Up to your waist in heaven
Watching her sons learn to cast inspired Gilly Bate to take up fly-fishing – a passion that has led to a successful career as an instructor and fishing guide
Fieldsports have always been part of my life, with riding from an early age to stalking in scotland and shooting all over the country. However, i have my husband to thank for introducing me to the joys of fly-fishing.
Watching our sons during their casting lessons inspired me to take up what has become a full-time career and life-long passion. i really enjoyed casting and the mechanics involved so i qualified as an instructor and initially worked for the fly-fishing company orvis. For several years i taught alongside my fellow guides and learned that there was more to fishing than catching fish. For me, it was more about the experience of being in our beautiful countryside and the people that you met along the way.
From those early days i progressed to selling fishing and guiding independently and my holiday time was spent fishing overseas, which introduced me to Mat Mchugh. From our friendship we entered into a business partnership and then earlier this year set up the london school of Fly Fishing, designed for instructing at all levels and ensuring fishermen targeting new species globally are fully prepared for any trip. i also run a private ladies’ day to encourage newcomers to the sport.
i’ve never given much thought to my gender when fishing apart from when buying clothing. simms’ technical clothing has been a godsend as it is designed for a woman’s shape and the quality is superb. simms even does size 3 wading boots and extra-small waders that fit my frame.
Fishing the Hampshire chalkstreams is my mainstay and my heart still skips a beat at the first emerging mayfly of the year and positively pops at the sight of a kingfisher. i remember vividly my first trout caught on a dry fly, the wonder and excitement as it sipped down the fly, such a magical moment.
My favourite rod for small wild browns is a 7ft sage, #0. its delicate line rating and length make it the perfect choice for overgrown streams and super wary fish. salmon fishing took a while. With trout fishing you can figure out what they are feeding on and what fly should work but salmon don’t actually feed once they enter freshwater from the sea and fly selection is about size due to river conditions. My first fish was on the spey and during a heated row with my husband. the salmon were completely impossible, the casting was hell and i couldn’t wait to return home to my beloved chalkstreams. the fly line was on the dangle as i continued to rant.
“lift the rod,” he exclaimed, “you have a fish on.”
“No i don’t, it’s the current.”
“lift the rod!”
With a stream of profanities i finally landed a silver bar weighing 13lb. i now love salmon fishing.
i have been fortunate to travel the world searching out all sorts of exciting saltwater species, however, i still think about a 7ft shark that i caught at Key Biscayne in Miami. initially we had about five sharks circling our small flats boat, which was slightly alarming but all very exciting. the guide chose a large, dark-red fly and after several attempts, i was in. the only thing i could do was hang on as it took off at speed. Would my #12 sage rod snap? Would the tibor reel explode? it dragged us around for about 45 minutes and i was sure that i was going to be pulled into the depths or that we would never be heard of again as we took off into the blue. eventually, i brought it to the side of the skiff, looked it in the eye and laid my hand along its sandpaper skin. it retaliated by slapping me onto the deck. What a fish and what an experience.
last year, i visited iceland’s Minnivallalaekur river and it totally blew my mind. to see large wild trout continually rising throughout the day, feeding on the smallest midge imaginable, with a backdrop of snow-covered mountains was heart stoppingly beautiful. technically it pushed me to my limit and it was the hardest trout fishing that i have encountered but i can’t wait to return.
that’s why i love fishing, it is a passion. A total addiction to being in the wilderness and discovering new places and more exciting and tricky fish that push you to the edge of your limit. on some days it can destroy you but on the days when it all comes together, heaven.
i have been fortunate to travel the world searching out all sorts of exciting saltwater species