The Fly Fishing Thread

[Smollet]

coppice said:

The countdown begins to 1 April ,when I shall be out on my river with my trusty 8 ft #4 Streamflex. Been a long winter..

Anybody else wetting a(fly)line next week ?

It is my intention to fish the Wandle for the first time when the season opens again.

[nigelpugh7]

coppice said:

The countdown begins to 1 April ,when I shall be out on my river with my trusty 8 ft #4 Streamflex. Been a long winter..

Anybody else wetting a(fly)line next week ?

It’s funny I was about to post the same, I’ve just been watching videos of the snagged lads catching Pike on the canal.

I wanted to get out this weekend, but I’ve done my back in, so im laid up at home sadly!

[Bonefish Blues]

Nope - my branch doesn't look encouraging this year, I fear

[dickymint]

My stretch (Town Water at Usk) has been open all month. I haven't got a clue what Covid restrictions were in place but It's not been very appealing anyway. I started keeping bees last year and that's likely to take up most of my spare time. But I'm sure i'll get the urge as soon as I see a rise.

[RichB]

Smollet said:

It is my intention to fish the Wandle for the first time when the season opens again.

Is there much of that that's fishable? The only thing I know about the Wandle is that it was the source of water for Young's Brewery.

[Smollet]

RichB said:

Smollet said:

It is my intention to fish the Wandle for the first time when the season opens again.

Is there much of that that's fishable? The only thing I know about the Wandle is that it was the source of water for Young's Brewery.

A lot. Good head of brown trout. Big barbel too and with a few exceptions it’s free unlike Young’s ale

https://wandlevalleypark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...

[Bonefish Blues]

https://www.farlows.co.uk/blog/2018/05/29/an-echo-...

http://www.wandlepiscators.net/ Theo's on flyfishing forum for advice, too.

See also: https://www.urbantrout.net/trout-in-dirty-places/

[Smollet]

Bonefish Blues said:

https://www.farlows.co.uk/blog/2018/05/29/an-echo-...

http://www.wandlepiscators.net/ Theo's on flyfishing forum for advice, too.

See also: https://www.urbantrout.net/trout-in-dirty-places/

Lovely. Thanks for the links.

[RichB]

Smollet said:

RichB said:

Smollet said:

It is my intention to fish the Wandle for the first time when the season opens again.

Is there much of that that's fishable? The only thing I know about the Wandle is that it was the source of water for Young's Brewery.

A lot. Good head of brown trout. Big barbel too and with a few exceptions it’s free unlike Young’s ale

https://wandlevalleypark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...

Interesting reading that, a 12lbs Koi

[Smollet]

RichB said:

Smollet said:

RichB said:

Smollet said:

It is my intention to fish the Wandle for the first time when the season opens again.

Is there much of that that's fishable? The only thing I know about the Wandle is that it was the source of water for Young's Brewery.

A lot. Good head of brown trout. Big barbel too and with a few exceptions it’s free unlike Young’s ale

https://wandlevalleypark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...

Interesting reading that, a 12lbs Koi

I’ll be either taking my 2 or 3 wt. A 12lb koi might test them somewhat .

[otolith]

I’ve been watching a Facebook group for the Wandle - quite a few roach pushing 2lb out over the winter, as well as the barbel, chub, dace, trout. I fished it once last season on the float, had a load of dace, roach and small chub. Meaning to have a crack on the fly for trout soon, but all my fly fishing gear is at my house up north.

[coppice]

Just three hours left to bid for a day's fishing with me via the Wild Trout Trust on line auction - amazingly, somebody already thinks I am worth £177 ... lot 281 - all bids welcome , a very good cause

[Smollet]

coppice said:

Just three hours left to bid for a day's fishing with me via the Wild Trout Trust on line auction - amazingly, somebody already thinks I am worth £177 ... lot 281 - all bids welcome , a very good cause

I’ve met you John and if it wasn’t so far away I’d bid.

[coppice]

You are always welcome to have a day on me .

[Smollet]

coppice said:

You are always welcome to have a day on me .

Thanks. What did you raise in the end?

[coppice]

177 quid - result.

[Nico Adie]

I've read all this thread over the last couple of days and it's definitely my favourite on here. I don't have much experience of fly fishing other than a few hill loch sessions in Kintyre as a nipper, but lure fishing is very much my thing, although preferably of the sea variety. It was said that as a youngster I could recite the Shakespeare catalogue from cover to cover I do have a reasonable fly setup (Shakey Sigma), but I'm certain I'll need new line - any recommendations as to what's good these days between £20-30? My wife's an art teacher and she's very keen to learn fly tying, so that;ll be her next birthday sorted! I did used to have fly tying kit, but absolutely no idea where it is now.

Anyway, after a very long time of not fishing, I'm getting back into it. Weedless soft plastics are new to me, so I've got a couple that I'm looking forward to trying at Eyemouth & St Abbs this Sunday, along with my trusty Toby's and Dexters. It's not a great time of year for it, but I'm reliably informed that there are Saithe to be had, and they're a good eating fish as long as they're fresh, so fingers crossed. Nigel - I've got (somewhere) an Abu Diplomat rod too! Caught a 6lb Pollack off the island of Cara with mine, on a silver 21g Toby. That same Toby caught me my first and only sea trout too...

[otolith]

Soft plastics can work well in salt



(and of course rubber sandeels have been around forever)

[nigelpugh7]

Nico Adie said:

I've read all this thread over the last couple of days and it's definitely my favourite on here. I don't have much experience of fly fishing other than a few hill loch sessions in Kintyre as a nipper, but lure fishing is very much my thing, although preferably of the sea variety. It was said that as a youngster I could recite the Shakespeare catalogue from cover to cover I do have a reasonable fly setup (Shakey Sigma), but I'm certain I'll need new line - any recommendations as to what's good these days between £20-30? My wife's an art teacher and she's very keen to learn fly tying, so that;ll be her next birthday sorted! I did used to have fly tying kit, but absolutely no idea where it is now.

Anyway, after a very long time of not fishing, I'm getting back into it. Weedless soft plastics are new to me, so I've got a couple that I'm looking forward to trying at Eyemouth & St Abbs this Sunday, along with my trusty Toby's and Dexters. It's not a great time of year for it, but I'm reliably informed that there are Saithe to be had, and they're a good eating fish as long as they're fresh, so fingers crossed. Nigel - I've got (somewhere) an Abu Diplomat rod too! Caught a 6lb Pollack off the island of Cara with mine, on a silver 21g Toby. That same Toby caught me my first and only sea trout too...

Good to know about the Abu Diplomat too!

[nigelpugh7]

Bit quiet on here guys, who’s been out and about?

Also wondered if anyone knows of some decent places to fish, preferably fly fishing but doesn’t have to be in and around Enfield north east london?

I’m working there from Saturday for 4 days, but there will be lots of dead time in the afternoon and evenings, so thought it might be fun to kill some time fishing?

I see there is a stretch of day ticket water on the river Lea navigation which might be an option?

Any other suggestions?

TIA.