Hello,

I'm Milly. I am not sure if anyone can help me or not but I hope someone can offer me little advice.

I am looking for a new hobby and love the idea of fly fishing. I have often sat on the side of river banks and at Syon Park and marveled at the fly fishers, the majority whom are male. This Summer I felt the urge to try it myself, but I didn't know where to start.

Being a 30 year old female I feel a little out numbered and most certainly shy to enter into such a male dominated sport.

I guess in short I am looking for a little advice on where to begin.

Being such a friendly sport I hope I will get a few replies.

Many thanks.

Milly

PS I am a complete novice and have never killed a fish but would love to learn

Welcome to the forum Milly.this is as good a place to start as any.
I would advise you to get some pro lessons ,but you can get lesson at some of the major fisheries where they run beginners days.(do hanningfield do them) Rutland and Grafham certainly do.

Jim

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

Walthamstow are running begginers courses.

£40 for the day and an option to buy a season ticket for £150 (normally £300).

Plenty of freindly people around and as good a place as anywhere to learn.

More here: http://web.mac.com/andrewagreen/Site...y-fishing.html

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This Seasons Blog

Hi Milly,

Welcome to the forum and welcome to fly-fishing. You're right, fly-fishing (and this forum) is pretty male dominated, there are however some woman on here and fly fishing is increasingly attracting more and more young woman (paricularly in the States).

There are numerous ways to start, but as Jim says, professional instruction can be really helpful and you shouldn't need that much. If you know someone that can cast then they can teach you, however it's generally reccomended to get some advice from a qualified professional who can teach you the right way from the start.

As the others say some venues do beginners days. I would probably try and avoid the big resorvoir venues suggested. These huge expanses of water can we very daunting as a beginner. Walthamstow, while sometimes productive and attractive in its own way, does not conform to most peoples vision of a scenic environment in which to fish.

I would reccomend starting at somewhere like Syon Park (who would probably be able to point you towards someone who could give you a couple of lessons there as well). Get yourself some affordable kit (no point spending a fortune yet, you might not like it) and see if you can catch a fish.

Hi Milly.

I'd echo what the others are saying here, except perhaps that you might want to start on a smaller stillwater and get a few fish before going to Grafham/Hanningfield which can be daunting. If you're in London, (guessing by your syon park reference) you can get lessons at Syon (ask Andrew Allen) or at Albury Game Angling (ask Pete Cockwill). As you say, most anglers are blokes, but there are some women on this board, and out there fishing so you're not alone!!

Good luck and stick with it. I tried to introduce my beloved to fly fishing, but after actually succeeding and catching a fish, she quickly reverted to 'Heat' magazine and talking about Jimmy Choos.!

First port of call would be to go and have a couple of casting lessons with a aapgia instructor who will be able to provide you with the equipment you would need to start.

Here is a link to there website:

www.aapgai.com

You should be able to find a local instructor to where you live.

If you ever get down to the Westcountry then i can recommend these guys.

www.scottflyfishing.com

Once you have had a couple of lessons or a days guiding/lessons the instructor will be able to point you in the right direction for tackle that will suit you etc.

Hope this helps.

WCB

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http://devonschoolofflyfishing.com/ The BEST Fly fishing tuition guiding in Devon

http://funkyflytying.co.uk

Excuse the appalling pun in the title, but the lasses of English Ladies, flyfishing Association are sure to look after you.
http://www.elfa.org.uk/

In addition, although not in your neck of the woods, I know that Carsington water in Derbyshire run women only intro days:
http://www.carsingtonwater.com/Fly-Fishing0049v01.htm

Finally, despite reputational images (and some genuine examples!) to the contrary: not all male anglers are socially awkward dinosaurs with a penchant for patronisation. As in all walks of life, you'll find welcoming and well-adjusted groups of fellers in the strange mix that makes up the UK angling population.

P.S. Get the ELFA lasses to take you RIVER fishing
P.P.S. Join the Wild Trout Trust!! http://www.wildtrout.org/
Denise Ashton is our Funding and Communications officer as well as casting a mean fly on a great variety of waters in the UK and abroad.

Hi Milly and welcome, you will enjoy this forum it's full of good stuff.
Another female angler on this site is Flygirl (Debbie) she is a cracking good fisherwoman and has a useful website, take a look and have a chat with her I am sure she will be very helpful.
ATB Steven.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Welcome.

I just took my daughter to a Kids day at the Albury Estates near Guildford. It was fantastic and she caught her first fish within two hours from picking up a rod! Really good, fun afternoon.

Look at their website as they hold Ladies Intro Days too.

Contact Tony for more details. Just google 'Albury Estate Fly Fishing'.

Craig

Hi mayfly milly

Welcome to the forum.

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Cheers
Wiz

www.wandletrust.org
www.wildtrout.org
www.a-c-a.org
http://www.aapgai.co.uk
www.riverflies.org
www.wandlepiscators.net