Bob tries a likely spot…..

Yes I know this is April, but this is my February Blog, apologies for the delay but I have been sorting my house prior to an attempt to sell it. A weak excuse but the best I can do.

So my fishing friend Bob had a generous birthday present from his sister. A day for 2 with guide mid Feb on the Wherwell Estate on the River Test, just south of the A303 and Andover, and he kindly asked me to join him. Our guide was Dave Martin from www.goflyfishinguk.com. We fished the lowest part of the beat, not fished by us before though we have fished the Estate several times in the past. Dave recommended a New Zealand set up with a Klinkhammer dry fly floating with a very small, lightly weighted pink nymph tied on a 20 inch length of leader tied directly to the bend of the Kink hook sinking below. My second cast brought a small grayling and quickly several more. Bob was slower to catch but later in the day had a couple of nice trout. My one trout took the Klink with a flourish. Dave was the perfect guide with casting tips ‘Put a mend in to slow the fly down’ and loaned me an 8ft 6 #5 weight Orvis rod which worked well with a floating line, tapered 4lb leader and a short length of fluorocarbon to the flies.

Where did that fish go….?

The Test like many chalk streams is an artificial construct, with many carrier streams alongside the main river, built in the 18th and 19th century so fields might be flooded/drained via hatches to aid crop growth. Fishing can be as good as, if not better on a carrier than the main river, but you need a good beat map to establish exactly what bit of river you are fishing. Take a look at Wherwell on Google Maps SP11 5JJ, and track north to see the braided river.

We were lucky with the weather, warm and sunny with one heavy shower. Mutual friend Mark Shickle who has a home in the village joined us during the afternoon and shared in the guiding. Mark has a day job but enjoys guiding on his local chalk streams. You might spot me in one of the photos on his website… http://www.fishwithmark.co.uk/
The estate also has a small lake, stocked with rainbows which are easy to catch. Ideal if you want to introduce a child or adult beginner to the joys of fly fishing. There is a well fitted fishing lodge with kitchen, toilet and barbecue.

Here it is, a small grayling, smile Bob!

A lovely day and many thanks to Bob for the invite. I caught 9 or 10 grayling plus the trout which is a lot more than I have caught here before. It was the tiny pink nymph what did it!

Chalk streams like the Test and its tributaries can be very expensive to fish on a day ticket during the Trout season, especially during the mayfly hatch. (£400 – £600 per rod day!)There are a lot of corporate lets and some beats cater for the well healed on manicured banks with plump stocked brown trout. However there are cheaper alternatives, especially on the tributaries and if you fish out of the trout season (22nd of March to 30th of September with local variations) for grayling, prices are a lot cheaper and the trout don’t know they are out of season… (even though they must be returned)

Last time I fished Wherwell in October river levels were very low. On this trip they were even lower and with much less than average rain the last two years the aquifers storing water are drying up. Some rivers are already in serious difficulty, fish have been rescued from stretches of the Kennet reduced to puddles. Water companies extract supplies from the aquifers to supply homes and industry. In this drought their activity must be controlled to protect rivers and fish. No wonder we now have a hosepipe ban in London and the South East.

A few links related to chalk streams….Enjoy! My next blog will be the delayed March issue (well not by much) concerning my trip to the Mighty River Tay in search of a Spring salmon……

Iain Muir

The Wherwell Estate does not have a website, Roxtons are agents
http://www.roxtons.com/fishing/venue/Test_Wherwell_Estate/
Fishpal have much better coverage elsewhere but this is their effort for the Test
http://www.fishpal.com/England/TestAndItchen/?dom=FishAndFly
Famous Fishing has access to lots of good chalk stream water but are expensive. Part owned by William Daniels who is a great guy and entertaining to be with
http://www.famousfishing.co.uk/
Mark Shickle, a super guide and casting instructor for chalk streams, Kelly Kettle and expert photos inclusive…
http://www.fishwithmark.co.uk/
Dave Martin, a great guide for my day. Go Fly Fishing also have guides ‘up north’
www.goflyfishinguk.com.

Wait for our review of the film…. War Horse is sure to be a modern classic!

Why me? because I was asked!

