bigger food items are on the table , Daddy long legs , Shrimps and fry and this provides some of the most exciting visual sport of the year .
I hope you enjoy a few of the pics from the last few months .
18/06/2021
The last two months have flown by ! The fishing at Chigboro , Grafham and Pitsford has been nothing short of epic . Lots of fish caught to a variety of tactics , drys , nymphs , lures with some pretty special fish making an appearance. These including a low double for Doug Jones on Chigboro’s Rook hall to a small buzzer pattern and a near double figure overwintered rainbow for me on Grafham water . The latter being a very special fish considering the rarity of large grown on rainbows in the lakes now days . Beginners have been enjoying multiple fish catches on most days even in the blazing sunshine . I hope you enjoy a few of the pics from the last couple of months .
17/04/2021
What a return to the lakes ! We have been back and running in earnest since the beginning of April and the fishing has been nothing short of spectacular ! Huge amounts of buzzers and sedge are hatching at Chigboro on all three lakes and the fish are feeding hard . This coupled with cool winds and cold water temperatures has provided some truly explosive buzzer fishing over the last fortnight . Washing line tactics with a couple of quill buzzers and a FAB on the point or the indicator and buzzers have been the two most productive methods . We have managed a few on the dries however the cold winds are holding the top of the water sport back a little. Anglers on their first day are averaging 10 or more fish with a nice mix of Rainbows and browns . I hope you enjoy a few pics from the last couple of weeks and I look forward to seeing you all on the lakes very soon !
03/03/2021
Update Re Covid 19 : Its been a long break since the new year but I am happy to say we will be up and running as normal ( Under Covid 19 guidelines ) from March 29th 2021 . The diary is open and bookings are coming in so please get in contact to avoid disappointment . Until then I hope you enjoy this little YouTube video showing what we can look forward to in April !
07/12/2020
The winter fishing is in full swing now. Both of Chigboro’s lakes have had a lot of new stock introduced , Home water has cleared and the fishing has really taken off. The colder the weather the better it gets with double figure days now very very likely . Grafham this month has really been all about the shrimp feeders in super shallow water . We have had days when we have watched fish swimming between our legs ! Plenty of fully finned chunky silver bullets to be had. Its well worth wrapping up and getting out now . The rewards far outweigh the cold weather ! As always enjoy the pics .
05/11/2020
October is always a month of mixed fortunes. Often battling with big weather from the Atlantic fronts pushing in causing cancellations and postponement’s. However those days we could get out on the lakes have proved tremendous with some of the most explosive sport of the season !
Chigboro continues its fine form with fish still feeding hard on olive buzzers in the surface layers providing some terrific late autumn dry fly sport .
The Grafham fish have really turned their attention to the invasive killer shrimp now . Moving into the margins in very shallow water to make the most of the late season feeding bonanza . This has been throwing up some exceptional fish with a five pound plus specimen rainbow a very real prospect on each trip .
The competition calendar has been largely put on hold this year due to the restrictions . The Angling Trust did however manage to hold the Southern final of the National bank eliminators at Elinor lakes . 26 anglers competed for a spot in the National final to be held at Chigboro in May 2021 . There were 12 places up for grabs and on a very very tough day I managed 4th spot and a place in the final . Here’s a few pics from the last month I hope you enjoy .
29/09/2020
August and September have really been about Grafham Water . The fish have remained high in the water and feeding hard on snails, fry , buzzers and the first of the big falls on Daddy Long Legs . Floating line tactics with small dries or big popper fry have produced some explosive action. Check out my latest YouTube vid on a manic session with the popper fry HERE.
On the brighter days washing line techniques with Foam daddies and small nymphs have worked well . As the water levels have started to drop the fish are beginning to move into the shallows hunting the famous Grafham shrimp . Tactics and methods are all covered in this months Todays Flyfisher . Hope you enjoy the little vid . And if your interested in a day on the water .. drop me a line .
