The Fly Fishing Thread
Discussion
Thought I'd see if there's any interest in the fine art of Fluff Chucking. After a six year break I've dusted off my rod and oiled up my reel. Had to bin the thigh waders as I didn't like what was living in them 
The vest had to go as well.
So decided to slightly flaunt the rules of my local stretch of the River Usk and bought a pair of Volare waist waders and wading boots - couldn't find them in a medium in mainland UK but found them advertised in N Ireland for a tad under 100 quid all in.
Next purchase (Airflo Outback vest with backpack) was easier from a local dealer for 60 quid. Town Water permit at 90 quid and rod license at 30 quid - now I'm thinking this is getting a bit expensive but there was worse to come as after cleaning, stretching and a few casts in the back garden I may as well have tied 50 foot of bailing twine to a been stick.
Not to be put off and even though I knew the river was too high to fish my favorite spots I had the urge to test the waders so off I went. I was amazed how much the river bed and banks had changed in a short space of time but the peacefulness and stunning beauty remains. It didn't take long to re-tune into the river and discover where the likely spots would be on a better day. Only managed about a dozen or so casts as I couldn't go in far enough to avoid the overhanging trees/bushes on the back cast but I was just happy and content to be there as opposed to be sitting on my arse on the sofa!
Two days later (yesterday) I took a half day and got dropped off by the river instead of the pub
It had dropped almost a foot and within ten minutes I heard then saw a nice Brownie rising tight into the bank - that was it, short walk home and on with the kit then back to the spot, sure enough it was still feeding. Now I'm not one to aimlessly cast a wet fly or nymph in the hope there's something there. I'd rather walk for an hour to find a fish before i get a fly wet.
Buzzing with anticipation I was soon b
k deep and slowly making my way up to Mr. Brownie taking a few casts on the way to find some sort of accuracy before i got into position. Sure enough and after having a fag to calm me down, up it came again. Armed with a small but highly visible Grey Wulff and a few flicks of the rod my fly alighted about ten foot from his snout and BANG he took it..........trouble being the Adrenalin rush took me totally by surprise and combined with too much line out due to the shiity and unsightly coils that followed behind the fly I couldn't set the hook and yes it was another one that "got away" so off to the pub to spin a few tales
Ah well just forked out another 80 quid for a Rio Intouch LT line and a couple of furled leaders. But I'll be back for Mr Brownie tomorrow or even later on today.
So anybody else fishing this year?
Tight Lines all
The vest had to go as well.So decided to slightly flaunt the rules of my local stretch of the River Usk and bought a pair of Volare waist waders and wading boots - couldn't find them in a medium in mainland UK but found them advertised in N Ireland for a tad under 100 quid all in.
Next purchase (Airflo Outback vest with backpack) was easier from a local dealer for 60 quid. Town Water permit at 90 quid and rod license at 30 quid - now I'm thinking this is getting a bit expensive but there was worse to come as after cleaning, stretching and a few casts in the back garden I may as well have tied 50 foot of bailing twine to a been stick.
Not to be put off and even though I knew the river was too high to fish my favorite spots I had the urge to test the waders so off I went. I was amazed how much the river bed and banks had changed in a short space of time but the peacefulness and stunning beauty remains. It didn't take long to re-tune into the river and discover where the likely spots would be on a better day. Only managed about a dozen or so casts as I couldn't go in far enough to avoid the overhanging trees/bushes on the back cast but I was just happy and content to be there as opposed to be sitting on my arse on the sofa!
Two days later (yesterday) I took a half day and got dropped off by the river instead of the pub
It had dropped almost a foot and within ten minutes I heard then saw a nice Brownie rising tight into the bank - that was it, short walk home and on with the kit then back to the spot, sure enough it was still feeding. Now I'm not one to aimlessly cast a wet fly or nymph in the hope there's something there. I'd rather walk for an hour to find a fish before i get a fly wet.Buzzing with anticipation I was soon b
k deep and slowly making my way up to Mr. Brownie taking a few casts on the way to find some sort of accuracy before i got into position. Sure enough and after having a fag to calm me down, up it came again. Armed with a small but highly visible Grey Wulff and a few flicks of the rod my fly alighted about ten foot from his snout and BANG he took it..........trouble being the Adrenalin rush took me totally by surprise and combined with too much line out due to the shiity and unsightly coils that followed behind the fly I couldn't set the hook and yes it was another one that "got away" so off to the pub to spin a few tales Ah well just forked out another 80 quid for a Rio Intouch LT line and a couple of furled leaders. But I'll be back for Mr Brownie tomorrow or even later on today.
