July 2014

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Feature Article - Splendid Sea Trout Fishing In The Falklands

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Splendid Sea Trout Fishing in the Falklands

Transcript of July 2014

Feature Article - Splendid Sea Trout Fishing In The Falklands

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Welcome to the July issue of ―The Flyfisher Magazine‖ the free Emagazine

by keen fly fishers for keen fly fishers throughout the UK and Abroad.

If you wish to advertise within the magazine or the website www.flyfisher-

magazine.com please email [email protected] for an advertising rates

quote

Parent website: www.flyfishingdirectory.co.uk

Sister website: www.flyfisher-magazine.com

If you would like to contribute a free story or a fishing report along with

Photographs; please email them to [email protected] Please include a bio about

yourself so that it can be added to your article.

Cover Photo Courtesy of Andy Hill

Editor: Robin ―The Cormorant‖ Lambert:

Email: [email protected]

Contents

Splendid Sea Trout Fishing In the Falklands: Page 3

Fishing the River Teith: Page 7

The Newsletter for Fishing Travelers to New Zealand: Page 9

Fly Fishing in France: Page 11 SW Lakes Trust: Page 12

Creations by Annie Margarita: Page 14

Fly of the Month: Page 22

Recipe of the Month: Page 22

Review Time: Page 23

Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation: Page 25

It Could Only Happen To a Fisherman: Page 27

A Tale of Two Rivers: Page 28

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The rod is a lovely four-piece; with an action that‘s more middle to tip that will suit anyone new to

the sport. This is teamed up with a balanced fly reel and Velocity floating line. With the bright

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If all that wasn‘t enough you also get a tapered leader, a fly box with some killer patterns and

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© The Flyfisher Magazine

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Splendid Sea Trout Fishing -- In the Falklands

By Andy Hill

There is fantastic Sea Trout fishing in Britain. Double-figure fish are regularly taken

and a bag of a dozen six pounders a day is not uncommon. Very few visiting anglers

take advantage of this gem of a fishery, although some locals do. But it is a rarity to

meet another angler on the bank or river mouth – at all.

Yes, I do mean Britain. The Pound Sterling is the currency. There are pillar-box red

telephone boxes outside the post office; the local Police force drives Land Rovers;

beer is served by the pint and the supermarket is stocked with all the usual fare

from Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury. How about a cheeky little Languedoc red with

your Stilton and Carr Water Biscuits?

The main problem is access. This part of Britain is 8,000 miles south west of London

and can only be reached by (very) long haul flight. It‘s the Falkland Islands, which

must maintain one of the best-kept angling secrets on the planet. On the two main

islands, East and West Falkland, there are miles and miles of peaty rivers carrying

Sea Trout, the by-product of an experimental introduction Chilean Brown Trout 50

years ago.

What do little Brown Trout do when they sniff rich pickings just

down the estuary? They go out to sea and fatten up on krill and

squid and turn from little brookie beauties into chunky silver slabs.

The record is 22-1/2lbs and 12-14 pounders are regularly taken. In

one recent weekend two anglers took 176 fish.

So why don‘t you know about this? That‘s a question for the

Falklands Islands Tourist Board. Organised Sea Trout Fishing to

nearby Chilean and Argentinian Tierra del Fuego is widely

marketed, but very few operators offer the Falklands as a fishing

destination. As far as I can gather, only 20 foreign anglers laid a

line on the Warrah or San Carlos rivers in 2013.

Tierra del Fuego Sea Trout do, admittedly, run very big and for that reason attract trophy trout anglers. The Falkland‘s variant might

not be so big, but they are numerous and what can be more uplifting than looking down a couple of miles or utter wilderness knowing

that the only feet on the bank that day will be yours, and those of a few sheep?

I flew from RAF Brize Norton near Oxford on an RAF flight via Ascension Island. There are some seats on these very comfortable

A330 monsters made available to the public. It‘s the equivalent of two trips across the Atlantic, so you lose a day each way in travel.

But the River Gods made it worthwhile, for me at least.

I landed one chilly mid-afternoon at the Mount Pleasant army base airport was whisked away to the hotel my organisers had arranged

for me and slept in a room overlooking an inlet whipped with waves. It was like being in the Shetlands or Lough Currane in Waterville,

Ireland. That combination of scudding cloud, choppy water and the cocktail smell of salt and sweet water spelt Sea Trout.

The next day I was driven just out of the capital, Port Stanley – they call it town, but village would be more appropriate – and left the

tarmac close to the Murrell River and bumped across the camp. Camp is what locals call the endless landscape of moorland, white grass

and craggy hills, from the Spanish word ―Campo‖ for countryside. My guide dropped me by the river not far from the estuary. The

water was low. A sign said ―Drunk Rock – no fishing above this point‖ and nothing appeared to be moving in the shallow brown water.

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I was alone. I had a non-fishing ghillie that day and he had

errands to do.

So I waded to the edge of the river and started to walk

slowly downstream in search of a deep pool or stretch of

likely water. I found one within half an hour.

Within two minutes of tossing a black Woolly Bugger into

the water, a Sea Trout found me.

It was fresh and feisty and hurled itself into the air as if

it had grown wings. My bright yellow Orvis floating line

disappeared downstream pulling metres of white Dacron

backing behind it.

I eventually banked the fish with my

weighing/landing net. It was a tad over five

pounds, a rugged cock fish, bright and beautiful

and my welcome to the Falklands. I flopped down

on a stone when I had released it.

I don‘t know if it was pure exhilaration or the

effects of the flight, but there was no more fight

in me for a while. I took six more like that on my

first day, and some pugnacious Falklands Mullet –

actually Rock Cod – that are street fighters.

I fished East Falkland for a week and never had a

fish-less day. My ghillie, Ade Lowe, took me to the

San Carlos and San Malo rivers, to the Swan Inlet

and the famous Frying Pan, where the former

governor, Nigel Hayward, used to fish.

―You‘d see his Land Rover parked here and know he was down there. He loved his fishing,‖ Ade recalls. He‘s left now but there is an

illuminating YouTube piece in which he is interviewed in mid-Frying Pan.

There are two main runs, one at the start of the Season in September/October and

one at the end, March/April, but I‘m told there are fish around all year, and the

locals do like fishing for them. Not that they are so numerous with a population of

3,000 over the entire territory, which is about half the size of Wales.

There is plenty of water and lots of fish and no permit is required anywhere. But

you‘ll need to go through a Tour Operator to ensure you get someone with local

knowledge to both drive and guide you. In this unmarked and unpopulated vastness,

going off-road in a ―likely‖ direction is not advised. And anyway, there are (well-

marked) mine fields and the local car hire operators are happy to take your money

but specify that you cannot drive off the beaten track.

The water is overwhelmingly on private land but the Tour Operators and Ghillies,

together with the Falklands Tourist Board, negotiate access, which is freely given,

except for the San Malo River, which is very private.

On my last day fishing East Falkland I visited the Frying Pan, just a half hour‘s drive

from Stanley, and found a river running into the inlet and an amiable exile from

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Portadown called Bob taking fish every half dozen casts. They were bright silver, up on the tide, and weighed between one and four

pounds. He‘d got the best spot and

was reluctant to move so I fished further down the bank and was into a three-pounder within minutes. Hayward said he had the best

job in the world, and that wasn‘t just Foreign Office blather.

The following week I flew to West Falkland stopping to do

two days of Penguin, Elephant Seal and bird watching on Sea

Lion Island. The islanders get from rock to rock using the

local FIGAS internal flight operator, which runs Islander

aircraft made, ironically, in the Isle of Wight.

Then I went on to Port Howard and stayed at the Lodge

there in a settlement of 30 people.

