Something was lacking in my life. I had always been a keen course fisherman, but whilst I still wanted to catch fish, I was getting bored.
I visited a trout fishery to take a look. Larkwood in Suffolk, England is a very pretty private fishery with two 2 acre lakes. The water is quite deep, 18 feet in places and the banks have trees and undergrowth making fishing a bit of a challenge.
I also found the lakes to be stunningly beautiful, and this, I believe, is important and the basis for my first tip:
1. Fish somewhere pleasant.
Starting fly fishing can be frustrating at first as you master casting and the various types of flies etc. It may take a few visits before you make your first catch, but if you actually enjoy the venue it makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable, even if you spend some of your time untangling your line!
It was also a time of learning to cast properly and this is my second tip:
Tip 2. Have some fly casting lessons.
Casting a fly line is completely different to any other type of casting. It’s not hard, but technique is everything. Bad casting can ruin your pleasure and even put you off altogether.
I had some lessons, (2) and they were invaluable, so even though it took me some time to catch my first trout, all the time my casting was improving, which added to my confidence. I also recommend my third tip:
Tip 3. Ask and listen!
Most fly fishers are friendly sorts. If you see someone catching a fish, go and talk to them and ask them what sort of fly they are using and at what depth they caught the fish. People are only too happy to talk about their success!
This way you can learn what methods they use and try them for yourself.
This leads me to my fourth tip:
Tip 4. Admit defeat and pack up fishing altogether.
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. Mix it up a bit.
Never be afraid to do things differently. Buy books and videos, increase your knowledge, then add your own twist if you can.
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!
One does not require vast quantities of equipment and tackle to start fly fishing, but you want to buy the best you can afford. A good way to save money is to have a look at fly fishing combos, where you can by the basics together at a reduced price. Visit www.flyfishingcombosdeals.com.
