Just thought I'd share my joy with you all, on Saturday afternoon I not only caught my first brownies on my local river here in Belgium but also my first trout on my own flies.

Despite a couple of unfruitful afternoons since the start of the season last Saturday turned out to be the big day and saw me bank a couple of lovely 1/2pound brown trout on dry flies that I had tied myself.

I was beginning to feel that someone up there wasn't looking kindly upon my efforts at fly fishing but finally I can call myself a fisherman.

The afternoon was a real learning curve, after starting out trying to tempt them with a streamer I quickly switched to a deer hair caddis that was similar to the insects that the trout were feeding on.
Unfortunately as I'd gone with the idea of fishing using a streamer I didn't have a leader on, I was just fishing a short length of nylon attached to my line so I had to tie another length of smaller diametre line on to it to create a sort of leader.
Still although the trout were rising to look at my fly they didn't want a bar of it until I had the brainwave of putting another piece of finer (0.14mm) line on my "leader" and straight away the fun started!

As I said I banked two brown trout, both around 25cm long, and lost one at the net (my knot let me down on the fly) and a couple never really got hooked properly - I use barbless hooks so probably let the pressure of a little.

Next time out I really hope that they are rising again, it was great fun seeing them take the fly - I'm well and truely hooked myself now.

Sounds like a great start; keep at them ... just bring an appropriate leader next time.

fae

Congratulations on a great day which I am sure you will remember for many years to come.Well done.

__________________
“The Dictionary is not the only place where “fishing” comes before “work.”

Thanks for your kind encouragement. For your info I'm actually 33 years old and so a latecomer to fly fishing but I already know that it's a hobby I'll enjoy for many years to come.
By the way I did have a dry leader in the car but I was too lazy to walk back to get it.

One question, should I be greasing my flies to help them float? I presume that I do need to as they didn't float too long on each cast. Can I use Vaseline or do I need a purpose made floatant?

Cheers,
Paul