You cast your fly, let it sink and begin retrieving. A trout takes, and the rest is history. But why did the trout take the fly into its mouth in the first place? Anglers have pondered the question for a long time. Most exact-style fly tyers are the first to tell you that their patterns …
There are many situations when a live-bait will catch fish that won’t look at other baits. The trouble is that you have to catch your bait before you can go after big fish. In many ways it’s easier to buy frozen sandeel, worms or artificials from a shop and get on with it. There’s no …
After many weeks of lengthy deliberations about the weather and angling prospects, we finally meet Mick early on a very cold January morning along the beach at Fleetwood, Lancashire. Today, the weather is acceptable – cloudy and somewhat windy. We’re hoping the gales will abate long enough for us, and other members of Mick’s sea …
Big fish often play a big part in deciding the individual outcome of a canal match. Chub, carp, bream and even big perch are often needed to boost a catch of smaller fish and get you into the frame. But you must use the right tackle. Bream aren’t hard-fighting fish and generally can be landed …
Deer-hair flies come in myriad styles and shapes and can be used to catch many species of fish throughout the world. Examples include the G & H Sedge and the Muddler Minnow for trout, the Water-Walker for steelhead, the Dalberg Diver for pike and largemouth bass and the Canadian Bomber series of dry flies for …
Downtide fishing is the conventional method of boat fishing, used by anglers since boat fishing became popular. It has seen described as the most basic form of boat angling, but in fact it is far from basic if you approach it in a thinking manner. First principles [n theory it is simplicity itself. Anchor over …
Large lures, though they may seem rather crude to imitative purists, are essential for late season action. If trout are taking 10cm (4in) long roach, there is no point trying to fish with a team of size 16 Buzzers, for example. Fry patterns in sizes 2-8 account for more specimen brown and rainbow trout in …
Jim used an 11m pole to fish a bait close to the far bank ‘cover’, and was rewarded with a few small chub on a very cold day. The Bottesford AC stretch of the upper Witham is at Westborough in Lincolnshire, near the A1 between Grantham and Newark. From the A1, turn off for Long …
Not all fish signs are as obvious as this mirror feeding at the surface. For example, you might only recognize a dimple caused by a carp by the sucking sound – a distinctive ‘cloop’l A fish actually breaking the surface, often with just the tip of the dorsal fin, causing ww waves, is a pointer …
How to get there By car From Oxford, take the Banbury Road (A4165) which becomes the A4260 after crossing the A40. Follow this road through Kidlington, and once you have passed the Thrupp turn off, the turning to Shipton is on the right. By train Oxford is the nearest BR station. A bus runs from …
