Fish with England’s highest capped International angler..
John Horsey is the UK’s first and best known Professional Flyfishing Guide. He is one of the established leaders in international fly fishing. He has been a full time professional guide for 16 years and has guided and taught fishermen extensively in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia. John is an innovator, his skills have been tested in the competitive arena at the highest level and he has the accolade of representing his country more times than anyone else. He has captained England on 5 separate occasions and is the only angler ever to have been appointed Captain of England at all four disciplines – World Team, European Team, Loch Style and Rivers. In 2006, John represented England in the Loch Style International for the 7th consecutive time on Ireland’s Lough Lein near Killarney. England triumphed to a Gold Medal despite fierce local opposition from a very strong Irish Team. |
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Guiding
John is the UK’s first Professional Flyfishing Guide and he set up business 15 years ago. Living almost on the shores of Chew Valley Lake has helped John to develop an intimate knowledge of this fabulous water. Blagdon Lake is just a few miles West of Chew and together with Litton Lakes, these form the bulk of John’s daily guiding venues.
However, thanks to his years of success on the Competition flyfishing “circuit” John also provides a guiding service on many of the major reservoirs across the UK.
In recent years, he has travelled to Australia, Tasmania and the USA to hold flyfishing Clinics and this October has been invited to Canada to lecture on stillwater flyfishing.
But John’s expertise is not just limited to stillwater fishing, as he is also an accomplished river fisherman. In 1996 he became the National Rivers Champion qualifying from the Rivers Derwent and Greta in Cumbria. He went on to win Silver and Bronze Medals in consecutive Rivers Internationals.
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Although he originally concentrated on trout fishing, he now also specialises in pike on the fly. The Chew Valley pike grow huge on their diet of trout and coarse fish and they are a fantastic species to catch on the fly. John uses top of the range Greys and Hardy rods, reels and lines to tackle these huge "toothy critters". All tackle is provided free of charge if you fancy "tail walking" a double figure fish!
Hardy & Greys Tackle
In all walks of life, having the right tools for the job is one of the pre-requisites to enjoyment and success. So John uses only the best rods, reels and lines supplied by the World famous tackle company of Hardy & Greys. All John’s clients can “test drive” a selection of tackle during a day afloat or on the river, at no extra charge.
Although he originally concentrated on trout and grayling, John has adapted his tackle and flies to target pike on the fly. The Chew Valley pike grow huge on their diet of high protein trout and other coarse fish, making them a fantastic species to catch on a fly.
Once again, John uses top of the range Hardy and Greys rods, reels and lines to tackle these huge “toothy critters”. All tackle is provided free of charge if you fancy “tail walking” a double figure fish!
Media Exposure
John is a well-respected writer and you can follow his regular articles in Trout Fisherman, Trout & Salmon and Todays Flyfisher Magazine. He has also written for the French magazine “Plaisirs de la Peche”, for “FlyLife” magazine in Australia, for “Perho Kalastajha” in Finland and for “Fly Fishing and Fly Tying” in the UK. Previous to this he wrote extensively for Stillwater Trout Angler, Angling Times and Anglers Mail Magazines.
Matt Hayes invited John onto his 2006 Total Fishing television programme on the Discovery Channel. He also made several appearances on Channel 4’s “Screaming Reels”, Sky TV’s “Tight Lines” and appeared in “Night Habits” for ITV.
John has also made numerous flyfishing videos.
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Profile
Occupation: Britain's 1st and best known full time Professional Fly Fishing Guide, Writer and Championship Manager of the Lexus European Flyfishing Championships - the biggest events in fly fishing.
Previous Occupation: Management Accountant
Fishing Achievements
England Team:World Championships:- European Championships:- |
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Stillwater Loch Style Home Internationals:- |
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Rivers Home Internationals:-
1997 on Derbyshire Wye in England – Team Silver
1998 on River Tweed in Scotland - Captain of England – Team Bronze
Loch Style National Championships:-
1986 at Rutland – 5th place
1988 at Rutland – 9th place
2000 at Grafham – 3rd place
2002 at Chew Valley - 3rd place
2003 at Grafham Water - 9th place
2004 at Bewl Water - 5th place
2005 at Rutland Water – Did not qualify
Rivers National Championships:-
1996 on Rivers Eden and Eamont - NATIONAL CHAMPION
1997 on Rivers Greta and Derwent - 4 th place
1998 on Rivers Greta and Derwent – 9 th place
Hanningfield Masters:-
1998 3rd Individual Place
Bristol Reservoirs Fly Fishing Association Team.
Captain of the most successful team in British fly fishing competition history;
Benson and Hedges Championship:-
2 Benson and Hedges Team Gold Medals
1 Team Silver Medal
Top overall individual in 1991 International Final
Third overall individual in 1992 International Final
3 other top rod placings at Heats
Hardy Team Championships:-
2nd Individual place in 1999 English National Final
Top Individual in 2000 English National Final
Wychwood Team Challenge :-
Champions in 1995
Welsh Water "Dwr Cymru" Championships:-
Champions in 1995
Champions in 1996
Third place in 1997
Champions in 1998
Largest Fish
Stillwater –
Rainbow Trout of 17lbs 5ozs from Felindre Fishery on Black Buzzer fly
Brown Trout of 6lbs 8oz from Chew Valley Lake on Tube Fly
Pike of 28lbs 12ozs from Chew Valley Lake on Smelt deadbait
Pike of 29lbs 4ozs on White Lure
Roach of 3lbs 2ozs from Chew Valley on Diawl Bach Nymph fly
Zander of 6lbs 5ozs
River –
Salmon of 23lbs 8ozs from River Tweed on Willie Gunn fly
Grayling of 2lbs 14ozs River Dee
Saltwater –
Jack Crevalle of 20lbs in Florida on Hot Lips fly and 8lb Bonefish from the Bahamas.