The Lion Tamers visited the BFFI today. What a great place to learn and find new ideas!

'I think the fish can see your gut, old chap'

My shopping list was short: A decent silver badger cape/saddle.

Bone and Jon wanted wading vests.

After enduring a three mile drive (sometimes Stoke is a good place to live), we parked up and had a coffee. We needed coffee as it was Bone’s birthday bash last night and we were a bit worse for wear.

The queue was building up, but sensibly, we had our pre-booked tickets and went straight in.

I was desparate to get my hackle stuff. I told the guys it was urgent and got myself a super silver badger saddle from Lakeland. That was me done. I now needed a horse.

We wandered around, buying bits and bobs and then bumped into Sheena Goode. (England International). What a lovely lady. We showed her our new shirts. I think she wanted one but we were interrupted; she is so popular, Sheena had to talk to other people and so we slinked away.

We then went to see John Tyzack, (the master)  who showed a guy how to tie a spider with some dodgy thread and an equally dodgy bobbin holder.  A copy of his latest dvd was purchased and I got it signed, as a signed copy will always fetch a few quid more on ebay.

John Tysack trying out the new 'fjy flute'

We bought some nice gear.

We bought some other stuff, took a lot in and retired to the pub.

I even went to the butchers, not knowing I still had a coat hanger emerger at the top of my brand new fleece

We loved it!

Cold, very cold on The Wye

Had a cracking day on the Wye today with Trugg. Was freezing. Rod rings continually iced 'till late morning.

However, that didn't stop us catching. In fact I can honestly say I had one of the best days fishing for a long time.
After Trugg nailed a couple of grayling, we noticed the odd rise so on went the dries. We didn't look back. We only cast at what we thought were grayling rises but we did catch the odd inevitable trout.
We must have had getting on for a hundred takes and we both ended up well into double figures.
I even trimmed a fly to make it smaller and it was hammered.
Bumped into John Tyzack who was guiding and Andrew from Manchester. Jan paid us a visit too.

At least I turned up in full camo. Yes, not retouched. This is what my car looked like after a mornings fishing. My car is a leaf magnet.

Tried out my new 10' #4 Streamflex, using it for a job it was never intended to do: Dries at a distance surrounded by trees. No sweat though, only lost half a dozen of my best dries.
Best fly for me was a double grizzle (still don't have a badger cape but it is the fly show this Saturday so...). Trugg gave me some brilliant advice and taught me a roll cast. He caught a lot more than me but I'm definitely getting there.
 Best bit was the one that got away. It was going dark and we were ready for a cup of tea from the Kelly and home. Trugg spotted a rising fish in a tricky spot. I raised it twice before finally hooking it. Sadly it came off but to me that was very satisfying as I would not normally have tried for it.
I am getting more chilled about fishing and now realise there is no need to rush. Trugg reckons I'm too quick on the draw when striking. He reckons I have John Wayne syndrome. I reckon it's something to do with my drumming past.
So, BFFI Saturday, new badger cape, and some neoprene socks.

new painting

Enough!

We'd booked this a couple of months ago. Bonehead was in Turkey so it was left to me and Jon to attend.
It was a 'Trugg' outing and we were really looking forward to a day on Thornton reservoir with Mick and his mates.
The weather forecast had looked iffy over  the past few days but Trugg reckoned it would be ok.
The original idea was for about 20 odd of us to fish off the rowing boats and swop boat partners at lunch and fish on.
I picked Jon up at 7.15 in pouring rain and set off down the rain soaked A50 towards Leicestershire.
We laughed about the conditions as my Astra kept on switching off cruise control every time we hit standing water! I decided there was no rush and after what we saw on the way down I'm glad we took it easy.
We had no sooner joined the M1, when the safety car was deployed. We were a couple of cars behind the Police range rover as it brought us to a stop while a right battered motor was dragged to the hard shoulder. No other vehicles involved so obviously a victim of the dreaded aquaplane.

After a lengthy delay we finally reached our destination. It was tipping it down and I felt sorry for the guy (think his name was Ifor), armed with bucket baling out the boats.

This is great fun!

Trugg turned up, leading a convoy of cars and we all made for the hut for a cuppa to discuss conditions and tactics. It was funny really. We had all made an effort to get there but we knew the conditions were against us and we were going to get miserably wet; most were already.

Come on you Blues!

Some went for it! We lagged behind and were the last to get in the boat. Jon coached Matthew Pincett for several years but even he was complaining about the conditions. We did one drift and had had enough! It was miserable and as much as we enjoy fishing we called it a day. To us, if we are not happy then we go. We were soaked to the skin. Some guys had got electric motors which would have helped but even so they must have been drenched.
Jon rowed back and we motored back to Stoke. Another car crash on the M1 north, again it looked like only the one car involved. This one was in the ditch next to the hard shoulder and judging by the static southbound traffic, it must have crossed the central reservation.

Nutters driving at crazy speeds. You couldn't see far in the spray.

Got home and knocked this up. I was inspired by the rain.

Anyway. Sorry we went early lads, but at least we turned up! We went for a quick pint and heard that some roads around Stoke were impassible! Not known that for years.

Logo

We've just launched our new autumn collection.

Only sold three so far. 1 to Bone, 1 to Jon and 1 to me.