07/08/2020
The last month has flown past . The weather has remained cool for the best part and the trout at Chigboro and Grafham are still high in the water and feeding hard. Chigboro has been fishing well to very small dries in the margins as the fish have turned their attention to small Corixia that live around the weed beds . Bhavisha and Aime enjoyed an action packed morning both catching and landing their first ever Rainbow trout ! Grafham continues to shine with fish in the open water at the dam and on the weeds in Savages and Sanctuary . Dries have scored well as have the larger popper fry fished over the weeds . As the heat hits us again the fish will move out into deeper cooler water for the next few weeks . Hope you enjoy the pictures and look forward to catching up with you on the banks somewhere .
10/07/2020
Another busy few weeks at Chigboro with the cooler weather bringing the fish back on the feed again. Phil Parry and co enjoying a group day and getting to grips with some of Chigboros finest . The 4th of July saw a return of two man boats on Grafham after the enforced break . We have been spoilt with some of the best top of the water dry fly sport I have experienced in years. Plenty of grown on fin perfect resident rainbows falling to hopper patterns fished over the open water . Simply sublime . Enjoy the pics and hopefully the cooler weather will stay with us and prolong this terrific summer bonanza !
26/06/2020
More unsettled weather this week and a recent stocking has really livened the fishing up again. Most clients are enjoying plenty of top of the water dry fly sport on small emerger patterns. On the hotter brighter days we have had to follow the fish down with buzzers and indicators . This has proved very successful with some great bags. Doug Jones picking off one of Rook Halls bigger specimens on a crisp packet buzzer fished deep. The big lakes open back up next week so those wanting a reservoir day I am taking bookings for Grafham now .
17/06/2020
Two very busy weeks on the lakes. The sport has been frantic at times with some very big bags taken on the dries when the weather was favourable. Bright sunshine and ever increasing temperatures have made it tricky at times but with a little persistence and by being adaptable all my clients have enjoyed some great sport. A few pics from the last week … enjoy
05/06/2020
So happy to be back on the water after the enforced break ! We dusted off the rods and made a terrific come back this week . Following strict distancing and hygiene rules re Covid 19 I have started to offer guiding and coaching again at Chigboro fisheries , and what a superb week it has been . We have enjoyed multiple catches to various methods but the common theme is that the fish are very high in the water and very very hungry ! Dry flies have scored well with Chris Harvey having over 20 fish off the top today . Earlier in the week saw John Ready enjoying a 10 fish morning using static lures , sight casting to cruising fish in the hot sun. Father and Son team Dave and Jay Harper had a top time on Rook Hall using a varied approach to put together a great bag of hard fighting rainbows in a very competitive session ! All in all a great way to get up and started again . I look forward to another busy week. Dont hesitate , get booked in while the fishing is still brilliant !
02/03/2020
The big storm systems of the last month seem to be behind us. The warm moist Atlantic air has maintained reasonable water temperatures . This in turn has stirred insect life. We are starting to see the first of the chironomid hatches on the lakes , both Chigboro and Walthamstow . The fish have re acted accordingly and are starting to wake up to this feeding opportunity . The last week alone has seen myself and clients bank nearly 50 fish between us on multiple venues using Blood worm and Buzzer imitations. Brilliant sport not to be missed ! Time to book now for the March trout madness !
22/01/2020
The winter season is in full swing . Clients are enjoying some of the most frantic sport of the year with double figure catches most days . Despite the cold weather the fish remain high and very active. Check out my latest You Tube vid for a taste of the action.
Time to wrap up warm and book your experience day today !
04/01/2020 Happy New Year
The Christmas and New Year break has been a busy one this year . The weather has been settled and cool. Perfect conditions for fly fishing. This last couple of weeks I have seen myself and clients catching well at Chigboro lakes . Fish on home water falling to slow fished lures while the trout in Rook hall are still preferring static nymphs fished mid water . Grafham continues to shine with big resident fish still feeding hard on the shrimp , snails and fry in the shallows around the lakes , 6 fish bags have regularly been topping 20lb ! Walthamstow reservoirs have seen the trout holding very deep on both lakes feeding on a mix of snails and bloodworm. Sport has been electric with deep fished buzzers and nymphs and of course the ever reliable fast sinking lines and buoyant booby patterns . Enjoy the pics and I hope to see you on the lakes soon.
