WADING WATERS - FLYCHIATRISTSTM
"Flychiatrist" - Ambassadors, Guides and Influencers that promote fly fishing as a way to improve mental health, on and off the water.
Meet Wading Waters Flychiatrists:
DAMIAN ROBINSON
Guide and member of ‘Leek and District Fly Fishing Club’ in Derbyshire.
I started fishing from an early age, taking great pleasure fishing local streams together with my brother. Although it wasn't until 2014 that I was introduced to fly fishing by a friend of mine. Since then, I have studied the art of fly fishing and it’s many disciplines. Slowly learning and developing the skills and techniques required to fly fish any water, in any conditions, worldwide.
I mostly fish the rivers of the Peak District, with occasional tours around the UK. Spending days fishing different places and developing new methods. I spent 2 years living in Bozeman, Montana and enjoyed fishing the surrounding rivers winding downstream in a drift boat or pushing through the current in waders.
To fish my rivers, I need the right flies. These flies I tie myself, through the same determined study and practice I applied to fly fishing.
My PB River Brown trout - 3lb 14oz and PB River Grayling - 3lb 4oz
For me, There is no better feeling than reading a piece of water, matching the hatch and finishing it off by casting your own fly to a fish of a lifetime.
Favourite Technique: Small Stream Dry Fly.
Favourite rod: 8'6 4 weight
Favourite fly: Soft Hackle CDC
Favourite Hatch: Blue Winged Olive
Favourite species: Grayling
PAUL KERRY
Seasoned Angler and member of ‘Leek and District Fly Fishing Club’ & Peacock Fly Fishing Clubs.
Paul Kerry is a seasoned angler who began coarse fishing at the age of eight before transitioning to fly fishing in his teens.
Based in Staffordshire, he is ideally positioned to access some of the finest fishing spots in the UK.
He regularly fishes the River Dove, Wye, Derwent, and the smaller tributaries of the Peak District, targeting Trout and Grayling.
Paul has also traveled extensively, refining his skills and learning new techniques in Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Bosnia, the United States, and France.
Passionate about the technical aspects of fly fishing, Paul enjoys the constant learning curve each session brings. The thrill of the chase is addictive, and he finds deep satisfaction in the tranquility and immersion in nature that fly fishing offers.
Favourite Rivers: Dove, Wye, and Lathkill
Favourite Fly: Soft Hackle Dry
Favourite method: Dry Fly!
Favourite rod: 9ft 4wt
STEVEN SHORROCK
Expert Fly Tyer and Member of 'Peacock Fly Fishing Club' in Derbyshire
Relatively new to the fly scene, having spent many years competing in coarse fishing matches, the fly fishing bug has well and truly taken over Steven. Taken under the wing by some great tiers that have helped him develop to where he is today. And where is that?
Steven has a passion for fly tying and specialises in tactical nymphs and dry flies. He is good, so much so, that in the short time that he has indulged the habit, he has become an ambassador for Veniards and is on the Partridge of Redditch commercial team. He has been invited to a number of open days for clubs and shops as well as key events around the country such as BFFI and The Irish Fly Fair.
The main stay of his fishing is based around Staffordshire and Derbyshire where he spends most of his time during trout season on the River Wye, Derwent, Dove & Lathkill hunting for their wild Brown Trout and Rainbows. During winter his focus shifts to in and around Wales on the Dee, Wye and Severn targeting trophy Grayling.
It is all about wild fish for me and I have started going further a field to Bosnia in chase of them in the last couple of years.
Favourite waters: River Wye, Derwent, Usk
Favourite fly: Pearly Butt Quilled Emerger
Favourite method: Dry Fly
Favourite rod: 9ft 4wt
STUART WATSON
Seasoned Traveling Angler based in Lake District
My passion for Flyfishing started as kid, being introduced to the amazing sport by a family friend who taught me on the Welsh Dee. I was addicted from the very start.
In my early 20s I became truly obsessed with the predator side of fly fishing and fly tying. Whether it be pike, perch, sea bass or wild river brown trout; If it eats other fish you’ll find me chucking a streamer. Although being a self confessed streamer junkie I do still love stalking a confident rising trout on the river with a dry fly.
My fly fishing adventures have taken me all over the world from walking the flats in the Maldives, Casting to tailing Redfish in Texas and even traveling to Thailand to try to catch my top bucket list fish the mighty Arapaima, which resulted in me landing an incredible 170lb’r.
Fly fishing has and always will be my place for head space, in a hectic modern world being in the outdoors with good friends that share the same passion is the best way to mentally reset.
My gear of choice;
Pike - 9ft #9/10
Favourite fly - Flash tail jig fly
Trout / perch - 9ft #6 (fast action)
Favourite fly - Articulated Olive sculpin
Sea bass - 9ft #8
Favourite fly - Flat wing deceiver
SAM GREENWAY
ISAAC BELL
Expert Fly Tyer and seasoned angler in Lake District
I started fishing when I was 8 years old and I followed my brother into coarse fishing,
mainly carp. I soon carved my own patch when I took and interest in fly fishing after
curiosity got the better of me, I joined my local trout club.
That soon transformed into saltwater fly fishing and pike fly fishing, which, living on
the coast near the lake district was always going to happen, Pike in one direction
and bass in the other.!
As a shift worker I tend to spend my days off during the week chasing the bass on
tides, and the weekends ill meet up friends on the River Eden and go after the
resident brownies on the dry fly, have some beers and a BBQ and camp out.
Fishing for me is a great way to escape the fast-paced daily life of having a young
family and working full time, even if it’s a couple of hours on the outgoing tide.
Gear of choice:
Salt
Rod – 9ft 8wt salt with intermediate line
Favourite fly – Small Deceiver on a 1/0
Trout
Rod 8ft6 4wt – dry fly fishing
Fly – split wing cdc
Pike
Rod – 9ft 9wt with inter to sink tip
Fly – Orange with black head.
Multi Species Angler and social media guru in Lake District
My love for all things fishing started when I was 7 or 8, all thanks to my Grandpa. He was a coarse angler. At that age, and due to me being a handful, it wasn’t long until all the sitting around with rigs out, got boring. So he tied up a float and worm and went fishing a local river just next to his house. I lowered the worm in next to an overhanging tree beneath our swim and minutes later a dim lit, long silhouette cruised out towards it… sat dead looking for a while… And then STRIKED!
This was the first pike I ever caught, although by chance, - I never looked back. This opened up my love for all things predatory in fishing - primarily pike & perch. However, trout, salmon and some sea species such as bass and pollock take up some time of my fishing too!
Fast forward just over a decade and I found my love for capturing the moment of my own and others fishing with a camera, creating content to inspire others to pick up a rod and get out in nature! Fishing has become my life but, to me, it's a whole lot more than catching and releasing a fish. It’s everything that comes before and after it, the memories, wildlife/nature, the places and people it takes you too and endless smiles (even on bad days)!
I’ve been blessed enough to grow up in the Lake District, so fishing 1000+ acre lakes is my bread and butter! However, rivers are my favourite - especially the upper reaches that are fast flowing and full of meandering rapids. There’s something magical about them - (highly addicting too!) But, I’m keen to fish anywhere that has a side of adventure to it and I think that’s the reason I fell victim to fishing!
Gear of choice:
Salt/Pike/Salmon
9ft 8wt
Fly - Flatwing Sandeel / Anything green/white or Black/white! / Conehead ref francis
Perch / Trout
9ft 5wt
Fly - Minnow or Perch fry pattern / Articulated streamer