Fairway to heaven with the help of the Klink

Many is the time I am asked to name my favourite fly, but to be perfectly honest I prefer to name my most successful fly. Looking back over the season I think this was the Klinkhamer. In September 2005 Roger and I introduced you to the Klinkhamer, one of the most versatile flies that has been devised in recent years.

In July of this year I had the privilege of being asked to be a guest of Steve Garner, the secretary of Myddleton Angling Club in Ilkley. This club controls the fishing which runs through the grounds of Ilkley Golf Club and what a fine stretch of water it is.

I met Steve early one evening and after tackling up, Steve advised me that it would be best to start on one of the lower stretches. While wading across the river I noticed a gleaming white golf ball in the water below my feet and, as my sister Janet is a keen golfer, into my hand it went. On reaching the other side we met with a very amiable gentleman who informed us that "we would catch nowt tonight" and having seen the golf ball in my hand proceeded to extol the virtues of his golf ball charity. Sorry Janet, I am the second person to lose that ball.

Apart from fishing North Country Spiders I am also a very keen user of the New Zealand style of fly fishing, which some people call the "Klink and dink" or the duo method. This style uses a Klinkhamer as the dry fly but on the bend of the hook you tie a two foot section of line and onto that you tie a weighted nymph. So in actual fact you are casting two flies, one wet and one dry. Best of both worlds!

Steve was keen to try this method, so I helped him set up the flies and then off we went – Steve one way, me the other. Now all avid fly fishermen know that dry fly fishing is best done casting upstream which I duly complied with. After about four fish I was getting tired and my back was aching so a short break was called for. Hearing a splash behind me, I turned and saw the rings of a rising fish so I knew where the fish was. Turning myself around, I did a no-no and cast downstream and with a slack line let the fly drift over where I saw the rings. Up came the fish and took the Klink. Job done! All five fish from this session were taking the Klinkhamer, so off came the nymph and I was dry fly only from then on.

Soon it was time to try another stretch of water. Wading back across the river, we went upstream up a lovely prepared fairway – not many anglers can say that, sounds odd doesn't it? After about five minutes' walk, I noticed a stretch of water that screamed fish. So leaving Steve again, I worked my way to the water and had a wonderful time catching trout and grayling with my beloved fly.

Steve had worked his way past me and back downstream to his favourite beat and as time was getting on I thought I would wander down to meet him. The light was fading but the water was still fishable. Well above where my companion was fishing, I waded in too and started casting upstream. Sometimes, in a fading light, to get the best view of a fly, it is better to crouch down. Having done so, I spotted another golf ball and just as I grasped hold of it a fish took my fly. Don't panic I told myself. Into my mouth between my teeth went the golf ball so I could use two hands to land a very cross grayling. I was still trying to land the fish when Steve inquired in very loud voice as to what fly I had caught it on.

In the gathering gloom I turned to answer him, the pristine white ball still in my mouth. The look on his face still makes me smile. One ball for Janet anyway.

Narrative and Fly by Stephen Cheetham. 0113 250 7244. www.fishing withstyle.co.uk