17/12/2019 Fry feeder bonanza
My latest in a series of videos on winter fishing. This time we are fishing inside Grafham Waters harbour for the large resident rainbow trout . And we turn up some real surprises . I hope you enjoy it .
15/12/2019 TOP TIPS FOR WINTER !
Check out issue 6 of Todays Flyfisher for all my hot tips on how to improve your winter fishing and turn an average day into the session of a lifetime !
09/12/2019 Grafham fry feeders
07/12/2019 Winter fishing
15/11/2019 Autumn fishing at its best
The Autumn fishing season is in full swing now with both Chigboro and Grafham producing multiple catches of big grown on fish. Wading from the Grafham shore fishing the traditional shrimp patterns has been highly successful as has using larger slow fished lures such as snakes and humongous patterns. The fish remain very very close to the shore so bank fishing is providing the best of the sport. My self and clients have enjoyed plenty of good fish up to the 6lb mark .
Chigboro has cooled right off and spurred the fish into an early winter frenzy . Buzzers are still hatching and there are plenty of snails in the water. The fish are still high , so a washing line approach with a couple of nymphs and a blob is a go to method . Get the day right and we have been nailing the fish right off the top on very small dry flies .
Now is the time to be thinking about getting out. Wrap up warm , give me a ring and enjoy a bumper winter trout fishing experience !
25/10/2019 Grafham Green
Great feature in the latest issue of Todays Flyfisher . At all good newsagents now !
25/10/2019 Autumn is here with a BANG !
What a month we have had . Temperatures are just getting good and have spurred the trout out of their summer torpor . Chigboro lakes have a had a few food stockings now and there are plenty of fish to keep the clients rods bending . A mixture of dries , sunken daddies and blobs seem to be doing the business . We had a very successful open day , well attended by new comers to the sport with most people catching on their first ever attempt . I hope to see some of you back in the Autumn for a full days experience. Second week of October saw myself and my team Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs compete in the AWAI international team final on Rutland . The weather was pretty dreadful and the fishing tricky but as a team we certainly cemented our status , despite catching the most fish over the two days in a solid and consistent performance we finished in silver medal position . Congratulations to this years winners the Menteith Ospreys . Our team method was fishing black cormorants quickly on fast tip lines in the open water or dries around the sheltered edges. Hope you enjoy a few pics from the last month. Now is the time to book for the autumn bonanza as dates are going quick !
24/09/2019 Temperatures are cooling , the fishing is heating up !
It seems we are in for a fairly traditional year with the autumn nearly upon us the evening temperatures are dropping and so are the water temps . This is spurring the fishing into feeding mode . Its been a busy month both on Chigboro and Grafham . Multiple catches on the group days and the individual guiding we have been averaging 7 a man .. which for September is superb ! Tactics have been fishing high in the water even on the sunny days with imitative patterns like the foam back daddies . Also had the pleasure this month coaching young up and coming match star Henry Smith. With a lot of hard work and a little local knowledge he performed superbly in this years youth national finals , coming 4th and securing his first England youth cap . Henry will be representing England in next years youth international in Ireland . As always enjoy the pics and get your bookings in soon , we are entering some of the best fishing of the year now .
26/08/2019 Chigboro lakes in fine form
With cool evenings and rain in the forecast the last couple of weeks at Chigboro have been very productive. Fishing is definitely challenging at this time of year in any small water but by paying attention to details we are still catching steadily. Most fish are remaining deep in the cool water . They will however come to the surface for a well presented dry fly . When the sun is high buzzers fished at 10ft or more is the method to try . Clients this week have enjoyed multiple catches on Rook hall , even in the high temperatures . As the nights begin to draw in the water will be cooling . This autumn looks set to be great !
20/08/2019 Weather hot … and so is the fishing !
Its been a hot few weeks, often windless and very bright. This hasn’t deterred the Grafham fish in the slightest. They are still up in the water and feeding hard on daphnia and buzzer. Each trip we are averaging a dozen or more fish to the boat , sometimes a lot more ! Washing line tactics scoring best with red ribbed nymphs and a nice bright attractor fly on the point turning the heads of the fish and provoking a response. Here are a few pics from the last couple of weeks guiding .
