Fly Fishing, a Platform for Conservation.

Because of my degree, I’m always banging on about nature and conservation, but I love it, and it’s a massive part of our sport whether you like it or not. In this post I plan on pooling some stuff from other posts, as well as new material, in order to sell the idea of conservation and the anglers connection with nature.

Like I’ve said many times, I love my nature, conservation and the natural world in general. Fishing was just a platform to connect with this love at first, but it developed into its own love. How many of you see fishing as a sport? An art? A chance to connect with nature? I’m in massive danger of getting a little bit heavy here, but I don’t really mind as its something I seriously care about. 

Anyway, heres some of my favourite conservation related fly fishing projects and media, enjoy. 

First up, a dabble into how fly anglers relate to climate change, hopefully this will tweak your conscience a little.. How would you like it if our amazing resource disappeared?

Co2ld Waters - Official Trailer from Conservation Media on Vimeo.

Next, an amazing tagging project for the Gangster of the flats, the GT. I read this in Eat Sleep Fish, a great (and free!) online magazine - Check it out here: http://eat-sleep-fish.co.uk
These guys have been doing some seriously cool stuff to track GT. I'll let their fantastic article in Eat Sleep Fish do the talking.
http://eat-sleep-fish.co.uk/content/2014/12/science-and-fly-fishing

Now, a link between the conservation of Tarpon and product development. The guy in the video, who designed the legendary Orvis Mirage reel, explains how his passion for fly fishing tackle design led to a university study of Tarpon. We all have to make money in this world, so wouldn't it be great if it directly related to conservation?



Mirage Reel from SHALLOW WATER EXPEDITIONS on Vimeo.

Heres a group of seriously passionate Americans in search for the true strain of Golden Trout, one day I hope to do a similar trip. Not a lot of words needed, these guys are die hard and committed to their Golden Trout, so I'll let them do the talking.


Liquid Gold from California Trout on Vimeo.

So theres a few videos to feast your eyes on, and to stir that grey matter a bit, because I know you all have a sweet spot for nature and conservation somewhere in there, we are all anglers and committed outdoorsmen/women. Hope you enjoyed that, and that it helped you see the potential for us anglers to lead the conservation and preservation of fisheries and aquatic habitats. This post hasn't been easy to write, but hopefully you see my direction! I hope you all had a great christmas, and that you get out on the water soon, I'm certainly suffering from winter blues right now! Its a case of tying and making the best of the weather I suppose!

The "Off" Season

Uni work has beaten me up the last few weeks, the lecturers put so much heat on this term it’s been really hard to strike the balance. But anyway, its Christmas and there’s no work to do, so its time to catch up my blog, my fishing, get back to the wonderful Exe Valley and also have some family time. There is no off season for me, why would I want to take months off of my fishing calendar? There’s always a willing species.

There’s something special I’ve noticed about winter this year. Yes its bloody cold, dark and miserable at times, but the days seem slower and longer. You must embrace it, and take on each day as any other and use your off season wisely. As anglers we are outdoorsmen, and are in tune with nature and its changes (mainly concerning the fish!). We are observant, and lovers of the natural world. Lately I’ve been doing more learning and reading than anything else, so lets get into to todays subject. Keeping busy in the ‘off’ season.

I understand that there are a lot of purists out there who will only chase trout, particularly wild trout. As we all know, the season is closed until next year and until then lots of anglers will be grumbling away inside twiddling their thumbs.. Stop right there! There are still plenty of options.

Grayling come into their prime during the winter months and you cant go far wrong with a 9ft number 4/5 and a hand full of nymphs. Do some reading on Czech Nymphing and other styles of fishing for these beautiful, under rated fish. They are in good numbers across many UK rivers and streams, so look for the fast runs and deep holes if you want to knock into Thymallus thymallus this winter.

For the more adventurous amongst you, go in search of the fearsome, aggressive and ancient Northern Pike. In my eyes, the Pike is Britain’s only ‘Big Game’ species. You can throw poppers, mice, streamers, divers and articulated flies at this leviathan. The takes are explosive and ferocious, and you’ll need some solid gear to due battle with such beasts. No other fish in the UK match this! It’s a whole new game (as I’m learning  - the hard way!) But it is so much fun to try something new, and to diversify your fishing. Local canals, drains, lakes and lowland rivers will all hold Pike. Be prepared, injuries are not un-common due to their powerful jaws lined with teeth, so have some solid tools. Get some strong cutters incase hook removal becomes difficult and consequently inhumane, along with these get some long forceps to keep your hands away from that toothy grin. Use a wire trace as well; be a responsible angler, we don’t need our Pike population covered in piercings! Finally, these apex predators do have a delicate side, so be mindful when handling them and recover them well before release.

