©

The Journal of The Grayling Society

Volume 27 - Number 6 • Winter 2017 © CONTENTS

The Official Journal of Editorial Bob Male 2 The Grayling Society 2017 Symposium Review 4

ISSN 1476-0061 Chairman’s Report 7 Free to all our Members in - 2017 Symposium Fishing Day Glyn Williams 9 Australia Lithuania Austria Luxembourg Putting Research Findings into Everyday Practice; Belgium Netherlands Conservation Physiology - Recent Catch Canada New Zealand China Norway and Release Research Les Jervis - GRT Trust 10 Czech Republic Poland Denmark Portugal Grayling Society 41st AGM Eire Scotland and Symposium Weekend Robert W. Milne 14 England Slovenia Finland Sweden 2017 Grayling Society Symposium Mark S. Sharp 16 France Switzerland Germany U. S. A. Important News for all Members Italy Wales - New Membership System Tim Taylor 18 Isle of Man Auction Fishing Report Keith Mallinson 19 Editor - Bob Male Telephone: 01722 503939 A Very Special Pool Peter Lane 20 e-mail: [email protected]

Advertising - Rod Calbrade Perdigon Nymph Richard Ellis 22 Subscriptions per annum: Full £28.00, Joint £47.00 Uttoxeter Fair 2017 24 Senior (over 70) £22.00 Junior (under 16) £5.00 Fly Tiers’ Corner Brian Clarke 26 Details available from the Membership Secretary A Day Not to Forget Stuart Johnson 27 Tim Taylor 86 Rushmore Road, London E5 0EX Old Love Never Dies Axel Wessolowski 28 Tel: 0207 2543704 Mob: 07818 427350 Email: [email protected] Eyesight Fading? Assistance Required! Steve Skuce 34 Design and Production Return to Alaska Peter Cockwill 38 Peter Silk Design e-mail: [email protected] AGM Minutes and Report & Accounts 40 Society Web Site www.graylingsociety.net Officers of the Society 44 © The Grayling Society, 2017 Printed by Cambrian Printers The copyright of all material in this edition of ‘Grayling’ remains with the Authors, or the Aberystwyth SY23 3TN Grayling Society, and may not be reproduced, by any means whatsoever, without the copyright holders written permission. The Grayling Society and members of the Executive Committee accept no responsibility for the accuracy of any article or advertisement herein Cover Illustration and no guarantee is given for any product or service being offered. Contributions, including “Only five travel companions means a lot of photographs or illustrations are always welcome, but the Society assumes no responsibility stretches of water just for yourself – in case for the safety of contributions, although all reasonable care will be taken. Views expressed you prefer some solitude.” – Axel Wessolowski by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor or of the Grayling Society. All enquiries (See his article “Old love never dies”) about articles in ‘Grayling’ should be addressed to the Editor. Grayling – Winter 2017 1 AGM and Symposium Bob Male To finish on a lighter note, the AGM and GENERAL SECRETARY Editorial Symposium went very well, and I was left with a feeling that the Society is in vigorous WANTED good health. Local Areas are getting more The Society is looking for a new General Secretary. active, our new on-line membership scheme Rod Calbrade joined the GS Committee in 1997, firstly as the Christmas looms again on the horizon, and I Salmon Farming will make life easier for members and for the Society’s Editor and in the last 4 years as its General Secretary. am reflecting on the Symposium. There used to On a broader front, there has been deep new Membership Secretary, Tim Taylor, who He is looking to retire from his General Secretary role next year. be a standing joke about the “curse of the concern for some time over the state of salmon has initiated this bold change. Our Facebook He is happy to carry on in the near future in handling part of the Symposium” that brought down foul weather on farming in Scotland. Recent information obtained pages are popular and reaching new General Secretary’s tasks of helping to organise and run the annual Symposium and thus he will be around at Committee whatever part of the country the Society chose by STCUK about sea-lice infestation in these potential members. Our links with the to host its annual bash. farms, which is known to have devastating meetings to help settle the new person in. Grayling Research Trust are strengthening, So we are looking for someone who can take over the We seemed to have dodged the curse for effects on wild stocks of salmon and sea trout, with a common website now up and running, organising and reporting of the 4 Committee meetings and several years, but 2017 was to see it return with has put the spotlight on a very serious situation. and a very welcome article by Les Jervis in the AGM which take place every year. a vengeance. I am not sure I like the idea of The salmon farming industry has a code of this issue. The Society’s Catalogue and an In recent months we have made great strides in minimizing naming storms, and it is hard to take seriously a practice, and the Scottish Government have set Order form are also included, and please the amount of work that the General Secretary does by re- storm called Brian! Sorry to any and all Brians out regulations for salmon farms, but it seems remember the Society when you choose your structuring the way in which we run the Committee meetings. out there, but I am of the sixties, and the Magic clear that guidelines contained in these codes Christmas presents. Thus it takes much less time for hi m / her to do it, and the Minutes can be distributed much more quickly to the Roundabout still figures in my happier are being flouted with impunity, with some farms All in all, much to celebrate, and may I, on Committee. memories. (Brian, for all you youngsters, was a having sea lice infestations many times the behalf of the Society, wish you all a very talking snail. I did say this was the sixties!) recommended level. The STCUK website will The other duties include looking after the Area Happy Christmas and New Year. Secretaries and general administration. Anyway, storm Brian was indeed serious, and show the awful details, but my own response If you feel that you would like to be involved with the the fishing was a washout unless you were canny was “what can I do about it?” Copy deadline for the Spring Journal is running of the Society in these exciting times, with an enough to bring trotting gear and look around Personally, I have boycotted all farmed salmon Friday 4th May 2018 energetic and enthusiastic Committee, contact Rod on 01706 for fishable spots. Read all about it in the excellent for some time now, and I contacted STCUK to 842890 or email: rod@calbrade .demon.co.uk articles that fellow members have sent in. ask if there were any sources of farmed Scottish I stayed at the hotel on the Sunday, and was salmon that I could buy with a clear conscience . very grateful to Dave Southall for giving an The answer was “no”. impromptu workshop on Italian style and the use of ultra-thin lines. We had a great session Trouble for us all? in the windy conditions, and David, who had I don’t fish for salmon, but I do fish for sea trout, experienced key-hole surgery for a heart occasionally in Scotland, and I do not want to see condition just a couple of days before, deserves the splendid wild fisheries that were once that thanks and respect for turning out to do a fine country’s pride damaged or even destroyed by presentation on the Saturday, as well as his industrial food production. This may sound like Sunday morning class. an old song, but we need to pressure My local Wessex rivers are looking very sorry governments and other agencies to change the for themselves just now, after another very dry current management rules. Do please follow up year. Levels and flows are extremely low, and it is on the STCUK links and see for yourselves. I am hard to find fishable spots. It still amazes me afraid that this policy of ignoring and where all the fish go when these contrary suppressing unpalatable environmental facts is conditions overtake them, but they have adapted becoming the norm, and that could spell trouble over many, many years of drought and flood, and for us all. must have their instinctive strategies to cope. The BTW, the latest piece of pseudo-green few grayling that I have caught recently have management is to net large numbers of young been in excellent condition, as have a couple of wrasse from southern coasts and ship them up to OOS trout, and I take this as an encouragement, be placed in the salmon farm cages to eat the but chalk aquifers take a long time to recharge, sea-lice. Why just damage one ecosystem when “The place where small rivers enter the larger one are hot spots. In this case we found a school of grayling and catching so we need rain, rain and more rain. with a bit of ingenuity you can damage two? them was almost too easy…” See more of Axel Wessolowski’s Swedish adventure on page 28.

2 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 3 2017 Symposium Review

Storm Brian is coming! The headlines in the papers and on TV news bulletins were spreading potential bad news during the preceding 3 or 4 days to the Symposium. Rivers were already high much to the annoyance of local anglers but we all arrived at the Ramada full of hope. Indeed the levels were beginning to drop slightly so there might be hope yet, we thought as we met in the bar at the hotel on the Friday night Saturday morning dawned bright as we made our way down to the Conference room. Further southwards Storm Brian had already made its mark and indeed our first speaker Mark Lloyd, C.E.O. of the was potted history of trotting and the equipment we nearly late due to a delayed train, but he need; finally propelling a float the full length of Symposium group photo! managed to arrive in the nick of time before the room much to the astonishment of the re-scheduling of talks took place. Mark, one of members present. Vote of Thanks to Robin Mulholland for all his heart, in what is probably the longest running the most committed members of the angling For the first time ever, we had the Grayling hard work on behalf the Trust before passing continuous grayling data source. community, gave us a complete rundown of the Research Trust in a morning slot. Newly over to Dr. Stephen Gregory who updated us Following that Louis Noble gave us an update activities and successes of the Angling Trust appointed Chairman Rich Cove gave us details on the work on the Wylye Grayling Study, now on the progress of Storm Brian with a very and its sister organization – “Fish Legal”. Their of the recent activities of the trust including the in its 22nd year and very close to Robin’s small amount of hope. hard work is certainly paying dividends and he fact that there will be more collaboration Lunch finally devoured, our principal speaker urged us all to join to ensure that their fight between the Grayling Society and the Dave Southall gave us an enthralling look into against a wide range of problems. Research Trust. That has manifested itself in the tactics and techniques and often-miniscule After tea were given one of the most recent times with the coming together of the flies he uses on a wide range of rivers, not to appreciated demonstrations. Alan Roe gave a two organisations’ websites. Rich also gave a mention the ways that Tenkara gear can be used to great effect. Those “Welsh Dee” experts, Louis Noble and Karl Humphries took us then on a visual trip up the Dee telling us of the great fishing that can be had in its waters, given the right conditions! Finally, Karl stayed on stage and took the members through the “Get Hooked on Fishing” scheme which he has been very involved with and which the GS has been sponsoring for the last year. The 41st AGM of the Society took place at quite a rate as computer problems had slowed proceedings down somewhat and we were eager to get back on track timewise as we needed to clear the room by 5pm for the Dinner. Rich Cove Mark Lloyd Dave Southall But outside Storm Brian had been doing its

4 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 5 worst and during the dinner Louis gave us the so the weekend was not a total washout. sad news that it would be a washout on Sunday. Storm Brian did in fact come and it caused So we did have some bad news eventually some sad faces and members packing up to after what had been our most successful go home early but at least our own Storming Symposium , both in terms of numbers of Brian – Brian Clarke had justifiably won the members present as well as the amount of Broughton Trophy for all his hard work and money taken for the auction lots, under the long service for the Society, it could not have constant banter of auctioneer Pat Stevens gone to a more deserving person. I was pleased to see an email on Monday A very warm thanks to all who took part in morning that a couple of hardy souls had found the Symposium, both on the stage and before the odd fish which was willing to give itself up and after the event. Chairman ’s Report 2 017

The Society is unlike most other associations paucity of Grayling fishing in his area, at least on related to fishing it would appear, keeping its rivers big enough to host the day so he has size of membership and even growing in terms “borrowed” the Dee. Sort of a honorary Mersey! Above and below: Alan makes it all look so easy! of those joining us at the annual symposium . We have also started to pick different hotels Whenever I am promoting membership of the to host the symposium. We used to pick hotels Society (at shows or just chatting to fellow a little like the typical GS member, friendly, anglers) the two biggest draws are the Area quirky, eccentric and charming! Sadly, they Secretaries’ fishing days and the Symposium, can’t cope with numbers (over a hundred this especially the chance to fish new rivers on the year) which meant we couldn’t all stay at the Sunday. The journals are, of course, welcomed same hotel, something which takes away the but there is such a plethora of information whole point of the weekend. So, both this year’s freely available, I feel that the printed medium Welsh meeting and next year’s weekend in the has so much to compete. The difference, of friendliest English area of all (Why aye man course, is that we are lucky to have some of the land of course) are in bigger hotels. They best Grayling anglers as our resource, our might lack the intimacy but I hope the fact we members. As I am sure we all know, every can cope with the increased numbers will person with a PC and internet access is now a compensate. world expert on any particular topic, I My only real concern is the demographic of remember my horror at reading a poster on the Society, we really do need to recruit more one of the biggest fly forums advising a fly reel women and juvenile anglers - all suggestions would be “fine” for long trotting! Pit y the welcome but maybe Karl Humphries’ work will frustration that advice would have brought. bear fruit, he is summarising this at the So with the fishing days and the symposium Symposium. helping both recruitment, retention but more Finally, our thoughts turn at this time of year importantly, reflecting the camaraderie of the to friends we have lost, if there is any justice in GS, a few minor changes have taken place. the next world, there is a grayling river with Above: Rob Mulholland presents the The Committee is encouraging all of the Area some fine anglers enjoying themselves President’s Reel to Brian Clarke Secretaries (at least the UK ones) to organise somewhere. fishing days for THEIR members. Barrie Tight lines, Rob Hartley Left: New Membership Secretary, Tim, browses on the Coch-y- Bonddu stall Davidson from Area 7 has complained about the October 2017

