Yorkshire Post - Country Week
2012 Fly Fishing Monthly Articles
Since April 2005 Roger Beck and Stephen Cheetham produce a fly fishing column in the Country Week section of the Yorkshire Post once a month.
Go back to the 2005 articles Go Back to the 2006 articles Go back to the 2007 articles
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Here are the monthly articles, published in 2012, which we trust you will enjoy reading:
Greenwells Spider Mickey Mouse Mouse and Grouse Mouse and Claret
Fishing at Kilnsey Angling Club - Greenwells Spider
First of all Roger and I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. It’s now 2012 and good to look back at last year’s fishing. I had one of those days that only come round once in a while when I had been given the chance to fish the Kilnsey Angling Club stretch of water. I had the day off work and it was a lovely September morning.
I
knew I had to be allocated a beat, so arriving at the Tennant Arms in Kilnsey, I
went in through the front door and was hit by that lovely aroma of bacon and
eggs, then that hint of toast followed by the smell of freshly ground coffee. I
wished I could have stopped and taken full advantage of the food but the river
called.
Turning left into the “fisherman’s bar” I was greeted by a sight that hundreds of anglers would have seen over the many, many years that Kilnsey Angling Club has been in existence (in fact Roger will be mentioning this club in this year's Historic Angling Clubs feature). Sitting round a large rectangular table sat six men, with mugs of tea and fly boxes in front of them, each one dressed ready to go down to the river. I could imagine the old anglers from the 1800 and 1900’s doing exactly the same thing, each selecting their flies for the day, discussing the merits of each fly and the size of the trout to be caught and secretly keeping the location of the best fish to himself.
Standing at the bar, with an air of authority and a small blackboard in hand, was Ken Slaymaker; river keeper, ghillie, bailiff and the man that every club needs to organise everyone else. On the blackboard were the names of the beats that would be allocated to each angler for that day. Favourite spots would obviously go to the members of this illustrious club. Why not? Membership is at a premium, but Ken with a twinkle in his eye, keeps some beats for the day ticket holders knowing that the fish could be anywhere.
Having been allocated my beat and with a strange sense of regret, I left the assembled party in the fisherman’s bar and made my way back to the car and down to the river. Ken had forewarned me that the previous night's rain could have put the water level in the river up a bit so I was not surprised to see a good flow passing under Coniston Bridge. After assembling my rod and putting on my thigh waders I made my way downstream of the bridge to an area I had fished previously, I knew what to expect and I knew which method I was going to use and it worked.
Casting a team of three North Country Spiders across the water they rapidly swung round into an area that could hold fish in a small eddy near the bank. Leaving them there, hanging in the water but then gently lifting the rod tip to simulate a hatching insect I was greeted by my first fish of the day, a small wild brown trout.
After a while I made my way downstream and stood on a small tuft of grass on the waters edge. I was completely lost in thought, what a wonderful day! Eventually, without thinking, I put my left foot behind me to take a step back - thin air! You can imagine what happened next and there was nothing I could do about it. Crash - flat on my back half in and half out of the water. 'Drat', or words to that effect, but it could have been worse, after all Roger Beck makes a habit of falling in.
Struggling to my feet, feeling rather stupid, I was thankful that I was alone, or was I? I looked round and three ladies were standing there, looking at me. Each glanced at the other, seemingly amused, and went on grazing. There is something knowing in the eyes of a Swaledale sheep!
Thank you Kilnsey Angling Club.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Mickey Mouse
During my month’s absence from the column, I’ve been thinking. This is not an activity that I enter into lightly; in the past it has caused me to develop a nasty headache. I suspect that history may be repeated.
My deliberations have been directed mainly forwards towards my plans for fishing season 2012, but my mind was transported back seven years. The first column that I wrote in this prestigious publication was in April 2005. It featured soft hackled sinking flies often associated with the north of England; the so-called spider patterns. My recent musings were perhaps lubricated with a drop of amber fluid. Incidentally, I must thank our blessed government for funding said libation; they call it my winter fuel allowance. However, thus inspired I formulated a plan to return to my roots and use traditional flies for the whole of the season.
The next task was to gather the materials that I might need to dress these relics of bygone days. I decided to refer to a list of fly dressings produced during the late nineteenth century by Sylvester Lister of Wharfedale. That’s when it started to go horribly wrong. For years, I have used the fur and feather from various species of game birds, hares, rabbits and squirrels. I have even teased out fibres from the scrotum of a tup. I have plucked the preen glands of mallard ducks and relieved moles of their winter coats. All these creatures have either graced my plate or laid siege to my garden. (With the exception of the tup I grant you.) After studying the recipes of Mr Lister and a few of his pals too, I came to the conclusion that in 2012 I risked going a step too far.