So anybody else fishing this year?
Tight Lines all
I have flyfished for 40 years and coarse fished for a bit longer. Fly fishing for wild trout and grayling on the becks and rivers of N Yorkshire is a joy which never wears off. I have written magazine articles since early 80s and two books on my favourite sport . Unlike coarse fishing , there is enough room in my Caterham to take it to the river for a day's flyfishing - so two birds with one stone
barely get time now and have only been out once this year... but given that I tend to fish the Aire in Leeds, i mostly catch sanitary towels!
that said, there is something so overwhelmingly peaceful about standing in a river, up to your waist, watching, waiting then unfurling a perfect cast at any fish that breaks the surface.
that said, there is something so overwhelmingly peaceful about standing in a river, up to your waist, watching, waiting then unfurling a perfect cast at any fish that breaks the surface.
Hi Guys, nice to see some interest
I'm sat waiting for Royal Mail to deliver my new Rio Intouch Trout LT line. My old (Airflo from memory) is totally shot and has more 'memory' than a fifty year old elephant. Never heard of Rio before but if price has anything to do with it it had better be good.
Taking into account the reviews and videos I've seen I decided to go against my "old school" approach and gone for a weight forward. It seems that times have changed and WF lines and fishing dry flies on rivers is now acceptable? We shall see!
Also been looking at (and ordered) a furled leader. I thought this was another new innovation but then realised it's basically what I call a Roman Moser which I have used before but a copper core type for fast sinking nymph fishing - don't recall them being available as a floating leader back in the day.
Gotta go the dogs have alerted me the Postie is on the drive.........................
I'm sat waiting for Royal Mail to deliver my new Rio Intouch Trout LT line. My old (Airflo from memory) is totally shot and has more 'memory' than a fifty year old elephant. Never heard of Rio before but if price has anything to do with it it had better be good.
Taking into account the reviews and videos I've seen I decided to go against my "old school" approach and gone for a weight forward. It seems that times have changed and WF lines and fishing dry flies on rivers is now acceptable? We shall see!
Also been looking at (and ordered) a furled leader. I thought this was another new innovation but then realised it's basically what I call a Roman Moser which I have used before but a copper core type for fast sinking nymph fishing - don't recall them being available as a floating leader back in the day.
Gotta go the dogs have alerted me the Postie is on the drive.........................
Bonefish Blues said:
Rio make top lines - I use them in Saltwater and I've never seen a disparaging comment about any of them. I put them above Sci Anglers, others differ.
Courtlands used to be my choice until my Father in law gave me an Orvis 8'6" Trident TL (5 weight 7piece 8.0 flex bla bla bla) rod as a wedding present. I used it so as not to upset Wifey but never really felt comfortable with it in comparison to my beloved Fenwick. The Orvis never seemed to load fully so hopefully this WF will suit it better. I read the other day that if a rod has a single weight number on it then it refers to WF? Failing that then my casting abilities must be dire
dickymint said:
Bonefish Blues said:
Rio make top lines - I use them in Saltwater and I've never seen a disparaging comment about any of them. I put them above Sci Anglers, others differ.
Courtlands used to be my choice until my Father in law gave me an Orvis 8'6" Trident TL (5 weight 7piece 8.0 flex bla bla bla) rod as a wedding present. I used it so as not to upset Wifey but never really felt comfortable with it in comparison to my beloved Fenwick. The Orvis never seemed to load fully so hopefully this WF will suit it better. I read the other day that if a rod has a single weight number on it then it refers to WF? Failing that then my casting abilities must be dire
Also consider that if you typically only short cast, you still might be better to "overline" the rod with a heavier line to ensure that you load the rod correctly.
Bonefish Blues said:
dickymint said:
Bonefish Blues said:
Rio make top lines - I use them in Saltwater and I've never seen a disparaging comment about any of them. I put them above Sci Anglers, others differ.
