Is Fishing Art?
Last week I spent rather a lot of hours locked away in a studio working with a designer on a major project. It is a project that I have had in mind for in excess of 5 years and began working on a couple of seasons ago. For whatever reason we never quite got it together and then suddenly everything flowed, the ideas worked and creativity was at an all time high. Of course the project is part of our continuing business development but the real inspiration that I found came through the imagery that I was working with.
Every photo brought back memories; the lows and the highs of fishing. Every image had captured an experience …. which got me thinking.
Fishing is quite frequently described as an “art”, although of course this refers to the techniques. But think about the scenery, the wildlife, the water, rods, reels, flies, lures, the movement of casting and of course the fish themselves. There are elated faces, dejected expressions and others of pure wild adrenalin fuelled madness … sometimes the feelings are so good that fishing just takes over our souls. While I sat there pouring over images, selecting the right one to create a mood and describe a lifestyle I found myself “buzzing”, my soul was alive, I just wanted to jump right into the monitor …. isn’t that what art is all about? OK, I don’t want to go too Andy Warhol on you this Monday morning (I was however an ALevel Art student at one time … please forgive me!) so instead here are some of my favourite photographers, websites and artists who capture fishing for us, inspire and excite. It’s what we all know and love as fishporn …..
Henry Gilbey- I don’t reckon that there can be many “serious” anglers who are not aware of this mans work. By his own admission Henry is a pure fishing junkie although he has an undeniable talent for controlling his urges to bring shots such as the one below to us. In fact after hundreds of hours spent working with Henry I know that this is what makes his work so special, he is there, ready and waiting for the moment. His passion is fishing of course but the imagery excites him just as much. I was over at his house a couple of weeks back and he even has a mini studio set up for taking pictures of lures …. now if that is not art (or is he just a tackle tart?!) then I don’t know what is! Enough from me, if you are feeling jaded, need a pick me up or just want to dream … look no further! Click here.
Dont you just want to be there? Image copyright Henry Gilbey
David Burton – Several weeks back an unidentified parcel arrived at the shop. I had not ordered anything and so I was puzzled. When I opened the parcel I was blown away. Inside was a letterpress print by avid angler, digital designer and fine artist David Burton. David likes pipes, beer and fishing but never did I have him down as an artist … I guess all the signs were there! The title which he sells these prints under says it all “Beneath Bright Waters” …. fine art prints inspired by the river. Each print (there is a series of 3) has a wonderful minimalist feel that captures the simplicity of fishing. Check out his story and also a bunch of great fishing photography here
Upstream by David Burton. Copyright David Burton.
Tim Borski- has a reputation as a very talented angler but also a quite unique artist. His work may not appeal to all but personally I find his approach to be exciting and inspiring. The use of colour seems almost graffiti like, a subject that I studied during my art A Level! I think you either love or hate this work so enough from me, check it out.
Is Tim Borski the Banksy of fishing? Image copyright of Tim Borski.
Sam MacDonald - a nicer fellow you could not wish to meet. I had the privilege of spending a week with Sam over in Los Roques for a tropical saltwater fly fishing holiday … our target was Bonefish. I remember Sam’s enormous smile after landing his first ever Bone and the subsequent art which transpired. It is without doubt some of his most stunning work and my own sculptured Bonefish incorporating pewter, gold-leaf and brass is one of my most treasured possessions. Sam has developed a unique technique, which has resulted in commissions from all over the world, capturing the aesthetic beauty of fish through sculptured metal. Check out each individual scale here
Bonefish by Sam - Simply Stunning! Copyright Sam MacDonald
Flymage- Finally it seems appropriate to feature an online magazine. There have been a clutch of these publications appearing over the last couple of years and they just seem to be getting better and better. One of my absolute favourites is Flymage and I reckon if you are a red blooded angler and this does not turn you on …. well, you ain’t got a pulse! Click here for CPR whether you need it or not!
Make sure you are sat down while reading Flymage!
I hope you have enjoyed checking out the “fishy art” above. Some of it may not float your boat of course, but surely that is what art is all about, it is a very personal thing, just like fishing. I have certainly enjoyed the memories and dreams inspired by the featured work, so much so that I am going to make a bit of a feature of it on this blog throughout the year. So if you are into capturing fishing through imagery such as sculpture, blogs, online magazines and photography let me know and I will take a look. Oh and watch out later this week because the “Project” that inspired this post will be ready …
Another Exciting Pike Session
Waking up to battering rain and a snorting wind may not seem like the best start to a fishing session, but I guess if you fish in England then you will be used to it! The weather woke me up at 3am yesterday but getting wet did not cross my mind (decent chest waders and a wading jacket solve that problem anyway!) instead I began thinking about the new venue that I would be visiting with Danny Parkins.