6 Grayling – Winter 2017 G r a y l i n g – W i n t e r 2 0 1 7 7 2017 Symposium Fishing day Glyn Williams

Whilst attending the symposium and catching there with good friend Dave Collins for an up with friends old and new the conversations inspection. The river looked a sorry sight both predictably turned to the fishing planned for coloured and roaring through and, after a brief the Sunday. Knowing what a superb river the inspection Dave decided to give it best and not Dee is everyone was really keen to fish. fish. I tackled up in the fierce downstream wind However, the weather gods as we know are and luckily had brought trotting gear and fickle and Grayling Society events are often worms which the beat allowed. cursed and this weekend was no different with Wandering upstream I found several very wild wet weather predicted. small patches of slightly slower water often just a depression in the bank; some only a few metres in length and within feet if the bank. I searched these with Plenty of interest at Cookshill, as always Paul enjoys a quiet moment float tackle and found there were fish in many of them and they were eager for worms! Suffice to say that I salvaged a fun day despite those conditions and caught 14 grayling up to 12” and 6 trout plus others lost. I do believe that my background definitely helped and I was really pleased to have made something despite ‘Brian’ spoiling things.

Much time was spent The new membership model, and Tim tells all Iain Baddeley received the Righyni-Roose Trophy regularly searching various devices for up to the minute reports and there was much speculation over how much rain we would get and where and when it would drop. Several anglers had not even brought any tackle with them so assured were they of bad river conditions. I had been allocated the Carrog beat and was keen to fish. Some of my intended beat partners were not so keen but I ended up driving 8 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 9 Putting Research Findings into Everyday Professor Cooke and two Canadian up to 30 minutes after air exposure before colleagues, Robert Lennox and Kim Whoriskey, blood samples were taken for the worked with Norwegian researchers Ian Mayer, measurement of pH, lactate, glucose and Angling Practice Torgeir Havn, Martin Johansen, Eva Thorstad sodium. The results were compared with and Ingebrigt Uglem from Trondheim and Oslo samples from baseline fish taken immediately Conservation Physiology - Recent Catch to examine the factors affecting the survival of after capture. All fish were assessed for reflex grayling after capture on rod and line (Lennox impairment after capture and after air and Release Research et al , 2016). The work was undertaken on the exposure, an important parameter as reflex sub-arctic River Lakselva in August 2014 using speed is important for predator avoidance. Les Jervis – GRT Trustee 3 – 4 weight rods, floating line, barbless J hooks, The main physiological increase in captured artificial flies and rubberised knotless landing fish was lactate (the compound that makes nets. The water temperature was 17 – 18 muscle ache after exercise and, in extreme The Grayling Research Trust is supported grayling research conducted in Europe, Asia, degrees. At higher temperatures, fish would be cases, seize up) but there was little effect on generously by Grayling Society members via Canada and North America. Like the UK more stressed and take longer to recover given glucose, pH or sodium. Stress impairment was annual subscriptions and the auction that takes research, much of this has longer term that oxygen is less soluble in warmer water. about 25% immediately after capture but this place at the AGM. In addition to funding potential benefits. Some however, has Fifty-two similar sized fish (32 +/- 4cm) were rose to about 30% after 10 second air research into various aspects of grayling, implications for immediate improvements in either landed quickly (less than 2 minutes) and exposure and 100% after two-minute exposure. including genetics, ecology, habitat, fisheries angling techniques. used as a baseline group or fished to exhaustion Not only was reflex impairment increased on management etc., the GRT supports students One of the most active groups researching the then divided into three groups that were air exposure, recovery was also prolonged at studying for MSc and PhD degrees. These are effects of angling on grayling and other subjected to different periods of air exposure. exposures beyond 10 seconds and recovery important, not only for the insights they bring salmonids is that of Professor Steven Cooke was still incomplete after 30 minutes resting to our understanding of grayling biology but based in Canada but with international links. Blood samples when air exposure was 2 minutes. also for building future research capacity. One such link with Norway has resulted The baseline group of fish was held in The capture event, when done to less than full Some of the research carried out on grayling recently in the publication of the first work on landing nets for unhooking and reflex exhaustion, was minimally stressful for the fish. leads to changes in the management practice practice directed specifically assessment. The other group was exposed to Prolonging the landing of fish until they were of grayling fisheries in the UK. For example, the at European grayling. This work is the focus of air for periods of time from 10 seconds to 2 exhausted led to further increases in lactate GRT co-sponsored research into UK grayling this article and details of the paper are given at minutes before being returned to the river in and recovery time. Optimum C&R practice would, population genetics has eventually led to the end. cylindrical bags with mesh at each end, to therefore, be for fairly rapid landing, unhooking changes in grayling stocking policy advice allow for adequate oxygenation, to recover. To in water without a net or in a non-abrasive High mortality given by the Environment Agency. measure stress responses, fish were kept for rubberised net, and photography, if necessary, Ongoing GRT-supported research into the Whilst C&R might seem to have obvious changes in grayling populations in the River benefits, research has shown it can lead to high Wylye over 20 years is leading to a better mortality and morbidity. In the case of understanding of the environmental factors that salmonids, the average post-release mortality THE PRESIDENT’S REEL affect population changes. Notably these has been estimated at about 15% - 1 in 6 of the The trophy is presented to an individual, or group, whether members of the include the effects of spring floods on egg and fish we catch die after release. This rate is very GS or not, from any worldwide location, who have carried out outstanding fry survival and the consequential changes in angler-dependent, with the best practice having works for the Society or the benefit of Grayling. The idea is to recognise the recruitment into older specimens and future under 1% mortality and the worst in excess of efforts of the ‘unsung heroes’ – members, conservationists, students etc. It is also a great opportunity to promote the Society and its aims. breeding. This latter work holds out the 50%. These figures obviously impact on Any member can nominate, so long as he/she is not the sole participant or promise of a better understanding of the conservation and C&R research is now referred beneficiary. Once again this can be a member or not. implications of warming and over-abstraction of to as conservation physiology. The nomination should be in writing, with supporting evidence, in order water from our rivers. Indeed, priorities for With such post-release mortality, it obviously that the President can make a credible decision. GRT support discussed at the recent GRT pays to take note of research findings and put The submission should be to Robin Mulholland, the President and, if he considers he needs to discuss the merits with anyone, or with the Committee, meeting in Wrexham included setting up them into our individual practice as soon as we that remains his sole decision. another long-term study on rain-fed rivers, the can. Estimating post-release morbidity is much The trophy will be presented at each AGM. effects of climate change and of avian more difficult but we have probably all The trophy will be held for ONE YEAR then returned to the PRO of the predation on grayling populations. encountered fish with fungal infections and Society for safekeeping and all applications must be received by 31st July in the year of award. In addition to the mainly UK research that damaged mouths caused by poor handling Robin Mulholland OBE, Knapp Cottage, 38/3 9 Corton, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 OSZ GRT supports there is, of course, much more and from poor release of barbed hooks. 10 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 11 in water or with a very short air exposure. the Cooke group look at the influence of that Steven Cooke and his colleague Andy could be of relevance to grayling, you may be Perhaps C&R should be modified to landing net mesh type on handling time and Danylchuk are deeply involved with an established researcher or a Masters or C&(Quick)R – except where fish need to be tissue damage of angled brook trout. From keepemwet.org. The keepemwet.org website Doctorate student and would like to write a revived before release because of excessive already published work, it seems likely that the puts advice in a much better way than I can short science-based article. If so, would you lactate acid build-up and/or higher water damage to fish, particularly lively fish, a but, whatever we do, we have to accept that like to give the readers of ‘Grayling’ your temperatures. landing net can inflict can be substantial, some fish, however carefully handled, will die perspective on any aspect of grayling biology, In other recent papers from the Cooke group, leading to post-release infection. My guess is post-release. The best we can do is always conservation, welfare? Please get in touch at different aspects of C&R have been that rubberized knotless nets will be shown to treat our quarry with respect and handle all [email protected]. investigated. Assisted ventilation to help cause the minimum damage but, where fish minimally and carefully. As Alan Roe said in Grayling Society members : if there are any captured fish recover before release possible, we should probably avoid net use his talk at the recent GS symposium in relevant science issues that you would like (Brownscombe et al 2017) showed some, but unless necessary to aid fish unhooking or Wrexham, grayling always give 110% when discussed, please also write to: not statistically significant, benefit for brook speed-up landing. It is already illegal in fighting. We should give back 110% trying to [email protected]. and someone from trout from manoeuvring the fish in a backward England, Scotland and Wales to use anything ensure their survival after release. GRT will attempt to answer. and forward manner to help oxygenation. other than knotless nets. Leisure angling References Further recovery American Fisheries Society All this applies to what is best called “leisure Full pdfs of all the above published papers can be The fish were often found to swim a short A recent editorial in the journal “Fisheries angling”. One major problem occurs in downloaded free of charge from: distance from the release point before settling Research” (Cooke et al , 2017), summarises the competitive grayling fishing when, in attempts to Cooke Lab Publication Page: http://www.fecpl.ca/publication/ on the river bottom for 10 minutes or more to outcomes of a meeting of the American catch more fish, some anglers throw-back fish 1 . Lennox R.J., Mayer I., Havn T.B., Johansen M.R., recover further. During this time, fish were Fisheries Society (August 2015) to discuss the as quickly as possible. Grayling, especially large Whoriskey K., Cooke S.J. , Thorstad E.B. and Uglem I. (2016). poorly prepared to avoid opportunistic current state of catch and release science and ones, that have been stressed by being played Boreal Environment Research 21: 461–470, 2016 predation (mostly by pike). One possibility practice in the 21st century. One of the more out for some time will, when released, turn Effects of recreational angling and air exposure on the considered was that holding the fish during notable patterns to emerge was that the belly-up and, unless grabbed gently and held physiological status and reflex impairment of European assisted recovery actually increased the stress behaviour of individual anglers has a major the right way up until fully recovered, inevitably grayling (Thymallus thymallus) level. If fish were actively respiring (opercula influence on the outcomes of C&R. That die when otherwise they would probably survive. 