Getting ready for Spring and saltwater sea trout?

I haven’t fished with these but cant wait to try them. I like the idea of the ‘keel’ both from a presentation point of view and the sound they create This style of fly gets down to the bottom, but seldom snags, due to its springy keel, which keeps the hook point up and bounces the fly out of harm’s way. In addition, the beads strung along the keel click together and against the bottom, sending out food signals to the fish.

  – tied by Andy from www.chasingsilver.org

I really like Jeremy Wades television program River Monsters, and last nights episode Atomic Assassin was a classic example of why. Jeremy was granted unprecedented access to the lake next to the infamous Chernobyl power plant. His goal was to catch a legendary, mutated catfish before exceeding exposure limits to the area’s radiation.

Now we all know there’s a bit of fun going on at times ‘in the making’ but I found myself lost in the eerie, grim and amazing landscape of an evacuated irradiated industrial and urban zone. The accident was terrible in its consequences for both the local population and the environment and Jeremy’s journey here to the Ukraine was layered with many possible interpretations.

The fact that his access was limited and highly regulated reminded me a little of times I spent sneaking onto a local reservoir where big rainbows lurked, many years ago! A special place still. There was already an added air of tension and heightened expectation by being allowed into somewhere that has been subject to neglect and free from human intrusion for thirty years, to a large extent – absolutely perfect for angling.

With a back drop worthy of ‘Call of Duty IV’ , according to my young son Dan, it was dramatic and terribly compulsive viewing. Of course Jeremy had little time as he was being exposed to radiation constantly so this heightened the drama no end!

I found myself a little conflicted when watching the program, an area of such tragedy and yet for this program it was angling in its purest essence. The programs are ultimately about the fish the environment and the people who live and work there and to a large extent its very very hard work for all involved.

In the midst of all the television there is a large portion of reality too. Try and see it – compulsive viewing!

Just completed and updated the fishing planning for 2014 – HERE

This will update regularly over the next few months as reservations arrive.

I will publish more details of the Two- Day saltwater Fly Fishing Workshop later this month – I have indicated the availability of Fly fishing workshops on the planner – they can also be run on request if I have time available.

Time will travel quickly…

Looking forward to fishing with you all on the coast, please expect confirmation mails in the next few days – Jim

Please find below my planning for bass and seatrout fishing at this time. Where indicated I have both reserved and provisional reservations completed at this time. I have some work to do for dates regarding some workshops and the destination guided workshops, I will complete these during the next few days. Due to an unexpected cancellation September is fully available at this stage! This, however, will fill very quickly once it goes on here.

Thank you again for your Christmas vouchers and no doubt we will fill in the days on the planner as you confirm them to me over the next few months. Please be aware that all workshop vouchers are open ended and I consider them to be open until completed regardless of receipt date.

There will also be a Spring and Autumn Two day fly tying fly fishing fly casting workshop during 2014 including 2H rods and I will update the planner once these are decided.

Regards – Jim

Fishing and reservations 2014 by Jim Hendrick

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Rivers of a Lost Coast is a new documentary that looks at our relationship to nature through the eyes of the most fabled angling community in American history. This surprisingly touching film was recently labelled a must see by the San Francisco Chronicle and Seattle Times.

The following few paragraphs were written by George Snyder and appeared in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat on January 23, 1995. Although George misinterpreted a few facts, the large majority of the piece is accurate.

“Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa for Bill Schaadt, perhaps one of the most widely known fly fishermen on the Pacific Coast.

“Mr. Schaadt, a native of San Francisco, died of cancer last Tuesday in Santa Rosa surrounded by his fishing friends and family. He was 71.

“Mr. Schaadt made his living as a sign painter along the Russian River after moving to Monte Rio as a young man. He was known locally as an excellent pen-and-ink artist, producing cartoon and drawings not only of his beloved fish but of other subjects as well.

“He was perhaps best known for his love of fly fishing, using the technique in the ‘50s and ‘60s along the Russian River and also on the Pacific Coast’s major salmon and steelhead streams, including the Smith River in the northern part of the state and the Chetco in Oregon.

“Mr. Schaadt is also credited with being among the first West Coast Fly Fishermen to successfully use flies to catch saltwater fish, including striped bass and rock fish.

“Despite his modest living circumstances, Mr. Schaadt managed to fish Costa Rica, in the Florida Keys for trophy tarpon and in British Columbia. Mr. Schaadt, who was a friend of the late author Ted Trueblood, a former fishing editor for Field & Stream magazine, was profiled in that magazine and also Sports Illustrated, Outdoor Life and other wildlife publications.