Does anyone on here fly fish?
I had a try last week at Grafham reservoir with an instructor and although very different to having a few nights on the bank carp fishing, found it really enjoyable.
I had a try last week at Grafham reservoir with an instructor and although very different to having a few nights on the bank carp fishing, found it really enjoyable.
In reply to Post #1
There's quite a few mate
Personally I've been building the kit up for the last few years and I'm hoping to give it a try soon, not sure whether to opt for a local casting lesson or just DIY. I've heard it's hard to get rid of bad habits once they creep in, then again a lot of friends are self taught and they are happy enough in their lot.
There's quite a few mate
Personally I've been building the kit up for the last few years and I'm hoping to give it a try soon, not sure whether to opt for a local casting lesson or just DIY. I've heard it's hard to get rid of bad habits once they creep in, then again a lot of friends are self taught and they are happy enough in their lot.
In reply to Post #2
I held off until my lesson to try it for that exact reason, the instructor told me the same as you think, it can be hard to shake off bad habits
My day was £125 and included an hour or so talking about the sport, what flies to use (still have no idea on that) and a bit about etiquette on the water the lunch then 4-5 hrs fishing from the bank (or chest deep), well worth it for me as I started off casting like a complete tit throwing the rod backwards and forewords like a maniac. By the end of the day, I was getting half decent distance without false casting thanks to the course
I held off until my lesson to try it for that exact reason, the instructor told me the same as you think, it can be hard to shake off bad habits
My day was £125 and included an hour or so talking about the sport, what flies to use (still have no idea on that) and a bit about etiquette on the water the lunch then 4-5 hrs fishing from the bank (or chest deep), well worth it for me as I started off casting like a complete tit throwing the rod backwards and forewords like a maniac. By the end of the day, I was getting half decent distance without false casting thanks to the course
In reply to Post #3
Probably my favourite form of fishing- I'll literally cast a fly for anything that swims if the opportunity presents itself to me, depending on the time of year. It's wild brown Trout and Carp that are on the radar at present, then when the coarse season on the Rivers open - Dace, Roach, Grayling and Pike.
(Using different set up I might add, from 7ft #3 Creek Rod, 9ft #5 weight, up to 9ft #10 Pike/Carp Fly Rod)
You did right getting casting lessons from the off, bad habits are last thing you want.
I suggest you go onto the Orvis website and have a watch of there excellent videos, Tom Rosenbauer I could watch all day
Probably my favourite form of fishing- I'll literally cast a fly for anything that swims if the opportunity presents itself to me, depending on the time of year. It's wild brown Trout and Carp that are on the radar at present, then when the coarse season on the Rivers open - Dace, Roach, Grayling and Pike.
(Using different set up I might add, from 7ft #3 Creek Rod, 9ft #5 weight, up to 9ft #10 Pike/Carp Fly Rod)
You did right getting casting lessons from the off, bad habits are last thing you want.
I suggest you go onto the Orvis website and have a watch of there excellent videos, Tom Rosenbauer I could watch all day
In reply to Post #2
I would recommend the fly casting lesson. I'm a half decent fly caster but make sure I have a short lesson at least once a year to stop errors becoming habits. A previous post mentions getting a decent distance without false casting by the end of his lesson and there is a clue there. Most self taught fly anglers put a huge amount of energy into false casting for no additional benefit in terms of distance, and with reduced accuracy to boot. You can still catch that way but it makes it hard work for a relaxing hobby. If you're thinking of going for carp on the fly it's worth learning roll casting in your lesson too because bank side foliage will foul back casts in many swims
I would recommend the fly casting lesson. I'm a half decent fly caster but make sure I have a short lesson at least once a year to stop errors becoming habits. A previous post mentions getting a decent distance without false casting by the end of his lesson and there is a clue there. Most self taught fly anglers put a huge amount of energy into false casting for no additional benefit in terms of distance, and with reduced accuracy to boot. You can still catch that way but it makes it hard work for a relaxing hobby. If you're thinking of going for carp on the fly it's worth learning roll casting in your lesson too because bank side foliage will foul back casts in many swims
In reply to Post #5
If you're thinking of going for carp on the fly it's worth learning roll casting in your lesson too because bank side foliage will foul back casts in many swims
Otter Fences are my ultimate annoyance, by chance - perfectly positioned to rule out over-head casts.
