In the lull that is the closed season between the 14th March & 1st April, there’s many an opportunity to catch up on some line and leader testing with Ian May at the ‘gorgeousness’ that is Longford.

Meanwhile some REVERSE SPEY casting practice with the left hand

In addition and being prompted by Stan Mankov in issue #3 of Eat,Sleep,Fish… we do a video & photo shoot for the next casting article due in issue #4 – How not to lose your head chucking big flies!

A thumping great sand-eel pattern trailing ready to claim thy scalp… or not?

Loaded to the hilt with nymphing rods, fly lines, flasks and some essential sustenance, it’s off to find some riffles and glides on the Avon with Keith in sub zero temperatures to give some lines a wetting.

10ft rods at the ready… one with the new Cortland Nymph and the other a WF comparison

And so ‘twas’ on to some testing in frosty, clear blue skies and a toe tingling river

Keith takes the opportunity to do some practicing

A final cast as temperatures plummet to sub – sub zero

With a heap load of reference photos and mental notes taken, the warmth of home beckons with the need to gather all of the info gleaned and write up a review of the new fly line… Sundays chore?