The Alternative Angler

Never mind smelling the flowers, don’t forget to take time out to see the satirical side of fishing life and grab a laugh along the way as well. So here’s a regular column from Kevin Perkins to remind us that life is for laughing at, or taking the p*** out of, whenever we can.

Should trout fisheries be ‘artificial only’ rather than ‘fly only’? Asks Kevin

SPRING IN YOUR STEP?
It’s that time of the year again. The snowdrops and daffodils are just beginning to show, leaf buds are starting to break on the trees, and the lawn is starting to look like it needs a cut (far too wet yet though dear, best leave it until May!). In the shops the January sales signs are starting to look a little faded, and Easter eggs are appearing, although round our way that started to happen on January 2nd.

It all means that the world has started to shrug of its winter drab overcoat and get out the full colour palette as Spring is on it’s way. The sap is rising and a young man’s thoughts turn to……..Trout!

I’ve ordered my new fly rod and reel, bought new lines and this year I am really going to make the effort. Although not specifically for trout. I have an issue with this fly-only business, and the ever so slightly elitist air that still pervades ‘Flyfishing’ in general. In particular, I am no lover of those who use flyfishing as a simple means of getting the maximum number of fish on the bank for the minimum amount of effort. The sort that will go back to the lodge for second and even third day tickets because they have reached their ‘limit’ too quickly for their liking so they might as well stock up the freezer while they are at it.

This desire to catch fish at any cost involves stripping lures at such a pace that the colour, action or construction is of no real importance as the ‘fly’ is surely just a blur to the fish as it travels through the water. This being the case, why don’t the fishery owners allow anglers to use tiny spinners or spoons, instead of this distinction of ‘fly only’ against what are perceived to be downmarket ‘any method’ fisheries where you can use maggots, worms or anything you like to catch trout.

Unlike the ‘fly-only’ water where you can legitimately use creations which are exact copies of worms or maggots, even cloned copies of trout pellet are okay, as long as you tie them on the end of a fly line. Most stillwater leaded nymphs have more than enough weight in them to enable them to sink, or is it just enough to cause the right kind of splash on the water to indicate a pellet being thrown in? In addition, the size and colour of some of the lures is enough to frighten the daylights out of pike, let alone be attractive to trout.

In my opinion, trout fisheries should therefore either be ‘artificial only’ to allow small spinners and spoons to be used as well as the weird and wonderful creations in most fly fishers boxes. Let’s face it, these two types of lure do exactly the same thing in the water, only the method of delivery is different. Who is to say that one is better than the other? In fact, if we move up to the top of the piscatorial social scale to salmon fishing, here we will find that spinning is perfectly acceptable. Just the ‘Gin and Jag’ trout boys who still want this fly only for trout distinction then?

I understand that some compromise may be required as you wouldn’t want someone throwing a 6″ Toby Salmo across the nose of a lunker trout you have patiently stalked for an hour, and are trying to tempt on delicately presented size eighteen GRHE. And if trout fisheries aren’t deemed as artificial only, they should be open to any method.

Now one of the reasons for me buying new fly fishing gear will be the occasional foray after trout. But the main line of attack will be to use it to try and catch coarse fish. I am convinced that on the rivers I fish, a small nymph fished under the far bank will bring success, whether the result is a five ounce dace or a two pound chub, I will be more than happy. If things get desperate I can nip off the fly and sling out a maggot or small worm on a greased leader, to some effect. A slightly larger ‘lure’ can be worked round weir pools to try and tempt the perch and chub I know are present.

Given the mobility and numerous combinations of tackle presentation that can be achieved with fly tackle, why don’t more of us coarse anglers use it? Or are the majority of us still narrow minded enough to believe the equation fly = trout? I know there area few who are using flies for pike, and even fewer trying out creations such as the ‘bread cube fly’ for carp. As I have said, as far as I am concerned it is just another method for delivering a bait to fish, and I will be giving it a go just as soon as the new gear arrives. I am sure I will remain in a minority of one in doing so, or is anyone else out there brave or mad enough to join me?