―That‘s our school,‖ said my host, Wayne Brewer, pointing to

a small white building. ―We have four pupils. The teacher is

rushed off her feet.‖

The Lodge is like ones you encounter in Sutherland or the

Scottish isles, toasty warm and old-fashioned comfortable.

There are tantalizing pictures of recently-caught double-figure fish in the little bar and reception area. Owner Sue Lowe offered so

much good food I thought I would not fit my waders for the final day.

I was the only angler for all but two days, when another Braveheart arrived in the form of the Secretary of the Scottish

Mountaineering Society, John Fowler. We fished the Warrah River, miles of it, just the two of us and Wayne, after bumpy 30-minute

4WD drive across the camp.

Cautionary tale: if you think Irish weather is all four seasons

in a day, wait until you get to the Falklands. They have five

seasons in an hour. I took my biggest and brightest fish of

six pounds on the Warrah. It grabbed by General

Practitioner when it was raining, was banked in a hailstorm

and released into the peaty waters with snow falling. Ten

minutes later I got one of three pounds and had to put on

suntan lotion because the sun was so hot. It‘s that kind of

place. It was, after all, the summer, or the end of it.

Wayne reckoned the main runs of fish had not started

because of a long dry spell of several months. But that did

not stop me taking 14 fish up to six pounds on one day and 10

on another. There was one day when the fishing was not so

hot – only two, one of five pounds, one of three – but that

was probably because of a large yellow object in the sky and a background of cloudless blue. Nevertheless I landed around two dozen

brownies, many a pound or more, on a Kingfisher Butcher or Silver Invicta (#12/14)

Back at the Lodge we met members of the Falklands legislative assembly who were meeting constituents and travelling around using

both the ferry service and FIGAS. Several of them admitted to fishing with spinners, which is legal and widely practiced. Their names

are being withheld in this magazine.

The 1982 war to retake the islands from Argentina has left a legacy of minefields, but these are known and marked and bother no-

one, not even sheep. There is some debris around – the tail of an Argentine fighter shot down by a Harrier is now the signpost where

you turn off the tarmac to camp it over to the Warrah. And Wayne has a splendid war museum of guns, ejector seats and clothes left

behind. But this war also gave a spurt to economic thinking and planning and there is a functioning road network across the main islands

– before 1982 the roads were either rough graveled strips between key places or a case of follow the Land Rover tracks across the

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camp. Bogging – getting stuck in peat bogs – was a regular hazard and there are even some, as the island contemplates the possibility

of offshore oil and gas finds – who think of that as the good old days.

Two weeks was all over too quickly. It flashed by in a cycle of cooked breakfast, silver fish, packed lunch, silver fish, epic dinner,

comatose sleep….and it was often hard to appreciate that the South Pole was nearer than Southend, such was the Britishness of it all.

Imagine landing a five-pound sea trout in an Antarctic gale then getting into the Land Rover and hearing live coverage of Chelsea

demolishing Arsenal 6-0 over cheese and pickle sandwiches and hot tea.

TACKLE

Flies: Conventional flies such as the Teal Blue and Silver, Kingfisher Butcher, Peter Ross and Dunkeld in sizes 12, 10 and 8 work well

but so too do Woolly Buggers in black or in white in the same sizes. Krill is a major part of the fish‘s diet so hot orange is a key colour.

General Practitioner, Ally‘s Shrimp, Cascade, Jim Dandy all caught fish. Any small white fly that imitates squid such as Delia‘s cone

head squid also took.

Conventional lore is that a single-handed rod of anything between 9‘ and 10‘ will be enough to get fly to water on a #7 or #8 line. But I

found my 11‘ Switch rod a real boon in the prevailing gusty winds and also in places where there was no space for a back cast because

of a cliff or rocks (there are hardly any trees on these islands so they are not a casting hazard. Floating lines were all I used but I

might have switched to a sink-tip at some point had my fingers been warmer.

Chest waders are useful but not essential, although they do keep you warm. Hop waders are more than adequate. Whichever you

choose they must be a variety in which you can walk for a few miles. The alternative is to carry them and put them on at the water,

which means more to carry and the possibility that your thermals might get airborne was you change.

Precipitation of every sort is possible and so is the sun. So you have to dress in layers with a fairly stout over-jacket (I use the Simms

Guide) to round it all off. Suntan lotion is essential to protect you from both the sun and the wind and a lip balm of some description is

another essential.

GETTING THERE

Only a handful of operators organize trips to the Falklands. I went with Gofishingworldwide ([email protected]).

They offer two routes. The one I, and many Falklanders use, is the twice-weekly 18-hour flight from RAF Brize Norton, near Oxford.

It‘s a well-run service with regular food service and (non-alcoholic) drinks that stops on Ascencion Island, a tropical volcanic military

base, for refueling.

Check out http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton

You can take a commercial flight via Chile and pick up a connection with Lan air from Punta Arenas. Unless you live in the USA you may

have to go to Madrid for a good connection to Santiago. This route requires an overnight there before you head south again.

Either trip costs around 2,000 GBP

THE FISHING – EAST AND WEST

East Falklands has a variety of known rivers, and many more that appear unexplored. The principal ones are the San Malo, which is

private, San Carlos and Murrell. The Swan inlet and Frying pan are both hot spots near the estuary, the latter requiring quite a hike

from the nearest place to park your transport.

All the fishing can be reached in a day trip if you base yourself at Port Stanley and have a driver who knows where to go.

West Falklands has the Chartres and Warrah rivers. The Warrah fishing can be easily organized from the Port Howard lodge and has

a variety of stretches and all sorts of water. Some of the best is at the estuary and there are inlets and tributaries such as the

Green Hill which are small, easy to fish and productive

Don’t miss next month’s issue with further information on the great rivers, accommodation and travel options to the Falklands.

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Fishing the River Teith

By The Cormorant

The River Teith is born in Callander

Meadows at the confluence of Eas

Gobhain , the outflow from Loch

Vennachar, and the River Leny , itself a

fine Spring river , originating from Loch

Luibnaig. The Teith is a true highland

river and considered to be the finest

example of salmon and sea trout fly

fishing rivers in Central Scotland. Its

shallow and varied pools and fast

running streams make it a dream to fish.

It has often been likened to a miniature

Dee and for its relative size,

comfortably competes in a sporting

sense with its bigger Aberdeenshire

cousin at the height of the season.

The Teith joins the River Forth 2 miles north of Stirling, approximately 11/2 miles above the upper tidal limits at the Cruive Dykes.

The Forth is typified by slower, deeper but no less productive pools. The River Forth is a lowland river which rises on the slopes of

Ben Lomond to the west and after a precipitous journey to Aberfoyle, passing through Loch Ard on the way; it becomes much slower,

meandering lazily east to the sea, through the very productive Stirling Council Beat.

Code of Conduct for the River Teith and the River Forth

Salmon and Sea Trout 1st February to 31st October, Brown Trout 15th March to 6th October. Please be aware that there is no

Sunday Fishing. Please consider others and observe the anglers' code of conduct:-

Always:

Fish upstream of other fishing anglers

Wait your turn to fish a pool from its head

Remove your old line and litter from the bank

and dispose of sensibly

Stay about 15m from the next angler or 30m

when they or you are using a fly

Respect the property, access and privacy of

those who live or work on or near the fishery.

Please park your car considerately and don‘t

block access.

Beware of other users of the river or bank.

Ripe or darkly coloured fish should be returned

to the water. If in doubt, RETURN it!

Fish being returned to the water should not be

handled by the tail and should be released as quickly as possible. Remove the hook and return the fish facing upstream until it swims

away.

