This is gonna sound like a really stupid question, but what is the best weather for flyfishing? Mostly in the past me and my dad have gone, and its been more about the day, so hot, sunny, dead flat calm water, to mess about in a boat is a lovely day. But I dont think thats the best weather to catch fish in. If I was to have one days fishing, whats the best day to go for? Warm but rainy? or sunny but colder? Or does it only affect the type of fishing? Eg colder weather the fish are deeper down?

Thanks for any info,

Roland

I like overcast days with maybe the odd shower (not very long just maybe 10 minutes) and the temperature about 10°C - 20°C. I don't care about the wind as long as its not blowing a total gale across the lake at me.

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It's not a stupid question at all, but it is rather a big one. How long have you got?

Certainly hot, sunny, dead calm - about as bad as it gets. Usually. Trout don't like bright sun - they don't have eyelids. Rainbows in particular don't like high water temps, a flat calm makes your line land noisily and it throws a shadow and shines off your rod and leader, and in the usually clear water, the trout have all the time in the world to inspect your leader and fly and turn away. Also in high summer, they are not stoking up for winter and not recovering from it, so they can be choosy. If it's bright and it's been hot for while, the chances are the fish will be torpid and stay deep. Early morning and late evening are your best bets.

Cold weather doesn't necessarily mean that the fish will be deep. Once the water temps become low in winter, they tend to stay deep and be unwilling to expend much energy. However, at some time in the day, they may come on and may even take dry flies if there is a buzzer hatch.

A lot of people have come to the conclusion that a change in wind direction can put the fish down until the wind settles in one direction. That could happen over an hour or over several days.

Then there'll be days that everything that I've said above is totally untrue.

An ideal day? A mild day, in a spell of settled weather in late spring with a gentle warm breeze and some cloud cover. However you could just as easily blank and catch the next day in a howling gale with a late snowstorm.

Queer things, fish.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

As a quick reply - you can catch fish in pretty much any weather, including hailstorms, thunder/lightning if you like risk-taking... So don't always let the weather dictate your decision, but... on lakes I'm looking for overcast, warm and patchy drizzle with a light wind. On rivers - I'm not so fussy, as long as the water level is right. You can always find some shade in the trees.
Warm and wet over cold and sunny would be a general rule.

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Overcast, around 15°C, Southerly to Westerly wind of around 12MPH and a nice ripple. Above all, something hatching (preferably buzzers in April/May or Mayflies in May/June), or a fall of terrestrials ~ roll on April

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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Sounds great. It might even happen in the next 5 years

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

So to make it simpler, thursday looks to be cloudy, 10degrees, and quite windy. Friday looks to be sunny, 5 degrees and less windy. Which day would be better if i can only choose one? or is the changeability not going to be good for either day?

Thanks for the advice guys.

You have the choice ,go for thursday ,you will be warmer ,less bright sun during the warmest part of a winter day ,more chance of a hatch ,and unless its a huge wind should be fishable .
Even better fish both days

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

i like it when it's overcast and blowin a hoolie

big wave= big fish

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stevie

If it was a reasonable wind, then Thursday as ACW says, better chance of a hatch, better chance of fish getting active - also you'll feel warmer and probably fish better!
However, the wind up our way is going to be just too strong tomorrow - around 60mph It's no fun trying to fish in a real hooley and you need to be a very good caster to get any line out - unless you know some very sheltered spots.

fortbhoy probably can catch fish under those conditions - the Scottish lads will fish into a gale from the jaws of hell, they're used to it but for lesser mortals, enough is enough.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.