2. Brownscombe J.W., Parmar T.P., Almeida J., Giesbrecht E., opening and closing) any further assistance behaviour includes gear selection (e.g. hook All the C&R research in the world will fail to Batson J., Chen X., Wesch S., Ward T.D., O’Connor C.M., did not speed up oxygenation. Unfortunately, type, bait, leader and tippet strength), time and influence fish mortality rates and conservation Cooke S.J. (2017a). the period of air exposure was long (8 location of fishing (predator presence, season, unless the individual angler puts findings into Fisheries Research, (2017), 186(3), 619 – 624 minutes) and recovery was performed in tanks, depth) and how anglers interact with the fish practice. The difficulty is spreading best practice The efficacy of assisted ventilation techniques for facilitating the recovery of fish that are exhausted from not running water. Few anglers would dream of post-capture. The meeting concluded that it is outside the constituency of conservation simulated angling stress keeping a fish out of water for such a necessary to put the emphasis on the angler groups like the Grayling Society. Although the prolonged period and holding a recovering when conducting and applying C&R science – GS has its own Code of Practice, anything we 3. Brownscombe J.W., Danylchuk A.J., Chapman J.M., graying in running water is always the available “Inserting the Angler into Catch-and-Release as individuals can do to improve our own Gutowsky, L.F.G., Cooke S.J. (2017b). option. It was noted that fish recover much Angling Science and Practice”. practice and influence fellow anglers can only Fisheries Research, (2017), 186(3), 693 - 705: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2016.04.018 more quickly if the mouth is open, possibly The Cooke group has also published a paper be for the benefit of grayling conservation. Best practices for catch-and-release recreational fisheries – (though not suggested by Brownscombe et al ) recently, (Brownscombe et al, 2017b) angling tools and tactics Acknowledgments because flow of water through the buccal summarizing “Best practices for catch-and- 4. Cooke S.J. , Palensky L.Y., Danylchuk A.J. (2016). cavity helps to stimulate and regularise the release recreational fisheries – angling tools The suggestion for this article came out of Fisheries Research Editorial / Fisheries Research heart rate. This increases blood flow through and tactics”) from hooking through to recovery discussion at the annual GRT meeting held this 186 (2017) 599–600 the gills, improving re-oxygenation. techniques. The paper is too long to year in Wrexham along with the GS http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2016.10.015 Holding the mouth of a fish open whilst summarise adequately here but is freely Symposium and AGM. Thanks are due to Inserting the angler into catch-and-release angling science keeping it upright with minimal handling available on the Cooke Lab website and Malcolm Greenhalgh, Rich Cove, Ross and practice provided the fish is facing into the water written in very accessible terms. It merits Gardiner and Alan Swann for reading and 5. Lizee T.W., Lennox R.J., Ward T.D., Brownscombe J.W., current seems optimal for recovery. The small reading by all GS members. Many of these commenting on the manuscript. Chapman J.M., Danylchuk A.J., Nowell L.B., Cooke S.J. underslung mouth of grayling might make this practices are summarized on the North American Journal of Fisheries Management: difficult with smaller specimens but should be “keepemwet.org” website that can be Open Invitation In Press. feasible with larger, older, fish. This seems an accessed through the Grayling Society website Are you a Grayling Society member with a Influence of landing net mesh type on handling time and area for further research. and which already informs members of the science background? You may not be a GS tissue damage of angled brook trout. In a forthcoming paper (Lizee et al , in press), Grayling Society. It will come as little surprise member but are involved in research that 6. https://www.keepemwet.org 12 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 13 Grayling Society 41st AGM and but up in the hills near Bala had seen the Dee start to rise and colour up. Louis Noble and Karl Humphries who had helped organise the fishing Symposium Weekend and allocation of the fishing beats looked worried and that was not good, as no one knows these By Robert W. (Bob) Milne waters as well as these guys. Anyway to cut a long story short Louis updated us at the end of the I went down to Wrexham on Thursday 19th to go for it. When heading upstream I saw a fish Saturday night and the river had risen October to attend the Grayling Society’s 41st rise, the first one of the day and stood and dramatically and it would not only be difficult to AGM and Symposium. I was down early as I had watched but no more came up. I ran a nymph get a fish but could be dangerous to boot in many permission to fish a friend’s private beat of the through the swim without success so changed to Wrexham grayling stretches of the river. With this in mind and River Dee on the Friday although unfortunately he dry fly and covered the same water; fish on and to although reluctant a lot of us decided to take this could not make it himself due to work hand straight away. I had another go and I actually very exciting time when a Salmon took his small sound advice and we decided to check out of the commitments. I had fished this wonderful water saw the fish come up through the water to take Gammus Nymph! Roger saw it and estimated it at hotel one night early and call it time on the last year, this time, although there had been quite the fly, as it could have been no more than 3 feet 12 to 15lb, and after a spirited fight of quite some Sunday morning rather that the Monday. Some of a lot of rain I found the river in fair trim, quite clear from me (stealth at all times). It actually came time the light line parted. We were not a million the chaps gave some demos on the green behind and well fishable. down the river to the fly, not up and not miles away from each other, although I was across the hotel on Sunday morning and basically that I started off with a duo of nymphs and caught a backwards. This fish and the one before it the river, so we decided to meet up for a cheeky was it at least for me and "The Northern Lads who fish 2nd cast, even though it was tiny, very tiny absolutely hammered the fly and I had to use drink at a lovely pub by the river before we like to hold hands" as we have been called in the (yes my normal stamp of fish!) but hooked fair forceps to get the fly out. I had another 2 fish on headed back to the hotel where we were all past and no doubt now always will be. and square on the bottom nymph. I felt relieved as the dry before I decided to call it a day. So with 5 booked in for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. So yet another excellent weekend with the the pressure was off. It took a while to get back brace, 6 to nymph and 4 to dry, I was a very Friday night saw the hard core gather in the bar Grayling Society came to an end, many thanks amongst the fish but then I was getting fish fairly happy chappie. and then head into Wrexham for a night to sample must go to Barrie and Hazel Humphries and the regularly including another tiny one, 2 small ones Two of my friends and fellow Grayling Society the delights of this Welsh town. As usual we had Committee for organising a cracking event, a and 2 good ones although none were what I members, Roger Walker and Iain Gibb, had also great fun although this time around we had the shame about the fishing not taking place on the would call large. “Schoolies” if you will. I did lose travelled down to Wrexham early so they could Ruby at the start of our tour of hostelries rather Sunday but that’s the way it goes and a lot was a really big fish, typical isn't it? I decided to head fish the Friday and were fishing a different beat than the end. Our traditional Jagerbombs were learnt from the guest speakers and seeing the back to the car for a sarnie and pork pie and with further downstream that belonged to their club, replaced by a similar idea but called Skittlebombs wonderful people of the Grayling Society made it clouds looming I wasn't sure if I should have Prince Albert. They also had success with some on the advice of a local, very nice they were too. all worthwhile. Oh, and did I mention my 5 brace another crack at the river but I eventually decided Grayling and out of season spotties. Iain had a In one of the pubs we seemed to be quite of lovely “Ladies of the Stream” on the Friday ? enchanted by a big beast’s head stuck on the wall - perhaps it was the Skittlebomb effect. Saturday morning brought the AGM / Symposium and it was entertaining day with some good speakers including an excellent demonstration and explanation of the centre pin Wallis Cast, it’s not all you know. This year the Society organised a "Partners Day" and my good lady Kay joined with others and got on the bus and visited the National Trust property Erddig Hall, the trippers thought the day out to be excellent and a nice change from simply siting around in the hotel all day waiting for the Symposium to finish. The evening dinner was splendid and I managed to sit on my hands at the auction much to auctioneer Pat's dismay, never mind he said he would get me next year and no doubt he probably will! There were some great lots on offer however, and a lot of money was raised. The only downside on the day was the gathering clouds outside and the imminent arrival of Storm Iain Gibb and Rob Milne and “stag” [antelope? Ed.] Brian especially as the recent rain not only locally 14 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 15 fishing for grayling is worthy of the attention of all Aerial that’s seen better days but runs as 2017 Grayling Society Symposium but the most hide-bound and narrow-minded smoothly as any new ball-bearing model. purist – because having driven to the Bridge I am enthusiastically anticipating learning Martyn S Sharp Pool on the Welsh Dee at a place called new ways and hope that by the time we meet Glyndyfrdwy I couldn’t see anything wrong with again at the 2018 symposium I’ll be able to fly I joined the Society last year after spending the Sunday looked increasingly at risk. Now I the river level. Even without the benefit of a fish on the Sunday. I do however encourage the an enjoyable day’s guided fishing with Steve have to say that one of the big attractions of the Wallis Cast (though I have to admit the technique fly fishermen (who I’m sure are not all narrow Skuce on the Wylie in Wiltshire; I have caught annual symposium to me was the opportunity would have been useful with all the bloody trees minded purists) to come equipped to trot the Grayling on the Nith in South West Scotland of having a go on a river I had never seen over every swim), I managed to catch four stream if that’s the technique for the day - and the Eden around Carlisle. I am primarily a before let alone fished, so I was encouraged Grayling and two Trout – nothing big, but a lovely catching fish is the important thing after all. coarse angler and have never fished for when Louis told me that regardless of changing three hours or so. They all came to trotted Thanks to those who arranged the annual event Grayling with a fly; we’ll come back to that. conditions I’d have no problem trotting. That brandling on a 14 hook under a Righyni float and everyone who manage the Grayling Society. My wife is a teacher, so when I suggested a made the whole fly fishing stuff even more using my favourite reel, an old Alcocks Match It is a well run and high quality organisation. weekend away in a nice hotel at the start of the confusing but again, we’ll come back to that. October half- The symposium term holiday dinner was great ‘Friends’ of the Grayling Society where she could – good food (the Please give our TRADE MEMBERS be low your full support when considering making a purchase of , relax away from Wrexham clothing and accessories or materials. the hardships of Ramada really academia, she was excellent), TRADE MEMBERS readily bought great company COOKSHILL FLY TYING FUNKY FLYTYING THE ESSENTIAL FLY into the idea. As and an auction of Tel: 01782 388382 Funky Products Ltd, Unit 1, Rowan Lodge, 35B Bondgate, Selby, Mobile: 07932 653492 Old Engineers Workshops, Taunton North Yorkshire YO8 3LX it turned out the donated items [email protected] Station, Taunton, Somerset TA1 1QP Tel: +44( 0)1757 333003 venue for the including guided www.cookshill-flytying.co.uk Tel: 01823 617373 Tel: USA: 212-796-0874 [email protected] www.theessentialfly.com symposium fishing days with www.funkyflytying.co.uk exceeded all experts in the FISHING MATTERS VENIARDS Fly tying tools and materials 69 Gloucester Road, Croydon, expectations and field. As it Unit 3, Lawrence House Yard, GREENTREE LIMITED Wincanton,Somerset BA9 9EB Greentree Landscape Management Ltd, Surrey, CR9 2DD Mrs Sharp was happened I sat Tel: 01963 31623 164 Carterknowle Road, Tel: 0208 684 2288 [email protected] www.veniard.com happy (which to next to Stuart [email protected] Sheffield S7 2EA www.fishing matters.biz Tel: 0114 221 9153 be honest was Wardle from Mob: 0779 38 38 996 WODENCROFT FARM COTTAGES Wodencroft Farm Cottage, Cotherstone, about the single Area 11 at the [email protected] FLY TEK FLY FISHING www.greentreelimited.co.uk Barnard Castle, most important element of the weekend). dinner and successfully bid for a day with him County Durham DL12 9UQ Tel: 01772 684003 SPORTING SCENE Tel: 01833 650909 I have to say I am new to all this and much of next year – which brings me back to the fly Mobile: 07788 427560 Tel: 01691 791888 Mobile: 07595 758668 the fly-related content of the event went over my fishing bit. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.sporting-scene.com www.wodencroftholidaycottages.co.uk head. However even with my ignorance it was It has to be said that I am intrigued by the clear that the symposium weekend was a well whole fly fishing scene. I appreciate that it’s CORPORATE MEMBERS run and high quality affair. We had speakers difficult to believe, but despite my youthful such as Mark Lloyd from the Angling Trust, appearance I will be 60 in a few weeks’ time. CAERSWS ANGLING ASSOCIATION DEVON SCHOOL OF FLY FISHING TEWIN FLYFISHING CLUB Stephen Gregory and Rich Cove from the From the age of about seven I have fished on & Tel: 01686 688196 Tel: 07780 530953 Tel: 07599 511733 [email protected] [email protected] www.dsoff.com [email protected] Grayling Research Trust and David Southall who off both coarse and sea but I have only ever www.caersws-aa.co.uk www.tewinflyfishingclub.wordpress.com is obviously an expert at fly fishing. We also had handled a fly rod once; from what I recall it was NORBURY FISHING CLUB WALTONIAN ANGLING CLUB Louis Noble and Karl Humphries, two locals with on a gravel pit, I made it up as I went along and CORWEN & DISTRICT ANGLING CLUB Tel: 01245 403049 Tel: 07716 489620 Tel: 01142 584995 [email protected] [email protected] in-depth knowledge of the River Dee. Highlight it was a waste of time. Now I am keen to try [email protected] www.norburyfishingclub.co.uk for a commoner like me was Alan Roe who again – not only have I got a trip to the north www.corwenanddistrictanglingclub.co.uk www.thewaltonians.co.uk spoke at length on trotting tackle for Grayling east planned later in 2018, my good friend DERWENT ANGLER'S CLUB PENCOED ANGLING CLUB WILTON FLY FISHING CLUB Fishing and ended-up giving an impressive from Cambridgeshire Paul Heavens has invited Tel: 01723 374755 Tel: 01656 863699 Tel: 01985 841192 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] presentation on Wallis Casting (Blimey!). me to learn at Grafam Water. I shall www.derwentanglers.com www.padac.org.uk www.wiltonffc.co.uk The down-side to all this interesting stuff of give it a go and see what I can do. Nevertheless course was the news from Louis Noble that I shall try and keep it in context and bear in Full details of Trade and Corporate Membership can be obtained from the Editor river levels were on the up and that fishing on mind what it says on the Society web-site - Bait

