The fishing calendar rolls round with certain traditional markers and it’s time to get particular things back out of storage. I’ll always try to get a cast in when the water isn’t frozen and Scotland has fishing to offer in every month but February/March/April is that start of the season when there’s all sorts going on and anglers are getting itchy feet if they’ve taken time away over xmas and new year.
More of the Salmon rivers have opened up, the Tweed and the Forth had some fabulous fresh fish landed in the first few days. My colleagues were looking a bit green around the gills at the anglers who’ve been out catching already. I’ll hopefully get a rod somewhere in February, there’s a big fish waiting to be caught and a box of devons needing a swim!
This weekend though has got snow in the air and Rugby on the TV so I think I’ll be settling in at home and tying up some flies for the Trout Season starting. I read a Trout & Salmon article years ago that’s stuck with me ever since, the author worked his way through the rounds of the 5 Nations tying up his favourites for different parts of the season. I’ve not got the dedication to fill boxes the way he did but for at least one of the weekends I’ll get myself set on re-filling a few of the patterns I’m always using and losing. Finishing a round of matches with a row of Bibio Hoppers, GRHE’s, PTN, CDCs, Buzzers and Shimmy Black Tadpoles or Fritz that let’s face it would cover me 90% of the time.
When the games are going down to the wire it’s usually simple lures or very messy flies being produced or abandoned at the vice but this year I’m going to have a go at more Winged Wets and delicate Northern Spiders providing the games aren’t too tense, I’ve really enjoyed tying Spiders for Grayling so I’ll be trying to get some passable Greenwells Glories and Partridge & Orange. It’s always worth getting some expert advice or at least a look at someone else’s homework with any skill. Tyers like Davie MacPhail, Barry Ord-Clarke or Tim Wood offer fantastic information, I’ve acquired a few books over the years for Benchside reference although my fly tying is functional at best and I’ve probably got at least one alternative method or material in any given pattern. Being able to see for yourself how it’s meant to look in the flesh at a show, on video or in print is invaluable even if you need to squint a bit at your own efforts to make them look right.
Fish of the Week – 04.02
This week’s fish of the week winner is Charles Jeffrey with the first fish off the Dee. Charles was fishing a dressed double Willie Gunn on a floating line with a 5ft intermediate head when this beautiful fresh springer took his fly and broke the duck for the season.”
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