18/08/2019 Anglers World finals at Draycote
This weekend saw 98 anglers compete for the Anglers World International final at Draycote reservoir . Conditions were tricky with big winds and bright sun forecast for match day . Most of the fleet headed for Rainbow corner to concentrate on the recent stock fish . Tip lines and nymphs fished slowly in the top couple of feet was the order of the day . Huge congratulations to my team mate Garry Morris who managed to catch 20 fish on a tough day and romped home to an emphatic win . Taking the 2019 Anglers World Individual trophy !
20/07/19 Grafham hits top form !
Grafham has been producing some huge bags of fish to anglers willing to go prospecting away from the usual spots . Huge pods of fish are turning up in the open water feeding hard on a combination of daphnia and tiny green midge pupae. This means mostly top of the water sport , casting to moving pods of fish often inducing some explosive chases and takes. My clients have been regularly catching a dozen or more fish in a session . Main tactics have been nymphs or dries fished on floaters , drifting long open water wind lanes across the middles of the lakes, areas often ignored by the majority of anglers ! The fish are likely to remain out here for the rest of the summer enjoying the cool water being brought up from the depths along with plenty of food!
25/06/19 Busy month as the reservoirs spring to life !
This month has seen the large reservoirs , Grafham , Draycote , Pitsford and of course Rutland realy come alive . Fish are actively shoaling in the open water feasting on an abundance of fly life . Daphnia , small green midge, damsels and of course pin fry . This has kept the fish high making the sport very visual , often dry fly on the surface or small lures just subsurface and getting the fish to chase. It is without a doubt some of the best reservoir sport we have had in years. Hope you enjoy the pics. Take a look at our rates page for details of a full guided day on any of the midlands reservoirs.
31/05/19 Top sport on top of the water !
This last 10 days has been electric at Chigboro lakes. With every day producing exciting sport on dry flies right off the top . The fish are feeding on small buzzer , pond olives , damsel nymphs and are concentration their efforts along the weed beds on the margins . Which makes them a perfect target for our beginners this week as the fish are nice and close , and we can often sight fish to individual trout. Clients are averaging between 6 and 10 fish per session , which is awesome for this time of year. Still time to get booked in for a day before the weather gets too hot !
21/05/19 Wychwood luggage range
I have been working alongside Wychwood as a tackle consultant now for the last 18 months . We recently did some filming around the new range of luggage at Chigboro fisheries. Here is a little preview of the movie . Film star at last !
21/05/19 A nice little read
A nice feature in this months Todays Flyfisher online magazine . Just highlighting the need to adapt when your days fishing suddenly changes.
18/05/19 Airflo International Spring Invitational
Another week and another competition. This time the Airflo Spring Invitational hosted by Rutland reservoir. We enjoyed 4 days of superb sport on the lake with plenty of big grown on Rainbows and brown trout coming to a combination of buzzers and nymphs. After 2 days practice and competition my team Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs finished a respectable 4th . Just out of the medals this year but a good consistent performance against Europe’s best teams. Here a a few pics of a couple of stand out fish for me over the weekend.
10/05/2019 TEAM ENGLAND TAKE GOLD !
Last week saw Team England take gold in the spring International on Grafham . This was my third International cap and I can honestly say it was a privileged to be involved with such a well organised and talented team . Captained by Mr Brad Gifford we spent a weeks hard practice on the lakes alongside all the other teams . Good local knowledge , great shared information and a night or two of fly tying and we were set for the off. Algae blooms moving about the lake with the wind were going to dictate the location of the match , we decided as a team that clear water was crucial . Most boats headed for the North shore, particularly the areas around Church bay. My Scottish boat partner took us to B bouy for the off and I was soon into fish . With a combination of straight line nymphs in the open water and buzzers on the drop offs of the points by mid day it soon became apparent that Team England were dominating the field . After 8 hours I had beaten my boat partner significantly , the scores reflected our hard work and we were clear by 25 fish ! A massive and emphatic win by a superb team , my third cap and my second gold ….. cant wait to re qualify and do it all again !