If you're thinking of going for carp on the fly it's worth learning roll casting in your lesson too because bank side foliage will foul back casts in many swims
Otter Fences are my ultimate annoyance, by chance - perfectly positioned to rule out over-head casts.
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated as always
Keith, I remember you saying to me about some must have flies and don't get trapped into collecting them ( can think of worse hobbies mind :-))
I was in the fortunate position to have a avid fly fishing neighbour, in his 80s quite known in Prince Albert. I had a agreement with him that when I'd recovered from my chemo he'd take me out and teach me. Unfortunately before I did he passed away in Nov :-(....all that knowledge gone.
I still need a few more things. I bought a cheap rod (but good reviews for budget but I keep thinking about A Orvis Clearwater 9' #5 or Hardy NSX SR 8' #3, both very well regarded.
I bought a good rod for Pike too, that'll be fun!
As Keith says the Orvis vids are great, Tom is a star, the fly tie offs are funny and well worth a watch. I like his advice on small stream rods, goes against the grain arguing 9' makes it easier to keep fish off rocks in small streams, casting ability being less important.
Waders are a bug bear of mine, what to get.
Edit, Fulling Mill do a great catalogue to your door free
Keith, I remember you saying to me about some must have flies and don't get trapped into collecting them ( can think of worse hobbies mind :-))
I was in the fortunate position to have a avid fly fishing neighbour, in his 80s quite known in Prince Albert. I had a agreement with him that when I'd recovered from my chemo he'd take me out and teach me. Unfortunately before I did he passed away in Nov :-(....all that knowledge gone.
I still need a few more things. I bought a cheap rod (but good reviews for budget but I keep thinking about A Orvis Clearwater 9' #5 or Hardy NSX SR 8' #3, both very well regarded.
I bought a good rod for Pike too, that'll be fun!
As Keith says the Orvis vids are great, Tom is a star, the fly tie offs are funny and well worth a watch. I like his advice on small stream rods, goes against the grain arguing 9' makes it easier to keep fish off rocks in small streams, casting ability being less important.
Waders are a bug bear of mine, what to get.
Edit, Fulling Mill do a great catalogue to your door free
In reply to Post #7
My only regret in over 55 years of fishing JP is I did not take up Fluff Chucking a lot sooner
You will notice the difference between a cheap Rod and a more expensive Fly Rod, Orvis Clearwater - I have not got a clue how they can make such an excellent Rod for the price, I have one in my bag all the time.
Sometime I take a 1950's era 8ft 6" Edgar Sealy Split Cane "Octofly" at a guess around #4, you soon appreciate how good modern Rods are and oh so easy to use in comparison.
Waders: I only fish for wild Brown Trout in the many Brooks and small Rivers that surround me, I used all types of waders - the wall in the beat cabin is full of them, but with all the many Rocks, Boulders, underwater rock features I've found thick PVC chest waders seem to last Snowbee Granite I'm using.
~ Have you seen the Orvis episode were Tom is at that restaurant and looks under the high decking over the small river, and see's a pod of Carp, legs it to his Car crosses a Bridge to the other Bank about 8ft up from the water, casts a fly over the top of the railings down to the river under the decking at the opposite bank - go watch it JP
My only regret in over 55 years of fishing JP is I did not take up Fluff Chucking a lot sooner
You will notice the difference between a cheap Rod and a more expensive Fly Rod, Orvis Clearwater - I have not got a clue how they can make such an excellent Rod for the price, I have one in my bag all the time.
Sometime I take a 1950's era 8ft 6" Edgar Sealy Split Cane "Octofly" at a guess around #4, you soon appreciate how good modern Rods are and oh so easy to use in comparison.
Waders: I only fish for wild Brown Trout in the many Brooks and small Rivers that surround me, I used all types of waders - the wall in the beat cabin is full of them, but with all the many Rocks, Boulders, underwater rock features I've found thick PVC chest waders seem to last Snowbee Granite I'm using.
