Norway

Was quite a journey about 30 hours to arrive to Stryn.  The best part was when I took the bus from Alesund to Stryn, a breathtaking drive  through the mountains and fjords, which made me remember my trip to Laerdal in 2007.

The Stryn river and scenery was striking.  There I met Toni Karuvaara and his friends, who was kind enough to show me the beat and their taking spots etc.  The house is located at the lake that gives birth to the Stryn river.
Next day at night came the rest of the party that I was going to fish with, all from the Finland. I did met finally the skilled fly tier Mikko Stenberg, the river manager Dag Olav Skrivervik, who also showed us the beat etc.

The fishing was testing, the water was a bit clear.  We tried our best and some got takes, but not much happening, for me nothing until the third day. I decided to go through the rainy night at Telegen pool just trying all sort of lines, flies ….. nothing happened by 11.00 am, and I was just tired so went back to sleep and  later I went back to Skjolden.  I did a few rounds and nothing each time trying different presentation, during the night did came some rain and the river got a bit colored….then I took a little nap…………. suddenly I woke up and decided to change line, putting on a big black and green 15 cms fly, at the neck of the pool I placed the fly right in a good area that I was told by Toni and Dag ….. Bang!! The fly didn`t swim much the fish just broke the surface with a strong take…..and then there was a very exciting fight in the dark…..running through platforms and the river, I even fell in the water up to the chest… after a while the fish started to get close and then I had to solve the problem of how to tail him since there was no shallow water and I was alone, but I got him, a cock fish estimated at 17kg, a very broad fish and was fresh .... The next day I got another for a few seconds and gone …..that’s fishing!.

Then off to Scotland where I got to met some wonderful people, Sarah and Andy Briston took care of me and showed me the areas as well as introducing me to their friends in Moray, and organizeing a welcoming party that was great fun. I met some great fly tiers from Aberdeen: Philip Glendinning, Mike Townsed and Chris Western, who later took me to fish the Don and North Esk.

I was close to the historic River Spey, and got to see it in several parts, walk along the banks ..Sarah and Ian Collie arranged to get me some fishing in the Lower Wester Elchies beat and on the Deveron and then thanks to the Ghillie Jock Royan I fished at Kinermony.  Ian gave me the chance to met on my last day the keen fisherman and great Spey caster Ian Gordon and have a great chat about it.
Also I went to fish the Dee at the Crathes, Inchmarlo/little black hall, Park, and Commonty. Some great ghillies - I got to met specially head ghillie Sean Stayton who was a keen tier of classic salmon flies.  We talked quite a bit at the river side, he was kind to show the river beat too and Brian Sim his tips on Casting!. I got some grilse and lost other fish.

I got to taste some single malts too!, Sarah Briston is a very good painter and dedicates in paint classic salmon flies take a look: www.classicflyart.com

Now back to Norway to spend time at Odd Nerdrum’s place, to learn from this great painter by watching, talking and working as an assistant plus lot of time painting… it was really a lifetime experience.  In the last days of August I made a brief visit to Gaula (forts gaula) where I saw some of the friends that I met in the first trip from the NFC etc, with Knut and Jo Alfredssen.  Spent a nice time fishing this river, but not a single pull. Also got to see Oystein Aas and met his friend Gorm Bjercke one of the owners of a very nice fly shop in Oslo, also great time chatting with Steinar one of the good tiers  of classics in Oslo!.

The NASF Auction was in Oslo at the Astrup Museum the 23 of October, to raise funds for the project at the Trondheim fjord - very important to support. I did manage to paint a view of the Stryneelva while I was at Nerdrum’s place painting, which sold well. There I met finally Orri Vigfusson and saw quite a lot of the great Norwegian fly tiers that I have been in touch with, as they came with a very nice frame with the beautiful flies.

The 27th of October off to London! Finally met Adrian Latimer after I have been working with him for the NASF book “A celebration of salmon rivers” and his coming book “ The river at the end at the world”, then the next day we gathered to fish with his friend William Daniel (from Famous Fishing ).  So three passionate anglers on the Test and Anton, for grayling and some browns too….did make a great day. After that we ended up at the Mayfly pub where we had something to eat and drink and spoke more about fishing etc, … then the next day it was arranged that I could visit the London Fly Fishers club, thanks to them…. saw a great collection of memorabilia tackle, classic flies, even Issac Walton’s creel! no pics…sorry!. Then after that I assisted at the NASF London Auction etc. and saw some familiar faces etc, as well as walking around the city ..….In between I visited some of the museums to see the old masters which was great….  I also headed up to Stoke on Trent to the British Fly Fair…… I was invited to demonstrate tying classic salmon flies without a vice with my friend Jens Pilgaard from Denmark which was a whole new experience!. I saw several familiar faces/ friend and it was a good  experience.
http://flyfishingspirit.com/spip.php?article196

After that I flew to Spain, Madrid where I paid a visit to my friend Daniel Aguirre and his family, he is a clever Chilean painter…. we talked about painting, and he managed to show me Antonio Lopez Garcia paroramic of Vallecas ... as well all the museums in Madrid, some temporary exhibitions from private collections.  Outside Madrid  I went to see San Lorenzo del Escorial with some great paintings from Titian, Greco, Velazquez, Ribera etc. very inspiring, as well as a very nice city to walk around. I learn from this friend a quite a bit too…!. And then back to Chile, Home.

April-June

Good news I´m the winner of the HELSINKI SPEY CLAVE CLASSIC SALMON FLY CHALLENGE 2008, In Finland.

I was awarded the first prize!!!! which consists of a week ( five days) of  fishing in the famous Stryn river at the Bo Arheim beat, in Western Norway, from 13-18 of July. Also later I will be painting with Odd Nerdrum one of the great painters - www.oddnerdrum.com

I did prepare a set of tube flies for Mr. Ivar Leinan, the General Manager of the Alta River, Norway, as a while ago he got some flies from me as a present from Roy Arris, and liked them.  As well as tying these I did have to prepare a set of classic salmon flies for the book about best 100 tiers around the world.  Steve Thorton is making a wonderful 5 volume book. I will be in the third volume, please check www.vempublishing.com

January- March

Another season at the Estancia de los rios: new adventures, old friends, the fishing was quite good, check the photos… Also I fished the Coyhaique area at Cinco rios and at Estancia del Zorro... I will prepare some artwork releated with the area of Coyhaique.