Hi all.
First I have to say that I have asked a few questions and received some fantastic help and advice from fellow forumites since I started fly fishing.
Thanks to all of you.
My next endeavour is to have a go at rivers. Up to now I have been only fishing stillwaters.
So, my question is where can I go to try a river? I live in Essex, so I am not exactly spoiled for choice here! I know there are some beautiful rivers around the country, but at this stage I don't want to venture far afield.
As for tackle, I use a Demon 9' #6. Will this do to start with? Obviously a lighter/shorter set up will be better, but that will have to wait.
So, if there is any-one out there who can help, speak up please.
Better still, if there's any-one who doesn't mind having a newcomer like me hanging around for a day, this would be awesome.
Thanks in advance chaps.(and chapesses, obviously!)
Regards,
Gary

Try this guy:-

FISHING
Audley Fly Fishing Club
Mr A Richardson
9 Park Road
Stansted
Tel: 01279 815959

The river Cam in Saffron Walden has trout in, day tickets are available.
The tackle you have will suffice.

This:- http://www.clavering-lakes.co.uk/ isn't a river but it's a good lake handy for you o try,

__________________
[url]http://www.rnsubmus.co.uk/[/url]

excellent way to start on rivers , learning what trout,grayling lies are like ,learning watercraft on a river takes time but your going the right way about it ,watching and asking can learn you an awful lot but it doesn't guarantee fish gary, rivers can be very dismaying for someone just starting on them making them become frustrated , if you find yourself getting wound up etc at not catching etc etc , sit down take a 10 min break or longer sit and watch the water and start againit will feel a totally different day

__________________
WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

There are a few clubs south of you in the mid to north Kent area as well:

Teise (see link below)
Darent Valley (nearest to you and a chalk stream)
Kingfishers (still and chalk stream)

West of you on the Lea is the Amwell Magna club.

Unfortunately with the exception of the Teise (the most expensive) there are long waiting lists, from 3 -5 years, and probably a lot more for Amwell. None of them do day tickets.

__________________
Carl

http://www.wandlepiscators.net/
http://teiseangling.co.uk/index.htm

TOMORROW THE TRENT COULD BE YOUR FISHERY! When are YOU going to JOIN THE ANGLING TRUST?

Would have thought your closest river would be the Lea. It's not full of Trout or Grayling, but it's a river all the same and the skills for fishing rivers are much the same whether targetting coarse fish or game. Even better, I think a lot of the lower stretches may be free fishing (pretty sure i've seen posts on here mentioning this?). It's got to be better learning on free water than paying £££.

I used to fish the Wandle in south London before moving out of town. Now I fish on the Wey - both predominantly coarse fish rivers, but convenient and local to me. Putting the time in to learn techniques and reading the water on your local rivers will prepare you well for trips to more renowned game rivers and save you money in the process.

Good luck finding someone to show you the ropes - it really will pay dividends and speed up the learning process.

Cheers,
Greg

I have to say that although catching fish would be a bonus, it isn't the be all and end all for me. I love being near to a river, and will walk for hours (not fishing) on a riverbank. I recently re-read the excellent forum topic "how to read rivers", and am fascinated.

Thanks Carlos.
I think I will contact the Teise, as it looks a really nice river. I can see myself joining that one !

Thanks Greg. Good advice. I hope to find some-one who will be patient enough. If not locally to me then I am quite happy to travel.
I want to do this properly, and hopefully, it should pay dividends in the long run.

Thanks again for all the advice, much appreciated.
Regards,
Gary