Fish being retained should be killed as quickly as possible using a priest or appropriate instrument.

Please help to conserve spring salmon stocks (Feb, Mar & Apr) by returning, unharmed fish more than 30‖ in length and use barbless

hooks. Please return all hen fish in October.

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Anglers Must:

Local Rules Season Permit Holders Only – Attach immediately, after landing, an issued tag through the mouth and gills of all fish to be

removed from the fishery. (The removal of untagged salmon from the fishery will result in the removal of the permit and Ban)

Only the permit holder can tag the fish they have caught. Tags are not transferable

Day permits (only) – each permit holder may take 2 salmon per permit

Permit holders must make their catch returns by the due date to include all tagged and returned fish with their details, and this

includes any nil returns. Offenders will be unable to buy a permit for the following season or will have it withdrawn if purchased.

All permits are limited to take two sea trout per day

Produce a permit to an authorised bailiff on demand. (Any abuse of bailiffs will result in immediate permit withdrawal)

Record all catches (including nil returns) on the catch return section of the permit as soon as practicable after catch.

Permits must be returned to the hotel at the end of each days fishing. Failure to do so may result in you being charged

Fish according to the law. It is illegal to sell, or offer for sale, any rod caught salmon.

Obey the temporary closure notices due to low water conditions as determined by the marker on the Motorway Bridge and the

condition of fish within the river. Details will be given in advance on the information boards and in tackle shops

Return all hen fish caught in October

Please be aware that riverbanks are hazardous and stay clear of undercut banks

Angler Must Not:

Set lines or have any form of rod rest. Rod must

be in hand at all times

Bait fish before 1st June and after 26th August

Use prawn, shrimp or any organic baits at

anytime

Dig for bait at or adjacent to the fishery

Make use of natural minnow, tailers or knotted

nets or gaffs at any time.

Use lead core or fast sinking line, multi-treble

hooked lures or more than one baited hook.

All fish hooked behind the gill line to be

returned to the water immediately.

Fish at one point when others are waiting –

EXCEPT on the 6 Piers at Cornton Vale where

there is a time limit of 15 MINUTES. Move 1

metre downstream between casts. On marker

post sections anglers MUST start at the

upstream post when the fishery is busy.

Night fish, between sunset and sunrise in Norman‘s Pool, Callander. Night fish after 31st

August on the whole fishery. Fishing after sunset before 31st August is restricted to rods less than 12 feet, overall; lines of less than

8lbs breaking strain and a hook smaller than No. 6.

Closure times on the Forth Fishery from 1st September will be displayed on the fishery information boards.

Cut the line and return any fish to the water with the hook still in it

The River Forth and Tieth Anglers Association Fishery on the upper forth at Cambusdrennie and Chalmerston salmon and coarse fishing

permits are now on sale for the new 2014 fishing season.

Salmon and Seatrout Permits - Members £70 PER SEASON; £10 PER DAY

Pike and Coarse Fishing - Members £30 PER SEASON; £5 PER DAY

All Enquiries and season permits. e-mail: [email protected]

Day permits on sale at Angling Active shop, (on drip road next to Dobbies Garden Centre.)

Bailiffs Will Withdraw Permits, If Necessary, When Rules Are Not Observed

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The Newsletter for Fishing Travelers to New Zealand

By Sue Farley

New Zealand Fishing Lodges

It's winter in New Zealand - the leaves are falling, the

sky is grey and the fire is burning warm. But there's still

plenty of fishing to be done in the lakes and lower

reaches of the rivers. And the lodges (well, most of

them) are welcoming guests here to fish, ski, hike and

enjoy the winter scenery. Fishing lodges in winter are

great places to lounge in front of a roaring log fire,

sipping single malts after a fabulous meal and sharing

stories about your day on the river.

As Tongariro Lodge points out about winter fishing in the

central North Island - 'The trout are in prime condition

after feeding on the abundant insect population all

summer. All headwater fisheries are open until the end of

April and some into June.

Helicopter access is still an option. You may catch the

last of the Dry Fly season, but it is more likely you will cast nymphs at sighted trout. Fishing pressure is very light on these streams at

this time of year. Raft fishing the head waters of the Tongariro [River] can be great targeting the early runs.'

See below for our featured lodge, our usual round up of lodge happenings and fishing news from around the country. Feel free to

contact us with any questions, any time.

Fishing At the Top of the South Island

Few places in the world offer as much high quality fly

fishing for trout as the upper portion of New Zealand‘s

South Island.

Legendary stories are told of wily brown trout caught in

glass-clear rivers after an exciting chase. It‘s sighted

fishing at its very best.

So, where best to fish, and which guide to use? Where are

the best places to stay? And how do you get there?

Read more here ....

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Featured Lodge - Tongariro Lodge

The Tongariro River in the central North Island is famous in

New Zealand for having had great people like Jimmy Carter,

Zane Grey and the Queen Mother wandering its banks.

Nowadays most celebrities come to New Zealand to fish

quietly, preferring to fly under the media radar and stay

anonymously in a luxury lodge while fishing for trout in iconic

rivers. Tongariro Lodge is one such place.

It's one of the country's more established lodges, having been

opened 32 years ago by well-known guide, Tony Hayes. Since

then it has been drawing avid fly fishermen and women to enjoy

world class fishing for brown and rainbow trout. There are over

40 rivers and three lakes within easy access of the lodge, and

some surprisingly good fishing holes within walking distance as

well.

Accommodation is in studio units and freestanding chalets and villas set around the large grounds. The restaurant, lounge areas and

den are in a lovely traditional-style lodge building where big river stone fireplaces and chunky leather chairs provide a comfortable

space to share stories over a nice wine.

There is year-round fishing available from Tongariro Lodge, including good winter fishing during the spawning runs on the Lake Taupo

rivers. There is great sighted fishing through the eight months of the summer season (Oct to May) and good all year fishing on several

lakes.

Check out their winter accommodation special below.

For more info on Tongariro Lodge check here

Salmon Fishing in the South Island

We've had this report through from our Canterbury salmon

fishing guide. He is very happy with how things went this

season.

The 2013-14 fishing season is now over for this year.

The salmon this season were slow to begin their upstream

migration, however the numbers built up as the season

progressed and reported catches from January – April

were better than average seasons. Record numbers of

salmon made it back to the hatcheries and spawning

grounds this year .....

These high numbers of fish in the Rakaia river translated into many catches for clients I took out salmon fishing this season. Fish

catches ranged from 5-18 pound and were caught mainly on light spinning tackle. One particularly memorable outing scored a client his

limit bag of two fish in two casts - that has got to be hard to beat!

We can arrange salmon fishing trips for you - just ask us

Some Info for Overseas Fishing Folk

Fish & Game New Zealand have some great information for fishing folk arriving from overseas. "Wherever you go in New Zealand, north

or south, inland or near the coast, you are likely to be close by to some pretty good trout fishing. Rivers and lakes, even the small streams

that meander through meadow and woodland are all likely to hold trout, usually good ones ...

... read more here

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Fly Fishing in France

By The Cormorant

Apart from getting some great wines and champagne in

France you can also get some fantastic fly fishing throughout

France.

The Ariège (Occitan: Arièja) is a 164 km long river in

southern France, right tributary of the Garonne. Its source

is in the Pyrenees, where it forms part of the border with

Andorra. It flows north through the following départements

and towns:

Ariège (named after the river): Ax-les Thermes, Les

Cabannes Tarascon-sur-Ariège, Montgaillard, Foix, Varilhes,

Pamiers, Saverdun. Haute-Garonne: Cintegabelle, Auterive.