Courtlands used to be my choice until my Father in law gave me an Orvis 8'6" Trident TL (5 weight 7piece 8.0 flex bla bla bla) rod as a wedding present. I used it so as not to upset Wifey but never really felt comfortable with it in comparison to my beloved Fenwick. The Orvis never seemed to load fully so hopefully this WF will suit it better. I read the other day that if a rod has a single weight number on it then it refers to WF? Failing that then my casting abilities must be dire
Also consider that if you typically only short cast, you still might be better to "overline" the rod with a heavier line to ensure that you load the rod correctly.
I will be out soon. I've been given a little split cane fly rod which needed a couple of eyes whipping on, and look forward to putting it through its paces. Weighs a ton compared to my carbon fibre fly rods, but still pretty light in the grand scheme of things.
I have another cane fly rod I bought last year - it's really meant for fishing wet flies on rivers, but I gave it a bash on Farmoor to see what it was like. Trying to put out a long line on a reservoir with it was interesting. It casts so far with ease, you just have to slow everything down, but try to push it any further and it all just collapses. A reservoir trout puts a very alarming bend in it (and having seen the photos, I think I need a more obtuse angle to the line to play fish off the butt with this rod)
I have another cane fly rod I bought last year - it's really meant for fishing wet flies on rivers, but I gave it a bash on Farmoor to see what it was like. Trying to put out a long line on a reservoir with it was interesting. It casts so far with ease, you just have to slow everything down, but try to push it any further and it all just collapses. A reservoir trout puts a very alarming bend in it (and having seen the photos, I think I need a more obtuse angle to the line to play fish off the butt with this rod)
dickymint said:
tuffer said:
I live a couple of miles from the Test and Hampshire Avon, I really should get some gear.
Always been a dream to fish the Test but a quick Google of current price for a day ticket it can stay a dream......for now 
Same goes for Bone Fishing
otolith said:
I have another cane fly rod I bought last year - it's really meant for fishing wet flies on rivers, but I gave it a bash on Farmoor to see what it was like. Trying to put out a long line on a reservoir with it was interesting. It casts so far with ease, you just have to slow everything down, but try to push it any further and it all just collapses. A reservoir trout puts a very alarming bend in it (and having seen the photos, I think I need a more obtuse angle to the line to play fish off the butt with this rod)
It's not so much the bend, rather the "hinge" at the bottom of the top section which alarms! As you say, let the butt do its job 
dickymint said:
tuffer said:
I live a couple of miles from the Test and Hampshire Avon, I really should get some gear.
Always been a dream to fish the Test but a quick Google of current price for a day ticket it can stay a dream......for now Same goes for Bone Fishing
Apropos of bonefishing, I wouldn't worry, it's greatly overrated
Actually, it's what I would do on my last day on earth...trouble is, it spoils (or at least has for me) all other forms of fishing, which is why I found myself doing less and less of that, to the point where I stopped.
Yes it's fiercely expensive (although not perhaps quite as expensive as one might expect, depending on where you go), but it really is my only indulgence (ish!), and certainly I've sacrificed the cars for my annual trip. Here's the guide with a 7lb-ish fish.
Here's the view from where we stay
There are worse ways to spend a week...
Bonefish Blues said:
Ooh hello. My username and profile may tell a story. Next off in October
Funny, I'm a fly fisherman living in Miami and bemoaning my fate. Have tried a bit of shallows wading for boneys unsuccessfully, my problem is that I'm quickly beaten down by the fierce heat and if you don't have a boat it gets expensive fast at $500 an afternoon for a boat and guide.So my idea of heaven is the annual holiday with my french buddies boating on the Shannon. Have never managed to catch the Shannon trout, but fly fishing for pike is very entertaining too!
YankeePorker said:
Bonefish Blues said:
Ooh hello. My username and profile may tell a story. Next off in October
Funny, I'm a fly fisherman living in Miami and bemoaning my fate. Have tried a bit of shallows wading for boneys unsuccessfully, my problem is that I'm quickly beaten down by the fierce heat and if you don't have a boat it gets expensive fast at $500 an afternoon for a boat and guide.So my idea of heaven is the annual holiday with my french buddies boating on the Shannon. Have never managed to catch the Shannon trout, but fly fishing for pike is very entertaining too!
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