After a friend of mine, David Burton, told me of his experiences catching 20lb + Pike on dead baits from a river he usually fishes for Trout I managed to invite myself and Danny along for the day to investigate with our fly and lure rods. There is nothing like fishing a new venue. It has that element of the “unknown” coupled with anticipation that we anglers all crave. The drive up the A303 was filled with fishing talk and before long we were changing into our waders using a bus stop to shelter us from the “pouring rain” (it was a wonder we were not arrested!), but the weather could not dampen our spirits. We were ready for action!
After three fruitless hours of fishing I must admit that I wondered if we were mad. I pounded some mouth watering sections of the river using the fly and then pulled out the Cannibal shads, but all to no avail. A shout went up from Danny after he had been followed by a 20+ fish which got the adrenalin racing for thirty minutes but we just could not get that fish to play ball, despite chucking a whole heap of lures at it (and flies!) from different angles! David and Simon who had very kindly invited us along were not even finding success with their ledgered Lamprey; a top Pike bait. Things were not looking good.
A small jack for Danny with scarring from a Pike attack
But there is always hope and when Danny finally extracted a small Pike on a huge Savage Gear 4 Play lure in Baby Cod at least we were convinced there were Pike in the river. Its strange when fishing a new venue for the first time, you just have to see that first fish to boost the confidence. In all honesty …. I was still not confident. I have caught stacks of Pike on flies but have only just recently started learning about the world of lures and in the clear water the Cannibal Shad I was using just seemed too much. There was a decent flow sure enough, but the water was relatively clear and we were fishing at close range. Was there a more subtle tactic available?
I had elected quite stupidly to only take along an Intermediate line and so I was just not getting down to the fish, while the spindly branches providing the Pike of “Pike Corner” with cover would have made a mess of my leader. Discussing this with Danny I suggested that the Magic Swimmers might be worth a go as this incredibly realistic lure could be weighted so that it would drift in under the snags while a “twitch” here and there may excite the fish. I also voiced another concern. When fly fishing I never use swivels, crimps or clips and I just wondered if perhaps there was another way?
Just recently I have got my hands on some brilliant AF Surflon Micro Supreme Fishing wire in Camo and it is brilliant for making up fly fishing leaders for Pike using an Albright and tying each pattern on with a Rapala Knot. Perhaps this would work well when using the soft plastic Magic Swimmers? Danny was instantly blown away by the suppleness of the AF wire and even I could see how much more direct the link was to the lure. I had remembered an incident in Ireland last year when Henry Gilbey had altered his rig just a tiny amount (dispensing with a JB clip) and it had made all the difference to his catch rate (See that post here) …. would it make a difference when fishing the MS lures?
Dannys 8lb Jack on Sebile MS tied direct to AF Surflon Micro Camo Wire
You bet! Fishing over exactly the same stretch of water on the now infamous “Pike Corner”, so called because David & Simon have landed a number of fish from this area over the last few weeks, Danny suddenly had an unbelievable take. A decent jack of around 8lbs exploded from beneath the branches and properly smashed the lure! A few pictures and back the fish went, it had hit an Electric Rainbow Magic Swimmer which looks just like a small Rainbow Trout. Just a few hours before David has been telling us about the occasional escapee Rainbow Trout they had caught!
The Electric Rainbow Magic Swimmer
If only I had changed to this colour, I may have caught the next fish! Instead I stuck it out with my Bluegill colouration and was seemingly warming the fish up as Danny had another explosive take and was into a low double this time; right from a swim I had just fished!!! Then, as we were landing that fish a shout went up and Simons Lamprey had been snaffled. What a moment for him. After a tense battle a personal best Pike of 21lbs was on the bank.
Danny & Simon with a lure caught low double and a 21lb beast on Lamprey
And that was that! Not another sniff for the rest of the day. So, did the fish just switch on? Why did they ignore my Bluegill but hit Danny’s Electric Rainbow? Had the straight through wire approach made a difference? Would the 21lb fish have taken a lure at the same moment that it picked up a dead bait, especially as both David and Simon had seen a large fish move just minutes before the hook up? These were the questions we asked ourselves over a couple of pints at the local pub while warming up by the fire and continued to discuss on the way home. Of course we can never know the exact answers …. if we did then fishing would not be half so interesting or satisfying.
