Hello! All!

Hopefully you are all enjoying the news letters, so don't forget to forward them to any buddies or enemies. They can sign up on the front page of the web site,  for you guys that don't know.
 
So! Mmm! After saving up all season, I decided when I was in India to splash out and go on a guided, once in a life time fly fishing trip for Mashseer (an Indian fish) - which was a slight disaster - expected to fish in completely unfishable dirty water for 5 days, no back up plan and later on a bed with bed bugs. So, it cost me a small fortune and I lost some blood, but I did try for two days - as you can see by the photo - the fish I caught was none too large. 


India - a $1400 + foul hooked wee fish! Note the dirty river in the background!

But it did make me realise, yet again, how professional my guiding operation is and some other guide's services that I know. But hey we all learn! So I'm told.

 
Stu wearing his traditional Scottish guiding 
clothes-go the tartan! 
Kier modelling a Stu's Fly Shop cap aand  
new kids Fly Shop t-shirt, whilst eyeing
up his  Dad's lunch!

Then I was back in rainy Bonnie Scotland, working on an estate for food and accommodation. Managed to even look the part - even my mum said I looked smart! That's saying something. I also hired Mr Bell very qualified spey casting instructor for a day and we had a  wee mini Scottish spey casting school in the rain (did I mention the rain?) and it was well worth it. I loved him even more when he swore at me. Spey casting is something that I've stayed away from, teaching myself, as I wanted to get the best foundation first before I hopefully run spey casting schools in NZ. Over the years I've hired so many great instructors that have all helped my teaching skills and there are many other great fly fishing schools I've also enrolled in. There is just so much to learn! Bring it on!


 A beauty of a wild Scottish hill loch trout
taken on Stu's Gnant foam dry fly.
A Heather fly

I also got to catch some lovely wee wild stunning brown trout and all on dries (the sun came out one day in three weeks). As you can see by the photo it's a wee gem of a wild trout. I also got plenty on my Gnant fly, but I had more fun using a bigger, newly designed hi-viz black cicada fly that's due to hit the shop fly display soon. The main reason the fish came to the top was that, as soon as the sun came out, the local black heather flies started landing on the water and the trout got focused on their black silhouettes.


Come on Uncle Stu - get in the boat!
A good Scottish meal- DEEP FRIED PIZZA/black pudding and chips
I visited as many UK fishing shops as I could and I was surprised how poorly tied many of the flies were and on crap hooks, even when I asked people serving what hooks they were on, they did not know. The hooks would never have held up in NZ with the size and strength of fish we have, especially if you like to put pressure on the fish and get it in quite quick. Overall the guys were all fantastic to me and I was amazed how busy they all were despite the credit crunch; we all had some good laughs and chats about new equipment and tackle. Bookings are starting to come in for guiding /casting lessons and my fly schools for this coming season, so if you are interested I suggest booking early. Not long until I see you all again - Oh! Did I tell you I've got some new cracking fun signs to go up this season!! That should bring a smile, even to slightly miserable people. :) I'll catch up with you all with Stu's news letter four at the end of September, with the new products for the season.  Stu's web shop will be open again on the 22nd of September. Happy fishing, tying and making babies. Cheers STU