16 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 17 Senior membership, please contact I am a trade or corporate Member and need Important News for all Members membership@grayling society.net an Invoice? with you date of birth and we can move you to We are not VAT registered as a society. The the correct membership category. There is no system will automatically email you a renewal New Membership System need to re-join. notification which has sufficient details to hand If there are other problem, it could be a over to your accountant or book keeper as Welcome to the Grayling Society’s new Society home page. migration issue use the same email to let us record of the expense. membership system. We have set you up an Your username for your online account will be know problems. online account where you can check your your email. When logging in for the first time, How will details appear on my bank statement? membership information is correct and make you will need to create a password. Follow the I have received other emails from the society Payments will appear on your Credit Card / your annual membership payments. on-screen instructions. but nothing about the system? Bank statement as Pay Here Ltd. This is the legal Our existing system isn’t coping with a Please login, check your details and setup a Mail from the system is sent out from entity which PaySubsOnline.com, the service we membership of over 1,000 and we need to move new direct debit ready for subscription renewal [email protected]. The mail may have use to manage our membership and payments, the Society bank account away from TSB. The in January 2018. Once you have done this please gone into your spam folder. Please check this trades under. new system makes this process easier. It allows cancel your existing standing order with your bank. folder and mark and mails you find as not spam, us to take both Direct Debit and Card payments It also helps add mail@paysubsonline to you Are my bank details safe? for new and existing membership. Card Win a reel! online address book via webmail, or add this All bank detail are not held on the Society payments are particularly useful for our We appreciate you moving your payment address to you Safe Senders list. You email Membership system but by GoCardless. international membership of close to 200. The method and helping The Grayling Society provider with have a help pages that tell you Gocardeless is the biggest direct debit provider new systems will allow us to manage events and become more efficient. As an added bonus all how to do this, and there are links on the in the country supplying its services to the create a Members Area where we will look to members who set up direct debits before the 1st society’s web page. Government and utilities such as Gas water roll out additional content in the near future. Most January 2018 will be entered into a draw. and telecoms companies. It is highly likely that is importantly it keeps your details secure, allows We have two rod reel Combos to win: A Sierra I currently pay in June, why is renewal in you have set up a direct debit they will have you to control your personal information and if Nano ADT 9’ 4 piece 5 weight and a CrazyRiver January? your details. Go cardless is regulated by the you move or change email you can update this 7’ two piece 3 weight, both with matching reel You have been benefitting from paying late, same authority as UK Banks, Financial Conduct online. You can still email me if this is a problem and line. Subscription year is January – December, only Authority. As such it has to used the same level of security and encryption that banks used when at [email protected] Tight lines, Tim Taylor 10% of our membership paid outside of January. Our rules haven’t changed since 2008 and can be they access your details over the internet Branch The system provider, Paysubsonline.com, look Membership Secretary found on the Join the Society page of the website. to head office. after membership details for hundreds of The Grayling Society membership organisations. For direct debits they [email protected] partner with GoCardless, who are the biggest Direct Debit processor in the UK, and with Paypal.com for Card payments. You don’t need a FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Auction Fishing Report Paypal account to use this feature. Keith Mallinson I can’t seem to login with my email? New members attracted It’s probably we haven’t got your email or it could A day with Mr Bob Perrot on the Dunning beat of the river Earn Since the systems launch in early October we have been typed incorrectly in the past. (Lot 105, purchased last year at the symposium) have had 40 new members join, as many as had Please email: [email protected] joined in the previous 9 months. Over 200 with your name address and membership We arrived at the river bridge at 9.30am as leader and casting again for a while, but members have logged in and check their details number if you have it and Tim will fix. arranged, tackled up, and walked to the beat nothing doing. So we walk back to the bridge and set up new payment methods, in response to 250 yards up river. A dig around with the this helps to get the circulation going again my previous emails. I don’t have email can I still be a member? wading staff and into casting position. This after standing in the river. We pass under the We still have 220 members who have not Of course you can, please get in contact with was harder than usual as the river was running bridge to a smoother deeper stretch and wade registered an email with the society. Giving us Tim Taylor on 07818427350. a bit high. in to position. A nice new leader and a fresh your email allows us to be more efficient in A bead to slow the line down and start fly, several casts and bump into a pound communicating with you about event in your area I don’t do online banking - how do I pay? fishing. After a while a small trout obliged grayling. Fit and fighting, it is netted and a and society news. It will slow the rate at which we We will retain a limited use of other payment then a parr, and I manage to shake couple photo taken with my hands in the way. All fish will have to increase membership in the future method only for existing members. You need to more off. We move 20 yards and Bob kindly safely returned and at 3.15 I call it a good day. due to increasing cost. contact [email protected] or call Tim Taylor on 07818427350. fixed me up with a heavy tungsten bead, and I can’t thank Bob enough for his efforts on my Accessing the system after three or four casts – bingo! - a 7oz behalf and recommend members to try the You can access your online account by clicking My membership category is wrong? grayling. A decent tangle and a replacement auction at this year’s symposium. on the Members login link on The Grayling If you are now old enough to benefit from

18 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 18 show against the gravel bottom. Why not a few flies will be lost on the way. It’s called fishing! of both? And they must be heavier than the We normally each take the top/bottom of the A VERY SPECIAL POOL standard tungsten but no bigger than a size beat and change after lunch but Chris was Peter Lane 12. A 10 if the weight proved insufficient. keen to see what would happen, having In due course and several pints later I experienced the same issues himself. The fish Sometimes, an exasperating fishing undercut. But it is towards the tail, where the collected my flies. Some size 12 in the were there! We crouched, back from the bank, experience won’t let go. You ponder the flow swings and the water deepens, that fish prescribed colours were produced, and then and in went the heavy size 12 trundling along difficulties while fumbling for a solution that is congregate. Because we are looking into the some 10s. The difference was noticeable but way too far above their heads. I swore! The 10, not readily apparent. You finish your day on river following the current diagonally, the fish both were significantly heavier than tungsten – being noticeably heavier, was exchanged and the water frustrated, perplexed, but equally appear at an identical angle to the flow, sitting the majority of the dressing being bulk, swam perfectly towards our quarry. A white determined to “crack it”. Sadly, deep into the full on into the current, and presenting fashioned from lead strip and heavy copper blink; a twitch of the body, rod up and fish on! night, you probably dream of that little pool to themselves to the angler “face first” and with a wire, overshot with a thin run of picked out A lovely brownie, fin perfect and around one the detriment of those around you! Others flash of flank to our right. Irrespective of dubbed seal, and finished with a raffia and a half pounds slid over the rim of the net. have tried and failed or given up. You know whether they are dormant or nymphing “on shellback and heavy copper rib. In fact, very Barbless hook removed and fish returned the fish are there – you can see them, highly the fin”, these fish are always deep. And they similar to the patterns currently being used immediately. The fish were flustered but still visible 2 metres or so beneath the surface share their home with brown trout. Behind when nymphing for chalk stream salmon. there. I rested the pool for 10 minutes or so from which they almost certainly sip their them the bed starts to rise and continues on and continued to watch as “my” fish took up supper when you have left for home, an upward journey to the pool tail. They Day of reckoning station again. I managed two lovely “ladies” searching en route for a cat to kick! And no perceive safety. The day of reckoning dawned, I collected my before the pool spooked. Maybe worth a try doubt, they can see you! The pool surface fishing buddy, and we made our way to the for Chris this afternoon. Oh yes – the undercut Battling the current catches the low morning sun throwing its’ rays water. I never fish this stretch with leaders bank immediately below the little weir in a myriad directions, deflected by the The issue then is how to reach them without much longer than 1.5 metres (5 feet) because I produced as well using slightly different complex currents that twist and swirl on its the current taking hold of the fly and tossing it want quick turnover and pinpoint accuracy to tactics. The shrimp was catapulted as close to surface, sharing the effect with pristine gravel in an upward trajectory before reaching the get under far side trees and into the pots that the weir sill as I could get it, and no more than beneath our quarry. The presence of grass fish holding area. Tungsten won’t cut it, the so often are overlooked but more often than not about 150mm of my 3 weight fly line was and nettles at the water’s edge is testimony to current sweeps it through too fast and too hold fish. Increase the leader length and “allowed” to lay on the surface with my rod a pool that normally, is passed up as too high, and I get on too well with the keeper to decrease the level of accuracy. I am also far held parallel to the water tracking it’s path. I difficult, or not worth wasting time on. Or just even think about swanshotting a couple of better in touch with a short leader than was fishing blind but on its’ trundle, the fly line “giving it a quick flick”. Trees get in the way. maggots! Perish the thought! So a bit of lateral something longer waving around in the current moved just a few millimetres and I lifted into Probably why the fish are there! Well, I know thinking is required. Dunking a very heavy fly reducing my ability to feel fish. (I can imagine another fish. Quite magical! just such a pool! And I have, by adapting with no fly line on the water and rod well up to short intakes of breath by readers who may not I’ve subsequently fished this little pool using methods that are well tested, had a degree of stay in touch seems worth a try. Czech have fished with such short leaders, but I catch the same tactics and a pattern has developed. success in working out how best to capture its’ nymphing plus! Keep well down; back from fish and have not experienced any detrimental I’ve only ever had one fish from the undercut – inhabitants. the water’s edge, and catapult the fly as close effects. I make a point of using fly lines that sometimes none - and always managed to Imagine a little river of around 20 metres or to the head of the pool as possible so that the echo the colour of surface detritus that fish are spook the pool after a couple of fish. But these so wide, with – at the head of our pool – a full trajectory coincides with the level at which fish used to seeing, so moss green fits the bill for are fish I wouldn’t have taken conventionally, so width weir of no more than 150mm high. In are holding. I have a friend who ties me. Orange doesn’t!) There are anglers who it’s been a bonus! For me, half the fun of effect, a man made feature utilising large stone enthusiastically anything from a size 20 forsake these places because they’re fishing is “working it out”. So until I encounter slabs. The river runs left/ right. Above it, fast Griffiths gnat to an 8inch pike contraption, so a perceived as being too difficult to fish but they another seemingly impossible problem, the - streamy ranunculus-strewn water feeds our pint was winging its way in his direction. My have to be tried and we have to accept that cats en route to the car park are safe! pool with some force, the main push coming brief was simple. It must be a shrimp. On this off my bank with quieter water beyond. The water they are taken with gusto because they pool is no more than 10 metres long, and look like something they have seen and eaten towards its’ tail, the water deepens; swings 45 without consequence before. Their form is a ARTICLES WANTED degrees towards the far bank to shallow up concentrated mass – no tails or hackles to There is always a need for material for the Society’s publications, both the Newsletter and the Journal. and continue into a glide. Off my bank and impede their fall. And green/ grey would be The editor will welcome anything that relates to your experiences of grayling and their habitats. Words or pictures are immediately below the weir sill, the water great but would I be able to track their welcome, concerning places fished, new or familiar flies tied and used, tales of anglers from the past, or your own undercuts the bank and deepens. I have progress 2 metres down and travelling away observations on grayling and grayling fishing in general. always assumed that there are unseen fish from me. A dull pinky beige – a bit like the Contact the Editor, Bob Male, by any means you wish. All contributions are gratefully received. here, safe in the scoop created by the master’s Killer Bug would work, but would it

20 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 21 Perdigon Nymph Richard Ellis

