February ’08

CONTENTS

contents

’’08 t 08 ’’

www.totalfl yfi sher.com

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08KEEP IT SIMPLE SIMON England international Simon Kidd tries his considerably expert hand at winter dry-fl y fi shing. Follow his hints and tips on how to make the most of any hatch at this time of year.

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FIGHT TO THE FINISH It’s a three-way battle this month, as a trio of hardened stillwater anglers aim to catch a variety of trout species in tough conditions. With browns, blues, rainbows and goldies to target, will any of them meet the challenge?

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POSTBAG Your news and comments on the wonderful world of fl y fi shing. Why not write to us to air your views?

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NEWS The latest gossip from the grapevine. Keep your fi nger on the pulse by checking TFF’s news pages.

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HAVE YOUR SAY Is British television’s latest craze for catching and cooking wild food a good thing for angling? Readers, contributors and TFF staff discuss...

TYER’ SGUIDEtyer’sguide

The number-one reservoir fl y? The Booby – p66.

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58DEADLY KILLERS Featuring killing patterns tied in easy-to-follow steps, here are three top fl ies that are must-haves in the fl y box. This month’s top fl y – the Dawson’s Olive.

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DESERT ISLAND FLIES With more England caps than you can shake a stick at – in both still and running water – Paul Davison shows us three fl ies that he couldn’t live without.

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TYING CHALLENGE Check out these top Cat’s Whisker variants from three nimble-fi ngered readers – they’re sure to bag you extra fi sh!

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GETTING STARTED If you’re new to fl y tying, it couldn’t be easier to get started with this in-depth, step-by-step, double-page spread. Learn all you need to know about tying the Booby.

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22KEEPING IT REAL Don’t for a minute think that cold weather means that lures are the only way to catch. Go down the imitative route and you’ll sharpen your skills and catch better trout along the way.

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SNOWBEE CHALLENGE Check out the pick of this month’s catches from all over the UK! If you’ve caught a fi sh that meets the challenge, send us a picture and you’ll receive a coveted badge!

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ASK THE PANEL If you have a fi shing problem that’s been bugging you, send it to the expert panel. If we print the answer, you’ll receive a cracking Greys prize into the bargain!

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FISH WITH FINNS Steve Munn heads for central Finland to do battle with the prodigious brown trout that inhabit some seriously rough water. Welcome to the The Kapeenkoski Rapids!

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HATCH, MATCH, CATCH It’s like an underwater woodlouse. It can be responsible for some unique feeding behaviour in trout. It can turn a blank day into a bumper one. Anglers, please give it up for the hoglouse!

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CJ’S SECRETS A hook’s a hook, right? Wrong! A fl y is the most important part of your tackle, and the hook is the most important part of the fl y. Charles Jardine explains all and makes choosing the best one for the job a whole lot easier.

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THE APPRENTICE Hywel Morgan takes his – not so young – apprentice to Meon Springs in Hampshire, to give him the lowdown on stalking his prey. It seems that fl y size really does matter, especially on pressured waters. PAGE

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RIG OF THE MONTH The Czechs pretty much revolutionised the way that we fi sh for winter grayling, thanks to their Czech Nymph technique. Here’s a quick rundown of the leader set-up for the job.

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£1,000 COMPETITION We’ve managed to get our hands on nine Wychwood Truefl y rods with reels and spare spools to match. To win a set, enter this fantastic competition.

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FANTASTIC SUBSCRIPTION OFFER! Sign up to TFF for 12 months and receive a free fl y reel!

MY SEASON Charles Jardine takes us to Farmoor Reservoir where he searches the depths with that Farmoor favourite the Booby, in search of some grown-on rainbows. Tagging along for the day is local legend and all-round nice guy Micky Bewick.

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FIVE-MINUTE INTERVIEW Demon fl y tyer and top Welsh fl y angler Shane Jones gets the TFF grilling in this month’s quick interview.

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venuesguide 70RATED OR SLATED? West Wales’ Shimano Felindre was one of the leading lights in big-fi sh stillwater angling, but how is it today? Does it still deserve its title as Wales’ number-one doubles water?

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CLASSIC WATERS The mighty River Tweed is known as by far the best salmon river in Britain and is, arguably, the fi nest for wild brown trout and giant grayling too. Ron Holloway looks into the past and present on this wonderful river system.

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THIS MONTH WE’VE FISHED Get hot tips for top days out and avoid disappointing sessions at grim venues! TFF contributors and readers give the lowdown on their recent trips.

Is Shimano still the premier big-fi sh water in Wales – p70.

www.totalfl yfi sher.com

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CONTENTS

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81PAGEtackleguide

GAME GEAR We take a close look at eight hot new products for the New Year that just beg you to part with your hard-earned cash.

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ON TEST A net is an essential item for any angler, but with hundreds of different types on the market, in all shapes and sizes, fi nding the right one for you can be a nightmare! Until now. . .

Looking for something new? Check out Game Gear on p81.

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