Other coarse fish can be targeted throughout the winter too. Chub, Dace and Perch are all popular targets. Do some research, plan a trip and swap the slippers for waders. But if you are completely un-moved by my attempts to get people chucking fluff throughout the winter then here’s some more options.

Ever considered tying your own flies? I know you have, everyone thinks about it, but shrugs it off because it’s too ‘hard’ or they can’t afford it. Admittedly, it can be expensive, especially when you learn by trial and error. I started tying completely on my own, buying everything and anything I thought was useful and wasted most of it – Thank god I’m now in the hands of my mentor, boss and good friend Nick! Tying flies is immensely rewarding. As you all know I tie a lot when I’m at Uni as sometimes it’s hard to get out on the water. My best advice for tying? Chose patterns you want to tie and buy the corresponding materials, not just the materials you fancy using. This will save you £££’s and also be a lot less frustrating. Get yourself a book, too, as they’re always helpful.

So there you go, don’t sit there in a mood this winter. Keep busy and prepare for next year, keep your casting in check and stay connected with your sport!

It's Monday Again…

I know I've been posting a lot of videos lately, but I do enjoy a good short movie! Its Monday morning.. the weekend has gone, back to school/work/uni, whatever. Keep yourself entertained with these videos whilst you're in the office, and keep on day dreaming about the weekend!

The first one is for the fly tiers. First time I watched it did bring a smile to my face.. Parental Advisory on this one though!

Now onto a seriously cool video. Ever heard of Roosterfish? If not, listen up and tune in, these things are the real deal!


In Search of Grande from AdamFeuerman on Vimeo.

I found the above video in the latest copy of This Is Fly magazine. An incredible magazine that shares my interest in adventure, conservation and new technology in fly fishing. Its all about the modern angler and a good way to tune into my generation. Have a little read here - http://www.thisisfly.com

There you go, your Monday in the office has just been saved! Keep on day dreaming for your next trip, I know I will be!

Appreciation of All Things Natural - prt 2

Another video for you this morning, this one is something special though.

You may or may not know by now, but incase you didn't, I'm writing this blog in between studying at University. I'm studying an Environmental Science degree, which is great! I love it, and it satisfies my love for the natural world on a daily basis. But recently i've been thinking (something we all do, but sometimes I do far too much) and I've been wondering whether an Environmental Science degree is right for me. I love my fishing, i'm determined to make a career out of it,  and i'm pretty obsessed with fish in general - so why aren't I doing straight biology? Then it hit me, and this video provided a concrete foundation for my link between fly fishing and earth science.. 

The bio students here do loads of conservation stuff, but when talking to them, there never seems to be a full connection between the environment and the species trying to be conserved. The video fully describes how a deeper understanding is required to tackle problems such as climate change, and how it affects our fisheries. So there we go, perhaps thats my niche into a fly fishing career? Who knows, but one thing is for sure - this is something I am truly passionate about and will do everything I can to ensure the preservation of both the natural world and our fisheries, along with passing on our fantastic sport. For my children, their children and anyone else on this planet.

Appreciation of All Things Natural

My love for the natural world has, is and always will be a huge part of my life. I've always had a thirst for knowledge and anything from geology to entomology will have me captivated for hours. As I have said before, this blog is mainly about fly fishing - it's one of my more important hobbies - but there will be other things chucked in as well, just because I want to! This video is another one of my Vimeo picks. I could (and do, particularly when i'm supposed to be writing essays) spend ages and ages on Vimeo watching all sorts of stuff about the natural world, hunting or fishing. So here's a video about Alaska's nutrient cycle. Of course, theres always a fishy theme, and as many of you will know the Salmon run is an internationally important piece of our ecology. So go ahead and check this out, and you'll discover just how important that salmon you caught a while ago is to the ecosystems around you and across the world.



Alaska The Nutrient Cycle from Paul Klaver on Vimeo.

The lecture Hall – Entomology

Fly fishing is such a broad discipline, and I never want to loose touch with scientific side. So tonight, I’m writing a piece on entomology, just for you! Lucky people… When you are ‘matching the hatch’ and trying to dissect your targets feeding and behaviour habits, would you know a Medium Olive from a Caddis? Or a Stone fly nymph from a March Brown? As I sit here typing away, in enough entomology textbooks to even make Attenborough fall asleep, it brings a full circle to my fly fishing. Time invested off the water is just as valuable as time spent on the water, learning, discovering and feasting your eyes of endless diagrams and pictures. Insects are the basis of our sport, the foundations on which fly fishing was built, so I think they deserve five or ten minutes.

