Glasgow Angling Centre Open Weekend

Glasgow Angling Centre open weekend was again a busy one, and from a Hardy’s perspective much emphasis on, yes, you’ve guessed, SINTRIX! By the end of the weekend the selection of single handed rods were well worn with people trying before buying. I have to say, so many people were amazed by the DVD of our guys playing sharks on those rods, putting them through what could only be described as torture, bending them double whilst playing those monsters. What is becoming more apparent is the fact that this material has indeed provided a benchmark for what is to follow!

Some of the best casting instructors, giving away their tips for free, and very few takers had me thinking - I must be somewhere other than Glasgow!! A freebee and no takers! Naa, Canna be, Nae in Glasgow! ! But then that’s the reality of fly-fishing, a sport where, to give them an edge, people spend so much on tackle, flies, lures, but then don’t seem to worry about whether they can actually place those in front of a fish; which it has to be said, is the best and most important edge they could possibly give themselves! Mind you, we all get something different from our sport and if some may be happy muddling away and seeing others catching all the fish. I mean, whatever floats your boat!

I heard it said over the weekend, you will not catch fish unless you change to the correct fly. Interestingly, a comment made by a fly tier. I also heard it said that a fish will come up, but never down, for a fly! A comment made by a good caster. However, one thing is for sure, if you cannot get your fly to where the fish are, then you are limiting your chances by a lot more than failing in the examples above. Yes, you may take a fish with a silly fly, and yes, you may take a fish when fishing too deep, but you won’t take one if you cannot get your lure to the fish in the first place. Now, I am not saying that only good casters will catch fish, of course that’s not true, but what I am saying is, presenting your lure/fly properly, in the way “you” want it, can only be achieved by good casting. But then again, some people are happy enough relying on pure chance with their fly landing wherever the wind or current takes it. After all, we are all individual and as long as we enjoy our day, the fact that out mate catches more every time shouldn’t matter too much. Should it?

Scotsmen turning down a freebee!? I have to admit, I’m still having a little difficulty with this!!!