Fly patterns come in and out of fashion with time. The perdigon nymph is one that seems to be coming into fashion for grayling fishing with more and more articles on the Internet. The fly originates in Southern France and Northern Add the wingcase with a dab of black nail These flies are designed to sink quickly and Spain but has most recently been made popular Tie on the body material and build a carrot varnish. pass through the water column. If you want to use by Spanish anglers. It is designed to get down shaped body. Secure the body quill with a whip them on slower flowing waters then use a lighter deep in fast flowing water. The variants you can finish. This is a delicate material so two turns in bead and add some fibres at the head to tie are endless making it a good choice of fly for the whip finish will be fine especially as you will represent legs which will slow down the sink rate. both beginner and experienced tyer as you are coat the whole fly with resin. To tie this slower sinking variant, get to the not constrained by material availability. stage below. There is no need to put in a hot The name perdigon literally translates as pellet spot for this fly variant as the thread used to and these flies have a number of characteristics attach the legs will add it. some of which clearly aid the fly in sinking. The pattern most usually has: G An oversized bead G A tail Cover the whole body with UV resin and cure, G A smooth body G A hotspot finalising with a coat of nail vanish to avoid any tacky feeling. You can also use liquid fusion glue, Materials list which is water based and takes around 2 hours to Hook Jig barbless size 14-18 dry. This benefits from drying the fly on a rotary Bead Tungsten 3.5mm for #14 hook Rib the fly in open turns and secure the wire fly dryer. Even more simply you can coat the fly in Tail Coq de Leon with the thread. clear nail varnish though you will need several Thread GSP coats making it a time-consuming process. Rib Wire 0.18 green Once you have reached this stage add some Body Nymph it or body quill olive Variants partridge fibres as legs with a contrasting Hot spot Nymph it or body quill orange The only limit to the variants you can produce is thread to give a hot spot. Wingcase Nail varnish black your imagination. I have detailed a few patterns... Body cover UV resin or similar Tying Sequence Place the bead on the hook and place the hook in the vice. If you want to add extra weight a few turns of lead wire can be placed behind the bead. Otherwise secure the thread and tie in the tail. Coq de Leon is quite a fine material so 10-12 barbs will be fine. To flare the tail take the thread under the tail and then back up the shank.

Richard Ellis is a member of Area 2 of the Grayling Society. He blogs at: www.fliesandties.wordpress.com and has written the e-book Inspiring ties: Tie in the wire rib and return the thread to the Tie in the hotspot material and build up a Grayling flies which is available for download bead and secure with a whip finish. hotspot. from Blurb. All profits go to the RNLI.

22 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 23 Plenty of interest on the demonstration stands

Plenty of interest on the Society's Stand Peter demonstrating a nymph tying Uttoxeter Fair 2017

Brian adding to his fly collection

Above: A very important reminder Right: Angling Clubs and Associations Stuart Croft and Brian encouraging the new enthusiasts well represented 24 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 25 Abstract Caddis (My version) Brian Clarke Fly Tiers’ This is one of the many flies invented by Stuart Crofts. As can be seen it is a simply tied but very effective imitation of a hatching Corner or egg laying Caddis. Hook: Partridge SLD #14 or 16. Body: Fine Olive dubbing. Head and wing: Fawn antron. Legs: Fawn C.D.C. Method 1 Tie on and run the thread down the hook shank. 2 Dub on the thread and wind down to the head. 3 Tie in the antron bow tie fashion. 4 Wind on the CDC for the legs. 5 Stroke down the CDC, pull the antron back to form a wing, bind down and whip finish to form a head / thorax. 6 Cut the wing to length FlyTek Fly Fishing

Marryat Tactical Rods and the new Tactical Peacock Eye Quills , stripped and dyed, packs Pro Nymph Special 10ft 6in #3wt in stock. of 25 in natural, brown, crimson, ginger, golden olive, olive, orange, pink, red, yellow, £3.10 Bidoz tungsten shrimp bodies in 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm in gold metallic Varivas hooks, tapered leaders and tippets. grey, olive, orange. HMH vices and accessories. Tungsten beads in 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.4mm, 2.8mm, 3.3mm, 3.8mm diameter in black, Petitjean and Marryat fly tying tools and copper, gold, silver, chartreuse, light green, olive, CDC. orange, pink, red, white and 4.6mm, 5.5mm in black, copper, gold, silver. PARTRIDGE Metallic colour finish brass beads in NEW Patriot barbless ranges of 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.4mm, 2.8mm, 3.3mm, 3.8mm, 4.6mm diameter; colours blue, brown, green, Trout/Grayling hooks stocked and Tippet pink, purple, red. Rings in 1mm, 2mm & 3mm Benecchi threads, head cement and micro chenille, Enrico Puglisi fibres and eyes, Hareline superfine and ice dubbings and a lot more…. WEBSITE NOW ACTIVE To order or to check further details contact Pat AGAIN 01695 359935 • email: [email protected] • www.flytek.co.uk

26 Grayling – Winter 2017

Grayling – Winter 2010 Grayling – Winter 2010 Grayling – Winter 2010 Grayling – Winter 2010

aayy nnoott AA dd ggeett ttoo ffoorr Stuart Johnson

Area 12 - Chris Thomas Scotland I had been fishing my Area 11 - Stuart Wardle favourite stretch of the Co. Durham, Tyne & Wear Dove for about an hour, & Northumberland Czech style, with not a

Area 10 - Alan Swann great deal of success. Lancashire, Merseyside, Cumbria, The river was crystal A personal best safely in the net Greater Manchester & Isle of Man clear and the bottom scoured as if with a Brillo pad by the recent head sank I could feel my heart pounding, Area 9 - Steve Rhodes West, East & North Yorkshire storms. I came to the conclusion that I must be “you idiot, you made a mess of that – you did spooking the fish so decided to fish at a not deserve that fish the way you went about Area 8 - Brian Clarke greater distance than I normally would - instant it”, I thought to myself. Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Norfolk result, started to catch! I sat there for a minute or so and began to I came to a likely looking pool, cast up into console myself, I can come back another day Area 7 - Barrie Davidson the crease between the fast and slow flow a few and have another go. Saturday, yes Saturday. I Wirral & Cheshire times then bang into a very big grayling. The strolled up the river to fish a few more pools Area 6 - John Walker power was immense, head banging, the works. but suddenly my heart was not in it. I wanted to Gwynedd & Clwyd Gently guided to the net, not too much go back and try again. No, leave it - let it rest pressure but enough to keep a connection - an hour, there’s no chance today anyway, I Area 5 - Paul Deaville Leicestershire, West Midlands, Staffordshire, this was going to be my PB! Then it all went need to forget about it and move on. Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire & Suffolk wrong - the dropper caught in the net and he After an hour, back to the pool on my way was gone in an instant. I sat on the bank my back to the car. A couple of casts working my Area 4 - Roger Smith Hereford, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, way up to the spot. Nothing, then Warwickshire, Shropshire & Powys bang! - off we go again. The power was immense, what with the head Area 14 - Geoff Bevan banging that big fish are not supposed Dyfed, Gwent, West, Mid & South Glamorgan to do; ( I know now to keep the rod tip Area 3 - Gavin Keegan low to stop this). I bullied him as best I London, Kent, Essex, Middlesex, could with my 3wt. rod and 0.16 tippet Hertfordshire, East Sussex (normally .10). Luckily no major flow Area 2 - Alex for him to raise his fin, get his head Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, up, not this time then he was in the Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Sussex & Wiltshire net. It wasn’t graceful, but he was in. Area 1 - Mark Hamnett Quick photos and weighed- PB at Devon, Cornwall, Dorset & Somerset 2lb 14oz, then some time reviving in the water and off he went, 20 mins before I had the weight of the world on my shoulders now I was almost Time to release skipping back to the carpark - that’s fishing.

SALES CATALOGUE Grayling – Winter 2017 27 Old love never dies

In Kiruna you should visit the small, but well made exhibition about Your cab awaits you! You can either hike into the Sami culture. Actually, the museum is housed in the basement of a fell or you fly by helicopter. The latter offers more Sami managed hotel. loading capacity and stunning views.

experiencing some of the best grayling fishing. it took me so long to return? For many years I Luckily, my fellow travellers made good focussed on countries bloody far away, e. g. company and we all enjoyed this trip. For our New Zealand (don't get me wrong, it's a personal tents were all set up close to the river, fantastic place to be!), but suddenly it there was always time for a few casts more and appeared to me, that there is no need to seek After too many years of absence Grayling Society member Axel Wessolowski flew to the chance of another fish; and because we personal happiness in the distance – why travel the fell rivers in Swedish Sápmi. A small adventure, which came up with fantastic were in the land of the midnight sun, fishing is far when you have it all in your own fishing opportunities and additionally, gave him the chance to pick up threads of a possible 24 hours a day! ”backyard“?! long forgotten affection. Do you know the feeling when you meet a So, I guess it is absolutely true: old love never person you used to know very well, but you dies and it is always absolutely worth to take a haven't seen for a very long time? And after the risk and to spark a new interest for an old 5The last time I visited Sweden was in my late guides, and their 4x4 – which surely had seen first nervousness and doubts you realize, that flame ... twenties, when I had the chance to work in better days, but was going strong still. Finally, nothing really has changed and a comfortable For more information and booking visit Stockholm. But I never really went further up our small group of five fly-fishermen boarded a feeling washes away all negative thoughts. This northflyfishing.com or write to North, like I planned to do during my last real helicopter, which brought us to a spot in the is, at least, how I felt and I kept wondering why [email protected]. travelling when I was nineteen. A couple of Swedish fell, where we would stay for the next friends and I were heading to Tromsø, Norway. couple of days. We never made it. Bad weather made us leave And these days Norway's coast on Trondheim's latitude and we were just great: crossed the border to Sweden, where we went not only proved South again ... Timo and Joni So, sitting in plane, which just had traversed themselves to be the polar circle, made me feel excited. I was excellent guides, going to the ”real North“, to Sápmi or they are also fine Samiland, as it is called by the indigenous chefs. Thus this people of Scandinavia. When the plane ”adventure“ of touched down in Kiruna, a mining city, I already mine turned out had seen many rivers and lakes from my to be just airplane's window. And each of these waters fantastic, with might hold grayling! backcountry After a couple of days, which I stayed in camping, fishing Kiruna, so I had some time on my own and get in solitude, Each travel companion got his own tent, which acquainted with Sami culture and talk to the discovering the Sami arts and crafts is closely is in the fell a real luxury. A large lávvu (tepee- local fly fishing shop assistants, eventually I was flora of the Arctic connected to reindeers and 2 a.m. at the campsite. North of the Polar circle the sun does not really like tent) was the centre of our camp, where picked up by Timo and Joni, the fly fishing fell and birchwood. vanish, thus creating the most beautiful coloured landscapes. we ate and sought shelter from the rain.

28 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 29 The fishing spot at the campsite. It might seem just flat, but when wading you will realize the many pools and runs.

The Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum versipelle) Although there was quite often some is considered to be a good edible mushroom, surface activity to be seen, fishing but we did not find many of these. the dry fly was not very successful and most fish were caught on deep sinking nymphs.

Separated at birth, brothers in mind: Finnish-German guide Timo, Finnish guide Joni and grayling enthusiast Axel (from left to right).

What a catch! Grayling larger than fifty centimetres are special and a particular experience.

In the cold, oxygen rich waters the grayling don't give up too easily and you have always be prepared for another flight.

Many great grayling patterns, especially the ones with One of many: this grayling was of average size and was released. colourful beads. 30 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 31 Grayling are nice to look at and they You are left to fish and everything Tested in the field: if you are going to visit Samiland make sure your equipment stands up to the test. Stones and boulders, make a great dish. Timo and Joni else is taking care by your fishing bogs, and six foot tall bushes demand a lot. being fantastic cooks, served always guides. They are “river smart” and delicious meals. will always hint you in the right direction.