About me….. Iain Muir,   Recently aged 60, widowed three years ago, two grown up sons, one still lives with me as he studies as a post grad. We live in West London, a mile or so from the River Thames which I visit often, and enjoy watching both anglers and bird life. Large bream are caught by the fishers whilst the Cormorants prefer large eels…

I like the Bell & Crown at Strandon the Green for a pint of Fullers Pride….

My fishing history….. Aged 10 in Liverpool I started fishing the park lakes for roach and perch with my mates Bill and Richard. They had proper coarse rods; I had a built cane light sea rod made by my dad, not much tip action! We moved on to the Leeds Liverpool canal and cycled miles to reach the right spot.  Around the same time holidays in Wales and Cornwall saw me fishing for Mackerel using feathers with a spark plug weight. By 14 I had moved onto other things but on a family holiday to Scotland (for some unknown reason with no prospect of actually fishing) I bought a small Mepps spinner for trout.  I wanted to catch a trout but it would be another 25 years before I made it happen. I still have the Mepps……

My 40^th birthday present to myself was a cheap fly outfit, Daiwa rod, Rimfly reel. I spent two Sunday mornings at Barn Elms Reservoirs next to the Thames teaching myself to cast and to my surprise on the second morning landed a fish. I was hooked! For my 41^st my wife Julie booked me a weekend in Dorset with casting tuition from Richard Slocock, defender of the River Piddle, http://www.goflyfishing.co.uk/index.html

Twenty years later I have moved from still water trout onto river trout and grayling, to sea trout fishing in West Wales and to salmon fishing in Scotland. It’s mainly fly but I am happy to spin if allowed.

I do not fish that often, perhaps twice a month on average but I think about fishing every day, visit websites for angling and read the angling press.

This blog will reflect my experience and beliefs about fishing. I currently only do ‘game’ but am not averse to course and sea fishing and will no doubt dabble in the future.

I plan to include tackle, tactics, places to fish, conservation, web sites, literature, collectables and all things that bring joy to our fishing experience. Me, a tackle tart, No!

Am I a ‘good fisherman’? Truthful answer must be a ‘No’ if judged by the number of fish caught. My fishing mates generally catch more than me. Some can cast better to reach the right spots or present a fly where I cannot. Some are more diligent and work harder! Some are luckier!

Do I care? Not really, I just enjoy being out in beautiful scenery, spending time with nature and if I happen to catch, that’s a bonus! I no longer kill trout unless I have to, one day I will have a salmon smoked but am fine with catch and release where required.

 News Flash – First Salmon of 2012

Different rivers have different seasons for fishing. Eire has strict conservation measures meaning no fishing at all on certain rivers until there stock levels reach set limits. So no fishing the River Liffey, famous for its Guinness. Except for the 1^st of Jan that is when fishing is allowed for ‘research’ under supervision and this fish was caught…. http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/Press-releases/the-first-salmon-landed-of-2012.html

The show begins with a look back at clips from past Show Jumping Championships and what can happen if it all goes wrong! Tim Stockdale is interviewed, in a neck brace as he explains the injury risks of show jumping. Whilst attempting a jump, Tim fell and collided with a fence, resulting in three fractures of his vertebrae in his neck. Viewers – beware! If you are an amateur get the protection you need should something like this happen. [Click here for more information]

There is now a great black and white montage of horses featuring dramatic music as the question is asked – “What are the horses thinking?” We get the close up of the eyes as the horses are preparing to battle it out! A quick word from a horse psychologist before the show begins!!

The first round is full of great skill and different approaches. Some have steady candour and control, whilst others have magnificent scope and pace before leaping. An early surprise as last year’s winner Ben Maher is out first round after his horse, Noctambule, fails not on the Wall itself but on the initial preparatory rail which is much shorter! This throws the whole competition into doubt as to a new frontrunner!

One of Great Britain’s candidates – Guy Williams and his horse Richi Rich — has an impressive first round as the horse pushes into the bottom and moves slightly to the left once over the Wall, coming up through his shoulders; great stuff and a real contender! A small break as lights change and extra blocks are placed on the Wall set against some very apt music – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!”

