LAST CAST WITH DOM
Dom Garnett – one man determined to keep the pleasure in angling
“Flying ants are the world’s worst aviators. Unsurprisingly, fish of all kinds go berserk for them” “They are to flying what Prince Andrew is to the TV interview”
ANGLING inspiration can come from the weirdest places at times. We take our cues from many sources, whether it’s a freak weather pattern, an unexpected day off or a strange hunch. Or, in my case this week, the sudden appearance of flying ants.
What on earth has this fleet of winged sods invading your barbecue got to do with fishing, you ask? Well, for several days each summer, flying ants appear in their thousands just about everywhere. From urban canals to wild rivers, they fall into just about every water you can think of, driving fish potty. They create a kind of all-you-can-eat buffet for the silverfish on my local canal, and I’ve even heard of them sending mullet into a frenzy in seaside towns.
Far from being adept in the air, these creatures take to the sky purely to spread out and conquer new ground. In fact, flying ants are the world’s worst aviators. They are to flying what Prince Andrew is to the TV interview. It tends to be a bit of a disaster wherever they find water and, unsurprisingly, fish of all kinds go berserk for them.
The only mystery is why anglers make so little of this kind of natural abundance in the fishing year. We see fish gorging on perfect, natural food and what do we do? Reach for a catapult and some pellets.
Why on earth is it such an alien concept to copy what the fish are eating, unless we are trout or predator fishing? We don’t track down prey shoals when pike angling and then chuck in an oven-ready lasagne. And yet casting a flying ant or caddis fly lookalike is still seen as a bit eccentric.
But I digress, because you lot can think for yourselves and take the initiative, right? Take it from me, that very day your patio is invaded by scores of clumsy flying ants, it’s time to head to the water asap.
There are stacks of good imitations from various fly fishing companies, or you could even make your own. Nor do you even need to own a fly rod because I, for one, wouldn’t shoot you for using an ant imitation using a small float for casting weight.
On a balmy evening it can be pure magic to watch the carnage that ensues. When you think that dozens can end up in the puniest garden pond, you can multiply that by hundreds on your local river or stillwater.
For a roach, rudd, chub or even carp, these drowning targets are simply too easy to resist. And what a thrill to turn the tables on them and present a perfect counterfeit!
Never mind shovelling in pouchfuls of feed, nature has done the work for you – and if you can think outside the bait box, this is the ultimate angling deception.