news-blog

Fly Culture Podcast Interview with Yours Truly

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 10:44:51 +0100

Check out my interview and podcast with Pete Tyjas from Fly Culture here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei_0YUHr0n0
Also check out Fly Culture here for their excellent magazine, loads of interesting fly fishing stuff and other podcasts too
https://flyculturemag.com/

Catch & Release Best Practice & Hot Weather Fishing Tips

Wed, 27 May 2020 15:51:11 +0100

Catch & Release Best Practice:

Its been a dry season so far and a lot of our rivers are very very low. Add to the fact that temperatures are in the upper 20's with bright sunshine means that it's great for sunbathing and watching the World Cup with a cool one in the shade but not great for us fly fishers or for the trout & grayling either.
I thought it might be useful to share some handy Catch & Release advice just to remind ourselves and make sure we are all doing our best to look after our wonderful trout and grayling. It is just common sense but it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves.
This link takes you to a C&R document useful for salmon fishers

While on the subject of weather, (a favourite subject here in the UK) I thought, why not pull together a few tips for fishing when the rivers are low, clear and the sun is beating down as it doesn't happen that often !! Ha Ha !!
Anyway ....here you go....

Fishing Tips for Hot Weather:

when out fishing make sure you have plenty of sun protection and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration;
spend more time fishing in the late evening when the sun drops .... our rivers have been coming alive after 9.00pm and right into dusk;
fish the fast water .... and I mean the hardest, fastest and most oxygenated water. As water temperatures increase the fish search out oxygenated water more than anything else, it also provides excellent cover.... so get the weighted nymphs on and fish the fast hard water;
find the deeper channels and drop offs...the water is cooler and the fish feel safe in bright condiations
look for shade.... overhanging trees and canopy provide shade and are a great place for terrestrials to drop on to the water e.g. aphids, beetles and other small stuff so a good place for a trout to lie in the shade with a buffet included!!. ;
Beware of shadows..... try not to fish with the sun behind you as the shadows will have spooked the fish long before your fly lands

If you need any help or advice on any fly fishing matter, feel free to get in touch as advice is always free
Contact Stuart

The Durham Fly Fishing Company 2018 Early Season Round Up

Mon, 21 May 2018 15:51:09 +0100

Eventually things have started to warm up after what all I can say has been a cold, slow, and patchy spring. The hatches have been the best I have seen for a good few years but trout seem to have been reluctant to rise despite the bounty on the surface. Fish have been in great fettle which has meant fishing earlier in the day and early evening to match their active [periods. This last bit of warm weather has really got the hatches in full swing with Hawthorns, Black Gnats, Iron Blues, Yellow Sally’s, Stoneflies, Olive Uprights and Yellow May Duns all now featuring together with a few Mayflies starting to show…..a proper smorgasbord.

It’s been a very busy Spring here at The Durham Fly Fishing Company with clients from all around the UK and International experiencing some great but challenging fishing including an 18.5 incher & 20.5 incher on following days for one client !!!!

Here’s a gallery of just some of the many clients that have been with me over the past month and enjoying the amazing Durham Fly Fishing Company experience.

From a business perspective, I’ve been recently featured in the Sunday Times magazine and Local Press and a new website is in the process of being finalised to be launched later this summer that will really show off the wonderful experiences and adventures you can have with a fly fishing rod. Additionally, under a European Export Growth programme, I’ve received support to do some work in South Africa and New Zealand later this year which will be a great opportunity and also extend the fly fishing season… exciting times.

Remember all you have to do is get in touch and let me arrange the perfect experience….it really is easy to arrange a bespoke session around your requirements for all experiences of angler.

Best wishes and I look forward to hearing from you.

The Durham Fly Fishing Company 2018 Early Season Round Up

Mon, 21 May 2018 15:51:00 +0100

Here’s a gallery of just some of the many clients that have been with me over the past month and enjoying the amazing Durham Fly Fishing Company experience.

Remember all you have to do is get in touch and let me arrange the perfect experience….it really is easy to arrange a bespoke session around your requirements for all experiences of angler.

Best wishes and I look forward to hearing from you.

