Marks Blog

For those of you wishing to try something different, the W&S team and The Scott Fly Fishing School have just expanded the range and have opened up the new “Yak-Shack”. We have just spent the last few days tirelessly putting the finishing touches to the shop situated at Roadford Lake, just off the A30 in Devon. Roadford Lake is a large water of 700 acres, which caters for both Watersports and Fly fishing.

The theme of the Yak-Shack is a place where we can combine the two elements together and make it possible to bring fly-fishing from kayaks into the mainstream. Not only that, if you’re just into kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, or just enjoy playing around on the water we have something for everyone.

It’s quite a unique place, where 100 yards from our door you can go and tryout something new. Whether you fancy a days guided fly-fishing either by kayak, boat, or walking the banks; or need to buy a new wetsuit, buoyancy aid, or spray-top we have it all. For the angler we have a good range of flies particular to Roadford and carry a range of fly-lines, tippet, chest-packs, polarised sunglasses and many other fishing accessories. If we fail to have it in stock at “The Shack”, our main shop is only 5 minutes away from Roadford.

For the watersports enthusiast we have a massive range of wet/dry suits, buoyancy aids, spray-tops, boots, gloves, helmets, paddles and jackets. Our range of kayaks isn’t bad either. Everything from small white-water boats, sit on tops, sit-ins, traditional canoes and ocean kayaks. If you’re the adventurous type we have just taken stock of a range of top-end tents, sleeping bags, stoves, GPS’s and other expedition equipment.

So if you’re in the neighbourhood and you fancy seeing what were all about, just call in. We can help with advice regarding fishing, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing. If you need any help learning, we would love to help. All of our fly-fishing instructors/guides are AAPGAI instructors from “The Scott Fly Fishing School” and our kayaking instructors are BCU level 4 qualified. (For lessons please book in advance).

At last the 15^th of March- open day for brownies. Our original intention was to hit the rivers and have a do for wild fish. But due to the bad weather that all of the country had been experiencing, our rivers were shot so we decided to try for some over-wintered fish on one of our local lakes in the SW. Pete had decided that it would be good to tackle Colliford Lake. A nice water of around 900 acres, bang on the moors. We thought if that the weather started to pick up a bit, a least we would still get wet! Im sure Ive have been wet since last March, when I moved down here from up north. Move down south everybody kept telling me. The weathers always sunny and warm. Yeah right!

Always eager as ever, Pete turned up early. I was still cleaning my teeth as he knocked on the door. I should of known to be ready half an hour before the arranged time. When it’s brown trout fishing, Im sure Pete is awake half the night with excitement. Tossing and turning and most probably wearing his waders in bed. I hobbled outside with rod in one hand and trying to put my boots on with the other. We climbed into the truck and set off down the A30, arriving at Colliford by 10am. We sat in the truck eating sweets and having a natter, waiting for the weather to ease. By the time it had settled to a steady gale and driving rain, we quickly got set up and made our way down the waterside.

There wasn’t going to be anything fancy involved in the fishing. It would have been nice to try for them with light rods and dry flies, but we opted for a team of tadpoles and an intermediate line. We chose to start with the wind blowing into our bank, expecting the fish to move in, on the wind. We began to cast and fish along the huge expanse of water in front of us. Within minutes- nothing! Apart from the driving rain blowing into my hood and running down my neck. Pete asked why I thought nobody else was fishing on open day? Err I don’t know I thought. Maybe it had something to do with the weather!

By the time my boots were squelching and my back was sodden, we decided to move around to the far side point where it would be more sheltered. We found a nice sheltered bay where we expected to find a few fish. It was good to be fishing in comfortable conditions whilst watching the Whitehorse’s roll across the lake. It wasn’t long before Pete was into the first fish of the day. A real stunner. It looked more like a sea trout. Pete was lucky to hook into a few more fish, but unfortunately they didn’t stick. I went through the same problem. I starting having takes but kept pulling out of the fish. Oh well, at least we knew they were there.