The fishable waters in Ariège are exceptionally diverse,

ranging from small mountain streams to fast-flowing rivers to

high altitude lakes accessible only by foot. Some of the lakes and rivers are stocked, but those higher up contain mainly wild, brown

trout. Fishing is popular among local inhabitants but has not become a tourist industry.

Catch-and-release is seldom practiced in Ariège, or in France for that matter. The concept is alien to this intensely food-oriented

culture and most French fishermen don't see the point of catching a fish and not eating it. However, a No Kill area has been

established along a section of the Ariège River that passes through Luzenac near the talc mine, open only to fly-fishing. The section is

sign posted "PARCOURS NO KILL". To fish there you must obtain a special permit (free) from the news agent in Luzenac.

The fishing season runs from early March to mid September for most waters. A fishing permit for the entire season in all waters

costs 27€ plus you have to become a member of the fishing federation of the department. A special 2-week tourist fishing permit is

available and is valid between June 1st and September 30. You can buy it online at www.ma-carte-de-peche.fr

Ariège Catalogne

You will find small streams and a huge choice of lakes that you can reach after a long hike Altitude 1970m, but the trek presents no

difficulty. Fishing can be very nice on the lake trout and native brook trout. However due to the hike and the fact that the fishing can

keep you quite late on the water, it is recommended to only do this if you intend to spend a night on the spot. Locals like fly fishing but

a lot of them are addicted on trout "au toc". "Au toc", is the particular bait fishing used in mountain streams in France. There are

shelters near the lakes, called refuges. Some are operated as classic (rustique) refuges, others like cheap mountain inns where you will

find rooms and dormitories plus excellent good value meals.

FRANCE, Europe‘s best kept trout and grayling fly fishing secret. It is home to over 7000kms of wonderful trout rivers and streams

within the various départements.

NORMANDY: Pastoral valley chalk streams. Normandy's premiere fly fishing river is undoubtedly the Rilse - queen of the region's

chalk streams, and considered to be one of the finest traditional brown trout rivers in France.

JURA: Magnificent rivers of the French Alps. Jura has 2000 kilometers of premier class trout rivers and streams considered amongst

the finest in Europe

LOZERE: Snow melted waters of the central massif. With over 2000 kilometers of trout rivers and streams, Lozere is a fly fishing

paradise.

DORDOGNE: Picturesque valley rivers and streams. The Dordogne River‘s feeder streams are wonderfully peaty and crystal clear. The

Doustre and Maronne are amongst the best, and home to wonderfully feisty wild brown trout.

PYRENEES: Dramatic, crystalline tumbling waters. Fishing in the Pyrenees can be rather challenging but also very rewarding with

trophy browns up to 60cm

12

Scotland’s Men win Gold with England Men Taking Silver on the West Country’s Finest Lakes

The sixteenth Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships drew to

a close on Sunday 8 June after three days of competition. The

event, comprising fifteen international teams from as far afield

as South Africa, Canada and Australia competed on four of

South West Lakes Trust‘s venues and the River Dart.

Dartmoor‘s Kennick and Fernworthy reservoirs, Wimbleball Lake

on Exmoor and Siblyback Lake on Bodmin Moor hosted some of

the world‘s top fly fishermen with a real battle for the Gold,

Silver and Bronze medals.

Every team of five anglers fished for three hours at each of the

five waters. Angling was excellent despite the very windy

conditions. The majority of anglers caught fish at each of the

venues with John Tyzack of England catching thirteen Rainbows

at Wimbleball – the most in any session. All the fishing was by

‗catch and release‘ with the length of the fish and total numbers

caught counting towards the final points tally.

Scotland took the Gold medal, leading the competition from start to finish. England were close behind winning the Silver and Northern

Ireland very respectable Bronze medal winners. Individual honours went to M Mckay of Australia who caught 32 fish from his five

sessions. The most fish (41) were caught by D Chalmers of Scotland who finished in sixth place overall. Lisa Isles from England Ladies

finished in fifteenth place with Bernie Maher, the top England rod, finishing fifth.

Wimbleball produced 293 Rainbows in the five sessions up to 3 lb in weight, Siblyback 196 Rainbows to 4 lb, Fernworthy 215 Brown

Trout to 2 lb and Kennick 106 Rainbows to 3 ½ lb.

Evelyn Stacey, the Lakes Trust‘s Chief Executive said ―We‘re so honoured to have been part of such a prestigious event and are proud

that South West Lakes Trust has the calibre of venues to host Commonwealth competition. All the competing teams have been very

friendly and the atmosphere has been terrific. Our waters provided excellent sport and I cannot thank our employees and all the

controllers enough for helping the competition to run smoothly. All the competitors emphasised how much they appreciated the

beautiful surroundings and top fishing that we provide. We were really encouraged that so many vowed to return again in the future

and bring their families with them; this is great news for the tourism industry in the South West‖.

The lakes in Devon, Cornwall and West Somerset are owned by

South West Water and managed for recreation and

conservation by South West Lakes Trust. Monica Read,

Customer Relations Director at South West Water, said:

―We‘re delighted that competitors and spectators were able

to enjoy the fabulous facilities at our lakes. It was also a

wonderful opportunity to showcase the South West to an

international audience.‖

Ben Smeeth, who leads on angling for South West Lakes Trust

said: ―As the competition was by catch and release, plenty of

fish remain for our regular and any new anglers, so why not

come along in June and have a go yourself and enjoy similar

successes to the Commonwealth teams.‖

13

Ben continued: ―This is a fantastic new competition and

qualifying for the final is really quite simple. Our commitment

to fly fishing as the largest provider in the South West is

reinforced with the introduction of this event and I hope that

anglers will not miss the opportunity to enter. Why not give

yourself the chance of winning some amazing cash and

sponsored prizes at our final in October!‖

See the Lakes Trust website for more details

www.swlakestrust.org.uk

Another reason to get out to the lakes this summer is South West

Lakes Trust‘s new ‗Best of the Best‘ fly fishing competition.

There is £5000 in cash up for grabs at the final in October at

Wimbleball Lake.

Anglers can qualify by catching the largest or second largest Rainbow

Trout in any one week of the season at five different venues.

Wimbleball, Kennick, Burrator, Siblyback and Stithians all provide the

opportunity for qualifying – up to 10 anglers could qualify per week!

Ben Smeeth, Fishing Technical Lead for South West Lakes Trust

said: ‗This is a fantastic new competition and qualifying for the final

is really quite simple. Our commitment to fly fishing as the largest

provider in the South West is re-enforced with the introduction of

this event and I hope that anglers will not miss the opportunity to enter. Why not give yourself the chance of winning some amazing

cash and sponsored prizes for our final in October!‘ See our website for more details www.swlakestrust.org.uk

South West Lakes Trust would like to wish all the Commonwealth competitors a successful competition and encourage anglers,

experienced and new, to come and explore what the lakes have to offer this summer.

For more information, please contact:

Rosie Vine

Marketing and Publicity Officer

South West Lakes Trust

01566 771930

[email protected]

The South West Lakes Trust is the region‘s largest

combined environmental and recreational charity,

managing reservoirs on behalf of South West Water

for conservation and recreation purposes. Its 50

inland water sites, encompassing 5,000 hectares of land

and water spread across Devon, Cornwall and West

Somerset, attract in the region of 2million visits

annually.

It is listed as being in the top 3,000 of the country‘s

150,000 charities. In 2013 South West Lakes Trust

accumulated nearly 3000 days of assistance by volunteers and in return training was offered in relevant skills (154 days in 2013). In 2013

SWLT attracted over 28,000 new entrants to sport. South West Lakes Trust manages large tracts of moorland and significant areas of

woodland, with Forest Stewardship Council accreditation

14

FLY GIRL LEATHER

CREATIONS BY ANNIE MARGARITA

http://www.anniemargarita.com/index.htm

[email protected]

Annie Margarita is a Leather Maker, Interior Designer, Fine Artist, and Muralist, and

has won International and National Awards with her Murals and Fine Art.