The Spring Black had seemed a good place to start because Mr Lister assured me that this fly would be well employed in March and April. Sadly, I’m not prepared to go out and murder the sole bullfinch that visits my garden. Even if it eats all my blackcurrants, it will remain unmolested. Yes, to tie the Spring Black requires feathers from the outside of said hapless creature’s wing. Might there be an alternative for the early part of the season? Well, yes there is the Cow Dung Fly but, if I am to produce the authentic article it necessitates the assassination of one Britain’s most rare and best loved bird, the corncrake. Disappointment set in quickly, but pragmatism suggested that I should look elsewhere for bright ideas. I turned my attention to a chap called Pritt who was also flicking fluff at the water in the late eighteen hundreds. No help here. TE Pritt would have me fashion my flies from the feathers of owls, dotterel, merlin, woodpeckers, cuckoos, swifts and fieldfares. I can see myself in a lot of bother if I am caught lying in wait with the shotgun, watching as the tawny owls flit through the ash trees. The RSPB might just have me banged up.
So, I have abandoned my original plan. Reluctantly I have come to the conclusion that these old fashioned flies should remain the province of the historians, not anglers. I am going on a crusade to move forwards, not backwards. Out with the old and in with the new. North Country spiders run the risk of being superseded by my new mobile hackled Southern Softies series.
My pal Charlie Jardine recently suggested to me that mouse fur was the new mole. Whilst I conjure up a new spider that Steve can tie for us next month, I give you the Mickey Mouse. I’m afraid that’s what some of these old relics have become.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483
Mouse and Grouse
So, bring on the Southern Softies.
After last month’s debacle over traditional North Country spiders we need to move forwards. I’m fed up with the old fashioned, same old, same old look of my fly box, so I’m determined to freshen it up a bit this season.
There is no doubt about the effectiveness of flies with soft, mobile hackles and many of the original ones are associated with the northern end of the country. I always try to avoid upsetting people, so my new introductions will be affectionately referred to as Southern Softies; I’ve been giving the whole idea a lot of thought.
The top, right hand basket in the freezer is reserved for my fishing - related perishable paraphernalia. It contains cooked hemp seed for the roach, half used tins of spam for the tench and dead stuff for the trout flies. So, obviously, that’s where the bag of frozen mice is stored. Now, this hasn’t gone down too well with the domestic management department, but it’s really not my fault. I needed a silky fur from which to form my new flies. My old pal, another southern softy, suggested mouse. Plenty of the little blighters hole up in my shed for the winter, munching on stored spuds, so out came the traps. None of that namby pamby live catch nonsense either; I want the varmints dead. So, a trio of Little Nippers began their work. By the way, there’s no debate, the best bait is definitely a red jelly baby’s head.
In next to no time I had half a dozen Mus musculus ready for free flow freezing. The next concern was to decide just exactly how to best use the mouse fur to create the effect that I wanted. I needed a fly that created an outline that the fish would recognise as food and I wasn’t sure how mouse fur might behave when it’s wet. I did toy with the idea of conducting some experiments involving deceased rodents and a glass of water, but I’m afraid that the aforementioned domestic management department vetoed that one before any conclusive evidence was forthcoming. What I did learn, however, was that mouse fur is longer than one might think. So, I reached the decision that the mouse fur would be best removed from its former owner before being applied to the fly dressing thread by a process that fly tiers call “dubbing.” That done, the thread and fur, when wrapped around the hook would produce just the effect that I was looking for.
It was time to ‘phone Steve to tell him of my ideas and prepare him for a delivery of mouse fur. We had a long natter about the exact recipe for the first of the southern softies. I think that he believes that I have finally flipped and am barking mad. Despite all that, we came up with a plan. I had a sleepless night trying to decide how best to remove the fur from a mouse. Was it to be Wilkinson’s sword or Philishave rotary? After a bit of a pantomime featuring a half thawed mouse, I decided on the third way; scissors. Having harvested the body material for my fly, I turned my attention to choosing a soft mobile feather to produce the hackle. This was an easy decision; the grouse is the first of the game birds to be in season, so the mouse and grouse was born, or if you prefer it, the grouse and mouse, I really don’t mind. So, here it is then; you have our full permission to copy it and try it out as soon as the season is open. Let us know how your southern softie performs.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483
Mouse and Claret
If you have a river trout fisher in your house, things will have been a bit hectic lately. It’s the new season you see.
Most waters open for brown trout fishing on April first. As a result, there will be a lot of feverish activity as anglers emerge from their winter hibernation. A lot of this frantic stuff could actually be avoided because, after all, the last season closed at the end of September. However, human nature being what it is and despite good intentions getting stuff ready is frequently left until the last minute.
Some of the preparatory tasks can cause a bit of domestic unease too. On your last fishing outing, if you heard a grating noise as the fly line passed through the rod rings, it either needs cleaning or chucking away. Yes, I know, I’m talking to Yorkshire anglers, so we’ll go for cleaning. This is, ostensibly, a very simple task, but things can become a bit fraught. The best way to do the job is to gently pull the line through a soft cloth anointed with the stuff that’s used to clean the car dashboard. Allow it to fall in big coils on the floor. Before you do so however, it is, important to vacuum the carpet; otherwise the line will become covered in fluff and dog hairs, which is counter-productive. This is where the potential problems start. Prepare yourself, because the domestic management department will enquire about hoovering becoming part of your familial duties. Be careful before you answer; it can cause a repetitive strain injury to the casting arm.