21/04/19 Easter madness
Easter has been a busy week with lots of families taking advantage of the good weather to give the fishing a try on the lakes. I had a Great morning on Chigboro with Father and Son team Peter and Joe. First time trying fly fishing for both of them . They soon got the hang of the casting and enjoyed a couple of fish filled hours on Rook hall.
Plenty of buzzers coming off still , but these fish really wanted a super slow blob again today.
Thanks guys , see you by the water again soon !
15/04/19 Buzzers still the key
Buzzers and more buzzers at the lakes this week . Steady sport all week long with fish feeding in the top couple of feet. Standard quill patterns or crisp packets will pick them up. Check out the New You Tube channel for a couple of great vids showcasing how we are getting them at the moment. Hope you enjoy . Please click like and subscribe.
05/04/19 Grafham back on form
So we had our first reservoir trip of the year this week. A visit to Grafham reservoir. After a poor winter and end to the season due to maintenance and very low water we we unsure what to expect.On arriving its clear that the water levels are almost right back up and the colour has dropped out of the water. Fishing deep buzzer tactics and pulling lures we had a monstrous session , putting some 60 plus fish in the boat. An incredible days sport with some very very good conditioned overwintered fish in the mix with the large stockies. All good signs that we are in for a good few months of brilliant boat fishing . Interested in loch style buzzer fishing ? Drop me a line and book a day . Here are a couple of the better fish from the day .
31/03/19 Buzzer Madness !
This week has seen some very settled warm weather. This has really spurred the insect life on in the lakes and the trout have gone on a feeding frenzy. Most clients have enjoyed double figure catches this week using a variety of methods. The most popular being buzzers fished on a floating line, or when the weather allows , dry flies right off the top! The diary is fast filling up so if you are looking for a spring trip please get in touch ASAP via the contacts page .
16/03/19 Mad March Winds
Just as we thought the worst of the weather had passed we hit a couple of big storm fronts coming of the Atlantic making tuition days very difficult . However we have been getting out when the wind has been in the right direction. Its been very mild again and this has spurred the buzzer hatches into life on the lakes. The fish are feeding hard on large emerging buzzers , often only in a foot of water. We have been targeting these fish with a variety of methods … the best of these being with the dry fly . Hope you enjoy the pics . If you fancy a go , check out the rates pages and give me a call .
19/02/19 Spring is on its way !
These last few weeks have seen the weather very settled with higher than average temperatures. The fish in the lakes at Chigboro have responded , starting to move about the lakes looking for early hatches of buzzers . Key to success has been scaling the flies down to more natural imitative patterns . The results speak for themselves . At the moment clients are experiencing double figure catches when out with me , while others on the lakes have struggled . By paying attention to details we are enjoying some superb sport. The fish are pumped up and fighting their hardest . All this and we are in shirt sleeves in February !
If you ever wanted to learn about buzzer fishing or nymph fishing , now really is the time to be booking a day, especially as this weather looks settled for the foreseeable future !
26/01/19 Winter fishing explodes !
January has lived up to expectations and more . With multiple stockings in the lakes at Chigboro and the recent cold snap the fishing has excelled all expectations. Clients that have wrapped up and braved the winter chill have been rewarded with some of the hardest fighting fish of the year , often seeing catches into double figures . The fish are very active in the cool crystal clear water and are taking a variety of different flies . I even managed to have a couple of hours fishing myself ! Hope you enjoy the pictures . Now really is the time to think about having a go at fly fishing . I think February will be even better !
29/12/18 Christmas fishing and festivities .
This last week has seen some superb action on the lakes with plenty of hard fighting trout gracing the bank. Been especially nice to have been hosting a few family days out which are always fun and not at all competitive ! .. Happy New year from Fly fishing Essex and fingers crossed for a fish filled 2019 !
17/11/18 A few pics from this weeks clients at Chigboro .
The lakes are really responding to the cooling temperatures . Fish in both Home water and Rook hall are coming to small, slowly fished lures just under the surface . This weeks clients have been lucky enough to catch upwards of 10 fish in a day . And its just going to improve as the winter rolls in .
13/10/18 Chigboro Fisheries Fly Fishing Taster Day.
