I've recently  been appointed as a Pro Staff member of the USA  AQUA Design Team.
For those who have seen me in my camouflage shirts and wondered where you can get them follow the above link. The quality of the AQUA range of gear is superb and I'm positive that anything you can do to help disguise yourself and not spook fish has to be a definite advantage.

Spot me with this years Commonwealth Fly Fishing Team in Tasmania (with Dave Grove, John Tyzack, Andy Gooding, Phil Lebski & Bernie Maher)




My mantra for fishing is simple...... L P F C
  • Location ...first get the location right..if there are no fish you definitely won't catch any!
  • Presentation ... second....dry/nymph, fast slow,etc...get the presentation and location right and you will catch fish and certainly get more chances;
  • Flies .... once the location & presentation is sorted the flies are the cherry on the cake....but remember....everyone fishing will have their favourites so don't get hung up on the detail.... concentrate on getting the L&P right;
  • Confidence....comes from the above..."confidence breeds confidence"

I strongly believe camouflage helps with the first two....it doesn't spook fish out of a location and allows you to get closer to aid presentation and theres nothing like catching fish to help increase confidence.

25 Stealth Top Tips (courtesy of AQUA Design)
1. Wear visually quiet camo clothing from Aqua Design.
2. Always follow suggestion number one.
3. Use camo for more than clothing. Investigate all the other camo fishing products coming on the market such as rods, boats and other flotation devices.
4. Before thinking about wading or casting, take a couple of minutes just to observe the water you are about to enter. You can learn a lot from watching feeding patterns and fish movement before making your stealthy approach.
5. Don't forget the edges of a river, pond, lake or just about any body of water. Many anglers cast over lots of fish when casting beyond the waters edge.
6. If you're wading or on a boat, try to keep a low profile. Fish are always wary of skyward predators.
7. Another wading suggestion is to enter water slowly and deliberately. Splashing is for the swimming pool.
8. Wear felt sole or newer non-slip boots and/or sandals if you are walking on slippery surfaces. You don't want to be doing a tight wire act in the middle of the river and risk falling.
9. This should be obvious but turn off the boat motor.
10. Keep false casts at a minimum. You'll never catch a fish while your line is in the air.
11. Making a gentle cast can be the difference between a small water ring and a big splash. More splash equals less fish.
12. In moving water (rivers), fish typically face the current. If you approach a run from the downstream side, you'll be looking at tails instead of eyes. You'll improve your chances to make a catch when you're not eye to eye.
13. Avoid casting a shadow in the area you are fishing. Fish spook easy from movement above the water.
14. Some fish are leader or monofilament shy. Using a smaller diameter line can make the difference between practicing your cast or catching fish.
15. One of the stealthiest items in your angling arsenal are polarized sunglasses. If you can see fish below surface by reducing glare on the water, you have a much better chance to devise a strategy to make a presentation.
16. A good wide-brimmed hat, cap or visor can also improve your ability to see fish from a distance. Improve your sight and protect your skin while on the water by wearing some type of headgear.
17. If fish didn't see color, we'd all be using gray-colored lures and files. Make sure you and your gear blend into the natural environment with natural colors.
18. Keep anything that can cause a reflection away from water you're fishing. Some rods, reels and tools can reflect the sun and cause alarm for finned creatures.
19. Loud noise, while very insulated in water, can still be a factor for alerting feeding fish near the surface. Singing along with your MP3 player may scare fish and other anglers nearby.
20. Your boat or flotation device can be a visible red flag as it approaches a pod of nervous bonefish (or any other fish for that matter). Anchoring away from the area you want to fish can be a good idea.
21. Like the suggestion above, there are boat designs that minimise water splash and are considered "quiet." Whatever your preference, choose a flotation design that is stealthy.
22. If you have a fish on and are able to navigate it from the others, thereby reducing the commotion, you will improve your chances to catch another school mate from the same pod.
23. When in a boat, kayak or other hard-surfaced craft, try to keep your noise at a minimum. Knocking the hull with an oar can send noise vibrations a long distance underwater.
24. Don't forget that fish can smell. Keeping your hands odor-free is a good idea before tying on your favorite fly or lure.
25. Keeping your distance from other anglers can be a good strategy if they are scaring all the fish toward you.

Download a copy

LPFC....you know it makes sense... ;-)