The Excitement Of Catching Ones First Trout On The Fly
I took up fly fishing some four years ago. I had always been a keen fisherman, mostly course fishing on rivers, but I wanted a change. I was getting bored for some reason, and as I get older feel less inclined to sit and wait for hours on end!
I took up fly fishing some four years ago. I had always been a keen fisherman, mostly course fishing on rivers, but I wanted a change. I was getting bored for some reason, and as I get older feel less inclined to sit and wait for hours on end!
Fly fishing had always interested me, but I (wrongly) considered that it was a rich man's game and that I couldn't afford it. However, on visiting a local trout fishery which consists of two lakes, I found this was not the case.
I also found the lakes to be stunningly beautiful, and this, I believe, is important and the basis for my first tip:
1. Find somewhere that is pleasant to visit as a fishing venue.
When I started fly fishing, I never thought I'd catch anything. I had been several times and always enjoyed it, probably because of tip 1 above.
It was also a time of learning to cast properly and this is my second tip:
Tip 2. Get yourself some lessons in casting.
Just a couple of hours of tuition are sufficient to show you how casting should be done - and even if you don't master it properly in those two hours, at least you know what you should be doing!
My casting was coming on fine, but I had yet to catch a fish. This brings me to my third tip:
Tip 3. Talk to the other fishermen.
One of the most important things you can do when learning to fly fish is to talk to other fishers. If you see someone catch a fish, go over to them and ask about their catch. Everyone is pleased when they catch, so just ask what sort of fly they were using and what sort of level in the water the fish seem to be lying.
It is often by asking questions from experienced fishers our knowledge increases and we learn more about our sport.
Even so, catching your first trout can take a while, so:
Tip 4. Never give up!
Because I enjoyed the natural beauty of the fishery, I kept going which I might not have done if it was just a hole in the ground, which, let's face it, some fisheries are.
Once you have mastered the basics you can then:
Tip 5. Change the way you do things.
What I mean is this, by doing things differently you can reap big rewards. For example, most people think they have to cast out as far as possible to reach the fish, and a long cast is definitely an advantage for that reason. However, the opposite is also true. Instead of casting out to where everyone else casts, try fishing close in along the bank. This has paid dividends for me in the past as very few people fish close in.
One of the biggest trout I have caught was caught when I was fishing close into the bank. I was also going against conventional wisdom in using a bright orange fly on a very dark and overcast day.
So there you have it, a few tips - tight lines!
I took up fly fishing some four years ago. I had always been a keen fisherman, mostly course fishing on rivers, but I wanted a change. I was getting bored for some reason, and as I get older feel less inclined to sit and wait for hours on end!
Fly fishing had always interested me, but I (wrongly) considered that it was a rich man's game and that I couldn't afford it. However, on visiting a local trout fishery which consists of two lakes, I found this was not the case.
I also found the lakes to be stunningly beautiful, and this, I believe, is important and the basis for my first tip:
1. Find somewhere that is pleasant to visit as a fishing venue.
When I started fly fishing, I never thought I'd catch anything. I had been several times and always enjoyed it, probably because of tip 1 above.
It was also a time of learning to cast properly and this is my second tip:
Tip 2. Get yourself some lessons in casting.
Just a couple of hours of tuition are sufficient to show you how casting should be done - and even if you don't master it properly in those two hours, at least you know what you should be doing!
My casting was coming on fine, but I had yet to catch a fish. This brings me to my third tip:
Tip 3. Talk to the other fishermen.
One of the most important things you can do when learning to fly fish is to talk to other fishers. If you see someone catch a fish, go over to them and ask about their catch. Everyone is pleased when they catch, so just ask what sort of fly they were using and what sort of level in the water the fish seem to be lying.
It is often by asking questions from experienced fishers our knowledge increases and we learn more about our sport.
Even so, catching your first trout can take a while, so:
Tip 4. Never give up!
Because I enjoyed the natural beauty of the fishery, I kept going which I might not have done if it was just a hole in the ground, which, let's face it, some fisheries are.
Once you have mastered the basics you can then:
Tip 5. Change the way you do things.
What I mean is this, by doing things differently you can reap big rewards. For example, most people think they have to cast out as far as possible to reach the fish, and a long cast is definitely an advantage for that reason. However, the opposite is also true. Instead of casting out to where everyone else casts, try fishing close in along the bank. This has paid dividends for me in the past as very few people fish close in.
One of the biggest trout I have caught was caught when I was fishing close into the bank. I was also going against conventional wisdom in using a bright orange fly on a very dark and overcast day.
So there you have it, a few tips - tight lines!
Author:
Zac has been a steady fly fisherman for a long time, and loves to pass on tips and advice. When starting fly fishing Zac recommends buying fly fishing combos. The great thing about fly fishing combos is that you get all the main elements, rod, line and reel at a discounted price.
