Fly Articles from The Friendly Fisherman

Bewl Water

I've always considered Bewl to be my "home water" living within walking distance of the reservoir as I do. Over the years I've spent countless hours fishing its banks and more recently boat fishing it. I've fished there every year since its inception twenty seasons ago, in the early years I fished it exclusively but as the years have rolled by I've wandered around the south's many and varied trout fisheries..... Read More

Darwell Reservoir

Situated close to the A21 just north of Hastings in the Sussex countryside Darwell Reservoir has been a fly fishery for many, many years. Run by Hasting Flyfisher’s Club, day tickets and boats are easily available to visiting anglers. I first became acquainted with Darwell one spring 5 or 6 years ago, since then I find myself fishing here more and more as each season passes. Why? Tranquillity, it's hard to find in the "hussle bussle“ of the south east of England such peace and quiet, and superb fly fishing too, so it's not hard to see why I'm a frequent visitor...... Read More

Powdermill Reservoir

Powdermill Reservoir is probably the most attractive of all the trout reservoirs certainly in this area. It is unique and at 56 acres intimate with its small bays, overhanging trees and miles away from any main road. For those who haven’t visited it they are missing out, it is tucked away somewhere between Brede and Sedlescombe deep in the East Sussex countryside and to approach it you must drive down tiny country lanes.... Read More

Arlington Reservoir

Arlington press day gave me the chance to fish with Andy Lush of the Friendly Fishermen again, an experience I look forward to with relish. Andy is far better fly fisherman than me and when I fish with him I usually pick up a tip, or two and the trip to Arlington was no different..... Read More

Reservoir Dry Fly Tactics

I've written a few features for the trout magazines in the past focused on our local reservoirs, in these I said how successful dry flies can be, even under the most demanding conditions, space didn't allow me to elaborate on the methods I used at the time, nore how I made my decisions on the days in question... Read More