Been fishing for a couple of yrs now but dont get out on the water nearly as much as i like due to having 2 young kids and workin funny hours but the last FOUR times ive been out i've blanked and its doing my ****** head in, i've tried everything,changing flies,lines,leaders-the lot,even when everyone around me ( including my mate who's been using exact same set up to me at times)have been nailing fish. Is this just bad luck? Am i trying too hard? Am i just **** at flyfishing and should take up golf or somethin instead

HELP, IM AT A LOSS

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" I HAVE FISHED THROUGH FISHLESS DAYS THAT I REMEMBER HAPPILY WITHOUT REGRET "<(((>(

Muzza,
I'm in a similar boat to you, by the sound of it. Similar circumstances and recently I've not landed anything.

I'm constantly reviewing what I do when it goes right or wrong, and unfortunately I don't often get the chance to fish with someone who knows what they are talking about to watch what I'm doing and comment.

I am also aware that at the moment it is a difficult time to fish some waters, due to weather and time of season, etc,

So, I am Keeping The Faith, believing that I am getting lots of little things better with practise in my first FF season, and the fish will come. This approach has had me a couple of nearly landeds in the last week.

If I'm in the same situation in a month's time, I'll pay for a full lesson.

Good Luck!

It's just the way the cookie crumbles Muzza. If you're fishing the same set up/style as your mate and he's catching and you're not it's just down to bad luck.

Keep at it, be patient, enjoy fishing primarily - catching fish secondary. When you crack that, you've cracked fly fishing.

Good luck.

RELAX AND ENJOY the day out, before you start to fish just spend 10 to 15 minutes looking around you to see if there are fish rising or not,check to see what the birdlife is doing,feeding or not,check were the other anglers are on the water it might be worth following there lead and fish in roughly the same area without encroaching on there bit of water,and always,always get some local knowledge ie what fly has been working and what line they are useing.This fly fishing game is to be enjoyed,i too have had many blank days in my 30 odd years of fishing but i still love getting out there and trying to outwit the wirey old trout.

Thanks for your comments guys, going out in next couple of weeks so heres hoping, still enjoy fishing,its great just very frustrating

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" I HAVE FISHED THROUGH FISHLESS DAYS THAT I REMEMBER HAPPILY WITHOUT REGRET "<(((>(

muzza
there is alot more to your post than meets the eye.

Its a comment you hear alot ,"i was fishing the sameway"but do we actually fish the same way.?

When we are not catching we get frustrated and start to change flies quicker than Usain Bolt when in fact we may have the right fly on and it could be depth,rate of retrieve,and one which many dont even think about and that is SIZE of the fly we are using.Just going down in size could make all the difference but many believe that a fish wont see a size 20 but look at the size of some insect life.I only offer ideas to consider which may help you next time your out.When we get frustrated fishing we dont fish the same way as we would when we have had a couple of fish.

Another point which I see and hear all the time is this.Anglers ask what fly is taking,you tell them and show them and the same reply all the time is "I have something simaler"Drives me nuts Simaler is not the same,for example there is many types of damsels and also daddys in flys.If they are taking one exact pattern and you present a one which just has legs on it and the rest of the fly is different,the fish wont touch it, as they are looking for an exact copy of the insect hatching.I have seen this so many times as I expect mant here have aswell.
Hope some of this helps and dont get dispondant its all learning.

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Kevin

Good points here mate, i know what you mean about fishing differently when your heading for a blank,i start frantic casting,ripping my flies through the water-all that stuff,hindering my chances instead of helping them

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" I HAVE FISHED THROUGH FISHLESS DAYS THAT I REMEMBER HAPPILY WITHOUT REGRET "<(((>(

Exactly.

If you are doing it right but there isn't a fish with your name on then go and have a little kip in the car or on the bank, just be one with everything around you.

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GAIA: APGAI & GAIC, Single Handed. Qualified Mentor & Trainee Assessor
FFF MCI - Master Casting instructor
ADB Level 1 & Level 2 Coach (Game) http://www.flyfishlondon.co.uk/

muzza you stay near me, let me know where and when, you are next going out and if its local ill try to turn up, (given that i work the funny hours too!) and try to help out
regards
bert.

You think you are using an identical set up to your mate, I bet if you examine his leader and tippet, you will find he is fishing much lighter than you are.