I'm relatively new to fishing, at least as an all consuming pass time.
like most i started float fishing when i was a kid but had a break for many years. Now im back and into it again i enjoy saltwater, piking and float fishing but its fly fishing that's really taken me.

After reading others post i decided to fill in the gaps between visiting resivours for trout and am targeting anything i can get to on a fly, this means mostly the course fish on my local river and canal. Im loving it but any advice i can get would be greatly appreciated.

I have a 7ft 2/3# rod and a 9"6 7/8#


Im based in the center of Leicester so currently fish the surrounding few miles in the evenings and at weekends

Im very keen to find wild trout and Grayling so locations would be great .


tactics, flies, weather etc on all species would be great.

Cheers

The gear you have may be a little problem depending on what you are targetting. The 7/8 will cater for large(ish) fish ie Pike... the 2/3 wt ok on small streams/brooks... I was out yesterday on a local river using a fast actioned 9ft 4/5wt and catching big Chub to 5lbs.. trust me, they bend the old stick!! But... I used maggots!! I have tried bugs n dries etc.. but this water is fast and turbulent no real room for finesse and they aint interested... a couple of small shots around 8" from the hook chuck a few free offerings and cast..... then hold on!!... On canals you will get fish on a normal set-up using dries if they are up! If they will take a bait, then use a bait... make it easy for yourself.... on the other hand, if after trout, flies only for me!

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Before you cast the fly, make sure you can handle the fish! Vuoi imbrogliare? Poi Non competere! (If you want to cheat, then dont compete)

Unless they are small jacks you are targetting I think 7/8 is a little light for pike if there are the prospect of some big mothers about. I would also suggest that yes they can be played using a light rod BUT they will almost certainly not go back well especially in the summer with warm weather and lower oxygen levels.

Pike are not as hardy as folk might like to think they are... if anyone wants to target pike seriously then I'd suggest joining thePFFA

Thanks captain and Offshore, Might look at a 8/9 rod for pike in the future (would never go for pike on the 2/3 if its going to do them any harm!). I was thinking about getting a salt water proof rod/reel set up as im off to Northumberland in a month and will be fishing on the coast in walse again. I though a set up in the 8/9 range hoping to use that for pike when im back home?

I have seen plenty of pike in the 2 -5 lb mark and had a 16lb on dead bait but im itching to tackle them on the fly!

I have had some nice sport on the 2/3 stalking chub roach etc. What i really need is to keep on getting out there and practice my casting as well as other techniques.

Do you think i will have better time casting (especialy weighted flies) on a 4 or 5 set up. I was thinking about setting my self up with this in the near future as a back up resi rod? but want to be able to use it on the wider streaches of the river. Im going to look in to the PFFA cheers

If you are talking heavier flies for salt or piking the 4/5 aint the choice.
stick with the 7/8 for the heavier stuff. rule of thumb the higher the line rating the heavier the fly the rod/line can cope with. related to the limit you can cope with! i.e the 4/5 would cope with smaller 12 or 14 bead head nymphs o.k. but would toil somewhat with size 6 or 8 long shank nobblers, which would be more suited to the 7/8 weight. fishing all day long with heavier single handed rod ie 9/10 is tiring!
personally i use 9'#8 weight for pike, salmon, and saltwater!
regards
bert