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Introduction
Gazing out across the oceans vast expanse we could be forgiven for
thinking that it is bereft of life hidden by the glistening veil of
shimmering water. To be able to fly fish in this environment we need to be
able to peel back the layers to see what lies beneath the waves. When we
delve into the world below we discover that the ocean floor is as uneven
as the land above with just as many variations in structure from immense
rippling plains of seemingly barren sand, huge forests of kelp dancing in
the current or marine valleys, caves and cliffs that hold bait and the
game fish that form our quarry. |
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We can ask ourselves what makes an angler, an angler? As any successful
fly fisher of river trout will agree, observation is our greatest asset
and we must learn to read the water where we practise our sport to
locate the areas that hold fish. We need to become aware of our
environment and gain knowledge about what makes our quarry tick, how
they behave, what they eat and where and when we can find them. Equally
important is being able to identify and match the hatch of food items
that can, at times, command the attention of game fish at the ignorance
of all other offerings. |
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This book contains practical text covering the
subject of saltwater fly fishing in the coastal waters of the United Kingdom. We are fortunate to have nearly twelve thousand miles of coastline
stretching around our mainland including the six thousand large and
small islands that make up the British Isles. |
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We are
never more than seventy miles away from where the land meets the sea and
when we arrive at this boundary we find one of the most diverse coastal
environments in the world. The coast is dotted with the settlements and
structures that chart the history of our island nation and there is also
a wealth of wildlife to be discovered. We can feel incredibly privileged
to be so close to, or even part of, nature at its most wild and be
humbled by the power of the elements that help shape the shoreline.
Additionally, and more importantly for us, there is a huge amount of
angling opportunity to be found in our coastal waters with many fish
species that will readily take a fly.
Designed
to be your easy reference guide the book is intended to help you to
become a successful angler in your local area and beyond. As you read
through the pages of this book I hope to help you lift the shimmering
veil of the waters surface and to discover what lies hidden beneath it
down through to the seabed. Looking at the marine environment more
closely we will gain the knowledge that will help us to read the water
on beaches, rocky shores, estuaries and how man made structures around
our coastline can all hold angling promise. Finding where game fish live
and feed (any fish capable of being caught using a fly rod will be
referred to as a game fish) in these areas and how the seasons, the
prey, the tides, the currents, the weather and differing light levels
all have an effect upon our quarry and the window of opportunity that it
gives to the saltwater fly angler.
Tight
Lines!
Gavin
Hurst |
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The Best
Links |
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Bite adventures - a highly recommended charter
Boat Fishing service
based in Cornwall
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If you enjoy your tying you should consider the
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Visit the Salmon and Trout association - they promote
all types of Game angling and conservation www.salmon-trout.org |
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Easy Tide - obtain world
wide tidal predictions online
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