Annie's fantastic new look in Leather accessories for the ardent fly fisher is got to

be seen to be believed! Each creation is completely original and one of a kind; solely

designed and made for the individual owner.

Many times she hand draws the design right onto the leather without using any

template or tracing! Her coordinated hand to eye contact allows her to measure

composition directly to the art work.

This allows for her to create naturally unique artwork, never to be duplicated on

another's piece! She also uses beadwork and handmade metal embellishments to

further create eye-popping designs, unlike anything on the market!

Hi Annie; your creative and design skills are phenomenal, can you explain how you come up with your designs.

I‘ve had a few people ask me to explain how I design and create my cases.

Firstly I either have a request from a client or a concept floating around in my head. Most of my leather articles have a definite

use such as rod and reel cases, handbags, and luggage.

Once it has been agreed with the client on what they are looking for; then I do some sketches; figure out the form and perimeters

that I must stay within. This is when I have to take measurements, of the equipment that it must contain, or a take a guess with one

of my handbags, how big it should be.

Where do you get your inspiration from for your designs?

I gather photographic reference such as fish, insects, water motion on the internet...I love Google Images and Pinterest for all

the ideas I can collect. I either make a Pinterest Board for myself, or I drag the images onto my desktop, where I keep lots of

files with examples.

Then a design is drawn up, making sure to plan on the closures, sides, and hardware that all have to have a home. Cutting a piece of

leather out too small will waste a good piece of leather.

The next stage in the process is to draw and cut out the templates.

I usually use a poster board for this. If I want a more permanent

template I use clear plastic. (Fig. 1)

Sometimes I will tape the paper ―case‖ together to see if it works

the way I want it to.

I place the templates on the leather and trace them with a stylis. I

cut out the leather. I like to use high quality Belgian Imported

Leather. There are many widths that I use but mostly 5/6.

The template is sometimes traced also onto paper to create the

designs. Sometimes I draw directly onto the cased leather... It

depends on the subject matter and whether I will use a reflected

design. Figure 1

15

I found that placing the paper on the window, you can see through

another sheet and are able to trace the mirror image. It must be funny

to watch me from outside the hut! (Figure 2 on the left)

How do you transfer your designs directly onto the leather?

I soak the leather to case it and put it in the refrigerator

overnight. I then transfer the designs using a stylus.

The main cuts with a swivel knife are now done. These should be

free flowing and straight up and down...cutting at an angle damages

the leather. (Fig. 3).

Tooling and carving is then done as the leather is cool and cased. If

it starts to dry, I apply more water and let it sink in before I start

tooling again. I like to carve in sections.

A lot of leather artists will use one tool and do the whole design

then do the next tool. I like to finish a big section, then go to the

next section...this helps to keep me motivated...

I like to see how the product will look in the end...so I cheat and

get small glimpses of the completed design. (Fig 4)

I finish the edges by burnishing, stamp the stitching holes, dry the

leather.

I then like to oil the leather. I like to use olive oil. I do this before

I stain; it helps to create an even coat.

How do you ensure your patterns stand out on the

leather?

I stain the leather. I usually antique stain my projects, but

sometimes a client would like an overall color such as black.

(Fig. 5)

16

I apply leather paint to the areas that I want to stand out with color.

(Fig. 6)

If the article is to have a beaded design accent, I have a few more steps

(While all this is going on)

I design a complementary beadwork sketch.

I draw the design onto a piece of leather, usually buckskin or a

colored lining style leather.

Then I glue a poster board backing onto the backside of the leather. Sometimes I use the smooth side up, sometimes the suede side

up.

I start to bead. Usually I do a partial outline stitch on the section

that I am working, then do a row of contour in the direction that I

want the beadwork to go. This helps to create a molding effect,

emphasizing curves, hair, scale, etc. I don‘t ever do a complete color

design on the beadwork...I just make it up as I go along. I constantly

refer to photographs to figure out the color. I never do bead

weaving on a loom as it turns out too flat and contrived.

I love the beauty of free form design and I think it adds to the

Overall leather look that I have created. (Fig. 7) and (Fig. 8).

When I am done beading, I back the stitching side with another

layer of poster board. This helps to keep the stitching tight and

protects against breakage.

I then mount the beadwork into the leather ―frame‖ of the case.

I glue the two pieces together. (Fig. 9)

I glue the entire leather interior with lining leather.

I will do decorative stitching and beadwork around the beadwork vignette to compliment the design. (Fig 9)

17

Then it‘s time to stitch everything together. My favorite

stitches are saddle stitch and what I call ―corset stitching‖

where I make Xs along an edge. I think it looks more ―1950s

style campy‖. Everything I make is hand stitched, including

lining and pockets.

When everything is together, I do another staining to make

sure no raw leather is exposed.

I then use a leather polish on all the slick surfaces. This seals

the leather and makes it water repellant. I will also do a clear

edge dressing to make the edges look pretty.

I hope this explains the process that it takes to make a single

case. I usually have several cases in the works, and I save time

by working them all in stages, so that I don‘t have to wait for something to dry. This way I can keep busy with something else on

another case.

How long does it take you to actually make one of your creations?

It depends on what the client is looking for; if it is for a design with just cut outs and painting it can take up to 30 hours; however

most of the beadwork designs that I create for the handbags and intricate fly reel cases takes about 30 to 40 hours; so some cases

will have at least 60 hours work.

Where could possible clients see more of your fantastic leather artwork?

They could see more examples of my work at www.flygirlleather.com and "my Facebook page - Annie Margarita - Maker of

leather....."

And finally do you have a retail outlet where potential clients can purchase your creations?

Fly fishing cases and accessories are exclusively offered by Vintage Fly Tackle. To see products ready for sale or to order any

custom fly fishing gear either contact me directly or go to www.vintageflytackle.com

Annie‘s creative works would be ideal for that special present for your loved one or even for yourself. Just imagine the admiration

of your friends and family when they see it taking pride of place on display in the games room or using it when fishing.

As each individual piece is crafted as a one off; it could even be cherished by your descendants as a family heirloom.

Some of Annie’s fantastic fly fishing leather work and artwork

18

19

Tel/Fax 01877 385664 www.menteith-fisheries.co.uk

LAKE OF MENTEITH JUNE 2014 6FT WATER TEMPERATURE 16C, CLARITY (SECCHI DISC) 2.M.

Steve O‘Neill of Glasgow about to return an

eleven pounder, caught today in Gateside Bay on

some kind of booby (probably). The main action

has been in Gateside as the fish migrate

towards the deeper water. Good sport at the

Malling shore on dries also. Despite the warm

water temperatures, or in fact because of the

warm water temperature, we are continuing to

stock fairly heavily as water flow rates in the

earth ponds are now starting to falter – allowing

us to hold only a relatively small number in the

stock ponds.

In the WaterAid Flyfishers annual fly fishing

Challenge; Robin Lambert (Magazine Editor) and his

competing teams raised an amazing £4000 for

charity. Winning Team in 2014 was CIBA from

Ayrshire with 11 fish for 29lbs 6oz. 2nd were AGZ

Fluff Divers and 3rd DPS Fly Fishers.

Pictured left to right Team CIBA with Drew Carey,

Peter Wormald, Robin Lambert (Competition

Organiser) and Alistair MacNair.

See FACEBOOK for Scottish Club Championship and Boat League News.