Watercraft is an important part of all angling, but especially when you’re chucking flies. It becomes a craft, a skill, an art, and will quickly consume you. I’ve always admired Paul Procter’s writings and work on the entomology side of fly fishing and really look up to his skill and knowledge, hopefully one day i'll be an expert on aquatic insects too!

We’ll start with the humble yet beautiful, Medium Olive – Baetis vernus. A small (no more than 25mm) nymph, they swim in the water column occasionally holding on to debris. They are of the order Ephemeroptera, which classifies all Mayflies, and can be readily seen on many waters across the UK.

Baetis vernus 

Baetis bernus during pupation

They undertake a risky transformation from aquatic to terrestrial life via pupation, which is where the metamorphosis happens. They loose their gills and respire as a terrestrial insect through spiracles, which lead to a network of trachea inside the body. The adults live for a day at most (some have been known to depart after just 37 minutes of terrestrial life) and spend their time mating and then laying eggs.

Next on stage is the Blue Winged Olive – Baetis tricaudatus. Another common species, also under the order of Ephemeroptera, they are very similar to B.vernus although they do sport a darker wing case and the terrestrials differ in appearance slightly. When I studied this species last spring, my specimens showed a drastic case of sexual dimorphism. This is where different genders of the same species develop different attributes. In the case of B.tricaudatus males have four compound eyes and females only have two, which is why some specimens appear to have larger and red eyes (males). Pretty amazing stuff!

Baetis tricaudatus

The sexual dimorphism shown by Ephemeroptera
A) Female - 2 compound eyes
B) Male - 4 compound eyes

Staying within the Emphemeroptera order, this time moving into the genus Mccaffertium. The March Brown (Mccaffertium vicarium) is a ‘clinger’ nymph, and prefers to use its low profile to hold onto the river bed or under the substrate. The dorso-ventral compression (back and belly) creates a slim and aerodynamic body shape which is able to hold on in the fastest of runs.

Mccaffertium vicarium

Dorso - ventral compression displayed by
 Ephemeroptera's 'clinger' nymphs

Now for the humble Caddis, everyone loves a Caddis! From the charismatic case building to the angler-swarming hatches they create, they’re an essential part of the river ecosystem and are a reliable bet for nearly all still and moving waters. When in aquatic nymph form, they are best identified by the material their case is built from. All Caddis’ come under the order of Trichoptera. Take Microptera sequax for example, which is know for building its case from sand grains which increase in size towards the case opening. The actual Caddis inside used barbs on its body to hold itself inside the case.

Microptera sequax

Limnephilus flavicornis is another interesting example. Identified by its case, which is made from plant debris arranged in a criss-cross fashion. On incredibly rare cases L.flavicornis has been known to build its case entirely from tiny shells!

Limnephilus flavicornis

There are also caseless Caddis species. The ‘net spinning’ Caddis’ are covered by the two genera Hydropsyche and Cheumatopsyche. These specimens build silk nets and externally attach materials for camouflage. They carry out a rather unusual behavior known as behavioral drift, which is where they leave the safety of their nets and drift to a new location, perfect Trout food!

Net spinning Caddis - I have not been able to
ID this specimen to species level 

Next I’ve decided to write about the Freshwater Shrimp. Not an insect I know, but an important food item on the piscatorial menu nonetheless! The only species found I England is Gammarus pulex. English anglers maybe noticing more and more of these small crustacea displaying an orange colouration, and this is due to a parasite. Parasitism is pretty disgusting, but an incredible feat of evolution and should be respected. The parasite affecting our little G.pulex is called Pomphorhynchus laevis, and makes its host less photophobic, forcing the host to spend more time out in the open and not in safe shelter under debris. This makes G.pulex an easy prey item and consequently is easily taken by a fish, exactly what the parasite wants as it then resides within its final host, the fish. So maybe you’ll consider adding some hot spots to your shrimp patterns now!

Gammerus pulex

Back to the insects for our final subject, the feisty Alder Fly (Sialis lutaria). I say feisty, but only the nymphs are aggressive, the adult flies tend to keep themselves to themselves. The nymphs are mainly active at night, and crawl ashore to pupate. The aduts then mate, and eggs are laid on the underside of bankside vegetation that overhangs the waters edge. When the eggs hatch the nymphs fall straight into the water. 

Sialis lutaria

So there you have it, a little entomology for you. Hope you enjoyed it, and I hope it has enhanced your watercraft and bankside knowledge because remember – catching isn’t everything. Please share your knowledge in return using the comments! Whatever you’re up to this weekend - fishing, tying, drinking.. make sure you smash it!

Remembrance Day - 11th November, 2014.

