Fly Fishing

[BigJonMcQuimm]

Hello PH :-)

Does anyone here fly fish?

I have never done so and would like to start

How easy is it toget into?

It strikes me as one of those things that you just need lessons for?

I was considering trying to find a tutor around the W. London area.

Was thinking of Syon Park as it is local.

thanks

[J R Hartley]

I do.

[Yellow Pages]

I can help you find his book, if you like?

[Cara Van Man]

Yellow Pages said:

I can help you find his book, if you like?

[8Ace]

J R Hartley said:

I do

Yellow Pages said:

I can help you find his book, if you like?

PH at its best.

[collateral]

Once you've got the casting down it's not too bad. Wouldn't have thought you would need more than a few hours of tuition if you're a quick learner.

I haven't been in years, but it's very rewarding to catch fish with homemade flies

Edited by collateral on Monday 16th March 15:35

[Slagathore]

collateral said:

Once you've got the casting down it's not to bad. Wouldn't have thought you would need more than a few hours of tuition if you're a quick learner.

I haven't been in years, but it's very rewarding to catch fish with homemade flies

Yup, the casting is the tricky part. Once you have that sorted it's not too bad!

Not too expensive to get in to either! Deciding on a floating, intermediate or sinking line will mostly depend on the sort of places you will be fishing.

[Stig]

I tried it for the first time last year. Whilst I've been coarse fishing for years, fluff chucking was somewhat alien to me.

Easy to get the basics, like most things, probably a lifetime to master.

Bagged 20 big trout at a commercial first time out which proved rather expensive :-o

[Sheepy]

I tried it years ago, caught two trees, one fence and an overhead BT cable. Never went back (mainly because the instructor was a tt)

[BigJonMcQuimm]

Stig said:

I tried it for the first time last year. Whilst I've been coarse fishing for years, fluff chucking was somewhat alien to me.

Easy to get the basics, like most things, probably a lifetime to master.

Bagged 20 big trout at a commercial first time out which proved rather expensive :-o

A keen coarse and sea angler.

Always wanted to learn how to fly fish...Always thought it looked the peak of fishing.

Tying flies intersts me, but I will stick with learning teh basics first ;-)

Got 2 x half day lessons booked.

What gear if any is useful for a beginner?

thanks

bjm

[loafer123]

Tried it last year with some friends through these guys;

http://www.fishingbreaks.co.uk/

We hired a ghillie for the day, and he basically helped the other guys with their techniques and taught me (as I was the only one who hadn't done it before).

I even caught a fish.

[otolith]

I've started dabbling - I've been coarse and sea angling for many years, and it was the only branch I hadn't tried. I've fished the local rivers with my fly gear, and caught chub and dace on it, and I caught a grayling on it last time I fished the Test, but I've not seriously fished for trout with it. Casting isn't that hard, though I probably need some tuition to get rid of my bad habits - I think I'll try some of the local trout stillwaters this season.

[M@H]

I do and have done since I was a child. I would suggest buying a book or two on the subject as you can understand the casting technique pretty well from pictures, also perhaps get a dvd so you can see it in action? Then borrow some kit for a morning and go to a local field or your back garden and have a practice. I remember casting at buckets of water as a kid, its not distance you need, it is accuracy and presentation and you can get the basics in your head pretty quickly then refine your technique. Once you have got the basics of casting, then prehaps try a day of tuition / guided fishing. I wouldn't go straight for a guided day or you will get frustrated and your arm will get tired.

Also a small not on kit, you don't need to spend a fortune at all and I still use two carbon rods I bought for about £30 each very successfully and you can get perfectly good reels for about the same money. Do not be: "All the gear - No idea" or you will simply look a prat on the riverbank.

Good starter kit would be a #5-7 or #6-8 rod, 9ft length with a Double taper floating line, I'd go with a weight 7 line with either rod and a 3"+ reel. Don't start with intermediate or sinking lines until you know what you are up to on the surface and you can see what is going on. Have a look at Sportfish's website for kit etc as I think they do starter sets as well as the technical stuff. Flies wholly depend no when and where you are fishing so if you give me a clue I will give you some guidance. Oh I can only comment on Trout by the way, never been into the Double haul for Salmon.

Give it a go and you'll probably love it.

Tight lines

Matt

Edited by M@H on Monday 16th March 15:49

[collateral]

Polarized glasses and a decent hat are useful

[Broccers]

Some good advice above. I've a stretch near Masham, North Yorks - very good to get away from it all stood in the middle of a river.

[M@H]

collateral said:

Polarized glasses and a decent hat are useful

Good point - Glasses are a must. There are Youtube films of people having nymphs removed from their eyeballs.

[M@H]

Broccers said:

Some good advice above. I've a stretch near Masham, North Yorks - very good to get away from it all stood in the middle of a river.

Can't see the photo for my firewall, but I'll wager it is great. I used to fish near Leyburn a bit when I was younger and always caught nice Greyling there.

[Stig]

BigJonMcQuimm said:

Stig said:

I tried it for the first time last year. Whilst I've been coarse fishing for years, fluff chucking was somewhat alien to me.

Easy to get the basics, like most things, probably a lifetime to master.

Bagged 20 big trout at a commercial first time out which proved rather expensive :-o

A keen coarse and sea angler.

Always wanted to learn how to fly fish...Always thought it looked the peak of fishing.

Tying flies intersts me, but I will stick with learning teh basics first ;-)

Got 2 x half day lessons booked.

What gear if any is useful for a beginner?

thanks

bjm

John - I bought a fairly inexpensive setup mostly via eBay. Got a decent selection of flies, 3 lines, centrepin reel and rod as part of a 'starter kit' etc. but I tend to pick up a hobby and get completely engrossed in itr ...for about 10 mins

Maybe best to do a lesson or two where they supply the kit to see if it's for you or not. Commercial fishery costs are fairly steep for game fish too - my session cost about £150 But I cleaned/froze/ate the catch so it's not all bad.

On a summer's day, with clear water and hungry trout it's hard to beat - but, I'd be just as happy sitting watching a float or quiver tip

Definitely worth having a go at though.

[M@H]

Stig said:

Commercial fishery costs are fairly steep for game fish too - my session cost about £150

Where were you fishing !? I can get a decent days fishing at a good fishery round here for about £30 ! (granted I would be taking 4 fish)

Days on rivers are much more pricy I'll grant you, but again I have fished the Test and Avon for about £150ish and will be on the Upper Wye in May guided for a full day for £180.

Cheers,
Matt.

[Slagathore]

I'm not sure it's been mentioned yet, but you will need to get a license from the Environment Agency?