Hi,

Sorry if this sounds a bit dumb but I would like to get this right so it doesnt cause me more hassle in the future.

I took a fly fishing lesson recently with a guide, I loved it over the last couple of weeks I have been buying all the equipment to enable me to go fishing.

I now have a rod, reel, line tippet waders etc etc. So I am now in a position where I am ready to get started.

I was wondering if anyone either had any good advice on how to set my rod up or knows a good link with that could help with this. I have been practicing some knots and loops etc.I just want to make sure I am setting it up right so that I stand a chance of catching.

I bought some line off pitsford pirate on here, it came with super glue, whats the glue for?

Need a bit more info.


What weight/length rod?
Where do you intend to fish, river I guess-waders.
Large river/brook?
What choice of tippet/leader (weight) do you have?
Got backing for reel?
Dry fly, wet, nymph?
Fly line-floats, sinks, intermediate?

That will do for now.

Chris.

Oh, the glue will be for attatching a loop on the business end of the fly line.

Hi Chris

The rod is 5/6 wt 9ft rod but I am looking at also getting a lighter shorter rod but thats what I have for now.
I will be fishing rivers in yorkshire, the rivers are of an average size, mainly quite shallow.
I have flextec 4lb tippet ans 4lb 9ft tapered leader.
The backing line for the reel came with the fly line so yes I have got some backing line.

With regards to what I will be using, to start I will use the new zealand method of using a small dry as an idicator and a wet, I will also use the north country spider flys as these were the 2 methods I was shown on my lesson.
I will obviously try other methods as I go.

The line I bought was a 6wt wf floating line and also 5wt wf floating line

many thanks
Chris

One tip about useing the glue pour a little bit out then use a coctail stick to put it on you only need a very very small ammount.Go on youtube and tap in how to put line on flyreel,you will find lots of info on it

Horses, good tip thanks. I will go and have a look at u tube now as I can feel them trout in the river calling me!

Fairly straight forward then Chris. The new zealand method would be a good start point. 5 wt line, put the backing on then the line, you are trying to fill the reel to within a 1/2 an inch of full. Add or take off backing to suit, better a bit to much to begin then no knots. I usually attatch the backing to the leader with a blood knot. it's not to fussy so long as you don't end up with a fat bulky knot. You can fit a loop (Roman Moser type) to the fly line to attatch the backing. Once the line is on I would recommend another RM loop to attatch the tippet material. They come with instructions and when to use the glue. It's easy follow.

Tippet, I'd use the 4lb you have to the dry fly 7-8' should do it and tie the nymph type fly on a short piece of tippet (18") off the bend of the dry hook. I'd prefer a lighter link here 2-3lb would be better. De-grease the main tippet to within an inch of the dry fly. You want the tippet to sink.

That's about it I think. When putting the fly line on don't wind on to hard else it will coil/remember and be a bore. Just firm, relaxing a bit on the second/last half.

There's lots of different ways and others will suggest slightly dif. Pick the best from all the info you get that suits you. It's not written in stone! Hth.

Chris.

Thanks for that chris,

I will have a blast at setting up this afternoon. Whats this degreasing you talk about? How do you do that?

Ok, the tippet material will float. That puts fish off rising to your dry. Makes a definate line on the surface a silhouette if you like. To disguise this we get it to sink by rubbing some form of sinkant on it. Have a look on Game Fishing Supplies site under Floatants and Sinkants, there's plenty of choice-Xink is popular one. Rub it on the line (cloth/fingers) to within about 1/2 inch of the dry. Need the last bit to float or it may sink the whole kabush. Let it dry off before casting. False casting on the bankside will do it.

If you forget your sinkant or run out when fishing, a handful of mud gently rubbed on the line will do the same thing, just needs checking more often .

Chris.

P.S. don't get it on you fly line else...

Ok thanks for that, I will get some floatant and sinking stuff then.

Will it make much difference if the river is quite fast and rippled?

No, should work ok. Just keep your eye on it and fix as necessary.

The set-up I describe is basic and functional. As time goes by you will learn to fine tune things to suit your style, surroundings and conditions that day.
Get ready for it going wrong, it goes wrong for all of us, just got to adapt to whatever is thrown at you. Don't be afraid to try your own ideas/solutions. Practise, practise and then some more. You'll soon get the hang of things.

Good luck

Chris.

You could do worse than get a copy of 'River Academy-Small Stream Trout Fishing' John Tyzac dvd. Lots shown and demonstrated there-easy follow to.