Since having a few casts with Grey's new X-Flite at the recent British Fly Fair in Stoke, I have just recieved my 9ft #6 version today!  Can't wait to get outside.. maybe this weekend.. so will let you know how I get on.

Debs

After an early drive down to Stoke we were greeted with a warm reception on entry into the event through the exhibitors hall.

The trade stands were busy, busy, busy.. like-minded people everywhere chatting about the latest rods, favourite reels, proven flies and what they had on their list to buy.  Everyone from Hardy/Greys, Snowbee, and Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Magazine to the Grayling Society, Wild Trout Trust and many more were there attending everyone’s fishing needs.  We were greeted at the Hardy/Greys stand by their AAPGAI certified Academy instructor Stephen Kennedy. I decided to take a Demon and Greys new X-Flite out for a few casts and fell in love straight away.. not with Stephen.. the X-Flite!  Stephen was very helpful and informed me of the forthcoming Hardy’s Instructors Academy event in Ireland for ladies which I’m now hoping to attend.  I made my way round past Snowbee where Simon Kidd showed me some of their ladies clothing range.  Lovely products which I hope will be under my Christmas tree this year!  I also picked up some great fly tying bits n pieces from the likes of R G France, Cookshill Fly Tying and Lakeland. 

I eventually made it through to Fly Tyers hall where people of all ages were engaged in conversation with some of the best tyers in the business.  I was really looking forward to seeing Jens Pilgaard and Sebastian Letelier who were tying classic salmon flies without a vice!.. and bobbin holder! Both guys were absolutely amazing at what they do.  The masterpieces that they were producing were perfect.  Every single turn of the thread, every movement of a feather and every touch of a finger was thought-out and positioned on the hook with the outmost precision.  I spent about half a hour talking to them both and could have spent much longer. Not really for practical use but for their life-like appearance, Johan Put’s realistic flies are some of the best you’ll see.  Every detail is taken into account creating these “creatures” which in some cases take over forty hours at the vice.  It was also good to see Charles Jardine again.  Charles is always willing to help and is always so enthusiastic about females in fly fishing.. nice guy all round and with his wealth of knowledge, fascinating to talk to.

Well done to Steve Cooper, the BFFI Organiser and everyone for their hard work.  The shows sixth annual event was definitely a success.

I came away knowing a little more about fly tying and couldn’t wait to return home to my vice.   Roll on next year..

p.s.. since returning home, I have tied some spiders for next season and large pike flies which I’m hoping to use in the very near future. I have also just received my new X-Flite!

On Saturday, I met up with Mick Bell from Bloke Fly Rods for a days fishing on the Little Blackhall and Inchmarlo beats of the River Dee.  This was my first time Salmon fishing in Europe so I was a little nervous to say the least as I'd never used a double handed rod.

I arrived on the Inchmarlo beat around 9am and was greeted by full time ghillie Terry Paton.  After setting up a Bloke 13"6 XL50 we set off down to the river in search of a fish.  The conditions seemed to be great and the previous five days had resulted in over one hundred salmon for the river but due to the recent heavy rain the water was peat coloured and the ever increasing sun was out with his hat on!

Mick arrived at the river and spent a fair time guiding and helping me with my double Spey cast and Snake roll and as the wind picked up right at the start of a lovely cast, my fly caught Mick in the middle of the forehead!.. Sorry Mick!

We decided to "rest the pool" at around 1pm and drove round to the opposite bank (Little Blackhall) for a spot of lunch, prepared by Mick's wife Anna.  A bowl of soup, sandwiches and some great fishing stories later we found ourselves back down at the river, this time fishing from the Little Blackhall side. 

As the evening progressed trout began feeding on surface insects and the odd salmon and sea trout made the odd appearance, surely laughing at us!

At around 10:30pm we decided to call it a day and head home with out a fish to the net but fishing in such a glorious area of Scotland, on such a prolific river and with great company the lack of fish was irrelevant.

Many thanks to Mick Bell from Bloke Fly Rods, his wife Anna and Ghillies' Martin Hayward and Terry Paton for such a lovely day.

I've uploaded a few photographs of the day in the Gallery here.

I met up with Karen Dockstader from New Mexico at the weekend for a spot of fishing. Read out report here.