Second round now – this time with a 6’3’’ wall! Renwick’s Parvanti De Breve makes an absolutely fantastic leap! It is a very careful process here as Renwick can ride with a little bit more pace knowing that Parvanti will come up in front! Richi Rich and Williams showcase some impressive techniques. Richi gets his shoulders up, curling his feet at the front and behind and moves ever so slightly to the right; he approaches quickly but glides effortlessly though the air once reaching the wall itself – a perfect leap as though in slow motion! It was a bit touch and go there for Whitaker’s Waterstone, as the horse put his head right up as he approached the Wall, making it hard for himself since it was difficult to drop the head and back end to release when the leap came.

A couple more great rounds, but the final fifth round is the best! Finally at a massive 7’01’’, The Wall is towering and enormous! Horses have failed – L’Espoir, Waterstone, Whitaker’s Casino among others. It is now a head to head between Britain and Switzerland – Richi Rich and Koby! Richi Rich had an unusual triumph in the fourth round! He stopped and started repeatedly, ran too early and jumped too far off, as though horse and rider were arguing! But ultimately they improvised and got over the Wall no problem! Pius Schwizer and Kory Du Vartellier jumped over the wall with pace and full commitment.

In this final round Pius and Koby go first. Koby finds the right stride and then goes for it! And he’s done it!! He produced the jump and power from the pace having a good eye for a stride. Now can Richi Rich and Guy do the same and share the prize money? They see the fences and they run at them! They have the stride and they leap over effortlessly. Commentators say this is “absolute perfection,” that they are on “top form.” In fact, they go as far as saying they could not have got a better shot if they tried twenty times! Richi Rich was so anxious to get to the Wall and leaped over in a clean shape as he dived into the bottom!

Some great performances today! Congratulations to the winners!

The event takes place on the 25th and 26th February 2012 in Newark.

We will be there, exhibiting our new CountryWise Protection product – so please stop by and say hello!

There is everything a shooter could wish for. Every shooting discipline is catered for including:

• Hunting & Competition Air Rifles & Pistols
• 39 Lane Air Rifle and Air Pistol Ranges
• Leading Manufacturers and Retailers of Field Sport and Competition Shotguns
• Shooting Accessories & Specialist Clothing
• Hunting, Target and Tactical Rifles
• Gunsmiths and Custom Builders
• Gamekeeping & Gundogs
• Firearm Pistol Specialists
• Ammunition and Reloading
• Associations
• Clay Shooting and Competitions
• Scopes & Optics
• Historic & Classic Sporting Guns and Military Arms
• Clubs and information stands

There are also lots of shooting activities to enjoy at this event including Shotgun Simulators, Laser Clays, Action-Air Pistol Shooting, Air Rifle Range, Olympic match Range, Muzzle Loaders and Laser Rifles.  As well as a wealth of information, new gun models on show – this is a day to enjoy the pursuit of shooting!

For those serious about shooting, this is one event you do not want to miss out on.

Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of the great novel ‘Warhorse’ is something not to be missed. Set in the hardships of the First World War, an extraordinary friendship develops between Joey (a horse) and Albert (a boy). Albert trains and guides Joey, until war painfully separates them. The film follows Joey as he builds and develops relationships with others – inspiring them and motivating them until the story reaches its poignant peak at the core of no-mans land.

Due to be released in January, this film displays Steven Spielberg’s fantastic skills as a director. He manages to capture a bond between the horse and the young man to the highest level possible of an animal and a human. The authentic emotions displayed in this film of friendship, war, death and love is cleverly captured and if you have a soft spot and admiration for those gorgeous horses, go and watch the film and let us know of your comments.

Watch the trailer below and we guarantee you will be booking your cinema tickets…..

War Horse Trailer

At the same time though, other birds have increased in their population, an opposite trend to the current development in Mallard and pochard community. For example the pinkfoot geese have reached their highest population ever recorded whilst the shoveler has increased by 27% since 1998.

The purchase comes after an impressive performance at Royal Ascot last year, where she won the Albany Stakes. Trained by Richard Hannon and relatively inexperienced at the time of the competition, Memory spouted through a field of 22 in the final stretches! But this is not the last of it – Memory also won the Cherry Hinton at Newmarket and was one of the favourites for the 1,000 Guineas.

Lately however, in the Classic and two other occasions, she refused to come out of the stall. She therefore was retired in July.

The Queen usually prefers to breed her own horses rather than purchase them, so this is an unusual move by her!

(Photo by Bauer Griffin)