Knackered

Just arrived back home after a wonderful weekend with JT and friends on the upper Tees near Middleton.
A bit of a mad idea, but I picked up Jeep socks straight after work. We motored up the M6 and hit loads of crawling traffic until we got well clear of the Manchester area and then plain sailing to Junction 38.


Over the top of the pennines or penines, if you prefer; we had to drive through the clouds in dim light which slowed us down a bit.

Anyway, we arrived at The Strathmore Arms; in the middle of nowhere ('there's nowt here for you lads!) and joined John Tyzack and the rest of the crew for a swift pint before freshening up and an evening meal.

JT with his LTD fly holder

Outside the pub, this little critter decided to have a drink in the middle of the road. I rescued him/her twice!



Back to the bar and it was well packed! We couldn’t even get a seat. THE BAND WAS ON! Two guys and a ‘guest’ providing the entertainment. A great night was had by all. I shall say no more!



Jon in 'pulling' mode. I have a few videos. One of me falling over!



Following day, a bit worse for wear and after a hearty breakfast we drove towards our destination, after stopping to pick up our permits from the local very friendly ironmongers.

We tackled up and after a ‘hair of the dog’ that was kindly provided by Keith we began our instruction and the fishing.

Cheers Keith!

Jon listening to Andy and taking it all in!

The river was wild! The rain had certainly done it’s job! I openly admitted that I would not have bothered but JT insisted that we could/would catch fish if we followed his advice.

A swollen river, more tuition.

Beautiful but mainly ful'

Jon and me were instructed by Andy, a super guy who tried very hard to get us to do the upstream duo. With the downstream wind and our utter lack of technique, Andy soon realised we were really the useless Lion Tamers. How hard he worked to get us doing it right!

OK we had the odd rise, hooked a couple but we retiered for lunch fishless. Everyone else caught! Sorry Andy, our fault!

The afternoon was a bit different.

JT had a coaching chat with us and we came to the conclusion that the downstream dry would be easier for us. Basically we just couldn't cast against the downstream wind. So down the edge, exploring every bit of slower water we could find.

We didn’t look back and had a take nearly every cast. I ended up in double figures so was well chuffed. I would never have believed fish would take a dry in these conditions. I am not posting details. Book a day with JT and he’ll show you how.

Lovely. JT said it must be a stockie!

Next morning, Jon and me checked out as we would be only fishing the morning session and had to depart at lunchtime.

JT made me spend a hour in 'THE TYRES' because of my poor performance on day 1.

We headed to Cauldron Snout and after parking the cars we all negotiated the dodgy rocks down the side of the waterfall to the valley base.

Me, just glad to get down alive!

What scenery!

Looking down at the Tees.

JT in the river. I'd have been washed down to High Force and curtains.

Jon and me had further tuition of JT (this guy helps you all the time). We caught, did the buddy wading and watched JT wading on his tod as if he was on dry land!

Jon taking a break on 'Heart break hill'.

Jon and me trekked up the very steep hill back to the car and headed for home.

Dropped Jonny Jeep Socks off three hours later and we couldn’t walk properly. Our legs had gone!

Check out the new LTD shirt. Here I am Dreaming the Dream!

A great weekend, great company, top advice. Recommended!



KNACKERED

Deliverance

Recently RR on his blog, ‘The dry fly expert’ advised on the benefits of stealth and wearing clothes that would not spook the fish. ‘Jeep socks’ read this and immediately went out and bought the ideal motor to fit in with this philosophy. We decided to give it a try…

I was picked up by Jon.
Bone was already in the cab of the new ‘van’. I nearly sat on his knee as his camouflage was so effective.
What a motor! All the ‘MOD’ cons including Morris Marina heater, Morris 1000 window winders and quarter lights, Allegro door handles and a number six fag butt in the ash tray.

The Lion Tamers

It is no wonder I catch, I am the one who is the most difficult to see!

After chucking the gear in the back and forgetting my wellies in the excitement, stopping at our favourite newsagents for water, a few photos and  debarbing pliers from the ‘Tool Box’ in Werrington, we set off.

(The pliers are excellent value at £2. Go and see Paul at the branch in Leek).

The 'Deliverance' with its 3litre Perkins diesel, coupled to permanent 4 wheel drive roared its way through the clouds and rain up the hills towards Errwood Reservoir; our newly found gem just north of Buxton. I got our excellent value tickets from Woody at his wine shop yesterday.

Arriving at the reservoir the weather was nothing short of shite. Now I don’t normally swear on my blog but this was shite. A horizontal wind with lashings of rain and bloody cold to boot.

Being hard, turning up in the ‘Deliverance’, in full camo and coming from Stoke we went for it!

It was hard, very hard. In the 4 hours we were there, I, the lucky one was the only one to catch. I am King of the Reservoirs after all! I fluked one on a sunk daddy, lost a nice brown on a lure near the net and missed one on a Shipman’s. The casting wasn’t too difficult but it was so uncomfortable and cold. So three takes between us in four hours!

We retired to the pub.

We were joined by  Deano, he's on the Wye tomorrow!

On the way back, we had to turn right at Werrington. Guess who flashed us through?

Lord Rocher!!! He did not know it was us but I watched him laugh his head off as he suddenly recognised the mighty Lion Tamers in the cab!

A great laugh and a great day, apart from the fishing…

Jeep Socks ran me over on Bonehead's insistance because I was the only one with the skill to catch!

Bl..dy windy on Errwood