First and foremost, hello guys After much reading and info-gathering, I have decided to take the plunge and go out and get some kit to start fly fishing. I went out last week and bought a starter kit(pretty skint) and ended up with the following: 7-8wt 9'6 rod, sgt2 reel(not 100% I like it), 6-7wt floating fly line, 6x 9ft leader and an assortment of flies. Now I expect to be fishing the clyde around bothwell, hamilton, blantyre, and maybe further afield. Also will be heading to up past hamilton to the Avon. Would be after brown trout (caught my first ever on the Avon near stonehouse when I was younger!) and would also like to try my hand at grayling fishing. Now my question is, would I be able to fish successfully as in the monsters of the deep might be even mildly interested in snapping up what I have to offer? I know it has alot to do with presentation but equipment must surely play a part. I dont have much to spend at all but I expect I will have to buy decent line, replacement leader and specific flies(Ideas which ones?). Im looking for general advice on fishing the clyde in or near the places I mentioned and Avon if possible, aswell as an answer to my question! Not after much eh?

tight lines guys,
lark

Too many questions.I can't figure why they gave you a 6/7# line for a 7/8# rod.Your tackle might be more suitable foe small salmon/seatrout than trout/grayling.but you could get by.
You need to look at some of the posts on flies on here,to see if what you have bought is suitable.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

alrite,

I usually go down the mid clyde as it close to my house. I have been parking the car at bothwell castle and wandering up halfway between the castle and blanthere, my biyre weir. It is ok tggest has been a 8 incher on the fly, not great but its a start. I have heard good things about bothwell bridge (near strathclyde park) and i am going to jump down there tonght for an hour. If it looks promising i will go back Friday afternoon.

I use a 7weight forward floating line and a 9 foot leader. I have been using nymphs and wet flies. I am never down the clyde when I am able to use dries.

I would also look at the river level data and see how high the river is. At Daldowie the maximum height I feel confertable in the water is around 80-85cm

River level data

Gives a shout if you fancy going down at somepoint. The mid clyde season ends on the 7th of october. You will probably need waders however, as its overgrown with bushes.