Exclusive Interview With Glynn Freeman - Fly Fishing Instructor & River Keeper

Glyn Freeman, a fly fishing instructor with a passion for seeing his students succeed, talks to us about perfect days, unplanned adventures and positive thinking. He has travelled across the world fishing, gaining experience and making memories, but there are still plenty of places he’s yet to go.   Name:  Glyn Freeman Age: 58 Location: North Cumbria Job Description: Fly fishing instructor/guide, working with Borderlines and river keeper Likes:  Teaching people who are keen to learn and improve Dislikes: Negativity on the river  Describe a typical day for you. There is hardly ever a typical day in this business. One day it could be teaching or guiding one to one on the river, guiding a small group of anglers somewhere on the Eden, running a residential salmon course in Scotland, fishing for sea trout at night, working with youth with Borderlines, river keeping duties and every now again fishing for myself when there is a spare moment!   What age did you start fishing? I started fishing when I was eight.   What is your first fishing memory? My first time out on the river Avon near Bristol, trotting a quill float down a swim, watching it disappear and catching my first dace. That was it, I was hooked there and then!   What do you love most about the sport? For me it is some of the nice people we often meet, I have made most of my true friends through fishing in one form or another. It has been an excuse to travel to some really nice places that I would have never visited had I not fished. I love the outdoors, the nature, the challenge, sharing an experience with others, all that is around us on the river and trying to understand it all.   Describe your casting style? Laid back with the minimum of effort and movement. Why buy a car and push it yourself?!   What is your most memorable fishing experience? Latching on to and landing a lively twenty pound plus sea trout in Argentina on a seven weight outfit.   What piece of kit could you not live without? Quality Polaroids are a must. Check out the John Norris range of fishing sunglasses here   What do you still want to tick off your fishing bucket list? Fishing some of the rivers like the Cascapedia and Bonaventure, where you can witness salmon behaviour in the clear water.   Any funny fishing tales you would like to share? Most days we have a story to tell! We have a laugh and I meet some wonderful characters but I would hate to embarrass anyone.   What would your perfect day consist of? Teaching is my passion. For me the perfect day is not for my own rod, as I have had many "perfect days" on the water. It is to see a relative beginner, after you have spent time with them, make that first perfect cast or catch their first ever salmon or trout.   What are you most proud of/greatest achievement? As well as being proud of my family, I am totally proud of making this business work as a full time occupation. I’m still enjoying it and have been so lucky.   Who or what inspires you? Positive people.   How did you get a career start in the fishing industry? After getting the necessary qualifications to improve my own fly fishing in 1998 and meeting a lot of people in the fishing business, I began teaching on a part time basis. That soon evolved into a full time occupation - totally unplanned, but a great outcome.   Any advice for fellow anglers that would like a career in the fishing world? Nowadays it is not as easy as when I first started, as there are plenty out there doing the same thing. You just have to be more special and do things a little differently to the rest. If you want it badly enough and have the passion, it will happen.   What is the big thing for your brand this year? Showing off the great river that we have in the Eden Valley and a much overdue revamped web site.   Can you give us any advice or useful tips? Enjoy the river you fish and get to know it well. Work on and enjoy your casting as it can be very satisfying. Think about how the fly is fishing, rather than just swinging it across the current aimlessly, and think positively!