There’s a quiet kind of knowing that settles within a river over time. It’s not just the bends and the pools that change - it’s the way the light falls through the canopy, the movement of the water and the stories carried on by those who have spent a lifetime learning its rhythm. On the River Teign, those stories are deep in the roots of our mission. And some voices ring especially clear and should be listened to attentively.

One such voice is that of local man, another river legend, Mike Weaver — fly fisher, writer, conservationist (notably founder member of the Wild Trout Society - Now the Wild Trout Trust!), and for me, the father of modern fly fishing on Dartmoor’s rivers. Recently, I was lucky enough to spend an inspirational (although unexpected) hour with Mike over a coffee, talking all things fishing and feeling genuinely humbled to hear him recount tales of his introduction into fly fishing and the endless list of characters he has worked with over the years.

I’ve always had great admiration for those who came before us in fly fishing, especially on the Teign - their quiet dedication, deep understanding of the water, and respect for the wild have, to some degree, shaped the way I fish today, and Mike stands out. His past writing (more on that in a bit!) remains strikingly relevant, offering not just practical guidance but a thoughtful philosophy that speaks to the heart of the river. In an age of ‘fast-paced everything’, his words remind us to slow down, observe more, and truly connect with the natural environment. Personally, there’s still so much to learn from him!

As we look ahead to what the future holds for the Teign, it’s these perspectives - from Mike and others like him - that should remind us why the past is not a place we leave behind, but a resource we should continue to draw from.

The Pursuit of Wild Trout

For those of you who perhaps don’t know, Mike produced a wonderful book titled ‘The Pursuit of Wild Trout’ back in 1991. To me, it’s a beautifully written exploration of angling that goes far beyond the mechanics of simply fly fishing. Within the writing (although incredibly informative) is a deep reverence for nature, which invites you into the quiet, meditative world of fly fishing for wild trout and the remote landscapes they inhabit, no more so than the untamed natural rivers of Dartmoor. Even if you’ve never picked up a fly rod, this book still offers something special: a window into a way of seeing our Dartmoor rivers that’s thoughtful, patient, and deeply connected to our natural world.

*A great read regardless of whether you fly fish or not!*

The River as a Teacher

In my eyes, this book still has an extraordinary ability to elevate the everyday experience of angling into something contemplative and respectful. For him, fishing wasn’t about conquest or competition - it was about connection!

“In the end it is not the catching of fish that matters, but the being there - in the water, with the rod in hand, part of something ancient and enduring.”

This philosophy lives at the heart of our work today. We don’t just protect the river to keep fish in it; we protect it because we are part of its story and heritage. We are guided by the lessons learned, documented and shared by people like Mike, whose tireless dedication to sustainable fly fishing helped shape the way the River Teign is fished and cared for today.

Sustainability before it was Fashionable

Long before catch-and-release became a standard practice here in the UK, Mike was already making the case - not with slogans or campaigns, but through a personal ethic born of deep respect.

“A wild trout is a finite treasure - too beautiful, too rare, to be removed thoughtlessly from its home.”

He understood that each fish returned safely was an investment in the future. Even back then, he recognised that anglers had a responsibility not just to take from the river, but also to give something back. This legacy of restraint and unassuming stewardship laid the groundwork for the kind of ‘conservation-first’ angling that TACA and the long-standing fishing associations on the Teign now champion.

It’s not about nostalgia - it’s about guidance. These values weren’t a passing trend; they were rooted in observation, respect, and a love for the water.

*A perfect early season Teign wild brown trout - outwitted, admired & returned safely!*

Listening to Experience

The voices of the past are not outdated - they’re seasoned! The anglers and riverkeepers who came before us carry a wealth of experience that no book or algorithm (unless information is documented!) can replicate. They’ve read the river for decades, been handed knowledge across generations and listened to countless fishy tales in the local pubs after a day’s fishing. It’s clear from his writing that Mike truly understood the value of this shared knowledge:

“There is more wisdom to be found in a half-hour’s talk with an old riverkeeper than in a shelf full of technical manuals.”

At TACA, we believe this deeply. Our vision for the future is built on these conversations, these memories, these moments of accumulated insight. For example, in collating the final technical report for the River Teign Restoration Project we’ve been fortunate in being able to draw on archive spawning records from back in the 1960’s. These have provided invaluable insights that we can use to present our modern findings.

Whether it’s planning restoration work or educating new members, we must honour and listen to the voices that got us here.

*Example of spawning observations - archive record from a 1960 survey compiled by Dick Waters*

Legacy in the Flow

Similar to Mr Perrott’s guiding over a century earlier, the release of this book also helped to raise the profile of the River Teign to a wider audience, not with grand gestures, but with a quiet devotion. The book captures not only the technical aspects of fly fishing, but, to me, its true meaning - the gentle, deliberate beauty of it all. Chatting the other day, it was clear that so much of his life was shaped by rivers, and in turn, he has helped shape how others came to see them.

“There are rivers that run through your life, and rivers that become your life. For me, the Dartmoor streams - the Teign, in particular - are the latter.”

As we look to the future of this beautiful river, we remain committed to holding this dual vision: to lead with ambition, and to remember with reverence. Our modern efforts - restoring habitat, improving access, protecting wild fish - are not disconnected from the past. They are merely a continuation.

*A much wiser person than I recently thought of time flowing like a river - steady, unstoppable, and always moving forward, shaping everything it touches.*

A Future Rooted in Memory

Progress doesn’t mean turning away from tradition. In my opinion, it’s quite the opposite; it means being brave enough to look back, to acknowledge the work of those who came before us, and to carry their values forward with a renewed energy and purpose.

We don’t do all this work and study on the Teign simply because it’s beautiful, or productive, or historically significant. I think we protect it because it has shaped people, like Mike, who, in turn, have shaped us. Their work, championing and continued commitment, are the reason we can still speak of a truly wild river here. And their legacy is the reason we believe it will still be worth speaking of when we all eventually reach Mike’s age!

A heartfelt thank you to Mike Weaver for taking the time to speak with me about all things fishing. Your insight, stories, and deep love for the river have not only enriched how I fly fish but have inspired me to write this to share with everyone!

So let us look forward with clarity. But let us also listen to the river, and to the voices it still carries.

Honouring the Past to Guide the Future