Monday Morning Roll Casting Tips
Check out your local still water fly fishing venue and you will see a variety of styles as anglers swish backwards and forwards practicing their overhead casts in between hopefully catching a fish or two. But how many miss fish do they miss or do YOU miss for that matter? Do you Roll cast your line prior to an overhead? Perhaps you sweep the line to one side, flick it forwards and then begin casting giving the fish a chance to take at the very last minute? If this is the case then you have just performed a fairly basic Roll Cast.
Of course some anglers try this technique but end up with a crumpled mess therefore neglecting this simple but oh so useful skill. Instead practice is reserved for the overhead cast and as much distance as possible. Personally I would advise anyone, especially beginners, to practice their Roll Cast before they attempt to further their overhead skills. In fact the Roll Cast is the first technique I teach to a novice fly anglers, right after we have looked at the stance and grip. (Check out the blog post here for tips on stance and grip)
So why am I banging on about the Roll Cast on this bleak Monday morning? In short this technique is tremendously diverse and will definitely help you to enjoy your fishing this coming season. While the weather is fairly rubbish and we wait for the new fishing season with eager anticipation; why not give it a go? Use it to straighten the line when you begin fishing, fish in enclosed spaces, retrieve flies close the shore and pull a sinking line to the surface prior to recasting.
D Loops. The Roll Cast is all about a big D loop. Those of you reading this who cast regularly will know all about loops and if you don’t it is worth reading up on how they are formed and the benefits to casting efficiency. In fact what series of casting tips would be complete without information regarding loops?! I will blog some info soon.
A D Loop ready for action
Back to the Roll. So the D Loop is so called because the line hanging from the tip of the rod coupled with the rod blank form a shape that resembles a capital D. Loops are the shape formed within the line during backward and forward casts. This is the weight that can be used to flex the rod (often referred to as loading), resulting in energy that is then transferred to the line. During the overhead cast this process is achieved by allowing the line to fully extend upon completion of each stroke; but the roll cast is different.
Treat it like a golf shot! This cast does not rely on the line moving at speed to tension the rod but in fact uses the weight within the D loop coupled with water tension. Aim for a Big D and a small anchor of line positioned on the water, just enough to tension the rod. The key to good Roll Casting is to be very slow and purposeful with each part of the cast. I often advise my clients to treat it as they would a golf shot, a tennis serve or something similar.
Don’ Rush! Instead lift the rod smoothly, slide the line gently along the water and aim to place your thumb within the peripheral vision of your casting eye, imagine aiming a dart for example. In this position you will find that the rod tip settles high above your head, with a slight backwards tilt, the line hanging below to form the required D loop. If you like to use the clock method lift the rod smoothly to 10 and glide it to a back cast (D Loop) position of 1. The forward cast should be made back to 10. This is based on a right hand caster, reverse the numbers if left handed.
The D Loop in action
Faults
- Loss of tension > Rushing is the root of many problems. Hold the rod with “soft” relaxed hands and perform each movement purposefully, go too fast and the line will leap out of the water eliminating the crucial anchor point. The line will also quite possibly jettison into the nearest snag! Enjoy yourself, don’t rush!
- Poor Back Cast > Aim for a fairly upright rod. If you are prone to breaking your wrist (blog post coming!) then the rod will fall below 1 o’Clock (10 o’Clock if you are left handed) during the back cast resulting in a poorly formed D Loop and an excessive line anchor. These factors will often result in a crumpled presentation rather than good turnover. Aim for a BIG D Loop and small line anchor to cure this fault.
- Power Issues > I reckon I have most of my novice clients up to speed with loops and line tension within 15 minutes of starting a session. However very few manage to master the power application required so quickly. Have you mastered the power? Some anglers “hit” the cast suddenly applying power. This will not work and results in the line flying high into the air, a whole load of noise and an even worse looking mess. Others “wimp it”, being a little too soft. In this latter case the D Loop usually just folds up and splats down at their feet (or tangles round their rod, head etc ..). The key is to get a mix of the two, smoothly applying power and accelerating to a controlled abrupt stop. You have probably heard things like a “hammer tap”? Don’t think 6 inch nails but “picture tacks” …. all that’s required is a smoothly accelerating power stroke to that all important Stop. More blog material … we must discuss how to Stop! I don’t mind the hammer tap, but I prefer the “fly swat”. Think about this. When you are reading the papers and a fly decides to start messing with your hard earned R&R, what do you do? Charge around the room like a crazy thing trying to swat it? (I know some small waters may give the impression that many anglers do this!!!) …. or wait until it has a little rest. Then walk up to it carefully, cover the little sod and smoothly “swat”. Try this when Roll Casting …. but with a rod of course!
