Outside Days » Orvis

Reels at Gin-Clear’s Fly Rise

Howard — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:45:51 +0000

The downside of the CLA Game Fair is that the most interesting people always seem to cross your path when you are juggling other commitments. When Matt McHugh introduced me to director and producer Nick Reygaert, I had my hands full of Orvis gear. Only later when I logged on to his website and read his blog did I realise what I’d missed

The fly fishing equivalent of Cannes, RISE is the world’s largest fishing film festival and on our doorsteps for the month of November. From exotic locations to big fish, cinematographers have captured the epic passions that drive us back to the water over and over. Don’t believe me? Check out Nick’s equivalent of a trailer on YouTube. I’m overcoming my distaste of the Big Smoke long enough to make the London showings…

Landing Wharfe

Howard — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:00:22 +0000

My erstwhile fishing buddy Tony and I grabbed a day off between walked up days on the grouse moor to fish one of Yorkshire’s premiere rivers, the Wharfe. Taking local advice from the gents clothing shop in Grassington, we rocked up at The Tennant Arms at 9:30 and joined the queue at the bar. The spit and sawdust fishing bar was populated by similarly attired folk checking leaders and flies before the Kilnsey Angling Club’s secretary distributed beats.

Having been issued the Netherside Beat and a stunning map of the fishing waters (almost frameable it is so nice), we made our way out onto the water. There were a few fish rising to pale olives, so being the purists we are we both stuck appropriate dryflies on the end of our leaders (mine was an olive Klinkhammer) and waded out. I was fishing with my Orvis Zero Gravity 5 weight. Tony was fishing with his spaniel Tom. Needless to say, Tom and Tony had the first fish, a lovely 10″ brownie.

While the water was pretty low, and (as it should be) the colour of Yorkshire beer, we still bagged 10 fish between the two of us from 4″ to 1.5lbs in 5 hours of concentrated fishing. Wherever I travel, I pack a rod or two, and slope off to find fishable water. No. 2 claims that I would fish in a dog bowl if it was the only available wet. So no matter where you are headed, business or pleasure, if you fancy an evening’s fluff flicking or a day’s sport fishing, get in touch. I’m bound to know someone with water and sport to spare.

Covetables from the CLA Gamefair ’09

Howard — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:59:22 +0000

The CLA Game Fair has come and gone, leaving us raring for the start of the season so we can test out all our new purchases on the hill. For those of you who shop with, consult, and otherwise encourage Wife No. 2′s shopping addiction, THANK YOU. She managed to come home from Belvoir with nothing more expensive than a cashmere sweater purchased from the Really Wild Company‘s ’50 things for £50′ rack. And a whole lot of photos of potential Christmas gifts for me to procure. Apologies for the distinctly female slant of the accompanying photos: I was too busy testing out the latest kit. And lets be honest, she needs an initiative test now and then when it comes to tracking down that new plug I fancied in time for my birthday.

Our friend John Bye was back exhibiting his photo-realistic paintings, prints, and some pencil sketches. I was keen to see his latest, Call of the Wild as he’d called me to source some images of red stags for him. On the way, No. 2′s magpie instincts got the better of her when we passed Teasel‘s stand with this sparkly tweed throw on display…I expect it to turn up on our sofa any day now.

I have to own up to having done some shopping of my own, coming away with the obligatory Purdey‘s tweed breeks and Musto‘s new coat that supports the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust(I have to own up to having purchased mine from Orvis). It is just what I was looking for – lightweight enough for the cooler summer days, waterproof and windproof without that irritating swishing noise. It is replacing a Le Chameau Foret that managed 2 years service.

While I ogled the latest offerings from Bass Lures, she made eyes at The Rose‘s scarves and jackets. Fortunately, aching feet drove us back to the car before she could find my wallet. Unfortunately, the country show on our home turf, Hamptworth Country Fayre, is just around the corner…

For those of you who’ve missed my abuse in the off season, fancy showing off how far those clay lessons have brought your accuracy on, or just want a chance to dust off your barrels, I’ll be running a 50 bird sporting clay shoot at the Fayre. It’s Sunday August 16th from 9 to 3, with plenty of entertainment, food and fun for all ages.

More to Retail than a Register

Howard — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:36:51 +0000

Orvis has become synonymous with flyfishing, a company passion evident in everything they produce from rods to luggage to clothing. That commitment to the sport extends to training their retail staff. Recently Stockbridge Assistant Store Manager Philip Nicholson participated in one of the numerous Beginners Weekends Orvis offer through out the season. He caught five fish, two rainbows, two brownies, and a grayling using a nine foot 5 weight TLS Matrix rod and a Battenkill Mid Arbor 3 reel.

In the process, Orvis have made Phil a much better salesperson: he has more in common with his customers having experienced the elation of playing a trout. And he’s beginning to understand just how personal rod selection can be, and why having the right fly can make all the difference. I look forward to hearing tall tales of fish lost and those caught from Phil for years to come. So if you are passing the Stockbridge store, pop in and give Phil some stick.

Fishing the Dorset Frome

Howard — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:15:39 +0000

Obsession is an ugly thing…even when it takes you to some of the most beautiful fishing spots around the globe.Since I introduced him to the sport four years ago, Mr. Mexico, more known for catching rooster fish and dorado on the fly, has honed the obsession to a pedantic art. He deigned to join me on the River Frome in Dorset in pursuit of more domestic fins.

