12 • Pillars of Country Sport I’m hooked!


Nick Hart, fi shing manager at London’s high-end outdoor pursuits store Farlows, gives his top tips to anglers of all abilities


How did you get into fi shing? I’ve always been fascinated by water, and when my parents moved to a small Exmoor village I was spellbound by the little River Exe and its perfectly formed wild brown trout. I caught my fi rst fi sh when I was about fi ve years old with a Woolworths fi shing kit. I remember it like it was yesterday. By the age of nine, I knew every twist and turn of a three-mile stretch of that river and needed more of a challenge. It was then that I saw a local


postman, who was also an avid angler, fl y fi shing. I immediately knew that was all I wanted to do and Colin the postman became my mentor and father fi gure for several years. He showed me how to cast, how to fi sh with imitative fl y patterns, and even tie them. T at was one of the happiest periods of my life.


What are your favourite fi shing spots in the UK and why? T e River Lyn in North Devon is a particular favourite — it’s spectacular and incredibly good value. T ere are many small salmon rivers and I’ve had some fantastic days on the banks of concrete bowl reservoirs, such as Farmoor, near Oxford. Now that I’m spending my working


week in London at Farlows, I’m very excited to explore Walthamstow Reservoirs and the River Wandle. I just love exploring new places.


Where should someone inter- ested in fi shing start? It may sound biased as I spent nearly two decades hosting fl y fi shing courses and guided trips, but I recommend that new anglers seek ‘full-time’ professional assistance. Very few people buy a set of golf clubs


T e Countryside Experience • Sunday 12 August 2018


and then don’t have any lessons, so why do the same with fi shing tackle? A good instructor will leapfrog a


novice through several seasons of trial and error. Research a few tutors (and fi shing guides), check out their websites, give them a call to pick their brains and, best of all, ask around because the really good instructors are the ones with a solid reputation.


And for a fi shing enthusiast, what should they try this year? Fishing is very personal and during my time as a guide I met people who were stalwart river-only anglers and others who liked to try everything from the smallest of wild brown trout to a bass on the coast. T erefore, my advice would be,


whether you’re in love with rivers or a more eclectic mix of sport — try something diff erent. It doesn’t even have to be a diff erent species or even venue, just push your boundaries a bit and perhaps practise a new technique. Why not step out of your comfort zone this season and delve deeper into the wonderful world of fl y fi shing?


What are some of the absolute ‘must haves’ in terms of fi shing equipment? T is can depend largely on the fi shing discipline but for fl y fi shing, fi rst and foremost, top-quality modern, layered warm/waterproof clothing (e.g. polypropylene, Polartec, PrimaLoft and Gore-Tex) and/or waders. When you’re not comfortable, it’s hard to concentrate on fi shing. From a tackle perspective, I’d


advise a very high-quality fl y line correctly matched to the fl y rod (instructors, guides and shop store staff can advise with this).


Cheap lines that coil are obviously


very diffi cult to cast, but the biggest mistake many novice fl y anglers make is buying a really expensive high-end rod. My advice is to spend no more than £50 to £80 on your fi rst fl y rod. Clean it regularly and it should last a minimum of two seasons. View your fl y line as an investment for the future.


Is it worth investing in different types of kit to suit different types of fi shing? When starting out, my advice again would be to get a good instructor. T ey should already have a good stock of kit for clients to use. For example, it’s no good investing in kit to catch small roach only to come across a big toothy pike and decide you enjoy predator fi shing more. Finally, for novice fl y anglers there


are many small stillwaters stocked with trout across the UK (including some very close to London) which off er a great chance to improve casting and catch a few fi sh. Treat them like a golfer treats a driving range and before long you will be casting with confi dence. Small stillwaters also require


minimal kit — just a nine-foot number-fi ve rod, coupled to a fl oating line and a box of simple fl ies, which could also be used when tackling a chalk stream. Wherever you fi sh, good luck and tight lines.


NICK HART is the fi shing manager at Farlows, for further information please visit farlows.co.uk or call the store on 020 7484 1000. Farlows, 9 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5NP


MORPHIE SPORTING ESTATE, RIVER NORTH ESK, SCOTLAND TWO SPORTING PACKAGES AVAILABLE:


Package A


3 DAY SPORTING PACKAGE AT MORPHIE ESTATE TO INCLUDE ALL SHOOTING & SALMON FISHING FOR UP TO 5 PEOPLE


£3,999.00 + vat


For up to 5 guns/rods staying at Morphie lodge Full board at the lodge (using local produce) All salmon fishing & shooting on the estate


Available dates: 22nd, 23rd and 24th October 2018 25th, 26th and 27th October 2018


2 DAYS SHOOTING, 3 NIGHTS FULL BOARD Package B


£4,150 plus vat Rough shooting over pointers


Mornings Exclusive Goose flight over decoys


Evenings Wild Duck Flighting on the North Esk


Tom Festing - 07714 783367 Email: tom@wainstonesestates.co.uk www.wainstonesestates.co.uk


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