Morning all

Have had a couple of frustrating weekends, where all about us are catching and we aren't, so I hope to get some pointers on how to improve matters. My youngest son and I are experienced coarse fisherman but pretty clueless when it comes to fly fishing, for the second weekend running we have watched people move into places we have blanked in and start catching fish almost immediately. We did manage a fish on buzzers yesterday, but are yet to catch using a retrieved fly.

I am pretty sure this is down to inexperience on our part generally, more specifically I need to know more about how to fish the different fly types, associated retrieve techniques, what lines to use when and so on. Can anyone point us in the direction of articles that go through these points?.

We tend to fish reservoirs, by the way.

Thanks in advance

A

Hi there

For starters here is a link with a load of flies on it and if you click on one it tells you how to fish them
The English Fly Fishing Shop - selling fishing flies since 1978 London England

Good luck

Here's a thread that may help. It was targeted at smaller waters but may still be useful :

Beginner's Guide to Fishing Small Stillwaters

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Well mate...

I am sat in Oz bored at the mo missing my trout and thought I would say a few words. I too spent 30 odd years specimen /coarse angling and a couple of years back moved to fly fishing and what a good move, I should have done it years ago, I have never enjoyed my fishing as much as I do now and I have enough to learn to keep me busy for the rest of my days..

I too struggled to catch at first due to a to a multitude of errors, some being a terrible casting style, not understanding how to fish and which and when to fish what flies, where to fish, which line to use...Sound familier??...

Dont try to rush things, enjoy and take time in learning, at first I thought trout impossible to catch but watching others catching and now from what I know they are an easy fish to temp once you know where and how to fish for them, tho there are still plenty of times when I think I am getting them sussed and they prove me wrong just to put me in my place but hey that's why I go fishing.

Use your coarse fishing experience, in coarse fishing location is the most important factor in consistantly catching fish, the same goes for trout, you can only try to get a take from fish if they are where you are fishing. In coarse fishing you have bait to help you get the fish inter

As a beginner you should never be too proud to go an ask another angler for a bit of advice. When all around you were catching it shows they have knowledge gained by experience.You have to fish in the right place, with the right line, length of leader is important, use the right flies, find the right depth for fish, and retreive in the right way. There is a great deal to this fly fishing lark but I'm sure more experienced anglers can point you in the right direction.Perhaps I should also mention that there is no one universal solution to catching trout there are many and tactics vary from day to day.

BK

Thanks for your thoughts thus far, I have dreamed up another question. More experienced fishers have suggested different combinations of flies, for example a weighted lure on the point (i.e. a Cats whisker) with buzzers on the droppers. Now I thought lures are fished with a more decisive, faster retrieve than a buzzer, or have I got this wrong?. Is it normal practice to combine radically different types of fly?.

Tks

A

In colder water (like right now) a s-l-o-w retrieve of a lure will often work wonders, so combining a nymph and a lure in a 2 fly set up can work very well.

Later in the season when the fish are in the top couple of feet of the water column, the dear old "washing line" - small booby on the point, 2 buzzers on droppers 5 feet apart and again slow retrieve - can have great days, specially when it's mild but overcast and there's a ripple on the water.

One tip - check the fishery rules allow the use of 2 or 3 flies - many smaller fisheries, both here in the sunny South and elsewhere, don't.

__________________
"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

Although it may make casting more difficult for a start till you get used to picking up a sub-surface line, try using a sinking line and counting it down - 5 seconds, 10, 20, until you locate a depth at which you are contacting fish - at this time of year especially when it has stayed cold for so long, I would use small lures and buzzers, hardly retrieved at all, just keep in contact, and be prepared for knock after knock without any end result until the trout finally makes up its mind and takes. This method may be slow, and probably boring at first, it does pay off with perseverance. I think the important thing in cold water is to locate the depth where the fish are, and to use something on the business end like bloodworm or buzzer imitations that the trout are accustomed to. Then again, I never did like lure fishing, much prefer naturals and use imitatative patterns rather than trying to provoke takes with lures. It's all down to personal choice, but you can get fish most times if you stick with it. I've broken ice at my local fishery to get a cast and then taken fish on Shipman's Olive buzzers fished dry!

I would suggest that you consider getting a lesson or two from an experienced fly fisherman/instructor. They can quickly help you learn some of the basics of reading the water/weather conditions and fishing tactics that will quickly improve your confidence. Never be afraid to seek advice: 9 times out of 10 other fly fishermen are happy to share their knowledge and successful flies.

Hi Duckfoot, if i can stick my penneth in..

I note a couple of points from your email. firstly you fish reservoirs. Ressies are great fun and i love fishing them, but they can be fairly daunting for a newcomer to the sport. there are areas that hold very few fish, and others where you could walk accross the fishs backs!

Secondly you got one 'on buzzers'. Buzzer fishing on reservoirs is a fairly specific and technical method if you're to regularly catch fish not a method i'd recommend for a relative beginner.

Small stillwaters offer a great way to learn the basics before moving onto the bigger waters, and can act as great confidence builders. I would suggest you have a day at one.

If you insist on the resie fishing, see the advice above, fish a damsel, or lure pattern or anything you're told will catch, and then head to an area thats' catching fish. you'll succeed soon.

BR
Alex