Hi

I am about to purchase a set of flies before I go on my first fly fishing day trip. I've been casting a piece of wool up to now.

Can anyone recommend the bare minimum set of flies I need to stand a chance of catching my first trout?

Andy.

Hi Andy,

It depends where you are fishing.

Effective flies for fishing small rivers may differ from flies for large rivers, and will almost certainly be different to effective flies for stillwaters.

Let us know the type of water you are going to fish. If you can name the venue so much the better.

Cheers,

Davidh

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http://www.a-c-a.org

I'd like to know that too! I've been easing my way into the world of flyfishing over the last 18 months...but saltwater. I'm just acquiring the kit to try in the rivers for the first time (I want to build some basic experience in river fishing for trout this year before going for sea trout and salmon next year)...but currently, I know nothing...nuuuuuu-thing....I am from Barthelona..

I'll probably be fishing the Taff principally (to start with anyway)

Still water at: http://www.haywardsfarmfishery.co.uk/

Keep it fairly simple, as few flies as possible:
If you had the following flies you'd be fine

klinkhammers, brown & black 12-14-16
para adams 14-16-18
f-fly black 16-18
elk hair caddis 12-14
bead head/regular pheasant tail nymphs 14-16-18
bead head/regular hairs ear nymphs 14-16-18

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Steve


"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." Paul O'Neil

Polite,

For river fishing the best purchase you will ever make is "Matching the Hatch" by Pat O'Reilly. You will get a good understanding of which fly to use and when and you will also be given the Magnificent 7 flies to match the hatch with.

The book is for still waters too and gives invaluable advice for imitative fishing rather than lure fishing.

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"The sun was so delightfully warm, and the stone, which had been sitting in it for a long time, was so warm, too, that Pooh had almost decided to go on being Pooh in the middle of the stream for the rest of the morning."

www.monnow.org

I don't know the river but to Steve101's suggestions I'ld add a sedge in the sizes he recommends and a couple of wooly buggers. As the season progresses you might want to add some terrestrials to your array as well.

If there are other fishermen around ask them what they are using and there's a good chance they'll pass you a fly or two if you need it.

Enjoy!!!

I would drop in to the sportfish shop which is on site and ask in there what was catching at the moment. They have a full selection of Fulling Mill flies to choose from which are good quality and 75p-£1 each. As a guess I would think blue flash damsels, buzzers, and gold ribbed hares ears would serve you right to start with. Fulling Mill also do box sets one of which is a small stillwater set which has a mixture of lures and nymphs in it.

Take ~£10 cash and leave the credit card at home tho' as they have far too much other purchaseable stuff in there.

Have fun,

RogB

Splendid info! thanks chaps. It's all a bit bewildering to the uninitiated! I started flyfishing in saltwater which, whiclst it has it's complexities, is generally simpler where the flies are concerned. Or maybe that's just because I understand the food chain far better in the sea....either way, that's got me on the right track, so thanks!!