~ Have you seen the Orvis episode were Tom is at that restaurant and looks under the high decking over the small river, and see's a pod of Carp, legs it to his Car crosses a Bridge to the other Bank about 8ft up from the water, casts a fly over the top of the railings down to the river under the decking at the opposite bank - go watch it JP
In reply to Post #7
In the same position with waders, have a pair I've used carp fishing but I wouldn't want to stand up in them all day so looking around at what to get now
My wife bought me as a surprise a nice rod, reel, net and waistcoat for my birthday, just a Maxcatch setup but comes highly recommended from a few Fly Forum
Flies are the only thing I don't have at the minute but planning on a day out to Rutland water next week so will ask at the tackle shop there, have no intention/time to try and tie my own, my rigs are bad enough
In the same position with waders, have a pair I've used carp fishing but I wouldn't want to stand up in them all day so looking around at what to get now
My wife bought me as a surprise a nice rod, reel, net and waistcoat for my birthday, just a Maxcatch setup but comes highly recommended from a few Fly Forum
Flies are the only thing I don't have at the minute but planning on a day out to Rutland water next week so will ask at the tackle shop there, have no intention/time to try and tie my own, my rigs are bad enough
In reply to Post #9
Flies are the only thing I don't have at the minute but planning on a day out to Rutland water next week so will ask at the tackle shop there, have no intention/time to try and tie my own, my rigs are bad enough
I'm totally with you on that one I've mates who and tie any pattern at will, not for me - I've engineer's hands, I'll leave it to the experts.
Go have a look at https://www.troutflies.co.uk/
Flies are the only thing I don't have at the minute but planning on a day out to Rutland water next week so will ask at the tackle shop there, have no intention/time to try and tie my own, my rigs are bad enough
I'm totally with you on that one
I've mates who and tie any pattern at will, not for me - I've engineer's hands, I'll leave it to the experts.Go have a look at https://www.troutflies.co.uk/
In reply to Post #10
I used to teach the newbies at the Herts FDG but I think it was because I was left handed so it made it easier for them to copy lol.
Did that for a couple of years then got disgruntled with the main guild it's self. they did go through a rocky patch so left as couldn't belong to a branch and not the main.
I used to teach the newbies at the Herts FDG but I think it was because I was left handed so it made it easier for them to copy lol.
Did that for a couple of years then got disgruntled with the main guild it's self. they did go through a rocky patch so left as couldn't belong to a branch and not the main.
In reply to Post #8
What weight Clearwater did you go for Keith, I'm wondering if there's a sweet spot in the range, so to speak. There's a great review online, a blind fold test, the CW was holding it's own with rods 4 times the price. The 9'#5 seems to be a great choice for anything over close (20') distances by the looks of it.
@964rh Waders, to be quite honest the choice is mind boggling and so are some of the prices. I think there's some cross over in colder weather re Carp type waders, maybe also for short sessions, but I can't imagine using them in warm conditions, be more water in them than out.
Flies, I quite fancy tying my own, I can see it as something I'd do when I don't fancy going out. I've bought a few of the pre prepped packs, seems like a good start to me. I also bought a few of the selection packs from Garry Evans, they sometimes do offers like 6 cards for £30. So land based fishing, tippets, leaders and associated dressings and I'm ready really. I like the fly tie offs as it shows you there's no 'right or wrong' which Ithink is quite important for a beginner as it's quite easy to get lost thinking you must have this or that and must match the hatch.
I was lucky enough to drop on a Airflow Switch reel loaded with unused top lines for good money so that was half the battle won, crikey some of those lines are expensive. Mike at Barrio seems well regarded and love or hate, Maxcatch too!
Yes, seen that one Keith. I like to take myself away with the far reach episodes, there's a big world out there, some of the scenery.
What weight Clearwater did you go for Keith, I'm wondering if there's a sweet spot in the range, so to speak. There's a great review online, a blind fold test, the CW was holding it's own with rods 4 times the price. The 9'#5 seems to be a great choice for anything over close (20') distances by the looks of it.
@964rh Waders, to be quite honest the choice is mind boggling and so are some of the prices. I think there's some cross over in colder weather re Carp type waders, maybe also for short sessions, but I can't imagine using them in warm conditions, be more water in them than out.
Flies, I quite fancy tying my own, I can see it as something I'd do when I don't fancy going out. I've bought a few of the pre prepped packs, seems like a good start to me. I also bought a few of the selection packs from Garry Evans, they sometimes do offers like 6 cards for £30. So land based fishing, tippets, leaders and associated dressings and I'm ready really. I like the fly tie offs as it shows you there's no 'right or wrong' which Ithink is quite important for a beginner as it's quite easy to get lost thinking you must have this or that and must match the hatch.
