Fly Tying

Fly Tying is not an essential part of fly fishing but is a natural extension of the sport. You will always remember your first fish caught on one of your own flies! However just like fly casting - fly tying does have it's own techniques and to catch on fast you can do no better than be taught by an expert.

One such expert is a Pal of mine Pat Stevens who has just organised a fly tying course at the Aspinall Arms at Mitton Bridge, Whalley.

Details as follows:

The 10 week programme will be run from 7.30 – 9.30pm on the following Wednesday evenings this coming winter: September 27,  October 5, 26,  November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30,  December 7, 14.

For specific details about the content of the course & payment, contact Pat Stevens,

tel 01772 684003 or 07788 427560 or  email

Need another Bailiff !!

Anyone fancy being a part time bailiff at Curley's??
Low rates of pay - miserable conditions, very stressful, long hours, no fun at all, have to do some fishing for free and eat discount bacon butties etc etc!
However if you are at a  loose end with too much time on your hands and know a thing or three about fly fishing - it might just be for you!!!

Give me a ring -07786682272

The Black Death!

Do we need to have a system that controls the numbers of Cormorants decimating our waters??

Here's a start at least --- click here

Very trying times fishing at present -we need some settled weather and quick!!!

Curley's Fishery

So I have now taken over the running of the Fishery - so far so good.
I have a few changes in mind for the venue the first of which has already been introduced - a loyalty scheme.
Every time you visit the type of permit you choose will allow you to earn points and when you have 30 point you get a FREE day's fishing!
So come along and start earning!

We are still using the "old" booking office/tackle shop and I have stocked it with a few of the essentials - lines, leader materials, flies, nets, priests etc but am already gearing up for the move into the new tackle shop which will hopefully be early September. This will be a fully fledged tackle shop with a good range of rods, reels and lines etc from most of the main brands.

Hope to see many of you over the next few days and weeks

Tightlines

New Era!

ONLY 3 MORE DAYS TO GO!!!!!

Latest Film

Just got the copy of my last filming exploits with Phil Williams.
It is all about Float Tubing and can bee seen here.
Phil basically filmed a lesson on tubing that I had recently with Mark from Leeds.
Have a look and let me know what you think about it.

When you have viewed it have a look around Phil's site which is www.fishingfilmsandfacts.co.uk.
There is some good stuff on it especially for all you Salt fishers

Stillwater Fly Fishing in the South!

Just back from a litle break in Dorset - wanted to do some saltwater fishing but the tides were against that idea, so went back to an old stillwater I used to fish long, long ago!
Rockbourne is, typical Southern stillwater commercial fishery. The main difference between these and our superior versions in the North is that we can catch and release - in the South you can't!  So if you buy a 3 fish permit - once you have caught them that's your fishing over and done unless you buy another ticket!
These 3 fish were nothing special about 10lbs in total, however these cost me £40 for 40 mins of fishing!

I have (or had!) quite a soft spot for Rockbourne. It is where I used to fish with Bill Sibbons who basically taught me all there is to know about stalking.
Mr Sibbons was a wonderful man and a great fly fisher, who invented the "When All Else Fails" fly a really excellant stalking nymph. If I had been able to practise the techniques that I had learned then maybe I would have got some bigger fish and been fishing a little longer than 40mins. However the fishery lakes, 5 in total were all coloured and 2 were in very poor condition making it almost impossible to see anything.
Back in the year Rockbourne was immaculate - crystal clear waters and big specimen fish, so I was very disappointed and has relgated this fishery to the "do not bother again list"
A great pity!

Float tubing - great fun

I have had a great few days with lesson -Friday I was doing a bit of filming with Phil Williams for a webcast - the subject  - float tubing and by great timing(!) I had a lesson with Mark from Leeds who want to learn all about, you guessed it, float tubing! What a coincidence! So it ended up being quite a good piece although I haven't seen the finished edited version yet!

In this photo I am taking Mark out for his first tubing experience where he learned how to propel and navigate a tube. It wasn't long before caught his first fish from a tube. Another convert!

On Saturday I had a good lesson with Mike from Nelson, who wanted to brush up on his spey casting technique.
Tomorrow will see me back at Curley's for a full day with a complete beginner.