Eyes Wide Open - Trout Fishing Techniques - Gwent Angling Society

$ 31.50

4.6 (490) In stock

In May this year, a friend Gwilym Hughes from North Wales came to visit and, as an avid game fly fisher, I asked him if he would like to enjoy a day on the River Usk. Gwilym accepted the offer immediately. I should point out to those that do not recognize the name that Gwilym is a qualified A.P.G.A.I coach in single-handed, double-handed fishing and fly tying. He has represented his country in the world championship river competition and has coached the Welsh ladies team. Without a doubt, I could fill the rest of this page with his achievements but to honest, I think that would still be an understatement to his natural fishing abilities. The aim of the day was for Gwilym to fish a short 100 hundred yards of the Ty Mawr beat that the majority walk past and see what methods would result in fish in the hand. The conditions were by no means perfect in that the barometric pressure had dropped and the air temperature was fluctuating all day from warm to bitter cold with intermittent rain showers. The stretch that was chosen was 5 meters upstream from the new steps to above the area of the two groynes. The initial set up that Gwilym chose was a Hardy Angel rod and reel weighted #5 with a tapered leader of some 12′ down to 3lb breaking strain point. The leader was fluorocarbon which was explained used in all of Gwilym’s fishing. The line was a weight-forward. It was explained that if the real delicate presentation was required then consideration would be given to using a double tapered line. Before choosing a fly the river was checked for relevant fish movement and any indication as to what the trout were feeding on. A few olives were seen floating down and Gwilym chose the pattern which is detailed in another article on this site. The Gwilym’s Olive. I was immediately impressed as to the way he prepared all his tackle. Gwilym was meticulous in the tying of his knots and with using fullers earth to decrease the line. Something he did throughout the day. The approach was made toward the first rising trout. This approach was slow and deliberate. On reaching the point he was to cast from the first of all watched the way the current flowed explaining that he was watching to see how it may affect the travel of the fly towards the rising fish. So many anglers make the error of jumping in and storming off after the first fish they see a rise. Common sense requires you to wait and see how many fish are moving freely and you would be amazed at how many fish are in between where you step into the water and where you need to be to cast to the first fish seen. After a few minutes, another two good fish rose to prove the point, below where the first had been seen. A plan of approach and attack was planned by Gwilym which would have impressed a military planner. I was reminded of the story of the old bull and young bull and this was a classic. If he had rushed in he would have lost the opportunity of catching the bigger fish where now he set out to catch them all. A first delicate cast was made which was short of the target. This was deliberate so as to measure the exact distance that the cast needs to cover the fish properly. Throughout the day emphasis was put on presentation. “If that’s wrong then it doesn’t matter what fly you are using. With that in mind, Gwilym used a reach cast which effectively allows a longer drift of the artificial fly without drag. The fly moved over to where the target fish was and an almost imperceptible amount of drag was seen in the fly as it passed over where the fish was lying. The second cast was made again a reach cast but this time with an added mend making the cast a reach mend cast. This immediately allowed for another yard of drag-free drift of the artificial fly. As the fly went over the lie there was a small dimple of a rise in the water. The fly line was lifted and a fish was on. This fish was played quickly and after an inspection was returned unharmed as were all the fish caught throughout the day. The other two fish that were close by continued to rise but ignored the flies that Gwilym presented. He was convinced that they were feeding on something very small such as aphids or mini-sized midge. What I witnessed then was a clinical attempt to work out exactly what was happening with the water being sieved for clues and even an examination of the bushes and trees that were on our side of the bank. to test what was in the surface of the water Gwilym pulled from his fly vest a piece of net curtain which was elasticated around the edges which fitted over his net. The netting was then held with only a couple of inches in the water to see what was floating in the surface layer of the river. So simple yet so effective. Those of you that are from North Wales will recognise where Gwilym lives as his house is the one with squares cut into the upstairs curtain nets. I mentioned earlier that the day was a hard one and these two fish could not be tempted. the fly life dropped away and Gwilym changed tactics. Having presented the dry fly Upstream he then started at the same point again. He showed me that he was now going to fish a system of an upstream dry fly with a nymph suspended from the hook bend of the dry fly. I have heard of this system being used a great deal in New Zealand and was looking forward to witnessing someone use it competently. The dry […]