Hi All

I've just found a dream stream near me with lots of overhanging foliage.

Best of all the gamekeeper says I can help myself! I'm pinching myself but it's true.

So I took a light spinning rig and freelined an earthworm - quickly caught a nice 2lb brownie that had never seen a human before, much less a hatchery. (And it went back, too.)

My question is this: with so much in the way of trees, shrubs etc (I had to fight my way to the river bank and that was after picking the spot carefully) I can't see how I could possibly cast a fly.

So - what would you do? Keep using my spinning rod and bait or what?

Cheers.

How wide is this stream?

I'd do similar to you but use a 5 gram drennan controller float. Depending on depth, set the controller between 2 rubber float stops set about 12" apart, and nip a couple of bb's next the rubber stop nearest the hook, on the hook side if you get my drift

A 5 gr controller will underarm cast a fair way, and the 12" of free running line between the float stops will help connect with fish ( the weight if the float does not impede the strike ), and the split shot will pull the 12" of free line down into the water And against the top of the float to aid bite detection. Like this:

Fly fish it. In fact dry fly fish it. Get used to fiddling about with your casting and line control. Stay on the bank as much as possible. Use a longer rod than you would first think to as well.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Lay in a lot of the overhangong branches and improve the habitat still further. But do it carefully - don't loose the shade from the pools.

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"The sun was so delightfully warm, and the stone, which had been sitting in it for a long time, was so warm, too, that Pooh had almost decided to go on being Pooh in the middle of the stream for the rest of the morning."

www.monnow.org

Reverand,

If you can cast a worm with a spinning rod! You can fly fish it! learn to adapt to the situation; and see it as just another of lifes challenges. Small fly rod light line short leader and flick the line under the shrubbery also a sideways roll cast, or whatever it takes to put line up stream with a dry fly!

Try the 'bow and arrow' cast. Hold the rod in one hand and grab the fly in the other. The line wants to be just short of reaching the reel. Pull the fly so a bend comes in the rod and let go. It (the fly) should then flick/fly out across the water. Well, up the nearest tree usually .

Takes a bit of messing to get it out there but persistance pays.

Chris.

And take a first aid kit with you.
I used to love a bit of upstream and downstream worming on my local beck, but now it's under club rules, it is fly only.
A lot of skill to worm a beck well IMO, and very productive.
S.

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"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.

There is a limit to how overgrown and small you can go
Believe me ive tried some really tight spots, which even with a 5ft 6" rod have been hard work. The problem with a lot of very small streams is the amount of bends, which although good holding lies for Trout make a backcast imposible. So roll casts etc are the only way.
If you can wade, take a pair of secateurs with you in your pocket and do some pruning as you go along whilst fishing. It will pay off on your next visit.
I have found a couple of visits with a bit of trimming can make the world of difference, just leave plenty of cover for the fish.
Great feeling when you find a new bit of water, enjoy yourself

Steve