Just started on the rivers from still waters and looking at buying some new flies, who does anyone use, and also interested in learning to tie my own, is there anywhere i could learn this, in the lancashire area

Hi,

Check out the internet for 'The Flydressers Guild' They'll probably have a local branch near you & It's an excellent way to learn to tie flies & meet other fly fishers as well

Good luck,

JC

Hi,
Myerscough College occasionally run 10 week x 2 hour courses for beginners.
The teacher is Pat Stevens aka Flytek, if you call him he can tell you what is available.
He is running a taster session in Ulnes Walton soon, the following is cut from their poster.

Come along and try fly tying
Wednesday 28th April 7-30 pm
At The Old School, Ulnes Walton Lane,
Ulnes Walton, Lancashire.
PR26 8LT.
A full beginners fly tying course is planned to follow
this introduction session
Contact Jim Coan 01772 452782
for further details.

Cheers
Bill

To answer what flies, you should scale down if you have been fishing stillwaters.
At this time of year a size 12 is plenty big enough and a size 14 is probably more appropriate depending on the waters you intend fishing.

Ask other fishers what they are using now, since killing patterns can vary from river to river.

Meanwhile a good universal pattern which works in every river I've fished is a GRHE.
I would start off with two sizes only.
A size 12 goldhead, and a size 14 traditional GRHE.
Fish the goldhead in rising or falling water, fish the traditional in normal water.

Pendle,

I do most of my dry fly fishing on rivers with Adams' in sizes 14 and 16 (and occasionally 12). Most of the ones I use are parachute versions.

There are of course times when the fish refuse an Adams, prefering something matched more specifically to the hatch. However it is an excellent all purpose / prospecting fly and broadly looks like much of what trout (and grayling) take off the surface through out the year.

Cheers,

Dovebob

Excellent service from these guys and they do all sorts of midge and nymph patterns right down to #22 plus all the usual suspects. Hope this helps you out before you get tying. Good luck on the rivers. JB

The English Fly Fishing Shop

__________________
http://www.fishleven.co.uk/
http://www.edenangling.co.uk/

Hi pendletrout,

Depending on where you live, you may have a choice. There is a monthly meeting of the FDG at Barnoldswick, and a new group derived from members of Colne Water Angling Club.
CWAC meets at the Crown Hotel in Colne on the second Wednesday in the month.
PM me for FDG or CWAC details.

Regards
Dave