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Contents May 2006

Today’s flyfisher Next month’s issue on sale May 11th

8 In The Loop All the latest rumours, whispers and gossip from the fly fishing community.

12Letters Rants, raves and ramblings from the TFF readers’ postbag.

16 Troubleshooter Charles Jardine spends a day with reader Andy Tasker and explains just how versatile a floating line can be.

22Agent X This month’s trip brought with it subzero temperatures and sheets of ice. What did our reporter make of the renowned Park beat of the Dee?

28Once You Pop… Is this a fly style that’s going to take over? Carl Hutchinson reveals a fun method using America’s latest ‘poppers’.

34Casting School Glyn Freeman runs through the superb snap-T.

*NEW SERIES* 38Jim’s Small-Water Secrets Top Scottish stillwater angler Jim Crawford kicks off a great new series with a look at the latest flies to rely on.

*NEW SERIES* 45 to 51Used And Abused Here’s a rundown of kit making the grade following months of abuse at the hands of TFF!

52Tackle Monster Our monthly tackle roundup, including 16 of this month’s new gadgets and gizmos.

57Reader Review Honest thoughts from you on some of the latest kit. Why not join our tackle-testing team?

58Life’s A Beach Guide Austen Goldsmith lets us into the secrets of locating bass from the shore.

64Terrors Of The Tide Scotsman John Findlay travels to one of the east coast’s premier sea trout fisheries and learns the art of estuary fishing.

69£1,000 Shakespeare Competition We’ve got a load of great prizes this month – including these tackle bags from Shakespeare.

70Q&A Our experts spend time pondering over your fly fishing troubles.

76Success By Stealth Tim Smith takes to Draycote Water where he finds resident rainbows are not fooled easily.

84The Don Of Trout Rivers Pit your wits on the River Don. Check out the monsters that lie in wait!

90Stopwatch Challenge Now, this is what we call a challenge! Pike and perch fishing on the Grand Union Canal!

94 Subscription Offer

97£1,000 Cortland Competition Fancy the chance of a sparkling-new Cortland rod? Enter our competition – NOW!

100The Competition Scene TFF’s rumour-monger and lovable rogue Stuart Fraser gives us his monthly roundup.

104The Flies To Catch Fish May means fish bonanzas everywhere! Make the most of the madness with our top patterns.

*NEW SERIES* 109Tying Challenge Match the hatch and send us your creations – there’s kit in it for the winner every month!

110Tying Tricks A selection of tips to get you tying better flies. There’ a ‘herl’ of a good one in this issue (sorry)!

120Conservation Matters Anglersvoice.com gives us the latest news on the state of our waters.

121£1,000 Greys Competition Greys latest clothing is the business!

124Life Of A Flyfisher What’s your scariest fishing moment? John Bailey recalls some of his spine-tinglers.

13025 Quick Questions Steve Parton’s turn for a grilling.

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08 Today’s flyfisher May 2006 contents

16> Troubleshooter These days, many experienced anglers will try and tell you that you can’t go fishing without four tackle bags full of lines covering every sink rate under the sun. Wrong! Says Charles Jardine as he takes Andy Tasker to Warwickshire’s Heatchote Lakes Fishery. A floating line is the most versatile tool in your armoury; you just need to think about how to make use of it!

58> Life’s A Beach New face at TFF Austen Goldsmith lets us prospective saltwater bass anglers into his wealth of knowledge when it comes to finding the ultimate bass marks. It’s not rocket science, it’s just a question of doing your homework, getting the tides right and putting in the hours on the water. Get it right and it’s all worthwhile – landing one of the UK’s most exciting sportfish.

COVER STORY

<28 Once You Pop... Swiped from the American bass and panfish fraternity, the poppers that Carl Hutchinson came back to Blighty with have proven absolutely lethal for our stillwater and river trout. They look unbelievable, they are sure to find both fans and enemies among UK anglers, but no-one can argue that fishing with them is the most fun you can have in welly boots!

COVER STORY

<76 Success By Stealth Draycote Water is arguably the UK’s finest stillwater when it comes to late spring buzzer action. May sees the fish take to the surface in search of the emerging insect, and provides the thinking fly angler with the best dry-fly sport they are ever likely to encounter. This ain’t about stockie bashing; far from it. Book your boat today... but make sure you read this first!

COVER STORY