Q1.  Can you please tell us about yourself?
My early childhood was spent in Canada and I can hardly remember spending time playing indoors. My friends and I enjoyed plenty of freedom, vast open spaces and everything to do with enjoying and appreciating the outdoors. I remember a photograph taken on a fishing trip my father took in the most amazing scenery; he was holding a brace of magnificent salmon in his hands and I thought one day I’ll have to have a go at fishing it sounded like an amazing adventure!!

Q2.  When did you first pick up a fly rod and who taught you?
I started fishing about 5yrs ago and haven’t looked back since, it is fascinating sport where there are so many things to learn and there is a wealth of information in all forms, with the internet producing some wonderfully informative sites. Simon bless him started teaching me to cast and while doing so forgot his own learning curve. I remember him first river fishing and the messes he got into in the early stages, so at least I had an idea of the problems that lay ahead. At times he thought I was just trying his patience while I grew frustrated at not being able to put his words into my actions. In the end I had a professional lesson and that helped a lot, I have had a couple of lessons since and after every lesson I practice on a playing field to improve, there is no point paying the money if you’re not prepared to pay the time.

Q3.  Where is your favourite fishing location?
My first love is for rivers both for the method of fishing and for the love of open spaces and wildlife. The Alyn has a special place in my heart as I spent hours beside the banks with binoculars while recovering from Cancer and it is where I learnt to fish.

Q4.  Who or what was your fishing inspiration?
Seeing the photograph of those wonderful salmon and the tales that went with them.

Q5.  What’s the best piece of fishing advice you’ve been given?
To have professional lessons.
I personally found they are well worth the money, I learnt so much and in a relatively short space of time. Another bonus was my instructor was always polite and encouraging.

Q6.  What is your number one trout fly?
Being female I refuse to choose just the one fly, so my No 1 wet is the  GRHE, dries early season LDO followed by the bubble winged caddis later in the season.

Q7.  What’s been your most embarrassing moment while fishing?
A moment that made me cringe was while casting I accidently hit a kingfisher coming downstream. I was near a bend and as I was casting forward the kingfisher came around the bend without enough time to change direction and the next thing I saw was a blue flash directly in line with my fly which it hit. The bird landed on a branch, shook its head and recovered before flying off in the distance. I was grateful to see him fly away and I’m not sure who was more shocked by the experience.

Q8.  When’s your favourite time of the year to fish and why?
Anytime I can get out fishing is my favourite time of year, as long as I’m wearing the correct clothing and have food and drink. I enjoy sitting taking it easy and enjoying my surroundings as well as fishing, it’s not meant to be hard work it’s a pastime.

Q9. Where and when did you catch that fish of a lifetime?
Fish of a lifetime, not yet!! But catching a fish on dry on the opening day of the season with frost in the air was special; as was catching my first of many over the 1lb grayling on our little river this year, they are wonderfully power houses when fighting and the colours on their dorsal fin are sublime. Also, the trout after the Barbie was a moment to remember, as it got into a snag I could feel my heart beating quicker and after releasing the fish my hands were still shaking with excitement. All the fish are special for different reasons.

Q10. Tell us about the one that got away?
The one that got away was while sea fishing at Anglesey; I was tired after fishing for a few hours and as Simon had no bait on his line he suggested he have my rod and I take a rest. My pain levels were high and only increasing with holding the rod, so I knew it would be sensible to listen for a change and have a rest. Within minutes of holding my rod a large mullet decided to annoy me by getting hooked and landed, much to Simon’s amusement as he knew I wouldn’t be happy.

Q11. What advice would you pass on?
If you are struggling with your casting remember it is an art that needs to be learnt and lessons can help greatly – and enjoy your fishing!!

Q12. How would you like to be remembered?
For not giving up, living life to the full and making to most of every day, even the bad ones.

Q1.  Can you please tell us something about yourself?
Born in Cardiff, brought up and educated in Chester. Lived in umpteen places since University in Manchester and working in the construction industry- Chicago, Warrington, Garstang, Wolverhampton, Penrith, Leyland, Chester and worked all over the country from Cornwall to Scotland, London to Wales. 

Q2.  When did you first pick up a fly rod and who taught you?
I started fly fishing when I lived in Garstang in 1964 – fished the River Wyre which ran one field away from the house. To be honest, which is obvious now, nobody taught me as those who encouraged me to start weren’t much cop themselves and were self taught. We fished for chub in the winter (standard cheese paste bait not fly). My first rod was a 8ft Hardy Perfection, a Hardy St George reel and floating level line all bought from Monks in Chester for £20 – yes really!!

Q3.  Where is your favourite fishing location?
The Wiltshire Avon, Itchen, Eamont and Lowther near Penrith (not been there for many years)

Q4.  Who or what was your fishing inspiration?
Authors such as Bernard Venables,  Robert Travers, Oliver Kite, Frank Sawyer and John Gierich. First time I ever looked at a chalk stream and realised why this was a heaven for trout and also for anglers.

Q5.  What’s the best piece of fishing advice you’ve been given?
It’s a competition between yourself and an animal with a brain the size of a pea – occasionally you win so enjoy your successes when they occur and respect your adversary at all times.

Q6.  What is your number one trout fly?
GRHE, Imperial, Elk Hair sedge,

Q7.  What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen while fishing?
Hooking a large trout (4lbs) on the Avon and watching it being attacked by another fish at least twice its size. That has also happened elsewhere under similar circumstances. While fishing the Itchen some years ago on a still evening, a roe deer jumped over the fence on the opposite bank and landed with an almighty splash just where I was about to cast. I did once rise an eel to a dry fly on the Alyn.

Q8.  What’s been your most embarrassing moment while fishing?
Really too many to relate. Teaching someone to cast under tree cover and landing the fly in the tree ranks high on the list. Falling in, as often happens, can be embarrassing depending whether you are in company or not. Have considered whether my waders should be swapped for a wet suit! 

Q9.  When’s your favourite time of the year to fish and why?
April through to October is much my favourite time. Not keen on the close season.

Q10. Where and when did you catch that fish of a lifetime?
I’m still waiting and hope that I never do for what would you do then as an encore. Every fish you cast to and succeed in catching has to be a fish of a lifetime. I guess I lack angling ambition.

Q11. Tell us about the one that got away?
Really too many to list here. A rainbow escapee on the Itchen several years ago hooked when tucked under the bank I was standing on and which fought like mad until finally dropping off when ready for the net.

Q12. What advice would you pass on?
Enjoy the experience of being by water in solitude and your own company. Catching fish is a bonus, don’t count your successes and remember your failures and why they happened.

Q13. How would you like to be remembered?
Come on now that answer could be classed as the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.