 | Home > Off Topic > Getting started in fly fishing |
 
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| Race.it Member Since: 27 Aug 2019 Location: Algeciras Posts: 741   
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See if you can locate a book by J R Hartley supposedly that was a good read. Searching for my first Defender...and started just as Covid hit, so talk about timing.
5 months after starting the search I found it, and here is the details |
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20th Sep 2020 6:42pm |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2522  
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When we were kids, fly fishing involved catching blue bottles and sticking them to mums cactus
A clip round the ear was generally the reward....  |
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20th Sep 2020 6:46pm |
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| williamthedog Member Since: 29 Dec 2012 Location: south wales Posts: 3441 
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Buy a fly fishing magazine and look at the complete kits available from various suppliers. Depending on where your going to fish as to what rating rod to get. River or reservoir /lake.
A good compromise is a #7or 8 weight rod. If you progress you can get custom built rods as I have over the years.  |
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20th Sep 2020 7:30pm |
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| Chopperone Member Since: 13 Nov 2016 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 396 
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Shame you are not in Derbyshire.....
I have a Lake & we teach fly fishing. My strongest recommendation is find a good instructor & learn the correct way.He/She will then advise you on rods,lines & other things you need. Guy May your life be like toilet paper ; long & useful. |
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20th Sep 2020 8:54pm |
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| Doc P Member Since: 03 Apr 2016 Location: Midlands Posts: 565 
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What Guy said. It could be very frustrating without someone to point you in the right direction right at the start to get the basics sorted.
There are loads of good vids on YouTube once you’re a little more into it too. I’d recommend The New Fly Fisher (American but the skills are the same wherever you fish) and have a look at Hywel Morgan’s work for still waters and John Tyzack (the River Academy series by Fish On productions) for moving water - not fully instructive but give you a flavour of what it’s all about |
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20th Sep 2020 9:07pm |
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| chopcat Member Since: 11 Sep 2012 Location: Pembrokeshire Posts: 409  
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You can do a lot of practice on dry land before getting anywhere near the water. Particularly as the season is over now. So time to get ready for next year.
Get a second hand rod and reel (they go in weight numbers and something like a 7 or 8 would be good to practice with). Look at youtube for casting technique lessons and tie a bit of leader onto the main line and then a 1” bit of bright coloured wool to act as the fly You can then hit the field and practice casting your bit of wool so that when you get near a fish next year you are ready. Practice being able to gently get the wool to land where you want. You will be surprised how quickly you get the idea. TC |
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21st Sep 2020 8:08am |
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| Harry.O Member Since: 25 Jul 2014 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 706 
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As a starting point and depending what type of water you are fishing, Orvis do a very reasonable 10ft 7 weight rod with a reel, a couple of spools and different types of line for sensible money.
As others have said, a couple of lessons then plenty of casting practise on an open piece of grass and you'll have the basics sorted. 2005 Td5 110 Hardtop
1989 300Tdi 90 Soft top 1992 200Tdi 90 Truck cab with Land Cruiser axles |
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21st Sep 2020 4:11pm |
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| mattc Member Since: 10 Apr 2019 Location: Cheshire Posts: 73 
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I run a fly fishing website as a hobby and review lots of gear. What you choose obviously depends mostly on where you intend to fish and what you intend to catch. A 9-10' 6 or 7 weight is ideal for stillwaters or reservoirs, while a 4-5 is preferable on most rivers.
I've written a few articles explaining this in more detail here: http://flyandlure.org/articles/fly_fishing..._a_fly_rod http://flyandlure.org/articles/fly_fishing...a_fly_reel http://flyandlure.org/articles/fly_fishing...a_fly_line There are some decent quality rods on the market these days. I'd avoid going with a really cheap option, but there are some very good mid-priced rods and kits on offer. The Loop Q is one of the best kits I've tested. It's nice and light, has a great reel, and importantly, a very good quality fly line. At the budget end of the market, the Shakespeare Agility rods are OK for the money. http://flyandlure.org/articles/fly_fishing...rod_review http://flyandlure.org/articles/fly_fishing...rod_review Line wise, you can't go wrong with a Barrio Mallard. They're excellent value for money. I completely agree with what the others have said on lessons. It's hard to get rid of bad habits and a couple of lessons from an instructor make a massive difference. |
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21st Sep 2020 4:22pm |
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| Co1 Member Since: 19 Aug 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3616 
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21st Sep 2020 5:11pm |
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| Co1 Member Since: 19 Aug 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3616
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Excellent all, much appreciate. The majority will be on small rivers for grayling and brownies up in Yorkshire.
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21st Sep 2020 5:15pm |
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| VVS210 Member Since: 12 Nov 2016 Location: Hampshire Posts: 953
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We have a lovely little fly fishing venue near us, no good for you as it's the other end of the country, they do taster sessions with loan rods, tuition, etc. & have a shop where they sell what you need not what the adverts in glossy magazines make you think you have to have.
I'd suggest that you spend a bit of time on the internet & see if you can find something similar near you. This is the one local to me to give you a flavour of the sort of place I'm talking about https://www.meonsprings.com/fishing.html Good luck & you'll enjoy it once you get into it. |
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21st Sep 2020 8:23pm |
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| Birdy Member Since: 07 Oct 2011 Location: Côte d'Azur Posts: 853  
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"... they do taster sessions with loan rods, tuition, etc."
Yup, that's the way to do it, and should you join the club at that level not too expensive at all. Of course, if you want the bragging rights of being able to say "Oh, last weekend in Scotland I had Sting on one side of me and Bono on t'other"... Peter |
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23rd Sep 2020 4:01pm |
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| CharlieDonuts Member Since: 16 Jun 2019 Location: Illiers Combray Posts: 133 
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Fly fishing takes practice. My best advice is to find the nearest river and learn there. Don`t worry about catching trout as nearly every european river hold roach and roach will take a dry fly. Start with dry fly fishing as being able to see your fly and when you can see your fly you can hone your casting and your drifting skills. I fish for roach on the river that runs through the center of my town 5 minutes from my house. When I hit the trout streams I have perfectly honed my skills before I have even got there.
Last edited by CharlieDonuts on 1st Jul 2021 7:14pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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1st Jul 2021 10:38am |
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| barbel jim Member Since: 12 Dec 2012 Location: Northants Posts: 1411 
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Really you want an approved instruction. There’s an awful lot of bad habit casters, and an awful lot of experts! It’s a bit like golf, all the gear but no idea
but I’d rracomend a taster somewhere first before you buy anything. I’m no river angler but love my dry fly fishing, to me it’s the ultimate con, spotting the fish and casting at it. Start with a soft middle action rod, you need to feel it load to get the correct timing. They tend to be on the cheaper side, on rivers you’ll probably need a couple of rods eventually to cover the different type of fishing methods. Is there a local club?? Or just take a walk a d see if there’s someone to accost? Eat some humble pie and I’m sure they’ll point you in the right direction. Another option is to try the local tackle shop. I have a few good friends who might know someone near you. Where are you based roughly?? |
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1st Jul 2021 11:38am |
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