Catch my casting demo

I'll be joining the country's top instructors giving casting demonstrations at the forthcoming open day, organised by the Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors.

It's a fantastic day of fly fishing demos and workshops that is open to anglers of all abilities - it's certainly not just for instructors.

And everyone who attends will get a couple of hours of individual tuition with an AAPGAI instructor at the end of the day.

The programme will include a demonstration from master fly dresser Paul Little. And I'll be casting rods from ancient cane to the latest carbon fibre innovations along with Gary Champion.

It's all happening on Saturday 10 April at Caer Beris Hotel in mid-Wales.

I guarantee you'll love it. Find out more details here.

Fishing with friends

As we get ready for the new season, I found myself looking back over 2009. The most memorable trips were, as ever, those days I enjoyed with friends. Here are some of the best memories of the year.

Stalking the crystal-clear Lambourn

with FT Weekend editor Andy Davis.

... and landing stunning grayling like this.

Searching for a night-time Dovey sea trout

with Illtyd Griffiths, the Sewincaster.

Wading deep in the river Wye with master instructor Gary Champion

to play with his new 7ft bamboo rod and an ultralight 0-weight

... and catching dozens of great grayling

And even a rare fishing trip with the wife.

Kate showed us how it's done with a superb Wye trout on the dry fly.

First trout

You always remember your first trout on the fly. And it's always nerve-wracking for me to watch clients playing their first fish. Here are just a few Wild Fly Fishing clients that netted their first fly-caught trout with us last season.

Simon with a pristine rainbow on a bloodworm.

Rob gets his trout - minutes after losing the first fish he hooked.

Roy is surprised by his trout - on the last cast of the session.

Gary scores first on a two-day trip with his friend Richard

- but Richard has the last laugh with two four-pounders

And American visitor Elizabeth lands her first roach on the fly

- just after a pike had grabbed her first trout as she played it.