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IRELAND’S FIRST SALMON OF 2024
The River Leannan in Co. Donegal is one of few rivers to open on January 1 and local angler James Kenny was quick to make the most of the opportunity. James chose to fish the famous Watt’s pool on a cold New Year’s Day and was rewarded shortly after 1pm when a spring salmon took his barbless Flying C lure. It has been a few years since a fresh fish was landed on Ireland's opening day, but James played his prize carefully to the net, where it was measured, 69cm, and estimated to weigh 8lb.
WINNING FORMULA
This pristine Grafham Water rainbow trout, 6lb 11oz, was caught by Rutland's Paul Wild. Paul, who has just been crowned winner of Grafham’s Shrimp Master winter series, had spent all morning at Hedge End, catching five smaller rainbows, but moved to Pylon Point as the wind increased. His first cast with a fast intermediate line and Olive Snake resulted in the fin-perfect rainbow, his best of the year.
He said, “If it has not been too coloured, I’ve chosen to fish into or across the wind from the North shore, where the water has had some movement to it. I find that’s where the food is, especially the shrimp and consequently the fish.”
His winning tactics have been either Shrimp patterns and Hare’s Ears on a floating line, or a single Snake fished slowly on a fast intermediate. Congratulations, Paul.
HE’S A NATURAL
Eleven-year-old Owen Caswell proudly displays a fine rainbow trout of 2lb 8oz, taken from Chalk Springs Trout Fishery, West Sussex. Owen, who has only been fly-fishing since early September, asked his parents if he could go fishing. Not being an angler, Owen’s mum, Laura, asked local instructor Steve Batten to give him some lessons.
She said, “He picked up casting so quickly that he really impressed Steve.”
Owen caught the fish on a nymph and floating line from the fishery’s West Lake, accompanied by Steve and his proud parents. Despite the audience, the only help Owen received was netting the fish.
AFTER THE FLOODS
Alan Grey has had a great start to his 2024 season on the River Annan, Dumfriesshire. By picking days between lifts of water, he’s been catching specimen grayling, including this fantastic fish of 2lb 10oz. Alan, who has fished the Annan for more than 20 years, has concentrated his efforts on the Shilla Hill and Newby beats, switching between Czech nymph and upstream nymphing tactics, with caddis and Pink Shrimps tied with Organza catching the bulk of his fish. He said, “I’m very fortunate where I live. The Nith, Annan, Eden and Teviot are all less than an hour away. I've had some great days on them all, but if I were limited to one, I'd probably pick the Annan. The beats I fish are perfect fly water with a good head of grayling, and it’s
