Arthur Coves Trout Patterns.

Arthur Cove died on the 18th December 2009 aged 79.
He was a good friend who I will never forget. I have lots of great memories and wish I could remember half his stories. I used to go shooting with him and have Trout , Coarse and Sea fished with him and all I can say is he was damned good at all types of fishing.
Not many anglers these days are all rounders, which i think is a shame as you learn from each of the disciplines.
 Arthur was best known for his trout fishing and so to the point of this post.
His wife Pauline and Grandson James said I can photograph some of his fly patterns and put them on here or somewhere on the net so people can see how the originals were tied. I spoke to one of the Fulling Mill team who said Arthur used to ring them up to tell them off if they had messed about with his pheasant tail nymph.
 I just thought it would be a shame to let a bit of Angling history so to speak slip by. His book will always be there to read for future anglers, however I hope to get some of his "secret" flies.......only joking. He did not hide his specials, only from me!

A favourite of mine, which works for me better than his Cove nymph. Not sure if the green tag is intentional .
Tied as the pheasant tail version but with Heron herl.

Works well fished deep, and not moving, for me anyway......
I will try and get lots more photos when time allows.
Thanks , dave

Shrimpy

Hello, I thought it was about time I posted on this blog again. I started it with good intentions however for various reasons have let it slip badly. Will try to keep it going this year as it looks like i may have time to actually go fishing!
Been at the vice a bit, hard to keep the incentive even though I got a new vice for Xmas. Just done a shrimp pattern after seeing a good one in fishing and fly tying mag. Nothing new but might be worth a swim. Blending the seals fur was a bit of a nightmare, pinch of this sprinkle of that. A couple of u.v. products in there, hope the fish like it.

My four year old son took the photo, this macro stuff is easy?! He will sit and make a few flies before he gets bored. likes the big flashy bass / pike ones easy for him to handle. Daddys small flies are too hard.
  all the best , Dave

Will it, won't it work?

I tend to be a stick in the mud when it comes to new flies. If the old ones don't work, tough. Although every now and then i sit at the vice and create something and then the doubt sets in!
Will try it next time out, to be honest the only bit i like is the dyed squirrel thorax. I have quite a collection of spanflex but prefer fur and feather. Bit of a "luddite " when it comes to realistic flies.
       cheers , dave

Arthur Cove Memorial Bank Competion

Starting to get some interest in the competition. got lots of prizes, hope we get enough anglers to raise plenty of money!
 Michael Edwards of Orvis has very kindly donated a Western 3 rod.  9' 6" for a six weight. I bought a 10' #7 when they first came out and love mine. plus the 25 year guarantee!
 Gareth of St.Georges sporting is donating a fly logic reel worth £85, disc drag. looks very nice.
 Not quite sure yet how much a bench will cost, if we don't raise enough money for one might be best to split the money between the two charities. Or maybe get a plaque put up in the lodge.
Be great if loads of people turn out!
 Hope to get out on Saturday, choice of Pitsford, Elinor and Ringstead. So mild today bet it changes for the weekend!
 Just must add congratulations to Richard and Allie on the birth of their daughter Isabella yesterday weighing 5lb.
 dave

Test e.mail

Testing e.mail blogging.
Organising memorial competition for Arthur Cove. Got it on fly forums
web site and in fly fishing and fly tying magazine.also got my first
real follower. Sorry rich! Hi woz!?

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Fishing at last! Elinor 9lb 8oz

When the winds in the east the fish bite the least! so they say, no one told the fish today......
 Caught on a silver corixa, off the bank at Elinor trout fishery. Plenty of fish about missed lots i am very rusty. not been for months and months. My son was very impressed and wants to eat it tommorow!
 nice to stretch my lines and i did not snap my rod ....yet!

Yipee! going fishing on Wedneday. tied some bloodworms

Got a day pass to go fly fishing on Wednesday! Can not wait, possibly forgot how to cast.
 Knocked up a couple of kinds of Bloodworm patterns. Never had much success with them but got to try something new now and then.

One is a bead head marabou type the other an apps bloodworm. Got some chemical pocket warmers so may just cast out and stick hands in pockets, will put some down my waders if it stays this cold! I will post on here if we catch anything. there are three rogues going possibly to Elinor. Percey has got so many rods and lines that he is taking them all to find out what line casts best on what rod, bet he forgets to take a marker pen!
  James Cove is an unknown quantity who comes from excellent trout fishing stock. Think we may have to handicap him somehow.....me i will probably struggle. I like to see fish moving, not that keen on "fishing the water". "smelly nets " indeed!