Total FlyFisher Magazine

I recently received a couple of issues of Total FlyFisher Magazine, courtesy of Trevor Northan, who works for the UK publisher – David Hall Publishing Ltd. So far I’ve been through the February 2010 issue, and have very much enjoyed it. Most of the articles have been about fishing English waters, but there is one article on Scotland’s Willowgate Fishery and another on saltwater fly fishing in Cuba for tarpon, bonefish, jack crevalle, and more. Author and adventurer Gary Turner obviously had a fantastic time, and reading it brought back memories of my trip to Puerto Rico in search of the Silver King.

It was interesting to read about fly fishing for pike in the United Kingdom.  Author of the article entitled “The Perfect Predator,” Paul Richardson, spends much of his winter in the UK fly fishing for pike in stillwater. His techniques and advice are not unlike that for pike fly fishing here in North America.  Looking at the photos of some of the monster pike was incredible though.  I knew there were pike in the UK – I’ve caught them in Northern Ireland – but I did not know they grew as large over there as they do. I thought us Canadians were the only ones that could boast of 40 pound plus pike.

The issue also has lots of fly patterns.  Some readers will know of my own interest and success with buzzer and midge type patterns, and there are a few in the February issue of Total FlyFisher I am going to try out. One, the “blood buzzer” tied by Irishman Greg White, uses strips cut from Doritos “crisp” bags (over in the UK, they call them “crisps”) for the cheeks.  My wee man, David, loves Doritos so I’ll have to have him save some bags for us to tie up some buzzers soon.   I know David will think that is funny and interesting to  use something like that as a material in fly tying.

There are a few other interesting articles in the issue as well and all in all, it’s a magazine I’ve enjoyed reading thus far. Great photos from cover to cover, too!

Thank you very much, Trevor!