Nby Aaxel tWuessorloawskli perfection Two animalia: one chordatum, one arthropodum Actinoperygius, which has emerged from a single egg – of three thousand others More from Axel Wessolowski... Holding its position in a river within a low mountain range An insect's nymph has hatched from an egg smaller than a pinhead Your chance… Living an underwater life of incomplete metamorphoses …to purchase a limited and signed edition of ”Biology of Fly-Fishing“, a book No longer displays the salmoniform the parr marks of its youth Surviving predation pressure the salmonid is now wearing a large dorsal fin that brings together latest scientific knowledge and practical aspects of fly- fishing. In addition The Wild Trout Trust will benefit from your order, too. Leaving its tunnel in the gravel bed the ephemeropterum rises to the water surface So, watch out for the crowdfunding campaign,which will be launched in Eventually a subimago emerges December 2017 (crowdfunding platform to be determined!). Freshwater flows over the thymallina's gill filaments I am looking forward to your support. For further information about myself you Like it does with all in the shoal can drop me a line ([email protected]) or visit whitethymallus.net. Your fellow society member, While the ephemerida finally undergoes moulting And an imago with transparent wings joins the mating swarm Axel Wessolowski, Ph.D. Triggered by tiny ripples thymallus begins to swim upwards The female ephemera lands on the waterfilm to lay more than five thousand eggs Thymallus thymallus brings the prey into target, simultaneously drifting along with it Ephemera danica beats its wings, stabilizing its flight with cerci and terminal filum Hardcover and softcover editions will be available. Additionally, With an open terminal mouth the grayling darts forward original sketches, signed photographs and a framed classical Wings flapping, the Green Drake hovers only inches above the water salmon fly will be available! Dusk: a fish feeding on a mayfly.

32 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 33 the Gallatin in Montana but turned out to be a real overkill on the chalkstreams. And so on….! Then as the Klink & Dink (or Hopper & Dropper , Duo, New Zealand Method) idea became popular The search for the perfect nymphing indicator I moved, thankfully, in that direction. There is no Steve Skuce doubt it is a fantastic approach giving you a very visual indication that your nymph has been taken Latch hook in closed mode ‘When I was younger, so much younger the ‘legal’ bits of the packaging copy as small as as the Klinkhamer (or equivalent bushy dry fly) than today, I never needed anybody’s help possible without them being totally illegible to the disappears under the surface or does one of the in any way’ average human eye. The text size was so small we many other moves it has in its repertoire such as used to call it ‘fly-shit bold’! quickly sliding sideways or just stopping dead in So those mighty Beatles (surely the best band When fishing I began to need some help to tie its tracks on its downstream progress etc. ever) told us all those years ago; and just like the on my flies so I bought some of those fiddly clip- Brilliant! Latch hook opened boys from the ‘pool, when I was younger I needed on magnifiers that attach to the peak of your no help – when it came to seeing things on or in fishing hat and flip up or down in front of your Problem the river. I could go all day, in all weather and light polaroids. I soon got moody with those because However, it is not without its disadvantages. On conditions, and quite clearly see the tip of my they work best with baseball caps which I do not some waters where I fish it is not allowed. Single leader as it broke through the surface film. like and never wear, so I went off to Orvis and fly only is the rule and it is strictly enforced. A bit Detecting takes to my nymph was easy accepting upgraded to a pair of their bifocal polaroid of a problem then. of course, and this is based on much personal glasses which suited me admirably. I wore these Also, and this is a real pain as far as I am observation, that many of the takes you get to quite happily for years but as I got older my eyes concerned and the reason I set off on my latest your nymph from grayling don’t actually register started to deteriorate further and I was then mission to find the perfect indicator system, you on your line at all. forced to move to prescription reading glasses. can only change the depth at which your nymph Leader hooked Some years ago, I lay on the bank of the gin clear That was the thin end of the wedge and the is fishing by changing the length of the tippet River Wylye while Mike Tebbs fished upstream prescription got stronger and stronger until last below the dry fly. Since grayling like to hug the nymph to a shoal of grayling. By concentrating on year I needed glasses to even see the TV bottom, and that bottom likes to be at different where his line went down into the water, and properly. Now I have bifocals for everyday use depths below us, that means you can spend half looking for just the slightest of movements, he and a separate prescription single lens pair for your life tying knots as you adjust your tippet detected less than 50% of the takes I saw whilst typing stuff like this on my confuser. I also have length. And who wants to do that on a wet, windy watching the fish from my privileged position prescription bifocal polaroid fishing glasses now or freezing cold day? directly alongside the shoal. That is not his fault which are a godsend. Anyway, one day I was fishing on the Itchen since he is a good angler and was, and still is, quite near Winchester as a guest of Greg Payne. We capable of detecting the slightest movement of his Mission were doing OK but another guy on the opposite Tubing slid over leader and loop being formed tippet, but more the fact that grayling can take the So, a few years ago I started on a mission to find bank was really shelling out the grayling. I fly in and spit it out in a nano second and never the perfect indicator system for my upstream looked closely at his set up and he seemed to even cause a murmur on the line. nymphing needs; one that I could see clearly in all have half a sheep on his leader which registered Ah, but I was 40 years old then. Now I am 71 conditions and which reacted instantly to any takes. takes very effectively indeed. After talking to him years old and things do change somewhat. I can’t I started by trying proprietary makes of I understood that he was using a product from fish from dawn to dark then drive the 65 miles indicators. All of them were rubbish really. The New Zealand which looked like a needle with a back home anymore like I used to do at least ones which are little foam circles with adhesive on slot cut into the eye end and short pieces of once a week, eating my ‘lunchtime’ sandwich on the inside and which fold together and stick over tubing pushed onto the needle shaft. To make it the way! I can’t leap over fences in a single bound your leader are fine except that you can’t move work you just hooked your leader with the end of anymore either and a ripped wader last year is them up or down at all and they can be a real the needle and slid one of the bits of tubing down fair testament to that fact! Nor can I move faster bugger to get off your leader at the end of the day. over the leader itself. This had the effect of Wool loosely inserted into loop than a speeding bullet anymore. But, more to the Many times I snapped my leader in frustration producing a loop of nylon into which you put point, I can’t see as well as I could 31 years ago. whilst trying to get one of the little beggars off. I your half a sheep – New Zealand lamb wool of It started for me, like it has for many other tried, just once, those ones that look like red and course. You then pulled the tubing back towards people, with a need to have just a little yellow antibiotic capsules but have little slots in the end of the loop thus trapping the wool which magnification, from a pair of shop bought them which supposedly make it easy to attach and had now become your indicator. However, the bit magnifiers, when fly tying or working on move on the leader. No they don’t. They went into that got me wasn’t the delicacy of the wool extremely small parts of 2mm Scale model the bin pronto because I couldn’t even get them indicator but the fact that you could slide it up or railway engines or reading some of the packaging onto the leader properly in the first place! The down the leader at will and instantly change the copy on the products I was managing. Like most ones that look like dayglo light bulbs were great depth at which your nymph was fishing. consumer goods manufacturers we tried to make when I fished the roaring, high speed, waters of Fantastic! I want one – whether it can be castigated Loop pulled tight and indicator formed 34 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 35 as being nothing better than a coarse fishing float let me just slide this indicator up the leader and Now I happily attach and detach my wool or not – I want one! voila the job is done!’ ‘Reduce that to 12 inches?’ indicator dependent on whether I am nymphing I think though that, and as a staunch Lancastrian ‘No problem, a mere nano second’s work!’ or switching to the dry fly, and, of course I can I shudder to even say this, I must have spent too I fished quite happily with this set up for a change my fishing depth at will when nymphing much time in my life in the company of couple of years or so until one day I had a call simply by sliding the wool and its tubing up or Yorkshiremen – you know those guys with the from Brian Clarke. That is our BC not the one who down the leader. By detaching carefully I can both short arms and deep pockets – because I reeled writes the books and is angling correspondent for push my tubing back up the latch hook shaft and in horror at the price they wanted me to pay for the Times newspaper. No, our BC does retain my wool for future use – another bit of thrift one of these things in the tackle shops. something much more interesting – he makes coming out of me! After all it’s only a bloomin’ needle with a slot superb fly tying tools. If you want to make your own then you can buy cut in the end, plus some silicon tubing and some As it happens Keith Mason had talked to Brian latch hook blanks on EBay. They tend to come in a wool. So, I set about making my own. I began to about the indicator idea I was using and Brian mix of sizes so you use the small ones and bin the haunt needlework establishments, lurking furtively wanted to know more about it. Because he is a large ones – or start making rugs. And since they and with intent around the pegboards where they good friend and, since I am a nice guy – cost about 10 pence and a pork pie including P&P kept the various types of needles and, after some sometimes – I sent him one along with the direct from China it is no loss to bin half of them. experimentation, I settled on using a John James instructions on how to make and use them. He Below is a link I have found active on 1st November size 18 Tapestry Needle which I fitted into a short called me after a few days with an idea that wasn’t 2017. You will have to spend the princely sum of piece of dowel or, for the posh version used by exactly like a light bulb going off in my head but £1.58, including P&P from China, for 7 pieces, 3 or myself and given to a few special friends, a bit of more like a World War 2 searchlight! 4 of which will probably be too large. old split cane as a handle. I then took out my One of the tools Brian makes has a latch hook at Minicraft electric mini-drill and, using a cutting the business end. For those who don’t know what 7pcs Mixed Size Crochet Latch Hook Needle disk, very carefully cut a small slot into the eye of for Bearded Knitting Lock Maintaining the needle. You could do this with a needle file URL: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7pcs-Mixed-Size- but it will take all day because the steel the Crochet-Latch-Hook-Needle-for-Bearded- tapestry needle is made from is extremely strong Knitting-Lock-Maintaining-/252989503169? and the surface very smooth so it is hard to get a epid=10003040958&hash=item3ae75976c1:g:gQQ purchase with the file. After a little bit of fettling AAOSwi8VZSyfM with a needle file my mini-drilled hole edges If this has now disappeared then search for were smooth enough to call the job finished. ‘Crochet Latch Hook Needles’ but do be aware Then all I needed were a few small pieces of that some of them are just too big for the purpose. suitable tubing and some wool. I bought some Alternatively, I have found some ready-made pole float tubing from a coarse fishing shop and, Do you like Pink Handles? ones, again on EBay on 1st November 2017, for at first, I used Loon Strike Out yarn as the the massive price of £2.12, including P&P from then buy one of Brian’s super-duper models with indicator wool which worked fine but is pretty a beautiful wooden handle and brass bolster. His expensive even though it can be reused if China! Take a look at the photo. These have handled carefully. Wishing, again, to be thrifty I My personal indicator system made by adapting an old fly hooks of the right size and are OK if you like pink contact details are in the back of the Journal. went to our local knitting shop. I made sure Honor tying tool made by Brian Clarke plastic handles! Actually, I just snip the latch hook Also, the original New Zealand Strike Indicator, was with me so I didn’t look a complete prat. one of these is it is a hook (naturally!) which has a ‘blanks’ off the plastic handles and mount them in which is beautifully made and works very well, is After all, visiting needlework shops is one thing small hinged latch also. They are sometimes wood as normal. You won’t see me on the river available in the UK from several fly tackle shops. but wool shops as well – I’ll be knitting a (incorrectly) called crochet hooks but are used with a pink handled indicator system – no siree! I guess you could suggest I am getting a bit Christmas jumper next! I ended up buying a most commonly, in large sizes, for rug making nerdy about this stuff – and you are probably 10 Pieces Weaving Latch Hook Dreadlock right. But what else is there to do when you are huge ball of brightly coloured wool from their where you need to pull yarn through a fabric Crochet Hair Needle for Microbraids ‘flog off’ bin - £1.00 for miles of the stuff. I should matrix. They are also, I believe, found in large past the 3 score years and 10 mark!!?? also say that I bought tubing of several different numbers in automatic knitting machines. This URL: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-Pieces- I should not finish without highlighting the one diameters to check which worked best. One of hinged latch can open as you push the tool Weaving-Latch-Hook-Dreadlock-Crochet-Hair- advantage the Klink & Dink system has over mine around 1 to 1.5mm internal diameter (dependent forward and close as it comes back. Or, Needle-for-Micro-Braids-/152595311352? – it has a hook on the ‘indicator’ – so you get two on how stretchy it is) eventually became my alternatively, you can hook something – say a var=&hash=item238763aaf8:m:m1UCVvz19- chances to hook a grayling! preferred size and now, again after some leader - and slide a bit of tubing down over the Gc7Uq0BsogFbA Memo to Self - Now, I must get around to experimentation, I have settled on a product end of the tool without any risk of it catching Or, if you just can’t be arsed with all this DIY devising a system where you can move a called HLS Clear Silicone Rig Tubing with an ID of because the hinged latch closes over the malarkey you can visit a coarse fishing shop and Klinkhamer up and down at will to change the 1mm and an OD of 2mm. This is pretty flexible exposed hook. See the photos for clarification. get a carp baiting needle kit which will probably depth of your nymph yet still have an effective dry and is only about £2.00 for 2 metres. Suddenly we had Indicator Mark 2 and Brian include a latch hook. Beware that some of these fly, mmmm…… ! So now I had my indicator and I must say it kindly sent me some latch hook blanks to work can be a bit flimsy though. worked extremely well indeed. ‘Change the with. I simply substituted these for the notched Alternatively, if you want a Rolls Royce version – ‘Won’t you please, please help me? Help me, depth from 18 inches to 30 inches sir?’ ‘Certainly, tapestry needle and I had a much better system. and who doesn’t because they are so wonderful – help me, Ooh. ’