Control an abrupt stop ... Launch!
- Tangles > None of us likes a tangle, it’s frustrating and wastes valuable fishing time. The advice above will help to reduce tangles for sure but when Roll Casting it is also important not to cross the line over. So what do I mean by this? Simplified it is important when creating the D Loop that it is facing straight towards your target along with the anchored line. Ensure that the forward stroke follows this path. As an example say we are making a right handed Roll Cast, having formed a D Loop we should be stood to the left of the line. If we now aim the rod tip to the right and apply the power stroke/stop the line will cross and become tangled. So, check your D Loop & Line Anchor ensuring that you follow their path.
The Roll Cast is perfect for River Fishing
I am sure I could continue to analyse the Roll Cast this Monday morning but you probably have a coffee to drink and some work to do! The advice and faults identified above represent the key issues and hopefully I have inspired you to have a go. The best way to learn any cast is to break it down so always think Big D, Small Anchor and position both so that they are in line with your intended target. Hone your Roll Cast and you will soon savour the benefits not to mention the possibility of learning to Spey Cast in the future. More Blog material! Many thanks as always to Henry Gilbey for the images featured in this post. Check out more from Henry here.
Greys GS Scoop Net
The new Greys GS Scoop net represents outstanding value for money, boasting a range of features that will appeal to river anglers targeting Trout, although the large versions may also appeal to those who enjoy night fishing for Sea Trout. As a full time guide & serious competition river fly fisher I demand a lot out of my fly fishing tackle and expect it to meet my requirements; this net ticks all the boxes.
Lightweight Frame & Integrated Magnetic Release
The nets lightweight frame allows it to feel almost weightless to the point you can forget you’re even wearing it, especially as the GS incorporates an integrated magnet within the handle, dispensing with the need for a separate retractor.
Comfortable Handle & Rubberised Mesh
The tapered handle provides a comfortable grip which is all important when netting fish and I also like the wide alloy frame …. there is certainly plenty of room in this net! And, if like me you are prone to getting wrapped up in the excitement of landing a fish the built in elasticised cord ensures the net does not make an unwanted journey downstream!
But the real genius behind this product is the rubberised mesh. I first saw Nick Hart using one of the rubberised Greys Coarse fishing nets for his stillwater fishing back in 2010 and now here is the same mesh used within the GS Scoop net.
Greys GS Scoop Net
Conservation
This mesh has numerous benefits and in particular will appeal to conservation minded anglers keen to shield their quarries protective slime from harm and reduce the spread of harmful aquatic organisms absorbed by standard mesh. Meanwhile the rubberised mesh remains rigid, even in a flow of water, which facilitates resting the fish prior to a quick pose for the camera and a quick release. No more digging around in the bottom of the net for your fish!
No Snags, No Smell!
The mesh is also less likely to snag up, even when fishing barbed hooks (although, please de-barb!) which should ease the frustration when there is a big hatch taking place and you are desperate to get the fly back in amongst the fish! Even better it shakes dry in a matter of seconds ridding the net of fishy odours, making for an all together more pleasant car journey home. In conclusion the GS Net is truly awesome, generously priced product from Greys and I am looking forward to putting mine to good use this season!
Sizes Available / Price
Small = 15 1/2 ” x 11″ £19.99 Medium = 18″ x 13″ £22.99 Large 19 1/2″ x 15″ = 24.99
Varivas Flat Butt Super Yamame Leaders
Flat Butt Leaders are an innovative new generation of tapered leader designed to provide fantastic presentation. The purpose of any tapered leader is to provide improved turn-over ensuring that the fly is positioned as far away from the fly line as possible. The new Flat Butt design offers improved performance over standard tapered leaders, providing both a supple link to the fly which moves naturally with the water and a low riding profile; perfect for dry flies.
