Dreaming of the perfect pools

As your mind wanders while sat on the riverbank during a slow day, try conjuring up the perfect stretch of salmon water

- SAM CARLISLE

Day dreaming is a large part of Atlantic salmon fishing. To be effective, you must imagine a fish lying just to the left of that boulder or holding tight to the edge of this seam. When you make the cast, you must believe a salmon might take the fly. This power of positive thought keeps you alert and enthused. But day dreaming also plays a part in helping soften the blow of hours, days or weeks without success. On such a week, plagued by drought, my mind wandered to the ideal salmon river: which pools had I fished that, in my imaginary watery world, would I put together to form one extraordinary river?

LITZA FALLS POOL, EASTERN LITZA RIVER, RUSSIA