News

Internationally acclaimed fly-fishing instructor, author and artist, Charles Jardine and local fly-fishing guide, six times English National Fly Fishing Champion and contributor to the UK’s leading Fly Fishing Publications, Fred Bainbridge presented two Masterclass events at Tanfield Angling Club on 26/27 October.

Charles ran through his set ups for dry fly, rivercraft and demonstrated his world-class casting techniques whilst Fred focussed on a variety of nymphing set-ups and demonstrated his hugely successful Euro-nymphing techniques.

On the Saturday evening Charles hosted a fly-tying demonstration at Riverdale.

Thanks to Riverdale and Oliver’s Pantry for their support of the event.

05.06.24

Club member Tim with his superb 6lb (weighed and witnessed!) brown trout. Fantastic work, Tim!

24.05.24

Last October, the club was delighted to host the superb fisherman and artist, Charles Jardine, who gave us instruction both on the river and at nearby Tanfield Lodge Lake. It was a pleasure to witness his artful casting first-hand, and Charles was the picture of patience when trying to instruct us to do the same. Thank you Charles!

Charles pictured with club member Bill at Tanfield Lodge Lake.

18.5.24

The good weather over the weekend has seen sporadic Mayfly hatches begin on the river, and turning over a few rocks has revealed an abundance of nymphs waiting to hatch. We should be in for an excellent Mayfly season!

The photograph above shows club member Tim enjoying some sport on Hatchery Flats.

All in a Day’s Work! Getting ready for the new season in 2020!

The Red Tag fly, designed by the founder of TAC, Maximillian Walbran, was mentioned in the 2016 Autumn edition of Flydresser (page 29). Apparently he had been recommended to try the fly ‘Worcester Gem’ on his Yorkshire rivers. He consequently then changed the name of the ‘Worcester Gem’ to ‘the Red Tag’ and first mentioned it in a chapter on grayling flies in his book British Angling Flies (second edition).

The Red Tag – Walbran’s version

Body: bright green peacock’s harl over which winds a red cock’s hackle, and a scrap of crimson floss silk at the tail.

However FM Halford had described it, some three years before, in Floating Flies & How to Dress Them. Here he said the Hackle was Blood red game cock; the Body was copper-coloured peacock herl with 2 or 3 stands twisted together. The tag was Ibis or scarlet wool.

We continue to research the addition of diploid trout to the river and thankfully the first three years of our Investigation has been very successful. The Environment Agency are happy with the data that we are providing and are supportive of our continuing work on this subject.

Yet another day of hard work. Volunteers, ably lead by Bobby, the River Keeper and Stewart, the club Secretary, felled trees and cleared the river bank ‘at the top end’. Two weirs were built into the hatchery water supply to help prevent solids from entering the ponds and all were sustained by pork pies and jaffa cakes. The next working party will be on 22nd June 2019.