More fish lies on Facebook: Lake of Menteith Fisheries. Quint

20

Cwm Hedd Fly Fishing Lakes

Bassaleg Newport NP10 8RW; 5 minutes from J 28 M4

http://www.cwmhedd.co.uk/index.html

Fly-fishing report June 2014

Hi everyone

Weather conditions have been much better this week, the more overcast weather with scattered showers earlier in the week

providing good fishing conditions.

Cwm Hedd is brim-full of Exmoor Fisheries hard fighting rainbows that are enjoying the relatively cool summer so far.

Whatever floats your boat

Anglers are enjoying the late opening till 9.15pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Welsh international angler Kieron Jenkins, a

regular at Cwm Hedd, took his float tube out on the seven acre lake on one such evening (photo on Facebook). Kieron noted that the

fish are feeding very high in the water: the slow head and tail rises indicate that the trout are cruising just below the surface

steadily picking buzzers from the surface film. Kieron used a two-fly cast strung together with 6lb co-polymer nylon, with a

shuttlecock buzzer on the point and shipman‘s buzzer on the dropper. In just a few hours on the float tube Kieron caught seven

rainbows, three to the red shipman‘s on the dropper, but as the light faded, the shuttlecock took the rest.

The Shipman‘s buzzer has been favoured by many other anglers, such as the week‘s top anglers Ken Bowring and Roger Martyn, who

each took one and returned nine and seven on the Shipman‘s and a floating line. Huw Davies chose a Griffith‘s gnat and an olive

emerger, taking one and returning 6, while Graham Davies favoured a hare‘s ear to take one and return 3. Using different tactics Keith

Cox took one and returned 3 on a black and green tadpole and an intermediate line.

Kieron’s top tips:

De-grease your leader regularly as the fish are line shy in flat calm conditions. When playing lively fish, try and keep the rod to the

side to increase the tension on the line and keep everything tight. This works extremely well at Cwm Hedd as the hard fighting fish

have a tendency to jump when hooked. When the fish jumps the tension on the line/hook will slacken, allowing the hook to be thrown.

Biggest fish of the month

No one managed to top Kieron‘s four and three quarter pounder in May, but on his first visit to Cwm Hedd William Edwards got June

off to a good start taking a cracking 4 pound rainbow on a bloodworm, returning another 3 on bloodworm and an orange egg fly (photo

on facebook). Plenty of bigger rainbows have been seen and are there for the taking.

Net that £200 tag fish!

The tag fish is still evading capture, but Velindre Cancer Centre is benefiting from the tardiness of the elusive rainbow. So far nearly

£170 has been collected for Velindre on top of the £200 that will be scooped by one lucky angler!

˜Poppy Fish‖: British Legion Competition 16th November 2014. £30 entry fee plus sponsorship. Cash prizes totalling £215.00. Entry

forms available at Cwm Hedd lodge or download at http://counties.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/wales/events

Open Wed/Thurs 7am-5pm last admission 3pm; Fri/Sat/Sun 7am -9.15 pm: last admission 6pm. Tel 07813 143 034 or (during fly

fishing opening hours) lodge: 01633 896854

Directions on www.cwmhedd.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/cwmheddlakes

That's all for now - see you soon!

Linda

21

27 June, 2014

The Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust fundraising rods 2014

The Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust (WCSRT) is a charity formed in 2010 by a group of organisations with an interest in

protecting the fragile and globally important chalk-based ecosystems of the rivers of the Wessex region.

flyfishing.co.uk are proud to help promote and assist with the WCSRT fundraiser again this year. You helped raise nearly £1,500 last

year and now you can help raise much needed funds for this important cause this year too. Rods have kindly been donated by some of

the best fisheries in the area. If you want a great days fishing and to support the Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust at the same

time please:

click here to find out what is available and email us to book. All proceeds goes to the Trust.

Click here to find out more about the Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust.

Top chalkstream fishing on the River Test!

Why not take a break and go fishing on the Timsbury beat of the River Test? The water is crystal clear, the surroundings are idyllic

and the trout are hard fighting.

―Conditions are back to normal‖ says the River Keeper ―the challenging weather conditions we had earlier in the year has fortunately

not had a lasting effect on the river or its banks‖.

Click here to find out more about fishing the Timsbury beat and also to check availability.

22

Fly of the Month

Bibio Emerging Buzzer

Hook: Kamasan B400 Trout Emerger subsurface 10,12,14,16

Thread: Black

Body: Upper – Black seals Fur

Middle – Red Seals Fur

Lower – Black Seals Fur

Rib: Fine pearl Mylar or Silver Tinsel

Wing Cases: Polystyrene Booby Ball enclosed in white nylon

tights material and whipped to hook

A deadly pattern wherever dark buzzers are hatching. Used on a

floating line, the fly is cast out and then either wait for the trout

to take the fly, or cover a rise with the fly.

Makes an alternative to the CDC buzzer, it works just as effective

and is far cheaper.

How to Tie

Take a small polystyrene booby ball and encase it tightly in some nylon

tight material. Catch this in using the tying thread and cut off excess.

Make a tidy thorax with the thread.

Catch in some fine mylar tinsel and proceed with mylar and tying thread

down to the hook bend.

Carefully dub a small rope of black seals fur up the hook shank, at the a

point just short of the middle , dub on some red seals fur, at the upper

end of the hookshank dub on some more black seals fur and continue

towards the eye.

Make a tidy rib with the pearl mylar tinsel until the thorax is reached.

Be careful not to pull the mylar too tight, otherwise it will turn blue.

Secure the mylar and cut off excess.

For the remainder of the thorax dub in some more black seals fur, not

so tightly as before and cast the thread off at the hook eye. Pick out

the seals fur with a dubbing needle to give the fly a more buggy look

and feel to it.

STUFFED TROUT in A WINE SAUCE Serves 4

Ingredients:

100 g (4 oz) fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs

15 ml (1 tbsp) chopped fresh mixed herbs, such as parsley,

thyme, rosemary

finely grated rind and juice of 1/2 lemon

pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

salt and pepper

1 egg, beaten

4 trout, each weighing about 275 g( 10 oz), cleaned

25 g (1 oz) butter

30 ml (2 tbsp) plain flour

150 ml (1/4 pint) dry white wine

150 ml (1/4 pint) vegetable stock

60 ml (4 tbsp) fresh double cream

Method:

1. Put the breadcrumbs, herbs, grated lemon rind and juice

and nutmeg in a bowl.

Season to taste. Add the egg and mix together well.

2. Fill the cavities of the trout with the stuffing. Wrap the

fish in greased foil. Place the parcels on a baking sheet and

bake at 180°C (350°F) mark 4 for 30—35 minutes, until

tender.

3. Meanwhile, put the butter, flour, wine and stock in a

saucepan and heat, whisking continuously, until the sauce

thickens, boils and is smooth. Simmer for 1 - 2 minutes.

Stir in the cream and season to taste.

4. Pour a little sauce over the trout and serve the remaining

sauce in a warmed sauceboat or jug.

23

Review Time

This month’s review is on the Airflo Deluxe TLD Boat Seat

All reviews are impartial and honest reviews undertaken by the editor. If you want an honest

and frank review of your fly fishing tackle please email me at [email protected]

Airflo Deluxe TLD Boat Seat - TLD Boat Seat from Airflo

I have both the Airflo Comfort Zone Deluxe Boat Seat and the Deluxe TLD Boat Seat; however have been using the TLD seat more

over the past 13 months as I found it to be more comfortable and supportive for my back.

If you enjoy loch style fishing like I do you can turn around to fish more water when the fish are rising to the surface to feed

whereby the conventional Comfort Zone Boat Seat restricts you to only facing one way.

