It was here on stillwaters that I believe many other fine fishermen continued to develop and move our sport. One I had the great honour to fish with many times and had the greatest of respect for.

Bill Sibbons, in his life caught over one hundred double figured fish in a time, when a double was considered a rarity, he did this by a method of fishing called stalking and developed many fly patterns for this method.

Bill did not invent stalking, nor the stalking bug, for Sawyer and Kite had previously had patterns for the purpose but at Damerham and Rockbourne fisheries. He observed his quarry and developed tactics to appeal to their weakness, for in these deep waters the fish would spend time static and other times patrol small-defined territories.

By use of lead and tin Bill would drop small bugs down to where they lay, these bugs would have a small target on them, a touch of nail varnish or, a sprig of deer hair, just something to catch the fishes attention. The heavily weighed bug would soon get to the bottom of the water while other nymphs would float high in the water. It would stay dormant until the patrolling fish near then slowly Bill would raise the tip of his rod, the trout would see his bug slowly raise from the floor of his territory and speedily take the fly. Within seconds the fish would be captured or the fly rejected.

It was Bill who also noted that Crane flies and Damsels would be eagerly devoured by trout if given the chance, and that the trout found it hard to distinguish if they were above or below the surface, thus he developed the Sunken Daddy and Damsels.

The tribute to Bill is that now years after he has passed on to fish elsewhere, is his patterns are still for sale on fisheries and are still capturing the large trout.

Bill Sibbons – Father of When All Else Fails.
The Phantom
The lead speck