Looks like we may be in for another big spate if tomorrows weather forecast is anything to go by. It's been a really difficult year for any fish trying to spawn in the main stem and the larger tribs such as Irfon and Ithon. and there is no doubt whatsoever that considerable damage has been done over a wide area.   Some of the Northern rivers have of course fared much worse with huge amounts of bank and bridge damage, massive gravel movement and silting.  The run off from a farmers maize field seems small beer somehow.
At least there will be no redd counts of any consequence in the Wye areas mentioned so that will be a relief for some who, if they even ever had any, won't be asked to publish them.    There may be some juvenile counts next year which should be interesting but one no longer has the confidence that they will be published or even accurate going on past evidence.  Monitoring the effects of your own projects and being able to provide a result that meets your own expectations is now a skill well honed in certain quarters.  We shall see.

Those of you new to salmon fishing or fly tying with a book taken as a gift or some spare cash could do a lot worse that purchase a copy of Gary Welchers salmon fly tying book.  It has good reviews everywhere and if you want a starting point there is no better place to start.

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The easy to follow, straightforward instructions are ideal for all standards of tyers with a great section at the beginning on the materials required for the beginner to get cracking.

A good collection of flies with an easy reference, clear menu’s, colour photos and turn by turn instructions make it an essential for the fly tying bench.. The large font size is a real plus, so easy to read.

The book is 200 pages in A5 format, wire bound to lay flat on the tying bench. It has 22 pages of hints and tips on materials, tools and hooks/tubes and there are 177 fly dressings in written step by step instruc­tions.

A DVD is also included in the package containing the full book in pdf format, all of the fly photos in full size and various instructional videos on techniques and patterns.

All together a highly informative and excellent tying guide on a range of salmon and sea trout flies.

Book can be purchased by Paypal to gwelsher@gmail.com (as a gift) or by sending a cheque payable to Gary Welsher to 31 Inchford Road, Solihull, West Midlands B92 9QD. Price per book is £12 non posted, £13.50 UK post, £16.50 Europe and £20 the Rest of the World.

Please include your address.

The book is very good value and profits from sales of £2 per book will be donated to the Wye Salmon Association [WSA] and River Wye Gillies Association [RWGA] development funds.

The variety of patterns can be bewildering for newcomers and whilst everyone has a favourite fly or two the range is endless.  Those starting out should be be depressed if early patterns are not up to scratch as there has probably never been a fly tied that wouldn't catch  a salmon sooner or later.

The fly on the end of your line is the one that will catch the fish and if it looks good to you the fish will probably think so too. Pick four or five patterns, tie them in different sizes and style and perhaps weight and  realistically , with a few exceptions, that's really all you need.  Perhaps we can go into this in more details in the weeks ahead including vices and tools etc. and some new flies to tie