Based on the best selling original boat seat the new Deluxe TLD Boat Seat version features an innovative new swivel attachment for

quick and easy mounting on either a boat seat or boat boards.

The belt and ratchet mechanism of the Deluxe TLD Boat Seat takes seconds to attach, avoiding the need to spend time fiddling with

and tightening nuts. Once attached, the new mechanism on the Airflo Deluxe TLD Boat Seat is solid and immovable

Once folded up it takes up less room in the boot of the car than the Comfort Zone thus giving you more room for your equipment.

You can obtain the Deluxe TLD Boat Seat directly from BVG Airflo‘s own website http://www.fishtec.co.uk or from your online fly

fishing tackle store.

The seat is strongly constructed and hard wearing; so at only £129.99 it is good value for money.

24

Glencorse Fishery www.glencorsersv.co.uk

http://www.inverawe-fisheries.co.uk Inverawe has something for everyone, be it fishing, finding out how salmon is smoked, exploring the many trails and tracks, feeding the fish, trying our new play area, browsing through the shop, or enjoying our delicious food in the smokery café.

http://www.deversprings.co.uk/homepage/

The fishery comprises two spring fed lakes totaling six acres and a half mile stretch of the River Dever (a tributary of the legendary River Test), a big fish water where 20lbs+ rainbows and large browns are taken each season.

http://www.newhayliefishingloch.com Fishing on a 3.6 Acre hill side loch with aspects over the Cumbrae isles, Isles of Bute and Arran. One of the most picturesque trout fisheries in Scotland. Stocked with an abundance of hard fighting Browns, Rainbows,Blues,and Tiger Trout along with our natural head of wild Brown Trout.

Classifieds To advertise please email [email protected]

Fisheries

Below is some great fishing holidays around the world

Offshore fishing at its best in Mozambique !!

We offer personel attention for clients with regards to targeting all game fish on the east coast of Africa eg marlin, sailfish, king &

queen mackerel, kingfish,dorado & many more. We also cater for spear fisherman. Best hunting grounds worldwide.

Starting at US $500 Per Night

http://www.flyfishingdirectory.co.uk/african-holidays.php

Tarpon Fishing in Puerto Rico Porta del Sol

17' customized skiff for light tackle and fly fishing for tarpon, snook, mangrove snapper and barracudas. We operate in Porta

del Sol, Puerto Rico ant the West Side of the Island.

Starting at US $340 Per Night http://www.flyfishingdirectory.co.uk/caribbean-holidays.php

FLY FISHING in Belize

fly fishing in Belize permit tarpon bone fish on the flats fish five days with me get one day fishing Free, plan your next genuine

Caribbean getaway today! We are one of the world best fly fishing destinations we cater to the discriminating fly

Great rates & deals!

http://www.flyfishingdirectory.co.uk/s-america-holidays.php

Great Alaska Adventure Lodge

Renowned Fishing, Adventure Travel and Wildlife viewing destination on the world famous Kenai River. Riverfront lodge

and Cabins, Anchorage pickup. 2-7 day all inclusive experiences. All Meals, nightly Happy hour and all guides/equipment included.

Starting at US $295 Per Trip

http://www.flyfishingdirectory.co.uk/n-america-holidays.php

25

Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance

―It‘s too hot!‖ While a person probably would never say that about the water in the

Petitcodiac River, you might hear it from a wild Atlantic salmon, if they could talk! Cold

water fish like salmon don‘t do well in water that is warmer than 22 degrees Celsius, so

last summer one of the initiatives undertaken by the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance was

to install stream temperature data loggers in key tributaries of the river to help find

the cool water refuges that salmon might use during the hot and dry summer months.

The project, which received $14,000 in funding from ASCF, also included fish monitoring

and restocking components.

―This project is part of an ongoing collaborative effort with the Petitcodiac Fish

Recovery Coalition (PFRC), of which the PWA is a founding member,‖ says Jacques

Mazerolle, PWA biologist. The PFRC is comprised of 11 like-minded groups including First

Nation, angling and non-profit environmental organizations, all working to revitalize Inner

Bay of Fundy (IBoF) Atlantic salmon stocks and other fish populations in the Petitcodiac

watershed.

―IBoF Atlantic salmon are officially an endangered population,‖ explains Mazerolle.

―Some 20 percent of historical adult IBoF spawners were of Petitcodiac River origin, but

they were completely extirpated when the causeway was built across the river. With the

causeway now opened, the Coalition is working to bring wild Atlantic salmon back to the Petitcodiac watershed.‖

That‘s where the restocking effort comes in. Over the 2011 and 2012 seasons some 341,000 fry and 700 ready-to-spawn adults were

released into the Petitcodiac watershed. This year the PWA, working closely with fellow Coalition member Fort Folly Habitat Recovery

(FFHR), released an additional 157 ready to-spawn-adults, 150 post-smolt juveniles and approximately 100 post-spawned adults.

To determine the success rate of their restocking efforts, the researchers also monitored areas of the watershed using a box trap,

fyke traps and electro fishing.

―We were pleased to find a good number of salmon in the watershed,‖ Mazerolle reports, ―particularly in Little River, where we netted

adults that came from the Live Gene Bank facility in Mactaquac, NB, and had been tagged and released in 2012.

―Our electrofishing activities produced exactly 100 salmon: 72 young-of-the-year in the Little River, where ready-to-spawn adults had

been released in 2012, and 28 parr in the Pollett River, where we had released unfed fry in 2011.‖

As for water temperatures and levels, the researchers ran into a little problem when one of their four data loggers disappeared (likely

washed away in high current) and high water left another too deeply immersed to be retrieved. The other two loggers showed that

water temperature of Anagance River never exceeded 22⁰C, while the temperature in the Little River only exceeded the 22⁰ mark

during the month of August and one day in September.‖

26

All in all, the results of their 2013 project were very encouraging to the PWA and the entire Petitcodiac Fish Recovery Coalition.

―There is a lot more work to do, of course, including the development of a sub-watershed management plan for the Petitcodiac River,‖

says Mazerolle. ―If we can do that, and continue our restocking, monitoring and research activities, it‘s quite possible that the

Petitcodiac watershed will one day again be home to IBoF salmon!‖

VOLUNTEER PROFILE – DENIS LOSIER

Meet Denis Losier, a member of the ASCF board of directors.

Losier is currently enjoying retirement; he was involved in politics for eight

years, then he ran Assumption Life for 19 years. Before that he was with the

federal government and was posted in Paris at the Canadian Embassy.

He said his interest in salmon fishing started when he was in politics.

―I used to host people at the government lodge on the Restigouche,‖ he said. ―But

I never got really into it then because I had to entertain more than fish. But

after I left I decided that I would do much more fishing than hosting.‖

Losier became a board member not long after the creation of the ASCF.

―In conservation, looking at what was happening in terms of numbers of fish

coming up the different rivers, I thought the foundation was a good way to help

with the money that they had to promote conservation and help fund some of the

projects that could help rehabilitate and clean up some of the rivers, and at the

same time educate people how important some of these rivers are for the environment.‖

Losier said he‘s seen the ASCF make a difference over the years.

―In the number of projects, the number of communities involved, the number of partners we now have; we don‘t have to be the sole

funder of these projects. We‘re always looking for partners. It‘s really interesting now that we have a little more money to disperse

we‘re finding more and more partners all over the place. Some of the rivers that were counted as dead are now being considered for

some of the projects because there is still some potential to increase the number of fish. It‘s interesting to see the enthusiasm of

the all the volunteers involved in the different communities and different projects; it‘s quite exciting.‖

Volunteers are crucial to the work ASCF does, and each month we will introduce you to one of our stellar volunteers to say thank you

for all the work they do in Atlantic salmon conservation.