The ground breaking Varivas design has created a Tapered Leader that is sensitive and responsive, providing maximum control when attempting a difficult cast under a snag or when casting to a selective fish. Available in 4X, 5X, 6X & 7X, the leaders are supplied in a standard 12’ length. Check out the diagram on the back of packet to show the breakdown of the tapering system.
Benefits of a Flat Butt Leader
Utilising a yellow coloured butt which acts as a highly effective bite indicator, the leader tapers into a super fine clear head to maintain stealth when casting to the most wily Trout. Produced from pure nylon they have no memory (unlike many commercial leaders) while the ability to stretch provides a reliable link and a degree of shock absorption when striking or playing a fish.
More than just a Tapered Leader
The Varivas Flat Butt’s two tone colour represents a leader with multiple benefits which can be used for a range of tactics. Of course these leaders are perfect for dry fly but the 2 tone design is also a joy to use when fishing a single nymph or team of Czech style bugs.
Buy Varivas Yamame Flat Butt Leaders Online Here
Eye Opening Fishing
I love the unpredictability of fishing and yesterday was no exception. Heading out with lure fishing guru Danny Parkins our goal was to bag ourselves a Pike, Perch or possibly a Chub. This is of course not the best time of year to be targeting these species with lure tactics, especially after the freezing temperatures but right now I am just keen to get out and learn as much as possible about this method.
I am a completely novice lure angler, but have been cutting my teeth in the company of Danny (see his blog here) who has been kind enough to show me some of his top fishing spots and techniques. Arriving at the venue I was stunned to see a river that would usually call for a set of chest waders and a light dry fly rod. Pike in here? I was rubbing my eyes! Good start … I had to see this!
Pike ... In here?!
Within half an hour of starting Danny rolled a Chub of in excess of 4lb which sucked in and unfortunately spat out his Bluegill Sebile Magic Swimmer. It had been hiding in a seriously snaggy area caused by a entangled mess of spindly branches; cast an everyday lure with exposed hooks into that mess and it would be curtains. But the clever design of the Magic Swimmer is perfect for these situations as the hook remains covered until such time that a fish hits. I watched in awe as Danny repeatedly banged the lure in and amongst all those snags before the fish hit. Granted Danny is a highly experienced exponent of the technique with a cast to match but I had a go in the same swim later on in the session and found that I could be pretty wayward with the cast and still retrieve the lure.
So we were off to a great start but neither of us could have written what was about to happen next! Moving just 30 yards from the Chub swim Danny recommended a cast into a nice deep channel, ensuring the lure landed close to the inside bank and was allowed to fish virtually dead drift. The Magic Swimmers have such an incredible action and I felt confident that any moment it would get snaffled by a Pike. A few casts in angling adrenalin suddenly took over both of us as a double figure fish began tracking the lure …. our split second thought was “PIKE” They must have heard us shout in Tiverton! They definitely heard “SALMON”! Simultaneously we realised this was no toothy critter but a silver tourist resting up before heading back to sea. So we had almost caught a Salmon on a Magic Swimmer! What was going to happen next?
Big Wild Trout - On a lure!
See for yourself above! Swim 3 and Danny shouted that a big Perch had just hit his Magic Swimmer twice. I ran up to check things out while Danny changed over to a 2.5″ Kalin Grub. He explained that the soft Swimmers with encased hooks need to be hit hard and so a soft plastic lure with an exposed hook may do the trick if the fish hit again. Danny was doing the fishing but my heart was racing, in the clear water I knew we would see the fish take if it decided that the Grub was worth investigating. Plain as the day a big Perch silhouette loomed up behind the Kalin and then in a flash something else charged in and grabbed it. Of course we both thought Chub, but no it was this incredible quality Wild Brown Trout. Talk about a buzz, we got a very quick picture and back the fish went … while I made a mental note to return to this venue with my fly gear in season …. imagine that fish on a dry fly! So we had set out after coarse fish and so far the “lure guru” had shown the “fluff chucker” how to catch gamefish! What would be next?
Wild Brown Trout - 2.5" Kalin Grub
A quiet spell. We carried on upstream fishing the Kalin Grubs while Danny explained that he expected the fishing to be slow at the moment but that by the summer we could expect explosive sport on surface patterns. I cant wait! But I still really wanted to see a Pike, I had seen a Perch but I was still really struggling with the concept that we had caught Trout and seen a Salmon on a Devon venue that also holds a stock of predatory fish. Danny knew a spot we may get the fish we were looking for. Danny always knows a spot!