36 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 37 protrude on the landscape with other jackets I was genuinely scared such that some fascinating machinery still lying where it was sections I walked and Fred had to do a double Return to Alaska abandoned a century ago. run with the canoes. We had seen a grizzly and Peter Cockwill Nome is also the final stage of the famed cubs on the fly out and ran into her one day but Iditarod sled dog event and the race is run to that’s another story. commemorate it every year. History is Occasional dollies took our flies and we saw everywhere and amazingly it’s where Wyatt more and more chum and sockeye as the Earp moved to after the legendary gun fight in pools became bigger. Tombstone. Gradually working down river we finally got But enough of this, you want to hear about the to the road bridge and the pick up point. Time grayling. to dry out and the next day in town was The three of us were dropped high up the gloriously sunny, it would be wouldn’t it? valley of the Sinuk river and, using inflatable A bit of sight seeing and the sighting of a canoes, we then worked downstream fishing herd of musk ox followed by an afternoon likely spots and then making overnight camp. walking upstream on the Snake river just out of Our first couple of days saw fantastic grayling to town gave Chris the chance to fish dries for a 21 inches and I know you won’t believe it but succession of fabulous grayling while I took almost all the fish were in excess of two pounds. pics and enjoyed what may well be the last I don’t tell lies about the size of the fish I catch. time I see Nome. These are old fish that have a tough life and Would I do it again? Well sure I would, but I don’t often have successful spawnings so that strongly suspect I won’t get the chance recruitment is poor but twenty fish of an although I would most certainly recommend it evening with most of them in the 17 to 19 inch anyone with a taste of adventure and if you range is more than enough for me. want to catch genuinely large arctic grayling The weather didn’t do us any favours and the this is likely your best option. In the last edition of ‘Grayling’ my friend Baz This time I linked up with our USA rain made camping a bit on the damp side. Add I’m more than happy to advise if anyone wants Reece was so very kind to mention some of my representative, Chris Terry, who lives in in the extensive sections of rapids and the rising to go to Nome and at the 2018 Symposium I special catches and in particular the arctic Anchorage and has been a special friend for water made for some hair-raising times. I don’t promised Rod that if all goes well I will attend grayling I caught in Alaska back in 2008. many years. We often talked of a grayling trip swim and although we had life and tell the story of the hunt for the Alaska That replica of that very special fish looks at together and finally it happened. State Record. me every day in my shop and with this past My usual Alaska trip is to the Kanectoc in summer marking my 70th birthday I decided it Bristol Bay in early July when guests fish the was time for a treat and to make a return trip to multitude of salmon along with the rainbows, Nome on Alaska’s Seward peninsula. char and grayling so this year I left camp a day It’s not possible to get out onto the river early to meet with Chris and head off to Nome. where I had the five-pounder but there are Here we teamed up with Fred DeCicco who many other rivers where truly fabulous arctics guided me on the record hunt back in 2008 live, and which are very rarely fished for. and we booked a fly out with Twin Peaks It’s hard to explain just how remote this area Adventures. This company operates is and although some waters are road customised trips for small numbers of anglers accessible, providing you are prepared for a and uses helicopters to reach the remote hike, much of them never see an angler from drainages. There really isn’t another way of one year to the next. getting to the rivers as the terrain makes it The lower reaches are fished for their salmon impossible to land with small planes. Believe runs and in places the Dolly Varden char are me, this really is an unusual part of the world. freely available but no trout exist this far north Nome itself is home to the TV reality and it’s partly why the grayling are the programme ‘Gold Divers’ and their strange dominant residents. I have written in past assortment of vessels can be seen out in the issues about their proven longevity and with bay as they dredge for the particles of gold, very little fishing pressure it’s one reason why which made this town a gold rush city back in specimens can be caught here – if you have the late 1800’s. Remnants of the past can be the determination. seen all around and the giant dredges still

38 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 39

Minutes of the 41st Annual General Meeting of Th e Grayling Society Th e Grayling Society held at the Ramada Plaza Treasurer’s Report 2017 Hotel on Saturday 21st October 2017

1. Apologies ACA. Proposed by Robin Mulholland, Overall the society made a surplus for the year Expenditure on angling shows has reduced Apologies for absence were received from seconded by Geoff Haslam. which increased the general fund by £ 1,109. again as although the BFFI is always a success, Steve Skuce, Honor Skuce, Kris Kent, Alex There was only £500 spent on conservation many shows are not, although we do retain a Adams, Gavin Keegan, Steve Rhodes, Greg 7. Election of Chairman projects this year. The fund was not topped up presence at a number of other shows around the Payne, Han Engelen, john Vautier, Anthony Rob Hartley indicated that he was prepared to and has been left at £19,500 at the end of the year. UK during the year. Wilson, John Davison. stand as Chairman for a further year. There There is a lack of projects coming forward so Printing costs represent expenditure on printed were no other candidates and thus, Rob members present should bear this in mind with material other then the publications mentioned 2. Minutes of the 40th Annual General Hartley was duly elected on the proposal of Pat regard to their own club waters and consider above. I have however shown the cost of “Grayling Meeting Stevens seconded by Barrie Davidson. applying for funding assistance where past, present and future”, which was reprinted this The minutes of the 40th Annual General improvements to the grayling habitat might be year, separately at £658. Last year an amount of Meeting held in Marwell, Winchester were 8. Election of Officers made. The surplus on operations was £6,609 £450 was spent on an updated “The Grayling approved as a true and accurate record and During the course of the year, Tim Taylor had before payments to the Grayling Research Trust of Anglers Guide”. duly signed by the Chairman on the proposal of been appointed as Membership Secretary £5,500. This was a higher than normal payment Administration costs are down on last year by Mike Mee seconded by Paul Deaville with a All other officers had indicated their due to a catch up on the per capita donation of £2 £252. Postage is an ever increasing cost and we General Aye. willingness to remain it was agreed to elect for each member for the 2015 year. The balance are looking at making better use of electronic them en bloc and this was duly actioned on the of the payment was the donation for 2016 and the means of communication. This requires the 3. Matters Arising. proposal of Malcolm Greenhalgh, seconded by auction proceeds from the 2016 AGM. engagement of the membership and we realise it Subscriptions are marginally down on last year is a medium to long term project. Committee The General Secretary had noticed that there Keith Mallinson. but holding up at £ 25,220 per annum. Our new expenses are again slightly lower than the was a long standing typing error in the rules membership secretary has identified around previous year. As with all costs this is an area and constitution where, in point 3 there were 2 9. Any Other Business at the Chairman’s £3,000 of arrears so we will be making efforts to being kept under constant review for savings “bs”. This will be corrected. Discretion get these subscriptions up to date in the current without causing a detrimental effect on the There was no other business. 4. The Chairman’s Report financial year. The remainder of our income came running of the society. Insurance costs reduced 10.Date and Venue of Next Meeting from the GRT auction at the AGM, donations, the this year thanks to the effort made by Stuart The Chairman presented a written report, surplus on equipment sales plus a small royalty on Wardle our Area 11 secretary. reproduced along with these minutes as The 42nd Annual General Meeting will be held Theo Pike’s book (Trout in Dirty Places). The major items in other costs are advertising at Appendix A. On the proposal of Karl at 4.00 pm, on Saturday 20th October 2018 at a The AGM at Marwell realised a loss of £590. This £530, retirement gifts at £230 and the honorary Humphries, seconded by Malcolm hotel in the vicinity of Darlington on Teesside, was not unexpected, due to the cost of the fishing auditor’s fee of £200. Greenhalgh, the Chairman’s Report was the exact venue is to be advised. but considered worthwhile by the committee to There is a new cost in the income and accepted by the meeting. give our members a chance to fish the chalk expenditure account this year. This is depreciation Other Items: streams in Area 2. The auction raised record of fixed assets. The society has invested in 5. Treasurer’s Report Righyni-Roose Trophy amount of £2,326 but it was felt it went on too long banners to show at trade shows and other events and Audited Accounts This year the trophy was for “Fly Tying”. There so a new format is planned for this year. attended and we also purchased a laptop The Treasurer presented the audited accounts were several entrants but the trophy was The largest single item of expenditure continues computer and a projector and some point of sale of the Society for the year ended 30th June awarded to Ian Baddeley. Well done Ian. to be our magazine “The Grayling”. We believe material to display our stock taken to shows. 2017. He advised that a retained surplus of £ this is a quality publication and is valued by the In summary another solid, if unspectacular year, 1.109 had been achieved and that the General The Broughton Trophy members. It has been decided to increase to for the finances of the society and at 30 June 2017 Fund balance showed a surplus of £60443. The Broughton Trophy for Conservation and three magazines per year at the expense of one we were holding cash reserves of £58,939 The accounts were duly approved on the work on behalf of the Society was awarded to of the newsletters as it was felt the magazine representing more than twice the annual proposal of Bob Perrett, seconded by Christian Brian Clarke for his work as Sales Officer, represented better value for money. The subscription income. For a commercial Pedersen and are attached as Appendix B. whilst at the same time undertaking the role of production costs do exceed the postage costs for organisation this would be considered a healthy a very active Area Secretary. Many each edition however due to the timing of the position. 6. Election of Honorary Auditor congratulations Brian. issues in this year we had two issues with Steven Kavanagh Mrs Carol Kellett, retired earlier in the year and publication costs and three issues with postage Treasurer a new auditor has been appointed Nick Totham The meeting closed at 4.45pm. costs falling into the financial year. 1 October 2017

40 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 41 The Grayling Society Accounts for the year ended 30th June 2017

The Righyni-Roose Trophy 2 018

The theme of next year’s Trophy competition will be announced in the AGM Newsletter in 2018.

