I have been on the fly for a year now. I started out not knowing anything and have read books and threads and soaked up a lot. I have honed my 'skills' on a small stream nearby. It was a nightmare to fish at first and I have lost a lot of fly due to inept casting etc!

I have learnt what to look for in runs and pools and where fish 'should' be. I have learnt that different flys work in different parts of the stream depending on the flow and how to use different casts depending on conditions.

It was rounded off two days ago with an almost flawless few hours. I chose to start at a deep pool and move up stream through riffles and other pools. I replaced the dry Royal Wulff with a bead head emerger pattern. I caught 8 Rainbow trout averaging about 20cm with one 'keeper' at 30+ cm.

It was thrilling to fish sections 'knowing' that fish would be there, such as the head of pools and following the foam line and watching the indicator disappear. The last fish was great, a not so deep run off a riffle but covered by trees. I had previously attempted this section before but lost a heap of flies because I did not know how to use a rolling cast. This time I used a good rolling casst and hooked into a fine Rainbow.

I am always surprised that the small fish put up a great fight. I use a 5/6 weight rod and a fine tippett and leader and it is great fun.

So I want to thank all those on here who have shared their knowledge and experience. It has helped me an awful lot and opened up a previously dismissed form of fishing. I have discovered the beautiful taste of freshly caught Trout (Favourite recipe-Skinned and boned fillets, covered in flour and seasoned. Fried in heaps of butter and soaked in lemon juice)

Sadly I am off to the beach for a couple of weeks, so back to fishing from the rocks for snapper for a while

Kia Ora

Well done coffee machine, nothing better than when it all comes together.
Sounds like you are enjoying yourself.
Check this thread out if you have enough time, some on here found it useful
Reading Rivers, Tracing Trout
S,

__________________
"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

Well done,glad the Forum could be of assistance.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Thanks...I have read up on that article and a lot of it certainly helped no end. I am heading back to the small stream in a couple of days. Part of me feels like I am limiting myself by fishing the same stream so much, but with about 4-5 KM's of fishable water it is worth it. I have certainly learnt how to cast there and have lost count of how many flies I have lost to it.

I would love to fish a bigger river, but time and money (Petrol) dictate otherwise right now. I guess compared to back home in the UK, I am very fortunate to just be able to trapse down unhndered by 'Fishing rights' etc and enjoy soem beautiful scenery too.

I have just spent two weeks beach and rock fishing on holiday so am keen to get back on the fly again