Hi,
Having taken up flyfishing on stillwaters, in earnest, this summer I would like to move on to river fishing.
I would like advice on suitable set-up for fishing Yorkshire rivers such as the Nidd, Ure etc.

Was thinking along the lines of an 8ft #4 weight rod. Would this be about right, as suitable for most types of river fishing?

I currently have a 9ft 6in #7 weight that I use on stillwaters.

As I don't want to spend too much on a rod, how do you rate a Wychwood Truefly 8ft #4 weight?

Many thanks

Dave

The truefly rods are highly recommended. I have a Shakespeare Odyssey 7' 3# that i absolutely love, and it only cost me £25, they come in a wide range of lengths and weights as well. Is a brilliant rod for small streams and have had some fun on bigger rivers with it as well.

As to the length and line weight you are going to have to provide more details about what type of fishing you want to do and the rivers you intend to fish.

As an "all-round" river rod I would suggest an 8'6'' - 9', 4-5# setup, if your rivers are larger and open I would go heavier and if they are small and tight I would go shorter (although not necessarily much lighter maybe 3-4#). For short line nymphing long and light is the norm (I use a 10' 3#) although if you are only just starting on rivers I would stick with the all rounders until you have some more experience.

You can get some lovely little rods for not much money and always worth looking at second hand ones.

Hope this helps and I am sure other people will offer advice which is different to mine as everyone does things slightly differently in this game.

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http://eclecticangler.blogspot.com/

If the rivers that you intend to fish dont have lots of overhanging trees etc you may consider an 8ft6 or even a 9ft rod as the extra length will help you control the line better.On the Taff and Usk I use 9ft 4wght and find this to be just right on most sections.On the Taff headwaters which are narrower and can be overgrown Iuse a 7ft6 3/4 wght rod.Ihave a Truefly 5/6wght nine footer and its an excellent little rod for the money.The 7.5footer Iuse is an Airflo Streamtec XT which only cost me £50(Ibelieve they are still on offer)and again is very good value.However fly rods are a personal thing and a rod that I may love could well be hated by another....one mans meat...as they say.
Steve.

On the Yore, the Nidd, the Wharfe and other such rivers you would be better off with a longer rod than 8ft. Can your current rod take a #6 line? If not how about going out with your present rod and using your #7 floating line to start off with? Your casting and the design of your leaders will determine how delicate your presentations are, not the line weight rating of your rod.

Take your time before spending any money on a new rod, line and reel. Hang on until you've had a go or three with your present rod. This will give you a much better insight into what will be best for you. Then you can shop around at your leisure!

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..."

I fish the Nidd regularly and use an 8ft 4# Streamflex, I manage to avoid the trees most times. I pesonally wouldn't go any longer on the Nidd except in the winter when bugging for grayling when I use 9ft 4# Streamtec.

Thanks for all the good advice guys.
I may go for a 8ft 6in #4 weight rod and try that, seeing as they are not too dear.

Dave