An Interview with The Durham Fly Fishing Company at 2018 BFFI

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 11:11:49 +0100

This years BFFI was brilliant and it was wonderful to meet up with clients old and new. I have to say it was one of the best ones I have attended in a good few years. Well done Bridgette, Steve & the Team
The following link will take you to a Blog from my good friend Richard Fieldhouse of Barbless Flies featuring a number of interviews talking about this years British Fly Fair including one with yours truly !!!. Hope you enjoy?
If you havn't been before and get a chance to visit BFFI in Stafford (its an annual event in February each year) I would seriously recommend it.

BFFI Blog

Merry Christmas

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 15:26:45 +0100

Seasons Greetings to all DFF Co. Fly Fishing Friends

What makes a Great Fly Fishing Guide? ....it' s all about the Client

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 17:59:19 +0100

Yeah,.... I've won some awards over the years....
Yeah Yeah..... I'm experienced and have fly fished in many places around the world ....
and Yeah Yeah Yeah I'm a qualified Coach, insured etc etc BUT what makes a Great Fly Fishing Guide ???

Well its not for me to say so I'll just leave it to my Clients and what they say makes a "Great Guide"... I think the smiles says it all

DFFCo. Trip Advisor Reviews

It's more about you than me....

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 18:01:13 +0100

Thank you so much for the nomination which resulted in The Durham Fly Fishing Company winning the LTG 2018 European Award for Service Excellence for the second year running. To make things even better I also found out this month that DFFCo. has won the 2018 Travel & Hospitality Award for Service Excellence.
As a client, you will always be my principal focus when arranging lessons, coaching, guided days or trips in the UK & other destinations. Seeking feedback is really important so I can review and ensure the services on offer "exceed yours expectations".
Its nice to know independently that I must still be doing something right

Check out some of the lovely reviews from clients on TripAdvisor

The Future - Developing Youth Fly Fishing- England Talent Pathway

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 17:10:51 +0100

Its something I'm really passionate about and something that I really enjoy, helping people but especially the Youth get into fly fishing. As a qualified Angling Coach, being able to share my International experience while working as Head Talent Coach with the Angling Trust over the past 6 years has been tremendous in so many ways. Introducing Youth to competitive fly fishing through a proper coaching programme has resulted in well over 30 International Caps through the Talent Pathway.

Last year I worked with Scott Nellins, Paul Davison & Ben Thompson to produce a core curriculum for competitive loch style fishing. It is a fantastic learning resource aimed at the Talent Pathway (Game) but also to anyone interested in improving their loch style skills. Included are downloads, PDF files, recommended knots, leader set up, rules, recommended flies, methods...... everything you might need.
As part of the programme we also produced a series of videos that link to the curriculum and provide a real insight into some of the details involved.
I'm proud to be part of the Game Youth Development here in England and over the moon have been able to help so many kids really get into loch-style fly fishing. The feedback from both the kids and parents has been brilliant and it really is a privilege to be part of it.
For the future it would be great to have a Rivers Talent Pathway.... now that would be fantastic and 100's of kids applying to join

Download a copy of the Angling Trust England Talent Pathway Game Angling Information Booklet HERE

Intro Video YouTube

Health Benefits of Fly Fishing....Nurture your mind & body when flinging flies

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 17:12:20 +0100

Thanks to Jon from Outdoor Empire for allowing me to share the following link.
Not that we need another reason to go fishing as we already have thousands however there is an important one that few anglers ever consider: FlyFishing – is great for your health.

Anytime you spend time outdoors in the natural world, you’ll enjoy the restorative and stress-relieving benefits nature provides, but fishing provides a number of other benefits that you won’t get by just going for a picnic or birdwatching. For example, fly fishing provides you with a good bit of low-impact exercise, and it also forces you to stay on your feet for a lengthy period of time, which is very important for those of us who languish behind a desk all week long.

Fly fishing also gives you a great chance to put some healthy protein on the dinner table. You certainly want to follow local rules and regulations and avoid taking more fish than you need at a given time, but most healthy fish populations will safely tolerate a modest harvest. Fish are a lean protein that will fill you without clogging your arteries, many species provide inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids too.

If you’d like to learn more about the health benefits of fishing, check out O utdoor Empire’s comprehensive review of the subject. There, you’ll not only learn more of the ways fishing can help keep you healthy and happy, you’ll also learn strategies for maximising the benefits provided by the activity.