The Fly Culture Podcast

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Episode 289 - Stalking Carp

I'm just back from Italy, the weather in Devon is bright and warm and I had been thinking of going to my local river but with it being so warm I thought I'd try something a little different.

I decided to see if I could target carp with a fly in clear water.

My plan was to spot a fish, cover it and if I was lucky, even catch it.

I took the mic with me and talked as the day unfolded.

It ...

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Episode 288 - Marble Trout in the Italian Mountains

I packed my rods, headed to the airport and flew out to Italy on a Fly Culture trip.

The destination was Friuli and the target fish was marble trout.

None of the group had caught them before but under the careful eye of Vito and his team of guides we felt the chances were stacked in our favour.

We fished a wide variety of water that you'll hear about but we all real...

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Episode 286 - Damian Robinson - Home Water

I catch up with Damian to fish a stretch of water that is a real challenge to fish with some of the spookiest fish I have ever seen.

I learn about how Damian approaches this sort of water and what he has learnt from fishing here.

The term technical fishing is, at times, used a little too freely but this is without a doubt somewhere that tests your skill to the limit.

There are lo...

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Episode 285 - Fishing, Gatherings and Good People

I'm back on the road once more and this time I'm in Derbyshire to attend one of our gatherings at Mallon and Green in Bakewell.

I managed to tag on some fishing too and fish the Derwent with Geoff Hadley and bump into a few friends along the way as we fish late into the night.

The next morning, I attend the annual event that takes place in Bakewell to celebrate ...

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Episode 284 - Fishing for Schools at Lakedown Fishery

I'm back on the road again heading over to Lakedown Fishery in Sussex.

The event, hosted by Charles Jardine, is a fundraiser for Fishing For Schools.

During the day, I wander around the fishery speaking with those attending including Feargal Sharkey, Pete Cockwill, Yvette Austin, James Cuthbertson and Johnny Vegas who despite being an experienced coarse angler, h...

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Episode 283 - Scottish Road Trip

I packed the van and made the long drive from Devon to Aberdeen with my dog Monty along for company.

We fished the Don at Tilliefoure, a beautiful beat owned by Jason Bone who was a wonderful host.

I met some of the people are involved with the Don on many different levels and learnt what this river means to them.

I got lucky, caught a few trout but the trip turned out to be more than that...

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Episode 282 - Sandy Nelson - Home Water

I meet up with fly angler, rod builder and Fly Culture contributor, Sandy Nelson to fish for the evening on his home water, the Don.

I speak with him about the approach and the tactics he uses as we search for rising trout on the river.

This was an impromptu edition that started with us talking on the river bank but the conversation was too good not to share with you.

Listen as 2 fr...

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Episode 281 - Pete Cockwill - The Fish, The People and Places Pt3

In the latest instalment of Pete's story he tells us about the work that he undertook at the estate he managed including the carp and trout on the lakes.

There is a very amusing story about how he had to bury a recently deceased donkey which will have you laughing out loud.

He also talks about mullet fishing with a bamboo  rod and wet flies along with...

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Episode 280 - Road Trip

This is an episode that is a little different.

I pack the van and head off for a couple of days fishing.

There is no plan other than to see if I can find a few rising trout.

I share a few things that I use to catch some fish, talk about an old rod that means a lot to me and reflect on life and fishing.

This is a totally open and honest episode that had no retakes, I just pressed record and talked.

I ...

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Episode 279 - Paul Gaskell - Fishing Tips, Observations and Flies

I'm really pleased to have Paul back on the podcast.

You'll need your notepads at the ready as I talk with him about fishing small streams and then he how adapts his approach for bigger rivers too.

We look at the casts needed along with leader lengths for different water and what to do if you've arrived at the river and someone is already fi...

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Episode 278 - Pete Cockwill - The Fish, People and Places Part 2

Pete Cockwill is taking over the podcast again for part 2 in a series of podcasts that cover his life in fishing.

In this episode Pete tells us about his 20lb rainbow trout, king salmon, hunting squirrels and falling in lakes and rivers.

The stories are all told in Pete's unique style that are both interesting and very funny too.

I hope you'll enjo...

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Episode 277 - Tom Bird - Making the Changes

In this episode I cover a lot of ground with Tom.

If you know Tom, you might think he is mainly from a still water fishing background but he has a foot in rivers too. You'll find out which he prefers.

We look at the pressures of being a guide and how to manage working in fishing along with the closing of Draycote and the effect it had on him.

I also learn about his fishing ...

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Episode 276 - The Tweed Salmon Festival

This was the chance for me to hop in the van, pass over some rivers I've dreamed about and make my way to Scotland for The Tweed Salmon Festival.

I catch up with friends old and new, talking with them about fishing, what it means to them as they walk around the show.

This is a new show run by good people that, at its heart, is trying to encourage young people into fishing. I s...

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Episode 274 - Pete Cockwill - The Fish, The People and the Places

I'm excited to be bringing you something a little different on this weeks podcast.

I'll be hosting a short series of monthly podcasts that chronicles the life of one of my fishing heros - Pete Cockwill.

I doubt there will be many who don't know of Pete he has done so much in fly fishing over the years.

From writing books, numerous articles, r...

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Episode 273 - Lucy Bowden-Croston and Lucinda Ewin on Fishing

I catch up with Lucy and Lucinda to take a look at fishing and what it means to them both.

Lucy is most at home with stillwater trout while Lucinda is primarily a salmon angler although I discover they do a whole lot more that this too.

We talk about how fishing is looking, social media and bringing people into our pastime.

This is a fun conversation that cover...

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Episode 272 - Last Gasp Grayling

Online friendships are one thing but what if you decide to meet up, are you going to get on?

I'd been talking with Mark from Shady River for a while now and we decided to eat a big breakfast and see if we could find some grayling.

I took my microphone on the spur of the moment and we ended up talking about the fishing and looking a little deeper into how fly fishing looks, is it grow...

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The Fly Culture Podcast Episode 271

Jay Bartlett on Char, Salmon, Music and Tying Flies

I catch up with Jay who was fresh from the vice and talk with him about production tying and getting ready for the fishing he has planned for the year.

We look at our pastime and I ask about the 'we need to bring more people into fly fishing' debate. 

He tells me about his music career and I learn about playing guitar in fron...