Been fly fishing twice now>
I consider myself to be a competent - good coarse angler.

Fancied the fly so had a 3 hour lesson. Fished on afterwards on aq 2 acre lake and caught 3 rainbows.

Now im an expert I tried a smaller lake about 150 yrds accross the main issue was the canadian pond weed. About 25 yards from the bank the whole way around.

I did not have a clue i did a slow retrie and hooked 4 fish 2 on a white minke 2 on a bloodworm apps, only landed 1

The retrieve was not long enough before it came into the weed. I did consider a dry fly in the channel between the weeds or a buzzer but this sounded like madness to my simple brain. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE

Incidentaltiy I coarsed fished the Exe today and had 1 small brownie 1 massive brownie for the river touching 2.5lb and a rainbow of similar size no dace though. All trout returned

I would have fished somewhere else, nasty messy weed


You could have chucked out an indicator and a few buzzers and left the lot static.

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It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

Small olive buzzer dropped in among the weed
Dry fly over the top
Try and fish round the edge as this is where the fish lie in the weed

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I wish I was as clueless as you! Have only been fly fishing for the last 8 months and not been out much but it sounds to me that if you've hooked 4 fish you can't be far off. In my first 'solo outing' after my one and only lesson I landed one and lost one. I then had several blanks but fought off the disappointment and have caught one and lost one on my last two trips. It may not sound like it but I think I'm getting there.

I think you're much further down the road than me and a few more sessions will see you landing plenty but you have to accept that every now and then you wont land what you were hoping for. I'd keep at it and keep getting advice from the folks on here.

I am pleased to have caught, but the waters i have fished have not been hard waters.

I am trying to learn new skills but keping confidence high,

The main issue I want advice on his how to fish the weedy water, thanks to all those that have responded so far

By getting in amongst weeds or reeds trout can shake/rub their mouths against them ahd dislodge the hook. The only solutions I can think of are barbed hooks / letting them get exhausted before retrieving them through the weed / using really heavyweight gear so you can keep constant maximum pressure on without worrying about something snapping.

There's an old hill loch fisher's ploy for fishing weedy water. fix a split shot size AAA to the end of your line and secure it with a couple of overhand knots. About 4-5 foot above this tie on a 9 inch dropper and the fly of your choice. Cast so that the shot lands in the weed and the fly on the water, then by gently raising the rod tip you can dibble the fly, a great way to present a Daddy. The shot will act as an anchor while you dibble
and pull free of the weed no bother. Watch out for explosive takes !!

Never thought about using a lead shot as an anchor, will try in the summer.

I always avoid lakes and ponds that are not looked after ( weed cutting )

Prefer to travel a bit further for a fishery that is maintained with weed cutting and grass cutting, got bit a few times last year in long grass, still got the scars on my ankles...lol

Be carefull with the weed, if a trout takes a good bite and dive straight for the weed and you strike hard you could end up with a snapped rod..

Unfortunately the one chemical that has proved effective in controlling weed growth in lakes and ponds has now been banned and I guess that we are all going to have to learn how to fish effectively in weeded waters.

I think if you are paying a lot of money for a day ticket then some of that should be refelected in the surroundings,

not just for the privilege of fishing there.

Some of the best venues in the UK are very well looked after and you are lucky to get a peg at the weekends.