Today Chigboro Fisheries hosted a free taster day open to everyone that wanted to come along and have a try at fly casting , fishing and fly tying. The weather was kind and the turn out was brilliant , with dozens of new faces trying their hand at fishing for the first time. Im glad to report that most caught their first ever fish too ! A couple of these really stand out . 5 year old Archie , brought along by his Grandad and team mate Gary Morris , was lucky enough to catch his first ever fly caught trout which he soon followed up with a few more ! A name to watch out for in the future on the match circuit I bet ! .
Later 13 Y/O mad keen angler Jay Harper tried his hand at the fly . Soon resulting in his first ever rainbow trout ! Another youngster hooked on the sport . I hope everyone had as much fun as we did and I hope to see a few new faces around the lakes this winter .
11/10/18 Red Letter Day On Pitsford Reservoir.
Today I enjoyed one of those rare angling experiences where everything just seems to work . Myself and my client Doug headed to Pitsford reservoir in the midlands for a day in search of a specimen Brown trout . Reports were promising with a few big fish fry feeding along the weed beds and close to the dam wall . This time of year often sees the big predators start to take advantage of the huge shoals of baitfish congregating prior the winter cold snap. We set up with DI 3 lines and humongous patterns, concentrating on the margins .. Neither of us expected such instant action , taking 4 fish in my first 5 casts ! Then everything locked up and soon became clear I had hooked something special. After and epic fight in the gin clear water I slid the net under this 7lb 8oz brown trout. It had engulfed the white humongous pattern . This was the start of a frenzied 3 hour session that saw us land another 4 fish over 5lb and the same in the 3-4lb bracket. All the bigger fish were carefully weighed photographed and returned fit and non the worse for wear ! Probably the best session I have had on large brown trout ever . Hope you enjoy the pics.
16/09/18 The National Final 2018 Grafham Water.
This weekend saw the final of the largest of the individual competitions of the year . 100 anglers gathered at Grafham water , having qualified from various heats throughout the country . Over the two days we would be competing for one of the 28 places that make up the two 2019 England Loch Style Teams.
The fishing and conditions proved extremely tricky , most anglers opting to fish the North shore targeting the recent stocked fish . Water conditions coupled with high winds and bright sunshine made for a very tough couple of days . A variety of methods worked , most opting to keep their flies high in the water , using various blobs and Fabs , combined with dabblers and hoppers .
At the end of two days and some very variable results , I am pleased to say that I qualified for my third cap and will be representing England next year in the International , either at Grafham or Mentieth . Congratulations to Mr Frank Sumnall for winning and being the 2018 National Champion .
03/08/18 Tylers Common Fisheries.
Took the opportunity to do a reccy with my fishing buddy Vince. I have been looking for alternatives to the trout fishing during this long hot spell. Carp on the fly seem the ideal target. So with a bag of mixers, a few deer hair pellet imitation flys and my trusty Wychwood RS 7wt and rocket floater , we headed to the lakes for a couple of hours.
Sport was immediate and explosive , banking 15 fish in a couple of hours , all low to mid doubles, all on the fly . The fishery has great accessibility and is well maintained and I am now offering 4 hour guided sessions on the lakes. Cant wait to get back and have a go for some of the really big girls we saw cruising about !
23/07/18 Grafham Anglian Water Airflo International Midlands Final
8 six man teams competing for 3 places in the AWAI grand final to be held on Rutland in October .
Grafham water had been fishing very well to a variety of tactics from dries to shrimps. However this heatwave is finally taking its toll and this was going to be a tricky match.
Conditions were variable, but with the match day forecast to be 30 degrees and blazing sunshine , my team, Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs opted to practice accordingly . We concentrated on deep water and fast sinking lines. The Airflo Booby Basher, which is essentially a shooting head DI8, being the favourite.
We found fish holding deep on the main dam and around the North tower. The method was a short 15ft leader and 3 flies. Cat booby , size 12 cormorant , small red and black holo cormorant booby , put out a long line and count down for 20 seconds before a steady figure of eight retrieve.
The team caught 19 fish on the day , which was more than enough to win the match and seal our spot at the final . Captain Leigh Pond taking the individual honours .