We soon got to grips with them and started to bank a few. We both had some nice fish up to about 2lbs. It turned into one of those times, whenever you cast your fly into the water you either expected a take or better still a fish. Well for Pete anyway! He was doing the business. Even the fish had moved into the sheltered area and we enjoyed picking them off, as the milled around looking for food. By lunch we had landed about 15 between us from this small area. So deciding to get out of the weather and grab a sandwich we waddled our way back to the truck. I was gutted. No brew and we had eaten all the sweets. Pete had been kind enough to supply lunch again.

After a quick bite to eat, we decided to grab the bull by the horns and stand and fish in the teeth of the storm. Squinting through our rain covered glasses we could pick out a few wind-lanes and the odd fish moving down them. It needed a good cast of around 80 feet to reach some of them. But I suppose this is why we tend to cast most days, to make sure we are ready for these eventualities. Or are we are just casting nerds? Again we were into a few more fish. I think Pete had four takes in four casts. I had a couple more fish in the process.

By mid afternoon things started to slow down a bit, so we decided to call it a day. We had managed a respectable amount of fish and had to make the drive back over the moors. How would I sum up the opening day of the season? Cold, wet, windy, foggy, but most of all AWSOME!

I’m glad to see that the weather has started to pick up again. After spending the winter busy teaching and guiding, it’s nice to get a bit of sun on my back again. I’ve just got in after another weekends teaching; teaching how to cast distance with heavy pike-fly outfits. It was good to meet up with a like minded angler who’s love of pike fishing ruled his life. I’m glad im not the only nut!

I met up with Martyn at 9:30 at the Scott Fly Fishing School HQ and we sat drinking coffee and chatted about pike and pike fishing. It was good to hear his stories and about his pike fishing career. Whilst we were sitting around I explained all about the tackle we would be using, I showed him how to make up tapered leaders and the different knots that we use for attaching traces and flies etc. The aim of the lesson was to get Martyn casting large flies to a respectable distance for his conquest on Chew. I know distance isn’t always necessary, but it certainly helps to be able to cover more water at times.

A lot of the fly-pike fishing that I do tends to be with intermediate and sinking lines, so It was important to explain to Martyn about learning the values of the roll cast, overhead cast, shooting line and hauling. Once Martyn had understood the concept of the AFTM system and about rod load etc, it wasn’t long before he was making nice overhead casts and shooting line. As a bit of a loop freak, I got Martyn to understand the importance of loop shapes and sizes. Casting big bushy pike flies often needs all the help they can get, so it wasn’t long before we got onto hauling.

In my opinion hauling is the vital element of the cast to achieve a desired distance. So it was worth spending time making sure that Martyn learnt the fundamentals of the single and double haul. Within a few hours Martyn was double hauling and casting his line to about 60ft. I explained about rod tip paths, casting planes, increased line speed and tip speed etc. All nerdy stuff, but so important to making effortless casts. It was good to see the look on Martyn’s face as he made his cast and watched as the line shot through the guides of his rod. With a few tweaks here and there, he looked like he had been fly-fishing for years. He had got it cracked. By the end of the lesson Martyn was hitting 70-80ft consistently. A good distance for winding up and chucking out large flies.

It was nice to help a fellow piker spread his wings and enter the world of fly-fishing. I warned him about the obsessive dangers that fly-fishing tends to grip you in. And explained how it can get you hooked. I would like to wish Martyn all the best with his fly piking career and hope he does well on Chew.

For those wishing to have a shot at pike on the fly, I’ll explain about the tackle that you will require.

9’ 8-10 weight fast action rod.

Line to match. (Buy a purpose-designed pike line).

Large harbour reel and backing.

Selection of mono, Co-polymer and fluorocarbon leaders.

Spool of wire trace. AFW Surflon® Micro wire.

Selection of Pike flies.

Large landing net.

Un-hooking mat.

Pliers/forceps.

Scales and weigh sling.

Hat/Cap and sunglasses.

I am at the end of the telephone if anyone wishes to talk to me further about

tackle requirements and rod specs etc . I am always glad to help others wishing to get into the sport. For those of you who are interested, Scott Fly Fishing School will be holding a pike fly-fishing course later in the year. For more details check out the dates on the site or give us a ring. Be nice to meet up with you.