Oh, and by the way, if you’ve emptied out the fishing bag beware of another hazard. Those bits of nylon that you screwed up in there to prevent environmental catastrophes will cause all sorts of fun and games if they wrap around the hoover brushes. Worst case scenario? You will burn out the electric motor and fill the living room with acrid smoke. Don’t ask me how I know this stuff; I just do. One last thing; if you have a cat shut it in the kitchen before you start.
It’s more than likely that reels will require a bit of maintenance too. The insides will be full of grit and sand and will need lubrication. I’m not going to dwell on this for too long but I’ll just mention a couple of things to avoid. First, do not put your expensive alloy reel through the dishwasher. The substance that makes your glasses sparkle corrodes spindles and drag systems more effectively than sea water. Second piece of advice; I can’t recommend squirting WD40 on the parquet floor or the vinyl tiles if you don’t want to turn the place into a skating rink.
If you stored your rods in the garage or shed over winter, send the kids out before you bring them in to check over. The cloth bag in which you enshrine your treasured possession, make perfect nesting material for mice and chances are that they will have nibbled bits off yours. If you are really out of luck, they will have helped themselves to lumps of the cork handle too. Young and impressionable ears should not be assailed with your ensuing words of wisdom. Mice also like to urinate on things too, so if the corner of the living room begins to niff, don’t blame the cat. To add insult to injury, mice are also very fond of chewing waders. It’s best to check before stepping in the water.
My old friend Cliff tells me that his rod bags were attacked by a veritable army of mice. They are now lined up neatly in the freezer awaiting transformation into this year’s killer pattern for the river Rye, the mouse and claret.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483
Leckford Professor
Can somebody please explain to me why it’s not stopped raining for a fortnight, yet we are in a drought? The volume of water that’s recently flowed down the dales rivers and out to sea would save us from a hose pipe ban for half a century. Am I missing a trick here or are the water companies simply taking the Mickey?
You’ll have to excuse me if I appear a bit tetchy; I was hoping to be out on the rivers of Ryedale on a regular basis in April but casting a fly into a torrent of chocolate can be a bit daunting. There is some talk of grumpiness and bad words bandied about; don’t believe everything that you hear. The upshot though has been more thinking and planning. I like opposites and the unconventional so I’m of the mind to do some things differently this season. When I do eventually have the opportunity to flick a fly, I shall employ my mousey modern versions of the soft hackled spider patterns. Usually I would undertake this with a modern, state of the art carbon fibre fly rod that weighs in at less than a whisker. This year, however I am determined to more regularly take my classic cane rods to the river. They are much heavier than their carbon counterparts but they possess a timeless quality that reflects traditional skills that emerged in the late 1800’s. All hand made by gluing together sections of tapered, split bamboo some of these rods have become classic collectors’ pieces. It is a salutary realisation that my Hardy CC De France split bamboo rod is worth far more than any of my pristine carbon equivalents. The design originates from 1911 when JJ Hardy won a prestigious French casting competition; hence the name. Mine was produced much later, in 1955, but works as well now as it did all those years ago. Whether I can use it to the same effect as dear old JJ is another story.
I recall that stalwart of the upper Wharfe, Brent Little, waxing lyrical about the beauty of split cane. He opened my eyes to the reflection of the setting sun from the burnishes, soft golden hues of painstakingly varnished wood. This is in stark contrast to the brashness of some modern graphite gear. There is even a bright red one out there. He compared the wide arc curvature in the cane creation to the very shape of the limestone fells amidst which we fish. The two forge a harmony of natural elements that eludes the stark intrusion upon the landscape of a modern material.
I will admit that these beautiful fly rods are not easy to use, they demand love and respect. “Treat them gently and they will serve you well”. The words of my dear departed mentor, Hugh Evans haunt me when I try to force a bamboo rod to flex rather too quickly.
Visitors to Kilnsey Show will have witnessed another of my cane companions in action. I am the proud second owner of a Hardy JJH Triumph built in 1959. The rod is eleven years my junior; it is not for me to say which of the pair has best withstood the ravages of time. You may judge for yourself at this year’s show. It was bought, in the same year of its creation, by John Dowling. He employed and treasured the Triumph until, when in his nineties, John passed the rod to me. I shall continue to cherish this piece of living history.
I’m off down south next week and I wanted a historic fly to chuck in the chalk streams. Steve came up with the Leckford professor designed for the job by Ernest Mott.
Mind you, I shall have a few Yorkshire creations in my back pocket!
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483.
Flies dressed by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 2507244. www.fishingwithstyle.co.uk
Narrative by Roger Beck 01439 788483.
© Copyright 2009 Stephen Cheetham, Roger Beck, Yorkshire Post Newspapers.