28/06/18 – 01/07/18 Angling Trust Loch Style International
11 Teams competing in this new competition run by the Angling Trust and Eyebrook Reservoir . An exciting new format and big cash prize fund attracted plenty of attention.
Conditions were tough . The heat and bright sunshine saw the fish head to the deck again. It was clear from the first days practice that this match was going to be a real grueller .
As a team we decided to fish fast sinking Booby Basher lines with short leaders and biscuit blob boobies on the deck to imitate the yellow daphnia we had found in some of the fish in practice. This proved difficult with a strong breeze making controlling the line and flies and keeping them at depth nearly impossible. At the end of day 1 Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs we lying in 5th spot with only 6 fish to the team . FNF Nymphomaniacs in the lead with an impressive 12 fish in very tough conditions.
Day 2 saw the breeze drop , which played into our hands. After a good de brief the night befor and a tweak to our tactics we decided to concentrate on drifting across the dam all day . This proved crucial as after the first session we put 9 fish on the board , climbing into 3rd spot .. The team continued its solid performance , boating an incredible 23 fish on day 2 .
Not enough to catch the leaders FNF Nymphomaniacs , but it was good enough to place us second and a cheque for £1500 . The RAF kept touch to take 3rd with 27 fish
The new format proved hugely popular with competitors and its clear that this event next year will be a sell out .. cant wait !
26/05/18 Pitsford Anglian Water Airflo International Midlands Qualifier
First qualifier for the Flash Attack Reservoir Dogs . Always a favourite for us , Pitsford never fails to impress at this time if year with plenty of fish feeding hard on buzzers and daphnia.
Practice showed large areas of fish, the main ones being along the pines , the dam and sailing club frontage. Tactics would be dictated by the weather on match day , either washing line buzzers on a floater or pulling blobs on a glass line.
Match day started bright with a strengthening wind. this ruled out the buzzers , with the team deciding to pull lures on the dam. A change initiated by myself from glass lines to a DI 5 Sweep proved crucial with the team soon starting to pull away from the rest of the field .
Results reflected good team communication on the water and a good practice with The Dogs taking first spot 40lb clear of second placed Greenwells . I took top individual, which is the 3rd time I have won this round here . Midlands final in July On Grafham next .
06/05/18 – 11/05/18 Spring International – Lough Mask – Ireland
The spring international was held this year on Lough Mask on the west coast of Ireland . This was my second time representing England having won the Gold on Llyn Brenig in 2014.
However this was to be something completely different . A true Loch Style experience!
Mask is some 10 miles long and nearly 4 miles wide , a truly huge expanse of water . Populated by wild brown trout . There are no stocked fish here .. which added to the challenge!The weather was horrendous with temperatures hovering around 8 degrees , driving rain and winds in excess of 40mph !
After 4 days practice match day came, we all tossed coins with our boat partners for control and off we set. Team England opting to pull wet flies around the rocky outcrops. I lost the toss and my Welsh boat partner took me to one of the quiet bays called Ballinchalla , I changed tactics immediately in the soft water to a floating line and buzzers and incredibly managed to take 2 huge wild browns in quick succession ,50cm and 51cm , loosing a third huge fish that dwarfed my first two lumps . All to a black buzzer . The weather deteriorated and despite putting another couple of undersize fish back I only managed one other “keeper” .
On returning to the dock it seemed with the exception of myself , Martin Burgess and Iain Barr , as a team we had struggled with the conditions. Team Ireland put in an awesome performance to run away with gold . Wales were solid in silver and we had to settle with Bronze .. the Scottish team taking the wooden spoon.
A fantastic week away, exciting and challenging fishing. I will never forget those two big browns I took on match day , and will always wonder just how big the one that got away was !
Results
• Ireland 45 fish 1552.3 cms 2469 pts
• Wales 25 fish 905.8 cms 1415 pts
• England 23 fish 805.3 cms 1273 pts
• Scotland 20 fish 681.2 cms 1090 pts
Best Basket: Dave Egan (Ireland) 8 fish 273.2cms 438 pts
Biggest Fish: Andy Dunn (Scotland) 51.2 cm