I was lucky enough to drop on a Airflow Switch reel loaded with unused top lines for good money so that was half the battle won, crikey some of those lines are expensive. Mike at Barrio seems well regarded and love or hate, Maxcatch too!
Yes, seen that one Keith. I like to take myself away with the far reach episodes, there's a big world out there, some of the scenery.
In reply to Post #12
I got a #5 Clearwater, an absolute joy to use on the types of wild untouched rivers/brooks I fish.
It's crazy as I'm surrounded with large Reservoirs with most of them run as Trout fisheries, but I've no interest in them what so ever, it' fishing for Wild Brownies that appeals to me. It's constantly changing as well, what you learned prior the winter floods has now gone, and you have to start again- new deep grooves in gravel runs, banking's now undercut, fallen Tree's ripping sections of Banking's out and making new deep pools, constantly having to think about everything all the time.
Your right about waders in summer, even in the very cold flowing water you sweat like hell - I just fish an area for a bit then have a break, go and weed kill all the invasive species in that area (We all do it, as it's all SSSI - the site, banking's, ancient woods, even the River bed has SSSI status) and repeat as I move up-stream, so it's not that bad.
Reels only carry the line for you JP, think mines a Snowbee cassette type (As you have got) which is great as you have multiple options.
I say get out there JP, take advantage of hardly needing anything with you, 2-3 hours in an evening or early morning is no issue.
When ever I call at a Engineering Company a mate has sometimes to pick parts up at dinner time, it would be criminal not to throw a rope over the side of the bridge adjacent to their Car park, and climb down and spend a hour fluff chucking in the River below
I got a #5 Clearwater, an absolute joy to use on the types of wild untouched rivers/brooks I fish.
It's crazy as I'm surrounded with large Reservoirs with most of them run as Trout fisheries, but I've no interest in them what so ever, it' fishing for Wild Brownies that appeals to me. It's constantly changing as well, what you learned prior the winter floods has now gone, and you have to start again- new deep grooves in gravel runs, banking's now undercut, fallen Tree's ripping sections of Banking's out and making new deep pools, constantly having to think about everything all the time.
Your right about waders in summer, even in the very cold flowing water you sweat like hell - I just fish an area for a bit then have a break, go and weed kill all the invasive species in that area (We all do it, as it's all SSSI - the site, banking's, ancient woods, even the River bed has SSSI status) and repeat as I move up-stream, so it's not that bad.
Reels only carry the line for you JP, think mines a Snowbee cassette type (As you have got) which is great as you have multiple options.
I say get out there JP, take advantage of hardly needing anything with you, 2-3 hours in an evening or early morning is no issue.
When ever I call at a Engineering Company a mate has sometimes to pick parts up at dinner time, it would be criminal not to throw a rope over the side of the bridge adjacent to their Car park, and climb down and spend a hour fluff chucking in the River below
In reply to Post #13
I got a #5 Clearwater, an absolute joy to use on the types of wild untouched rivers/brooks I fish.
I think that all but seals it
Sounds like you've got a idyl to fish there Keith
Have you tried any of the so called breathable waders Keith, like the expensive ones purporting to stop sweating by breathability? They seem to be very popular if not pricey!
I got a #5 Clearwater, an absolute joy to use on the types of wild untouched rivers/brooks I fish.
I think that all but seals it
Sounds like you've got a idyl to fish there Keith
Have you tried any of the so called breathable waders Keith, like the expensive ones purporting to stop sweating by breathability? They seem to be very popular if not pricey!
In reply to Post #14
You have it all on your door step as well JP, all the West Pennines is riddled with Brooks and small Rivers, most not fished - it's only a case of asking the landowner.
I know a few who wear the Simms, Orvis, Greys breathable's, to be honest I've never asked if they actually work
With me not just using them for fishing they would not be practical, I doubt they could take the punishment they would get put through.
You have it all on your door step as well JP, all the West Pennines is riddled with Brooks and small Rivers, most not fished - it's only a case of asking the landowner.
I know a few who wear the Simms, Orvis, Greys breathable's, to be honest I've never asked if they actually work
With me not just using them for fishing they would not be practical, I doubt they could take the punishment they would get put through.