Small but Brilliant!
Its probably the smallest Pike I have ever caught, but I really didn’t mind ! This fish fell to an Orange Cannibal Shad which Danny had suggested, hitting the lure twice previously before crusing in and taking right at my feet. More visual fishing! There are also big fish present, Danny got a seriously strong hit just after I landed this fish and look what a mess it made of his Shad!
Cannibal Shad - Chopped up by a decent Pike
I added another slightly bigger fish to the day which again took the Orange Shad and we had another massive adrenalin rush further downstream when a double figure Pike charged in after Danny’s lure. So, we didn’t land any huge fish but so what! This was just a great experience and during the low season …. just imagine the summer potential. This venue could provide dry fly sport for Trout and Chub one minute and Pike action on a surface lures the next … the mind boggles. And just to completely blow my mind Danny mentioned that “there are lots of Barbel in this venue”. As you can imagine, sleep was difficult last night!
Oh and Danny didnt land a Pike! So the fly guy caught the coarse fish and the lure guy caught the game fish. How about that!
Great fun on light lure gear
Fly Casting is Fishing Glue
During the weekend the lakes outside our shop were frozen over with just a few gaps here and there, even so it was good to see several hardy anglers had braved the cold to try their luck. In such low temperatures it can be difficult to tempt the fish, but sticking with something simple like a Black Woolly Bugger, Taddy or similar mobile lure will often pick up a Trout or two. The key is to keep the fly in the water.
Observing from our shop door which provides a view across the lake I could see that the anglers were having a tough time of it and it was nothing to do with tactics. It was all about the casting.
Most of the anglers were regularly catching up on their back cast, or enduring the frustration of poor turnover …. a crumpled mess often resulting in tangles and lost fishing time. Just what you dont need if there is limited fishing space and the conditions are tough. All of the anglers had popped in to discuss where the fish would be located, what fly to use and so on, but not one quizzed me on their casting faults. One angler did drop by the shop to discuss his fly line which had lots of memory, a serious problem that hinders good casting no matter how fine tuned. But other than that, not a word about casting.
Knowledge regarding fish location, tactics and fly selection is all wasted if we cant present the fly accurately at the required distance. Fly Casting is our fishing glue …. it sticks our knowledge together and turns it into success. So while the going is tough out there with freezing temperatures rendering many venues unfishable is this not a good time to be tuning up the cast? I can guarantee that a little bit of effort during the low season will pay dividends later this year. During this week I will post a few tips/exercises to help get you going because the season is not so far away!
Casting Tip 1 : Grip – Stance – Comfort
- A comfortable stance coupled with a relaxed grip provides the foundation to good casting technique. If you have never thought about this then next time you go for a practice session look at how you position your feet while casting.
- Traditional style features a closed stance with each foot pointing at the target and positioned so that one foot sits just in front of the other. This is actually an excellent technique for lining up a cast accurately and also helps to ensure a straight rod path. However it is not the most comfortable positioning for everyday stillwater fishing in which case adopt an open stance.
- An open stance allows for freedom of movement and feels natural but be careful not to rotate the hips. Always keep in mind that we are trying to develop a straight rod path ….. get yourself comfortable and you should be well on the way! Check out this image which shows an open stance.
Fly Casting - Open Stance
- Now that we have a good foundation the next crucial element to address is the “grip” or as I prefer to term it “the hold”. Picking up the rod with relaxed hands is imperative to success, golf coaches call it “soft hands” and this most certainly applies to fly casting.
- There are a host of grips available but for general casting try placing the thumb on top of the rod, as per the image below.
A comfortable fly casting grip
- A good way to think about “holding” a fly rod is to imagine the grip you would use to pick up a screwdriver for example.
- Other ways to remember the grip include “a friendly handshake” or “using a tack hammer” …. we are not banging in 6″ nails!
The "screwdriver" fly rod grip
So there we have it, some extremely basic tips but the foundation to good casting nontheless and an all too often over looked element. Next time I will add some information regarding the formation of loops and good timing with a few excercises to help. Even if the playing field or garden doesnt inspire you then why not take 5 minutes out during your next fishing session to start developing your cast …. assuming there is no ice of course! With a little practice the techniques will become second nature and the results will speak for themselves.
Many thanks to Henry Gilbey for images used to illustrate this blog post. Check out more of Henrys work here
