Hi,

New to this forum so hello! Always loved my fly fishing however where I currently live not great for Salmon & Trout thought I would try my luck with coarse fish. Found the posts in here very useful so thought I would give it a go on the River Can in Chelmsford. Caught these two chub on seperate days but both on Gold Hare's Ear Nymphs





There is some bigger ones in there so will keep trying! Tried for pike yesterday on Chelmer no luck with sub surface flies so tried a popper based on what I've read hereand almost instantly the fly was grabbed by a decent jack pike, very exciting, eventually got a small one (no picture though). Definately going to give that another go...

Cheers
James

well done on the catch. However not so well done on the care of fish. Both of the fish show scale damage. Ok that wasnt maybe down to you but laying them on a rough sand bed wont have done them any good.

Apologies certainly wasn't intention to mishandle fish, but I certainly welcome to any advice on handling

In my defence the bank I was fishing on hand a thin sandy strip with dense undergrowth behind so the only place to land. My landing technique was to gently bring the fish on to the edge of the beach, a quick photo then the hook flicked out and the fish carefully guided back into the river minmising my handling of the fish. I didn't use a net as I find in my own experience with fish of this size on a shallow bank (I would certainly use a net on larger fish and on a steeper bank were I can't get at the fish) instead to just flick the fly out and return the fish causes less disturbance, the fish in both cases were out the water for seconds.

The damage to the second fish was from a predator, not shown is the large punture wound it had suggesting a heron possibly. I hope this provides some reassurance

I'm in a similar situation, where I live it's very hard to find trout, with there being only a few left in the rivers, and salmon are nowhere around. I only fish for coarse fish, by any method, and since I'm a decent all rounder I decided to try fly-fishing for them - with no luck at all
I'll get there though, once I've got some more flies

Do you only fish for chub and pike, or have you given other coarse species a shot?

Well done Squirrels nice chub but I agree with coasty you should take more care of your fish never lay them on such a rough surface!
The hares ear nymph really is a good universal pattern roach, rudd, and perch love them too.

Thanks for replies,

Pixie - I have tried pretty much for anything that will grab the fly however just chub so far though have seen Roach and Perch and another angler pulled out decent bream in the Can hopefully will try to get one of those. I have tied some small dry flies to give a go (thinking roach), will keep you posted if they work! So far I have fished 12-14 nymphs, Hares Ear seem to be way forward based on comments here, hopefully that will work for you to, it is satisfying when it first works

Based on advice have put together a landing mat to protect fish for future trips from rough surfaces

Tight lines

Squirrels laying the fish on some soft wet grass or reeds or even in the folds of a wet landing net is good enough for smaller fish. I would not bother with an unhooking mat unless the fish were really big and heavy.
Dont forget the gold bead pheasent tail nymph roach love this fly, and it does not have to be small either.
Look for previous posts on this forum from Skateboard Dave he lists some really good flies and methods. Hopefully he will start posting again soon.

Hi Squirrels,

In Hungary we have not good trout rivers then the Hungarian fly fishermen fishing for coarse fish (and pike,zander,etc.).I would write down some very nice flies for chub,roach.
At the first time to the chub.My friends use the simple black polifoam beetle(hook size 12-8) but I prefer the "naturally" flies like Coachman,both dry and wet,March Brown,Soldier Palmer and at the end of the summer is very good a bigger hopper.If you want to catch bigger or the biggest chub,you have to use smaller streamers.The chub likes the yellow/black streamers and the Muddlers.My first choice:leader fly:a Spuddler and the dropper is a wet Coachman or March Brown.The March Brown with fluo orange floss body better than original,I think.When I use dry fly,the first is a 10 sized Coachman(not Royal!).
Roach.I have already caught good roach with fly and my favourite nymph is Pheasant Tail with fluorescent orange thorax( the hook size 16-12).I have read in a German fly fishing book the roach love the fluorescent orange.It's right.
I hope,it will be a little help to you.

Cheers,

Levente

Cheers Paul, I'll take a search for some Skateboard Dave's historic posts I've already seen a few and they been helpful. And I'll get tying some pheasants tails my box is little sparse on them at moment

Aspius that was an interesting post very helpful , I've tied a couple with orange beads on grub hooks but I'll try and do a few more with bright orange. Have a few Coachmans kicking about used to be an old favourite for trout, I haven't tried the streamers yet, I'll give them a go. Look forward to reading about some of your trips.

Talking of dry flies I got my first chub on one yesterday (sorry no photo) a nice fish about 1lb mark on Hares' Ear Emerger (size 14). Forgotten how much fun dry fly fishing is, also got a couple of Dace in the bargain to which is another first.

Still no roach only spooked some yesterday... time to get out the Flouro Orange then flies

I would have to agree with coasty, people should give coarse fish the respect they dererve, would you treat a salmon or a trout in such a way?

You should have kept the fish in the water whilst unhooking it rather than dragging the poor beast up on the bank to get nothing more than a vanity picture.

Anyway, well done you on catching it on the fly, at least it wasent on a boily or the worm....