Nial's first memory of an interest in fishing was digging worms in his Mum' s garden (and she wasn't too happy as she had only planted seeds the day before), 'borrowing' his brothers cord handline (he wasn't too happy either) and traversing miles of the local creek chasing eeltail catfish. It was with great delight that he recalls being given an old bakelite Alvey and a piece of rangoon cane to make up his first rod and being invited to play with the big boys on fishing trips to Double Island Point, Fraser Island and Hervey Bay.

In the ensuing years, he has been fortunate enough to fish remote areas of Cape York and the Gulf during the time when you could get a sandbag (these were carried to make creek crossings) of tiger prawns at Karumba for $5 and when gill netting for barramundi had just commenced and you still had to hide behind a tree to change a lure. He recalls memorable sessions of land based game fishing chasing pelagics on live baits from any fishable rock ledge from the Tubes at Jervis Bay to Byron Bay. The off seasons were occupied with throwing lead head feather jigs off surf rods for jewies flushed out of river mouths by flood waters and jigging for Kings in locations such as Montague Island.

During the early 80's while spinning for trout at Jindabyne, he met a kindly fly fisherman who introduced him to the art of fly fishing. Like many people, he thought that fly fishing was just for trout and it wasn't until he started reading some books about the American saltwater scene that an interest was kindled in this aspect of the sport.

A timely opportunity arose in the early nineties when he commenced work on Moreton Island. This was a perfect place for fly fishing - clear waters with wide gently sloping beaches that were home to fly friendly species such as flathead, bream and trevally. A long jetty that was seasonally frequented by tackle destroying kingfish and tuna plus many other species that added a further dimension.

Being a tourist resort, a lot of fishing time was spent explaining to curious bvstanders that no live "flies" were used and the fish don't jump out of the water to grab the end of the fly line. Due to many requests to learn, he started running casting and tying clinics (and doing shore based guiding) during time off. To improve the quality of the courses offered, the opportunity arose in the late nineties to undertake an Instructor Accreditation examination through some visiting American FFF Master Instructors. He is now one of only two in Queensland and of thirteen in Australia.

Favourite Fishing Location Although he has fished in many locations in South East Asia and the Pacific, he still rates sight casting the beaches on the western side of Cape York as one of the most exhilerating experiences. The sheer variety of species and number of fish is difficult to surpass anywhere else in the world.

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He feels that all species have their own unique characteristics that make them special to catch however for difficulty to catch on fly - luderick, for the sheer adrenalin rush of hook up and speed of that first run - longtail tuna and for spectacular hook up and surface action - giant herring.

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Nial has been instrumental in the introduction of a Junior Development Program into a number of Sunshine Coast schools that now sees over 100 juniors participating annually. He is encouraged that the enthusiasm of the kids is a good sign for the future.

The "TRY on Fly - Learn to Fly Fish (www.learntoflyfish.net)" clinics are applicable to all types of flyfishing however the emphasis is on saltwater and freshwater impoundment applications encompassing casting and fishing skills as well as fly tying. The practice of "catch and release" and its importance in the conservation of fish species is strongly supported.

Nial is also a proficient fly tier and has developed a number of unique tying patterns that have proved effective for many local saltwater fish species.

www.learntoflyfish.net (www.learntoflyfish.net)
Phone: 0417 426 282
PO Box 222,
Arana Hills,
QLD, 4054