So it was remembrance day yesterday - 11th of November. Ive always felt pretty strongly about paying my respects to those wounded, lost or effected by war on this thought provoking day, and seeing this video has bought things full circle for me. Although this is in America, and is an American organisation, its still amazing to see. Does a fly fishing charity for rehabilitating war heroes exist in the UK? If it does, sign me up! If not, one day i'd love to be involved in creating one. Im not a qualified instructor yet, nor am I an expert, but i'd still love to give something back.

Give this a watch, and let me know what you think, because I think that every single person involved and featured in this video is amazing, and are all doing incredible things.


I said this yesterday, and i'll say it again - Every year I find myself feeling so proud to be British on this ceremonial and emotional day, and I am forever grateful for the sacrifices made in conflicts all over the world. Service men and woman paying the ultimate price for our freedom. I'll never be a soldier, but one day I hope to give something back, just like these guys gave the gift of fly fishing to the veterans in their country.

For the anglers, tight lines.
For the fallen, lest we forget,
For all that are affected, thank you.

Bottle-noses, Boats and Bass

So I recently decided to get back into the lure fishing game. Ive said before that my love for fly fishing probably stems from many hours lure fishing when I was younger. It’s the constant searching, working the lure, chosing the right lure.. it all brings the hunter out in you, and I love it. In the same way that you would match the hatch in fly fishing, you have to chose lures appropriately to match what the fish are feeding on. It is by no means easier than fly fishing! Forget the egos, this is wild fishing, for wild fish, in extreme places. At the end of the day, we all have one common goal, to catch fish and to have fun doing it, so why does it matter if you use a bait, lure or fly rod?

I’ve had a lot of uni work on (yeah, sometimes us students have to put down the bottles and turn the music off, eat something other than a ready meal, grind at a desk staring at a screen and become a normal human for a bit) so apologies for the lack of posts. If there’s one thing students are good at, its procrastinating, and my new interest in LRF (light Rock Fishing) and my rekindled love for lures saw me spending many hours watching youtube videos and standing around in my local tackle shop chatting. As soon as I finished my work, out I went, new lure rod in hand, a box of soft plastics and visions of monster sea creatures.

I bought a 7-28gram lure rod, not quite LRF standards as I wanted to do some heavier lure fishing with the possibility of some bait fishing as well. The rod? A HTO Rockfish ML from Tronix, an absolute cracker for the grand total of £35. I stuck my Okuma Trio Red Core on it with some Shimano SPRO Braid that I had from my lure fishing days. Now all I needed, was lures.

When messing around with lures, you don't need pro stuff
The HTO Rockfish ML - A steal at £35.

Having worked in a tackle shop before, the million pound question is “What are they taking at the moment?” and I was well aware of not asking this, but the folks at The Art of Fishing in Falmouth were oh so helpful, and sent me on my way with some soft plastics. This is a cracking little tackle shop - check them out: http://www.artoffishing.co.uk . One lure particularly caught my eye, the Black Minnow. What a lure! Incredible action, and the first soft plastic that I’ve ever seen that’s mounted on an articulated jig head!

Articulation between the hook and jig head makes for
an impressive action!

The pack contains one mounted body on the articulated
 jig head and one spare body.

I scoured the rocky shore for hours. The Fal Estuary was buzzing today, crashing swell, gusty winds, lots of interesting boats (we all have a little nerdy side) and to my delight, a pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins swimming by! I found a small reef structure that I could see from my rocky vantage point, aided by the superior polarization of my Costa CatCay 580G sunglasses. I had a lot of follows, Mackerel, Garfish and some very large (I mean monstrous!) Bass, but my reward finally came when I cranked the Black Minnow hard and fast over the reef… WHACK! A Bass came outta nowhere and inhaled my lure! My first Seabass to a lure rod, and jeez it put so much heat on! So much fun, incredible. After a less than graceful landing (I nearly took a dip, twice!) I was gazing at my prize, a beauty. I returned her safely (that’s right, just because it came out of the sea doesn’t mean you have to kill it) and after a little patience she swam away, flaring her gills in a little goodbye – I’m sure it would be less polite if Bass could talk!

What a fantastic creature, and a hungry one at that!

Electric blue fins.

Sufficiently charged on adrenaline, I headed home. What a great morning! It just goes to show that you can catch fish anywhere, even when at uni! My other moral to end on, is that if you really do love fishing, you’ll do anything to get on the water, even if that means dropping your ego and doing something different, because if I remained a fly angler and refused to even cast a different kind of rod, I’d never have experienced that day. I’ve always hated the egos and social boundaries in angling – what’s the point?! We all have the same interests and share the same resource, so why act like we are all so different? Hope you enjoyed this one, and I also hope that you’ll take my opinions (no rant intended) with you, because it really is refreshing to try something new!

Time for lectures now (or shall I just go fishing?).