Next season, i'm gonna to start to fly fishing streams for brownies- which i've never done before. Consequently, over the winter months, i intend to practise for coarse fish on the River Lea, Wheathampstead. The stretch is predominantly 2foot (ish) deep, with shallower sections down to 6" and literally one or 2 deep holes down to 4foot. Its gin clear, even after rain it is always clear. Very few swims which aren't gravel with streamer weed.

River has hoards of barbel- 50lb of barbel, coarse fishing tactics, in a day is no surprise averaging 4-7lb's.
Loads of chub upto 6lb, many roach, dace gudgeon and 1 or 2 perch.

How would i go around fishing this???


Many thanks

I know the stretch you mean - used to have great fun there in the winter for the barbel (though they were of a smaller average size ten years ago). To be honest I wouldn't expect to do much with a fly on that bit, though you may prove me wrong.

I can think of two better places you could go that are faily local; the river Gade in and below Cassiobury Park is a good place to learn the ropes, as there's plenty of chub and dace that will take a dry fly even in winter. There's always a few pale wateries coming off from midday onwards if there's little or no breeze and it's not freezing cold. An added bonus is it's free fishing (subject to having a rod licence of course). The most productive stretch for fly fishing runs from the little weir at Gade Avenue up as far as the watercress beds, which is about three-quarters of a mile.

The other stretch I can recommend - especially good for practising sight-fishing with nymphs - is Hartham Park, in Hertford. The Beane joins the Lea at the end of the playing fields, and the former is usually very clear except after heavy rain, so you can stalk the dace. It also holds roach and perch and some entertaining jack pike. At one time it held a few big old wild browns (a friend had a four pounder pike fishing many years ago) but I doubt there's any left now. The Lea itself has all the usual species, and the old mill race running out of Dicker Mill has some big roach and a nomadic shoal of bream that will give you an interesting challenge. All this water is available on LAA day ticket sold on the bank.

Cheers

Will defo give the gade a try, my dad spent many a afternoon coarse fishing down on the gade at cassiobury