Exclusive Interview With Scott Nellins - Northern Sales Manager at Sonik
Based in Northumberland, 27 year old Scott has represented England in World and European Championships together with a whole host of other international competitions at both Senior and Youth levels. He is currently the Northern Sales Manager at Sonik. Name : Scott Nellins Age: 27 Location: Northumberland Job Description: Northern Sales Manager at Sonik Likes: Competition fishing, Catching Big Grayling and Fishing Dries Dislikes: The bad press Comp Anglers get & people posting absolute nonsense on Facebook! Describe a typical day for you? Although I look after all of the northern accounts for Sonik, I do spend a lot of time in the office working on new products for all of Sonik ranges as well as the marketing & website side of things. Typical isn't really in the Sonik vocabulary! What age did you start fishing? I think I was 3 or 4 fishing for flounders in the local estuary. What is your first fishing memory? Catching my first Flatfish, I was very impatient at an early age and always wanted to reel in minutes after casting out. I had cast out (about 5 yards), and wanted to reel it in about a minute after. For some reason a flounder had grabbed my bait within seconds! What do you love most about the Sport? The fact you never stop learning and every day is different. Describe your casting style? I would call it fluid and efficient. I try to spend as least time casting as I can, and more time fishing! What is your most memorable fishing experience? I've a lot of excellent memories from fishing, and the more I think, the more I have. Perhaps one of the most memorable is being awarded the Grafham Lodge Trophy (Top English Rod) in my first loch style home international at the Lake of Mentieth, by the late great Moc Morgan. Moc is a true legend of our sport and being awarded that trophy from him was absolutely amazing. What piece of kit could you not live without? My fly boxes. I've spent countless hours putting them together and you couldn't fly fish without flies. I have boxes for World & Euro competitions, Loch Style Competitions, Bank Fishing Competitions and a couple of ‘leisure’ boxes as they all have different rule sets. Check out our range of fly boxes – products from C&F, Greys, Guideline, Snowbee, Vision and Wychwood as well as our very own range of plastic and wooden boxes. What do you still want to tick off your fishing bucket list? My next goal is winning a medal at either the World or European Championships, however as far as destinations I have a book-full! Alaska, B.C, Iceland, New Zealand, Galapagos, Aussie etc. Every time I look at a new place on TV I add it to my list! Ha Any funny fishing tales you would like to share? I’ve a few but I think they would only be suitable to read after the 9pm watershed… Your perfect day would consist of? I love Loch style fishing when the fish are on top and rising. A warm day with high, thick cloud and light ripple is perfect for me, slowing drifting down a windlane picking of rising trout!...where’s my rods!... What are you most proud of/greatest achievement? Representing my country at the sport I love on so many different levels, Youth, World Youth, Senior River, Senior Loch Style, European & World. It’s also nice when you see someone you’ve helped out achieve something. I’m involved in the Angling Trust Talent Pathway, which is there to help kids get into the England Youth Team. It’s great to help young anglers achieve their goals too. Who or what inspires you? I get inspiration from setting personal targets and trying to achieve them. I always try to set little targets for myself, even if it is just a pleasure day on a river. I’ll try to target 10 fish out of the next 100 yards of river for example within a certain time frame. How did you get a career start the fishing industry? I worked Saturdays in the shop at Hardy when I was still in school, and when I was 18 a job came up in New Product Development which I was lucky enough to get. I was there for 5 years which gave me a really good insight to the industry. Any advice for fellow anglers that would like a career in the fishing world? Keep your eyes open for any opportunities. There isn't many jobs in this sector so you may have to look at something that wouldn't be your first job of a career if you want to work in angling. What is the big thing for your brand this year? Our SKS Black Fly Rods are amazing value for money. I've been using them for a good while now, and I've never had a rod at that price point put a smile on my face so much just by casting it. Sonik Rods, Reels and Spools Can you give us any advice or useful tips? Never stop experimenting with new things. The angler who is catching more than you is the one that has worked out what the fish want on that given day, and you only reach that level by experimenting.
