Pete's Weighty ( Fly Fishing ) Words

I’ve been busy tying some pretty heavy bugs for next week. I am due to be on the chalkstreams for a couple of days with a guest from Scotland fly fishing for grayling. I had feared the worst that we would washed off of the water but it looks as though the water is high but clear. The bugs are a bright pink colour, have two tungsten beads and a wrapping of lead wire. This should help get them down nice and quickly!

 We are ending the trip fly fishing for pike. We’ll have a look on Monday and see how the river is and give it a go. One of the carriers is usually fishable and if it worsens we’ll make other plans but will probably stay in the area and go for a still water. I hope we get both days on the river but like it when a trip takes a new twist or turn and we head off somewhere else.

It is great to see that grayling fishing is so popular and I am making weekly trips taking people onto the chalkstreams and the trip up is also fun giving plenty of time to talk fishing in the truck!

We’ve been lucky with tuition and the weather this week. Graham has been down from Hertfordshire and wanted to dust down a few cobwebs ready for the season. He was hitting some pretty sweet loops under Marks watchful eye and he is seriously thinking of going for his AAPGAI provisional. The wind was all over the place and they managed to dodge the showers but came in cold but happy. I have some photos and will post them up but me and technology are not a good mix (Adam helllllp!)

Mark and I are supposed to be out tomorrow but I am writing this looking at some ominous weather!

 Pete

01566 784000

www.scottflyfishing.com

Last year we ran a few group courses and they proved to be a great success so we have decided to run a few more this year with some special hosts who are some of the best in their fields. We’ll be keeping the groups small and all of the fishing will be on private, exclusive locations to the Scott Fly Fishing School where you’ll learn plenty along with our famous sense of humour!

So, if you fancy joining us down here take a look and if anything is of interest either give me a call (01566 784000) or drop me an email ( pete@scottflyfishing.com )

April 12th Beginners Fly Fishing Course. Never held a rod before? Pete and Mark will take you from the very beginning all the way up to you catching your first fish from our private trout lake!

May 24th and 25th Salmon Course. Bob is going to teach you how to wield a double handed rod and the techniques you’ll need to cast for a silver tourist. You will then put it all into practice on a very exclusive beat of the Tamar. Bob, in a previous life, was a gillie on the Tamar for 16 years and knows just about every stone and pool where you will be fishing. This is a two day course.

August 16th and 17th Sea Trout Fishing with Illtyd Griffiths. Illtyd is one of the finest sea trout fishermen of our generation, this course will enable you to learn all of the tricks that he employs to tempt the countless sewin from his beloved river Dovey.

November 22nd Pike Fishing with Mark Bailey. Mark was one of the first anglers to chase pike with a fly rod. He has caught them as large as 30lb. This course will teach you about the species, locations and the best methods for catching them. He’ll also cover the casting needed to launch a large fly out to your prey.

As ever individual tuition is proving popular and already our new lake is proving a hit for a winter tune up!

Pete

www.scottflyfishing.com

01566 784000

pete@scottflyfishing.com

The thing I love at the end of a day’s tuition is if the client has decided that casting isn’t as hard as they thought and they have enjoyed themselves enough that they want to make those first steps on the road to becoming a fly fisherman.

I am usually there when they catch their first fish and see the excitement as the fish takes and the fight is on. If all has gone to plan then it is handshakes or high fives as the fish is landed.

The next stage is to discover all of the other areas that fly fishing has to offer. With many, I have been there for quite a few of those milestone moments like the first wild river fish, first bass, first time on a reservoir or first time fishing from a boat.

It is a cool feeling standing there helping land the fish or just offering a few helpful words of encouragement and when it is all completed stand there like the proud father. Writing this it is a pretty picture but those of you that know me may well be smiling to themselves as they picture an equally excited instructor leaping up and down as the fish is netted!

Man, I hate my job!!