27

It Could Only HappenTo A Fisherman Funny Fishing Jokes, Quotes and DittiesTo Make Your Day

Fishing rule #1: The least experienced fisherman always catches the biggest fish.

Fishing rule #2: The worse your line is tangled; the better is the fishing around you.

Fishing rule #3: Fishing will do a lot for a man but it won't make him truthful.

I think the only reason my husband likes to go fishing so much is that it's the only time he hears someone tell him, "Wow, that's a big

one!"

A woman is in bed with her lover who also happens to be her husband's best friend. They make love for hours, and afterwards, while

they're just laying there, the phone rings.

Since it is the woman's house, she picks up the receiver. Her lover looks over at her and listens, only hearing her side of the

conversation...

(She is speaking in a cheery voice)"Hello? Oh, hi. I'm so glad that you called. Really? That's wonderful. I am so happy for you. That

sounds terrific.

Great!

Thanks.

Okay.

Bye bye."

She hangs up the telephone and her lover asks, "Who was that?" "Oh" she replies, "that was my husband telling me all about the

wonderful time he's having on his fishing trip with you."

Jimmy D. Moore: My wife said I have so many fly rods and reels that I cannot possibly use them all. My reply was that I had rods and

reels to fish, rods and reels to tinker with and then my fine-crafted rods and reels to "fondle and admire," while dreaming of trout

fishing during the cold winter months. You can imagine what kind of look she gave me.

Man: Can I have a fly rod and reel for my son?

Fishing Shop Owner: Sorry sir we don't do trades.

The fishing season hasn't opened and a fisherman who doesn't have a license, is casting for trout as a stranger approaches and asks

"Any luck?" "

Any luck? This is a wonderful spot. I took 10 out of this stream yesterday" he boasts.

"Is that so? By the way, do you know who I am?" asks the stranger.

"Nope." "Well, meet the new game warden."

"Oh," gulped the fisherman. "Well, do you know who I am?" "Nope".

"Meet the biggest liar in the state."

Clark Gable: Hell, if I'd jumped on all the dames I'm supposed to have jumped on, I'd have had no time to go fishing.

World Record

There was a priest that loved to stream fish.

One year there was a problem every time he had a chance to go fishing the weather was bad or it was on Sunday, when he had to work.

All year he was unable to go.

Finally it was the last week before the streams closed. The weather was bad all week until Sunday, when the weather was great. The

priest could not resist, he called a fellow priest claiming to be very sick and asked if he could take over his sermon.

The fly fishing priest drove over 200 miles, not wishing to see anyone he knew. An angel seeing the priest playing hooky went to

God and said "Your not going to let him get away with this are you?‖ God agreed he should do something.

The first cast the priest made was perfect. The fly floated past a log and a huge mouth gulped the fly down.

For 45 minutes the priest ran up and down the stream fighting the mighty fish. At the end he held a 50" world record rainbow trout.

Confused the angel asked God, "What are you doing?‖ God replied "Think about it, who he is going to tell?"

Tom Brokaw: If fishing is a religion, fly fishing is high church.

WANTED Woman who can cook, clean, wash and make sweet love. Must have own boat. If interested, send a photo of the boat to..........

28

A Tale of Two Rivers

Ronald F. Lasko

Ronald Lasko is the author of A Tale of Two Rivers which is the first full

length book written about North American Sea Run Brook Trout.

This is an intimate portrait of fly fishing on Cape Cod‘s Quashnet and

Mashpee Rivers, seeking the unique species of Sea Run Brook Trout that

once inhabited many waterways and is now limited largely to these two

rivers.

In 50 color photos, watercolor illustrations, and engaging text, discover a

unique blend of personal experience and fly fishing romance, mixed with

practical how-to instruction, and historical, environmental, and ecological

issues. The author details the rare circumstances that allow this vastly

diminished species to survive on Cape Cod‘s peninsula.

Explore the Quashnet and Mashpee in all four seasons and throughout

history, from the early Wampanoag net fishers through President Grover

Cleveland, who fished these waters with his friends, and to the present

day. Of course, also discover the personal gear, rod, reel, line, approach,

tactics, hatches, traditional patterns, and special favorite patterns that

make fly fishing a joy, from one who knows. Anyone who appreciates the

great outdoors, from fly fishers to conservationists, will appreciate this

book.

Since one of the rivers is a Spring Creek similar to the British Chalk Streams; Ronald has included a Bibliography of 25 books by UK

authors. There are many references throughout the book regarding the origins of American Fly fishing having its beginnings in the

UK.

The book may also be viewed at the publisher's website www.schifferbooks.com and at the Harney & Son Tea Co site www.harney.com

The ORVIS CO (40 Retail shops in the UK) will be carrying the book. The book costs $34.99

The American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, VT (founded 1969) also carries the book and Ronald will be speaking there at

their 7th Annual Fly Fishing Festival on 8 September 2014.

Schiffer distributes A Tale of Two Rivers in the UK and Europe through the Lancaster based Distributor Gazelle Book Services

www.gazellebookservices.co.uk

A TV Interview from 6 April 2014 by PACTV of Plymouth, MA, USA may be viewed on YOU TUBE at http://youtu.be/0f0YnH8fvV8

which will introduce you to Ronald and gain some insight into his book.

Excerpt from A Tale of Two Rivers

Ronald F. Lasko

Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.

The Cape Cod brook trout had vanished entirely from most rivers, were

marginal, at best, in others, and only maintained small populations in a

handful by 1900. Man rationalized that we could resurrect the Cape Cod

river fisheries using stocked hatchery trout. Over the last 100 years, we

have stocked these rivers with hatchery brook trout that lacked the

genetic disposition to survive these waters. We stocked exotic hatchery

trout such as the west coast rainbow trout and the European brown trout.

Most of these stocked trout were oversized for the little rivers. They

tend to be overly aggressive and competitive to the native brook trout,

further diminishing them.

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Most of the bays, estuaries, and rivers of Cape

Cod are now devoid of brook trout. They have

been eliminated by all these practices. There

are only two rivers on the peninsula where

sport-fishable populations of brook trout

continue to hold on—The Mashpee and the

Quashnet. They have withstood the onslaught of

mankind, with his dams, his pollution, his

ignorance of the natural world, his planting

exotic species, and his arrogance towards this

incredible species of trout. They have, in recent

years, withstood the burgeoning populations of

bluefish and striped bass and increasing

numbers of herons and ospreys. But housing

developments and strip malls at their doorstep

have encroached on their habitat, so the future

effects still remain to be seen.

Why have the sea run brook trout of the Mashpee and

Quashnet rivers survived when man and nature have

been so set on destroying them? I asked this question

of a former member of the Fish and Wildlife Division

who had been a proponent of stocking European sea

run brown trout in our Cape Cod brook trout rivers. He

acknowledged that in retrospect they had made a

mistake. They had undertaken numerous studies in the

first half of the twentieth century that indicated that

the Cape Cod sea run brook trout were doomed. Their

studies concluded that they simply were not tough

enough to withstand man‘s destructive forces and that

only the exotic European brown trout could. They

wrote off the brook trout‘s survival, figuring the sea

run brown trout would fill the niche.

They were wrong. After a 30-year program of stocking sea run hatchery brown trout in numbers and sizes greater than the brook

trout populations of the Mashpee and the Quashnet, it is the brown trout who has not survived in the Mashpee and they are now

nearly entirely gone from the Quashnet. Fortunately, the stockings of brown trout in the Mashpee and Quashnet rivers ceased in

1993. The resultant growth in both the size of individual brook trout and in their populations has become obvious since 1993.