Dani Morey on the importance of mentoring young gillies and guides
HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THE impact that your fishing life will leave upon others when you’re gone? None of us is going to live forever no matter how much we want to believe that “The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” If it were true, many of our greatest fishing friends would still be with us.
When Lionel Main, one of the longest-serving gillies on the Spey, died a few years ago, he had, like many of us, forged long-lasting friendships with his guests. One of which, Sean Tighe, decided that since Lionel had always been passionate about getting youngsters into fishing, he would take up the baton and attempt to continue this positivity. Alongside the Reidhaven Estate, who generously donated fishing, and Countryside Learning Scotland, Sean put together a river-based educational course for young people from the local area.
With many others who donated their time and expertise in all areas of study, I was privileged to be invited to teach the group how to cast. At the end of the course, the participants achieved a National Progression Award in Angling and the Aquatic Environment at SCQF Level 3 and Angling and Fisheries Conservation at SCQF Level 4. The course was designed to offer a framework that would prepare them for a career in river work or fisheries management, educating them on practical skills and environmental pressures in the context of fisheries. Ecology and entomology fieldwork was carried out and hands-on tuition provided in all areas of angling, casting, safety, set-ups, and tactics for reading a river.
By gaining a recognised qualification it’s hoped the students will be inspired to pursue a career on the river, and having a piece of paper to show for it should help them gain employment on an estate or fishery when the time comes.
The inaugural Lionel Main Award was presented at the end of the course to the participant showing most promise, and Sean is hoping to gain sponsorship to make even more of this event annually. It’s worth noting the week-long session wasn’t all work and no play — the final tally was two grilse, one 10lb salmon and a sea-trout. All the students ma