42 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 43 Area 4 - Hereford, Worcestershire, Area 11 - Co. Durham, Tyne & Wear Paul Frid OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, & Northumberland 1 Riverside President Sales Officer Holland Shropshire & Powys Stuart Wardle Wellington, Somerset,TA21 8LJ Robin Mulholland OBE Brian Clarke Hans van Klinken Roger Smith 14 Claypool Farm Close, Tel: 01823 664084 Knapp Cottage, 38/39 Corton 21 Corve Way, Holme Hall Wormgoorlaan 33, 176 Upper Welland Road Hutton Henry, Co Durham TS27 4QZ Email : [email protected] Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 OSZ Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 4YA 6732 CB Harskamp, Holland Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 4LA Tel: 01429 836793 Tel: 01985 850450 Tel: 01246 271324 Tel: +31 (0)318 456474 Tel: 01684 560690 Mobile: 07904 278889 Dr Malcolm Greenhalgh Email: [email protected] Mob: 07711 905776 Email: [email protected] Mob: 07810 411272 Email: [email protected] 2 Brignall Grove, Lowton Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Warrington, Cheshire WA3 2HU Chairman Italy Vacant Area 12 - Scotland Email : [email protected] Chris Thomas Rob Hartley Conservation Projects Officer Norway Area 5 - Leicestershire, West Dr Les Jervis Hartley House, Galveston Grove Richard Cove Ole A. Bjerke Midlands, Staffordshire, 9 New Winton Cottages New Winton, nr Tranent 38 Village Road Fenton, Stoke on Trent 20 Peel Crescent, Ashton Hayes Johan Bojersveg 8, 2816 Gjovik, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire Heswall, Wirral CH60 0DZ Staffordshire ST4 3PE Chester, Cheshire CH3 8DB Norway & Suffolk East Lothian EH33 2NH Tel: 01875 613861 Tel: 07837 628588 Tel: 07976 222227 Tel: 01829 759376 (home) Mobile: +47 40 43 61 76 Paul Deaville Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: 03000653897 (work) Email: ole@gamefish.no 21 Beckenham Close Mob: 07508 602 529 Mob: 07867 908700 off Caverswall Lane Email: [email protected] Hans van Klinken Vice Chairman Email:Richard.Cove@cyfoethnaturiolc Poland Wormgoorlan 33 Stoke on Trent Area 14 - Dyfed, Gwent, West, Mid ymru.gov.uk Dr Stanislaw Cios 6732CB Harskamp Pat Stevens Staffordshire ST3 6HW & South Glamorgan Taenross, Orchard Close, ul. Stryjenskich 6 m 4 The Netherlands Public Relations Officer 02-791 Warszawa, Poland Tel: 01782 396806 Geoff Bevan Wrea Green, Preston Mob: 07805 823488 Fishweir Farm, St. Mary Church Tel: 0031 318 456474 Kris Kent Email: [email protected] Email : [email protected] Lancashire PR4 2NH Flat 1, Church Road, Email: fl[email protected] Cowbridge,Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7LT Tel: 01772 684003 Nether Wallop, Stockbridge, Spain Tel: 01446 774223 Dr Martyn Lucas Mob: 07788427560 Hampshire, SO20 8ET Dr. Vincenzo Penteriani, Area 6 - Gwynedd & Clwyd Email: [email protected] School of Biological and Biomedical [email protected] Mob: 07793 652039 Research Unit of Biodiversity - UMIB, John Walker Sciences Edificio de Investigación – 5th floor, Ty Cerrig, Fron General Secretary Email: [email protected] TRUSTEES OF THE Durham University, South Road C. Gonzalo Gutiérrez Quirós s/n, Caernarfon Durham DH1 3LE Rod Calbrade Marketing Officer 33600 Mieres (Asturias), Spain Gwynedd LL54 7PT GRAYLING RESEARCH TRUST Tel: 0191 334 1345 19 Sherwood Way, High Crompton Email: [email protected] Mob: 07900 844752 Karl Humphries Chairman Email : [email protected] Shaw, Oldham OL2 7LX 3 Cheswardine Road, Bradwell Sweden Email: john@flyfishinginstructors.co.uk Tel: 01706 842890 Richard Cove Steve Rhodes Newcastle, Staffs ST5 8SG Harry Salmgren 20 Peel Crescent, Ashton Hayes Mob: 07749 917667 Tel: 01782 615780 Email: [email protected] Area 7 - Wirral & Cheshire Apple Tree Cottage Email: [email protected] Barrie Davidson Chester, Cheshire CH3 8DB 9 Moorber Lane, Coniston Cold Mob: 07724 461450 Tel: 01829 759376 (home), 03000 Email: [email protected] USA 321 Parkfield Drive North Yorkshire BD23 4EA Treasurer Chris Terry Helsby, Cheshire WA6 0BL 653897 (work), 07867 908700 (mobile) Telephone: 01756 748378 Steven Kavanagh 5237 E.41 Ave, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA Tel: 07776 391196 Email : e-Mail: steve@goflyfishinguk.com Aeolian House, Piccadilly OVERSEAS SECRETARIES Tel: 907-764-6044 Email: [email protected] Richard.Cove@cyfoethnaturiolcymru. gov.uk Robin Mulholland OBE Llanblethian, Cowbridge Belgium Email: [email protected] Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7JL Area 8 - Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, Knapp Cottage, 38/39 Corton Pedro Guridi Secretary Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 OSZ Tel: 01446 771326 Land van Waaslaan 84 Bus 201 Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Ross Gardiner Mob: 07814 518467 Norfolk Tel: 01985 850450 9040 Sint-Amandsberg, Belgium UK AREA SECRETARIES 3 Knockard Avenue Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: +32 486 559898 Brian Clarke Pitlochry 21 Corve Way, Holme Hall Perthshire PH16 5JE John Roberts Membership Secretary Email: [email protected] Area 1 - Devon, Cornwall, Dorset & [email protected] Somerset Chesterfield, Tel: 0131 244 0467 (work), 64 School Lane, Fulford Tim Taylor Mark Hamnett Derbyshire S40 4YA 01796 472157 (Home) York YO10 4LS 86 Rushmore Road Czech Republic Highview House, Middle Ridge Lane Tel: 01246 271324 Email: [email protected] Tel: 01904 400720 London E5 0EX Jitka Rutkayova Corton Denham, Dorset DT9 4LP Mob: 07711 905776 Mob: 07724 049145 Tel: 0207 2543704 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Treasurer Email : [email protected] Tel: 01963 220151 David Mee Mob: 07818 427350 Mob: 07917 543392 Finland 61 Stepney Road, Cockett Email: [email protected] Email: mark@fishingmatters.biz Area 9 - West, East & North Dr Michelle Smith Matti Rantanen Yorkshire Swansea SA2 0FT 246 Moorhouse Road Editor Tohlopinranta 25C 12, Area 2 - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Steve Rhodes Tel: 03000 653280 (work), Hull HU5 5PL FIN-33270, Tampere, Finland Bob Male Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Apple Tree Cottage,9 Moorber Lane 01792 589504 (home) Mob: 07527 405204 24 Victoria Road, Wilton Tel: +358 3 3441 931 West Sussex & Wiltshire Coniston Cold Mob: 07770 435339 Email : [email protected] Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 0DY Mobile: +358 40 501 5212 North Yorkshire BD23 4EA E:[email protected] Alex Adams Dr Steven Weiss Tel: 01722 503939 Email: raitane@sci.fi Tel: 01756 748378 62 Cressex Road, High Wycombe Dr Jonathan Bolland Karl-Franzens University Graz Mob: 07982 824944 Mob: 07717 533177 France Bucks HP12 4TY Hull International Fisheries Institute Institute of Zoology Email: [email protected] Email: steve@goflyfishinguk.com Jean-Pierre Coudoux Tel: 07730 203382 University of Hull Universitätsplaz 2 Email: [email protected] Mob: 01494 521801 Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX A-8010 Graz, Austria Scientific Officer Email: [email protected] Area 10 - Lancashire, Merseyside, Tel: 07815 064735 Ross Gardiner Germany and Austria Cumbria, Greater Manchester & Isle Tel: 0043 316 3805599 Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Scottish Government Andreas Schumacher Area 3 - London, Kent, Essex, of Man Marine Scotland Science c/o Spiess Schumacher Schmieg & Middlesex, Hertfordshire, East Sussex Alan Swann Rob Dings John Wieja Freshwater Laboratory Partner Gavin Keegan Cross Fell View, Brampton Bunderstraat 21A Burnierstraat 28 Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5LB Märkisches Ufer 34, 10179 Berlin Hurstfields, Allington Road Appleby 5555CM Valkenswaard 2596 HW The Hague Telephone: 01224 294400 (work), Tel: +49 (0)30 440 133 00 Newick, Lewes, East Sussex BN8 4NA Cumbria CA16 6JS The Netherlands The Netherlands 01796 472157 (Home) Fax: +49 (0)30 44 01 01 44 Tel: 01825 722045 Mob: 07879061268 Tel: 0031402045766 Telephone: 0031652000380 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] e-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] 44 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 45 Wild trout and grayling ANDREW CARTWIGHT Chalk Stream Dreams fishing in the GAME ANGLING LICENSED FLY CASTING INSTRUCTOR. BASED IN BEAUTIFUL MID WALES. Guided fly fishing for Trout and Grayling on the English Welsh Marches GUIDING ON THE RIVER SEVERN, WYE, DEE AND THE RIVER chalk streams and beyond. VYRNWY, ALSO REMOTE MOUNTAIN LAKES AND RIVERS The Upper Tanat Fishing Club has fly-fishing for wild trout Tailored guided trips on the English chalk streams. FOR GRAYLING AND WILD BROWN TROUT. and grayling (including some real specimens) on 7 miles of Come and discover the beauty and splendour of the a tributary of the upper River Severn and a 9 acre hill lake Contact ANDREW on chalk streams and the fish that swim in them. Pike on in the Welsh Mountains. 01686 688196 or 07929 469160 the fly and trotting for Grayling also available. Let us Prospective members can obtain further E-mail: [email protected] know what you are looking for and we will tailor a details via www.tanatfishing.com Web Site: www.acgameangling.co.uk package just for you. Chalk Stream Dreams Guiding on the chalk streams and beyond Till Fishing Holidays Flat 1 Church Road, Nether Wallop, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 8ET Holidays in Wales Mobile: +44 7793 652039 [email protected] Northumberland GLASLYN - RHAYADER 1 mile of grayling, sea trout and salmon fishing Comfortable cottages, beautiful River Wye Estate. on the River Till. 3.5 miles salmon, trout, and specimen grayling. 4 star centrally heated orchard cottage available. Fishing, birdwatching, walking, relaxing. Wilton Fly Fishing Club Brochure – 01597 810258 Contact Lucy Carroll: 07974 416692 If you would like to fish for wild trout and grayling on a beautiful Email: fish@till-fishing.co.uk www.glaslynestate.co.uk Wiltshire chalk stream, the Wilton Fly Fishing Club has spaces on its waiting list. For further information, please contact Mike Tebbs, the Membership Secretary, at: [email protected] Go Fly Fishing UK Phil Fly Fishing Tel: 01985 841192 Specialists in the best of the UK’s River Brown Trout and Grayling fly fishing Phil Ratcliffe offers guided fishing ONE-TO-ONE GUIDING/TUITION AND on the Welsh Dee and Severn For all your Fly Fishing Guiding, Tuition, Specialised TAILOR-MADE SHORT BREAKS Phone: 07875 718718 Tackle and Holiday/Breaks in the North of England. Tel: +44 (0) 1756 748378 Web: www.philratcliffeflyfishing.co.uk Get in touch with The Durham Fly Fishing Company Mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] and let me ‘exceed your expectations’ www.goflyfishinguk.com APGAI & IFFF MCI

Stuart Wardle www.durhamflyfishing.co.uk Tel: 07904 278889 Email: [email protected]

46 Grayling – Winter 2017 Grayling – Winter 2017 47 Tungsten Beads Special Offer for Society Members! NEW Colours now available. Round beads in gold, copper, nickel, black (gunmetal) and now in white, bright green and hot orange. Sizes from1.5mm up to 4.6mm (depending on colour). Packs of 50 are only £7.50 inc. p&p. State quantity, size and colour. ALSO - mixed 10 compartment box containing 200 beads (see image). Just state your choice of size and colour – only £28 inc. p&p. To order or for more info email to [email protected] or ring 01543 689117

GUIDED TROTTING ON THE WELSH DEE with George Ashton One to one or two person share Tackle & bait provided Full day or half day tuition Advice on tackle, rigs & tactics

Tel: 0151 548 5741 For more information, contact: Email: [email protected] Fishing Matters Ltd, Unit 3, Lawrence House Yard, Southgate Road, Wincanton BA9 9EB Tel: +44 (0)1963 31623

Mick Williams – Fishing Guide Cysgod y Coed B&B and Self Catering Llanfor, Bala, Gwynedd LL23 7DU 01678 520036 or 07896634483 www.cysgod-y-coed.co.uk [email protected] Fancy a bit of fishing on the River Dee or in the mountains and lakes of Snowdonia? We can arrange transport, accommodation, packed lunches & meals out. Arrangements and advice can be provided for Fishing Licences, Permits, Equipment, Locations, etc. Mick is also available as a Guide if you fancy fishing for trout or grayling. Stay for a short break or even a week.

Grayling – Winter 2017 49 Ê

50 Grayling – Winter 2017 Please use this page for your own notes if you are not detaching the Order Form

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52 Grayling – Winter 2017 Join the Angling Trust today Call: 0844 77 00 616 www.anglingtrust.net