Bright sunshine, a limited hatch, forests of weed, and very little rising made for a challenging day. We caught everything we saw rise, but were reduced to nymphing by a number of recalcitrant grayling in the beat. There’s nothing that gets my goat like watching enormous fish turn up their noses at everything I throw at them. At the end of the day, we had to admit defeat despite flogging the things with flies of every description. If anyone wants to catch a monster grayling, I know where some are sitting…I hope you have better luck than we did.

Toby has asked that we all refer (defer?) to him as the ‘Master Caster’…a moniker we feel might be a bit premature given the confusion he still stumbles into on occasion. The Mexican Maestro might be a better description, although he did forget the scales and couldn’t bear to kill the fish when he caught trophy (and possibly world class record) rooster in Mexico. A lesson he never forgets when sharing his passions for all things Mexican and flyfishing as an expedition leader.

Gamekeepa Fishin’

Howard — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:32:59 +0000

All of us need to escape the daily grind now and then, and flicking the fluff for mayfly-delirious brown trout is an addictive relaxant. Headkeeper Martin Broad stole away from the rearing field and the eagle eye of his underkeeper (and wife) to spend an evening on the banks of the River Test. The fishing was still challenging – all that rain has taken its toll on the hatch and the trout’s enthusiasm…or visibility.

A beautiful four pound plus brownie was ample reward for an evening’s patient work. Martin went back to preparing for the arrival of his partridge and pheasant chicks with lower blood pressure and a big smile.

Blast and Cast: Fishing the Derbyshire Dove

Howard — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:57:53 +0000

No, not another Orvis open day. This time I bagged an invite from an old college mate to join him on the Derbyshire Dove (or in, more accurately). In typical British style, the bank holiday weather was rough. We made the best of the weekend’s weather, fishing on Saturday with only the wind to compete with. Galeforce wind made casting…interesting. There was a reasonable hatch of mayfly, although any chance of a fall of spinners was slim as the wind whisked them off over the fields as soon as they took flight.

Tony’s resigned to his appearance on these hallowed pages, suggesting I might mention the tightness of his loops while casting into a headwind. Or perhaps his accuracy, placing a fly within a gnat’s breath of where he wanted it. Personally, I think it far more pertinent to mention his skill with the kettle: he is the country’s champion at the slow-boil. A demerit only compensated for by the quality of his wife’s baking (thanks, Claire). And then there is his skill at wader repair (his not mine, thankfully)…he was wearing more Aquasure than wader and still got wet feet.

The rest of the weekend was pretty much a washout for countrysport…the Highclere Country Fair had some fine weather, but by the time we rocked up on Sunday, it was damp. Unfazed by the inclement weather, our friend John Bye was exhibiting his latest paintings with enthusiasm. While his focus of late seems to be on wildlife, his portraits of dogs are stunningly accurate. Hector the Clumber’s father Rufus has been immortalised in paint. And if his son turns out to be any good, John will have him hanging on our wall in the future.

The Mayfly Have Landed

Howard — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:24:49 +0000

It’s been a funny kind of year for flies: almost no hawthorne, and straight into the mayfly hatch. Despite a stiff breeze, the mayfly started hatching about lunchtime on Tuesday, and trout took immediate notice. After a morning with limited surface activity (mainly grass snakes on the move), the clients and I packed it in and headed to the Peat Spade Inn for beer and sympathy.

Changing the morning’s Klinkhammers for Grey Wulf and French Partridge to better mimic the rise, we tackled up and strode out to face the challenge. The experienced rod of the pair was quite quickly into a string of nice fish, catching 3 brownies in rapid succession. Just when the chalkstream novice was ready to blow retreat and head back to lakes and ponds, the fish obligingly took his fly. Needless to say, four brown trout later (including the 4lb plus fish of the day), he is off to invest in his first river rod.

With the weather set to change at week’s end, it will be interesting to see whether the mayfly are still around in number, or if the hatch slows.

Flyfishing claims another victim

Howard — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:25:31 +0000

It’s always rewarding to introduce someone to a new passion and pastime. This week we watched as builder extraordinare and all-round superhero Lee dipped his toe into the flyfishing pool by taking an evening lesson with me. His first fish was an enormous 4lb 4oz rainbow caught on a Montana. And he didn’t stop there, catching several others before dusk (and my wife) caught up with us. Using another awful pun, I’m glad to say he’s hooked…to the extent he made me late for a dinner engagement. I look forward to spending several summer evenings watch him get tangled in line.

Lessons are a great way to explore flyfishing without extensive investments of time and finance. They also make fabulous birthday, anniversary and wedding gifts.

Orvis Cast and Blast Meon Springs

Howard — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:39:05 +0000

Family-friendly Meon Springs provided the perfect setting for Orvis’ Cast and Blast, and the powers that be provided unbelievable weather despite the best efforts of the meteorologists to convice us otherwise. Even my parents put in an appearance, tried their hand at flyfishing, and went home with a trout for the table. Richard Banbury kept me busy with a reprise of my presentation on large mouth bass, and the debut of an introduction to shooting.

Dickson and Macnaughton, gunsmiths with a concession in Orvis’ Stockbridge store, were kind enough to loan me some choice weapons as props as well as being on hand to offer technical advice. Really it was just a platform for me to vent my pet gunhandling hates that peeve me over the season.

For those anglers out there looking for something a little different, we have just secured a few nights sea trout fishing on a productive tidal pool new to us on the River Itchen. Last year I pulled a PB salmon out at 2am…just after all my clients packed it in for the evening.