CONTENTS

6 Size Really Does Matter Have you ever approached a small water in winter using minute patterns instead of the usual large lures? Ben Bangham says a small-fly approach can be by far the best option.

12 Rutland Water, Last Year And This Year

COVER STORY

Cliff Waters reflects on the reservoir’s past. Was 2011 as tough as it seemed? We also look forward to opening day in 2012. 18 News TFF takes a look at all the relevant news and reports affecting the UK’s flyfishers.

22 Wild At Heart

COVER STORY

Paul Gaskell highlights the areas to look for when targeting large brown trout from UK rivers.

28 PostBag The letters pages are where everyone can have their say, whether it be good, bad or indifferent. Get a letter printed and you’ll win a great prize! 30 Stopwatch Challenge With a storm blowing in towards Drumbowie Reservoir, reducing fishing time dramatically, can young Calum Hardie succeed in the challenge?

36 Q&A Get in touch with our panel of experts – if you need a question answered they’ll do all that they can to help.

39 The Alder Alternative

COVER STORY

Nymphs can be very effective in spring, but normally buzzers rule the roost. However, Andy Taylor has an even better alternative, the highly effective Alder.

44 Wings Of Desire How did a teenage art student help Joseph Ludkin design a unique range of insect wings, which created a global demand for his Reel Wings Product?

04 TOTAL FLYFISHER CONTENTS

NEW SERIES 50 The River Fisher’s Fly Box Field biologist and fly fishing guide John Pearson lifts the lid on his fly box, where science meets tradition in the quest for the perfect selection of river flies throughout the season.

56 Fly-Tyer’s Guide Learn to how to tie something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

64 Flies With Pulling Power

COVER STORY

Ian Christie, one of the UK’s most progressive fly tyers, has some neat little Boobies to reveal. New materials mean more attractive patterns that the fish can’t resist!

68 Fly Tying With Flosses Flies with triggers, hotspots and tags can often outperform more conventional flies, and floss, in all its guises, is the ideal material for creating them.

NEW 70 Snowbee Challenge It’s back! Are you one of the lucky ones to have your fish featured – and win a great prize – in the brand-new Snowbee Challenge?

NEW MINI SERIES 74 Getting Started Fly fishing instructor Allan Sefton looks at the avenues available for anyone who’s looking to get into fly fishing – it’s easier than you think.

78 Total Tackle We review some of the hot new fishing and tying gear that can now be found at your local tackle shop.

83 Subscriptions Don’t miss your chance to subscribe to TFF and receive an amazing limitededition Total FlyFisher hip flask.

86 Greys £440 Rod Giveaway

WIN!

We have two of the stunning new Greys XF2 Competitor Special 10ft 7-wt fly rods, worth £219 each, to be won in this great competition.

88 Big Flies For Big Fish

COVER STORY

Paul Richardson is a firm believer that if you really want to catch big trout then you need to use a fly that’s a bit of a mouthful.

94 Diary Of A Novice Our novice angler, Jonathan Dooley, gets a small stillwater all to himself when he visits a secluded little Hampshire venue – the results are impressive!

98 Parton’s Parting Shot It appears to Steve Parton that the tackle in the olden days was far superior to the new-fangled technology we have now… honestly!

TOTALTOTAL

F R

APRIL 2012

Contents www.totalflyfisher.com 05